SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP Text: I Corinthians 2:1-5

But Let's Consider Just a Few Noteworthy Differences.

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) A. Moses "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." 11. The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I the Lord?" Exodus 4:10,11

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) B. Gideon "The Lord turned to him and said "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" 15. "But Lord," Gideon asked, "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manesseh, am I the least in my family?" Judges 6:14,15

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) C. David “The Lord appeared to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’" I Samuel 16:7

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) C. David “There is still the youngest, Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep.’Samuel said, send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.' 12. Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one.’" I Samuel 16:11,12

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) D. Saul/Paul "But Saul began to destroy the church, going from house to house, he dragged off men & women and put them in prison.“ Acts 8:3

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) D. Saul/Paul “But the Lord said to Ananias ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.’” Acts 9:15

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) D. Saul/Paul "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live. But Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) D. Saul/Paul “If anyone else thinks He has reasons to put confidence in flesh, I have more 5. circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; Philippians 3:4-5

I. SELF-CONFIDENT vs GOD-CONFIDENCE (I Corinthians 2:1-3) D. Saul/Paul 6. as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." Philippians 3:6-8

II. SELF-WISDOM VS. GODLY POWER (I Corinthians 2:4,5) "I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." Galatians 1:14

II. SELF-WISDOM VS. GODLY POWER (I Corinthians 2:4,5) "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12. I did not receive it from any man nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:11,12

II. SELF-WISDOM VS. GODLY POWER (I Corinthians 2:4,5) "For I will give words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." Luke 21:15

II. SELF-WISDOM VS. GODLY POWER (I Corinthians 2:4,5) “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?” I Timothy 3:4,5

II. SELF-WISDOM VS. GODLY POWER (I Corinthians 2:4,5) “An elder must be...a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient." Titus 1:6 "so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom but on God's power." I Corinthians 2:5