Qualification :)

leaving in about 9hours time... *smile* excited. yet gonna miss you guys. yet i know, it would be good.

****************
1 Cor 1
18 For the message 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 bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” [mentioned by Isaiah in Isa 29:14].

True isn't it? the message of the cross, the simple story of how Jesus took all our sins upon that cross so that we can walk away righteous FOREVER and blessed FOREVER. it's an absurdity for those who are slow of heart to believe!

Here in the Amplified version of the same verse:

¹⁸For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.

True indeed. To those who realise how significant and how free that sacrifice has made us, (to us being saved), the message of the cross is the manifestation of the power of God. For with that one sacrifice, Christ has purged the believer of sin and imputation of sin, and made the believer righteous forevermore.

Paul goes on:

²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks^[b] foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are 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

True indeed. v21: It pleases God in His wisdom that by the 'foolishness' of preaching, preaching will save those who believe! As we hear more messages from the gospel of grace, of how blessed we really are, of how we cannot be cursed anymore, of how everything will work out for good, of how we will be rich, healthy, prosperous, God saves! For Jews seek signs and miracles from God, oblivious to who the Messiah actually is. and the Greeks seek after wisdom, philosophy. But preaching Christ crucified, it is to the Jews a scandal [stumbling block]! (no law? no keeping of the commandments and we expect to be blessed?), and to the Greek, utter nonsense (literally). But to us, who are called into God's kingdom (us who believe), Christ demonstrates the power of God and the magnificent wisdom of God. Of how God saved the entire world by sacrificing His son, thereby pulling us out of the sin cycle; thereby perfecting our conscience so we need not be condemned. Makes sense? =)

Going on...

²⁶ For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

Take a read. Digest. =) God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put the shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. God raised up Gideon, the least of the house of Manessah to defeat the Midianites and save Israel. God raised up David, a small shepherd boy, against Goliath, a giant, and David killed Goliath. God used Paul, a Pharisee of Pharisees, the keeper of the law, to lead the Gentile ministry, preaching Christ to the world. Looking at things in the natural, you wouldn't think it possible isn't it? Looking at David facing off with Goliath, you would place your bets on that giant. Who would have thought Paul, the keeper of the law, the Jew of all Jews, would be now so transformed by the grace of God to lead the ministry of life?

*God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put the shame the wise*

I've seen it happen with my own eyes. Our Deacon for example, didn't make the grades, didn't make the cut in school, yet now a successful businessman, featured on the spirit of enterprise, speaking words of such wisdom it can only be from God. A boy growing up stuttering and stammering, yet God raised him up to be the senior pastor of our church, preaching to thousands.

*God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty*

What i'm saying is that this is good news! That whosoever believes that Jesus has come to put an end to all that's going wrong in your life, and to provide only the good things, will be saved. In every area. More than you can imagine. If you have problems financially, believe. Only believe. Every good thing is on the way. And before you know it, people will start to bless u (financially) in more ways than you can ever imagine. It will happen in such a way that you know, it's from God. =)

Be blessed folks. We qualify for God's every blessing.