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HE WHO PLANTS AND HE WHO WATERS ARE ONE

Text: 1 Corinthians 3
13 February 2011

(I) THE PROBLEM OF CARNALITY

1. The brethren were not spiritual but carnal

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal,” 1 Corinthians 3:1

2. Carnality caused perpetual immaturity all this while

“As to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

3. It brought about envy, strife and divisions

“For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Corinthians 3:3

4. It made the church to become sectarian

“For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” 1 Corinthians 3:4 (1 Corinthians 1:12)

(II) RIGHT PERSPECTIVES CONCERNING OUR LEADER

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?” 1 Corinthians 3:5

1. They were just ministers

2. Paul and Apollos were representatives, servants of the same God

3. The brethren shouldn’t be taking sides

a) They should be looking to God

b) Their focus should be on God and not on man

(III) PICTURES OF ONENESS

1. The metaphor of the cultivation of a plant

a) The focus is that God gives the increase

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

b) Each part should be seen as one

“Now he who plants and he who waters are one,” 1 Corinthians 3:8

c) We would be rewarded accordingly.

“And each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:8

2. The metaphor of a building

a) Paul played his part in laying the foundation ( 1 Corinthians 3:10,11 )

b) Building upon the foundation ( 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 )

c) We are meant to be one as a building

(IV) PROPER RESPONSES TOWARDS BEING ONE

1. Ensure that whether we water or build, it is done in oneness

2. We are the temple of God and should not be defiled (1 Corinthians 3:16,17)

3. Avoid being deceived by immature, worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)

4. Appreciate that all things are ours and should not be fought over (1 Corinthians 3:21, 22)

5. Be one as all of us belong to Christ and to God (1 Corinthians 3:23)