A Rod
October 3, 2022
“A Rod”
Blessings folk!
The Fool!
What do you do with him?
Proverbs gives us much insight.
Here is some more…
Pro 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
ESV
In the same way that one exhorts and motivates a horse and his strength by the whip…
In the same way that one guides and directs a donkey and his stubbornness with a bridle…
So, a rod is for the back of fools.
Fools need to be driven.
Fools need to be guided with the heavy hand of a bridle.
Fools refuse to listen/change, therefore the rod on the back is needed for correction.
The rod.
A source of motivation.
A source of correction
A source of punishment.
The fool who refuses to reject foolishness will experience the rod.
Paul speaks of the rod in a letter to the Believers in Corinth…
1 Co 4:21
What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
ESV
Would he have to correct them “with a rod”, or in love?
It was their choice.
Bear with me.
Look at what the issue was…
1 Co 4:14-21
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers.
For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord,
to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.
But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills,
and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
ESV
Paul was admonishing them to become imitators of him…their father in the faith.
There were those in Corinth who were belittling and speaking against Paul…arrogant.
Paul makes this profound statement/observation.
He would come…if the Lord wills.
He would then learn of the arrogant…not their talk, but their power!
Power, not talk!
This is same today.
Most of the professing Body of Christ is all talk.
Few there be that move in the Power of the Lord.
Paul’s point of correct?
Talk vs. Power.
Seek the Power of God.
Live in the Power of God.
The Kingdom of God consist of the Power of God!