praying effectively: Be in Agreement (1 Cor.1:10-2:5)

(1 Corinthians 1:10-31)  Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever 

I will set aside.”

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

(1 Corinthians 2:1-5)   And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that believers should not have divisions or give credence to particular spiritual leaders, but we should all be of the same mind, all seeking after and following Christ Jesus (1:10)

- that we preach Christ crucified, and that we do not alter the gospel message from the truth to accommodate what people would prefer to hear (1:22-25)

- that we consider our calling, and do not boast in our own wisdom and strength, but in God and the gospel message, because God is wiser and stronger than everyone and everything combined, and it is Christ who saves (1:26-31)

- that we should not worry about trying to impress others with what we say or how we say it, but rather, be a witness by how we live in Christ, demonstrating how His power has changed us and continues to work in and through us (2:1-5)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your wisdom and strength.  Help us to look to You, and rely on You alone.  Guide Your children into unity, having the same mind, so that the world will see a difference in us which cannot be explained except through Your word.

Give us opportunities to share the gospel message with others.  Fill us with courage and Your wisdom so we do not have to worry about what to say or how to say it.  May people see the gospel message in how we live in Your love and remain obedient in Your will.  Help us to continue allowing You to work mightily in our lives, to Your glory.  Amen.