Not Foolishness: Power (Austin Jackson)

John 3:6-7

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

It always amazes me how God uses things that look foolish from the fleshly point of view. The flesh cannot wrap it's mind around the things of God, because they are Spiritual. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Commandments and gifts such as being dipped in water or speaking in tongues appear foolish through fleshly eyes. Since the beginning of time, God has chosen to use things that appear foolish to the flesh. His redemptive plan through the shedding of blood is foolish to someone that has no understanding from the scripture or from His Spirit. “Why do foolish, outlandish things like this even matter?” “Why did Jesus command to be plunged in water.” “Why did Jesus pour out His Spirit through the means of believers speaking in a heavenly language?” These are only a few questions that the flesh begins to ask once it hears God's plan. Jesus told Nicodemus not to marvel at the fact that he must be born again. Don't stand and question it. Jesus told him in verse 12, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” Remember, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit! If I am reading my Bible through my flesh, I am missing things which God desires for me to see through His Spirit.

To the flesh, the things of God are foolishness, but 1 Corinthians 1:25 tells us that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” This is why, even though we are in the flesh, we must not be of the flesh. We are instructed in Romans 6:12 to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies! We are in this world, but not of this world! We must be born again and begin a walk in the Spirit!

I'll end with these scriptures:

1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24. But unto them which 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.