Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20001015.htm

1 CORINTHIANS: MINISTERING TO BELIEVERS WITH DEEP PAGAN BACKGROUNDS
Part IV: Living IMMUNE To HURT In Interpersonal Conflicts
(1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
  1. Introduction
    1. It is a fact that interpersonal conflicts will exist as long as sin has the upper hand in the lives of people: all one has to do is view the book of Genesis to see how sin in people creates unalterable conflicts.
    2. However, the believer can live immune to being hurt by interpersonal conflict created by sin even if he is surrounded by it, or faces it from carnal opponents as Paul details in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16:
  2. Living IMMUNE To HURT In Interpersonal Conflicts, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.
    1. Paul presented the pathway to living immune to interpersonal conflicts in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16:
      1. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in part to address the issue of divisions among them, 1 Cor. 1:10-11.
      2. As seen by his words in 1 Cor. 3:3 and 4:6, chapters one through four of the letter address this need.
      3. Hence, Paul's reference to the carnal and spiritual pathways of living in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 address the contrast between the self-inflicted tragedy of carnal living versus godly living that is immune to such tragic pain in interpersonal conflicts.
    2. As such, we can detail how this pathway of immunity to interpersonal conflicts actually works:
      1. Paul noted that believers who are spiritually right with God understand God's spiritual truths, 2:6-7, and that the ungodly, or people living by means of their sinful natures cannot perceive it, 2:8-9.
      2. Developing this theme, he revealed that the indwelling Holy Spirit in the godly believer reveals the truths of God and His Word to the godly believer, a supernatural ministry, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13:
        1. The Holy Spirit "scans" the Scripture for the deep truths of Christ that the Lord wants the godly believer to receive at a given exposure to the Word, 1 Corinthians 2:10b with John 16:13-14.
        2. Then the Spirit communicates that truth to the spiritually-tuned believer that has great relevancy to what he is immediately facing in his life at that time, 1 Cor. 2:12-13 in light of John 13-14 with John 14:21, 23; Mtt. 28:20b. This causes the spiritual believer to be positively overwhelmed with the Lord's involvement in leading him, and greatly encourages him!
      3. In stark contrast, the ungodly believer (or unbeliever as the case may be, cf. 1 Cor. 3:3b) who lives by way of his sinful nature, not only (a) does not, but (b) does not want and (c) can not perceive God's spiritual truths this way: if exposed to Scripture, he is blocked in his mind and attitude from ever having it become useful for his practical needs, 1 Corinthians 2:14: Paul later reveals in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 that the lusts of the sinful nature turn a carnal party away from Scripture's words.
      4. Of SPECIAL interest, Paul notes that the godly party lives immune to the carnal around him:
        1. When one is godly and led of God, he is able to discern all that is going on in the outlooks and actions of all around him so as to steer clear of trouble and hurts and be blessed, 1 Cor. 2:15a.
        2. However, the ungodly believer (or unbeliever as the case may be) is not able correctly to understand the godly, though he may think he does, and this all leads to his being hurt, and to the godly one not getting burned at all to the carnal party's confusion, 1 Cor. 2:15b with Matt. 15:14!
Lesson: Those who (1) fellowship with God (sins confessed up as believers in Christ, and who heed the Words of God in Scripture) can avoid contributing to interpersonal conflicts: they KNOW what Christ wants them to do and think in EVERY situation they face since they enjoy God's CONSTANT leading through Scripture, and all they have to do is APPLY it for blessing. Those who (2) do NOT thus walk with God end up being hurt and defeated to their humiliation and confusion.

Application: (1) To avoid being HURT and spiritually DEFEATED in interpersonal relationships, we must (a) believe in Christ as Savior from sin to be indwelt by the Paraklete of God, the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:9b; John 3:16. (b) Then, confess any sins that block our fellowship with God (1 Jn. 1:9) and heed the Word of God as a way of life, John 14:21, 23. (c) God will equip us with the insight needed to "figure out" all things and PEOPLE around us in the spiritual realm so we will avoid hurt and be victorious. (2) Once a "carnal" party is "open" to help, we can share with him this route of blessing!