I Corinthians
1: 26.” Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” Yet the Lord always has some wise, some mighty, some noble, among his disciples. Joseph of Arimathea was not called to be a fisherman.
Luther once said of a pious queen of Denmark, “Christ will sometimes carry a queen to heaven.”
Rich men are choice dishes at God’s table.
When the tutor of King James I. lay dying, his Majesty sent to enquire about him. “Tell my Sovereign,” said the tutor, “that I am going where few kings go.”
1: 27, 28. God’s five workers: -
1. Foolish things.
2. Weak things.
3. Base things.
4. Things which nre despised.
5. Things which are not.
2: 1-4. It is our duty to declare God’s truth. It is the Spirit’s office to demonstrate it.
Effort is ours. Effect is his.
9, 10. The things revealed by the Spirit have not been perceived by the eye, received by the ear, or conceived by the heart of man.
11-13. The Spirit knows the things of God, makes us know God’s gifts to us, and teaches us to speak of them to others.
14. All God’s ways are foolishness to the worldly. But as old men say of the young, “They think us fools; we know them to be fools.”
3: 1. “Babes.”
(1.) Wheeled around by others — by every doctrine.
(2.) Fed on milk, which has passed through the digestion of another — others’ opinions.
(3.) Not filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
6. Religion is a plant that will die unless it is watered. Ungodliness is a weed which grows without planting, and which will not die without being plucked up.
3: 8. God rewards according to the work done, not according to the harvest.
16. The Spirit of God is ejected to make room for other tenants whenever we fall into sin.
6: 19. George Müller once said, “I cannot take care of my soul, God can keep that; but my body is for me to take care of.”
A professor at Lafayette College, at the funeral of his son, said to the young men who bore the coffin, “Tread lightly, for you are bearing a temple of the Holy Ghost.”
20. A girl told Luther that she had sold herself to the devil. He said she could not do so, for she was not her own.
8: 13. Better deny yourself of anything than make your
brother to offend.
9: 16. Some preach all doctrine, for the head: that makes
an imperfect man. Some preach all experience, for the heart: that
makes an imperfect man. Some preach all works, for the hands: that makes
an imperfect man. Preach doctrine, experience, and works, and you
get a perfect man.
22. Use bait that the fish like.
24.” So run, that ye may obtain.” The high prize of heavenly bliss is at the end of the gospel race.
A crown for the runner; a curse for the runaway.
10: 12. Not only the young go astray; e. g., Abram, Noah, Lot, David, Peter, etc.
13. To be tempted is not to sin. The strongest attacks are made on the strongest forts.
31. It was once said of a humble Christian man,” that his business was shoemaking. “He happened to be present, and said,” Excuse me, my business is to glorify God. I earn my bread by making shoes.”
12: 4. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” Union, not uniformity, among Christians.
13: 2. Knowledge puffeth up. Love alone buildeth up.
4. Beware of envy. Cain’s envy hatched Abel’s murder.
13: 13. Faith ends in sight.
Hope ends in presence.
Charity — love — never ends.
Faith gets the most.
Humility keeps the most.
Love works the most.
14: 9. H. L. Hastings was at a meeting and was called on
to speak. He just said he had nothing to say. Some one else spoke, and souls were saved at that meeting.
15: 9. Paul’s experience: —
A. D. 59, “Least of the apostles.” Horn. 15:9.
A. D. 64, “Less than the least of all saints.”
Eph. 3: 8. A. D. 65, “Chief of sinners.” 1 Tim. 1: 15.
15: 22. The first Adam was for self-advancement; the second Adam for self-abasement. The former was for deifying self; the latter, for crucifying flesh.
47. There are only two men in God’s sight: one in Eden, the other on Golgotha.
53. “Corruptible,” — referring to those who are dead
at Christ’s coming. “Mortal,” referring to those who are then alive.
54. Death is but a physical, incident in an immortal
career. It is a covenant blessing to the child of God, for ‘He giveth His beloved sleep.”
56. A believer may feel the stroke of death, but he shall never feel the sting of death.
58. “Always abounding.” Most Christians think it is enough to abound on Sundays.