9516 HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST

HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST

Apparently, after Paul left Corinth (where he had spent a year and a half), some other eloquent speakers came and wowed the crowd. Maybe Apollos was that guy. And now, here is the church, some months later, saying, “I am of Paul” and “I am of Apollos.” 

 

Paul defends his approach to public speaking, and it’s interesting to see, though a challenge to fully imagine. But here is what I picture: Paul, who is speaking every day with someone, in small groups, house church meetings, prayer gatherings, at the market, to individuals, and more. 

 

In doing all that speaking, he has three options: 1) repeat himself a lot, and preach from the barrel, as we used to say, reusing stories and messages that have worked in the past. 2) Spend less time among people and more time studying and preparing and rehearsing, refining and polishing to get it just right, speaking with power and entertaining education. Or educational entertainment. You get the point. Or 3) Pray without ceasing, speak spontaneously, trusting the Holy Spirit to give the words and provide the power. It’s pretty clear from this chapter which of the three Paul tended to use.

 

I’m imagining what this experience must have been like for Paul. Come with me and let’s imagine it together: 

 

Paul is sitting with the congregation while someone is speaking. The person says something about someone having great potential and so forth, and the word “potential” reminds Paul of a story he heard once, about Sally and Her Potential. Inwardly, Paul smiles, remembering how influential that story had been to him. Should he share it? No. That’s not what they need to hear right now. “Lord, what would you have these people hear from You today?” He continues to pray for each person, and for the moment as a whole, not knowing what or even IF he is to be one of those who speak today. 

 

The man speaking is growing louder and more animated. He says, “…and THAT is the reason that Jesus Christ had to die that day more than twenty years ago now, as some of you can testify.” Suddenly, the brother sits down. He has said his piece, and the Spirit is ready to use another voice. It comes to Paul in a flash, as an image more than a series of words, and Paul knows without a doubt that someone needs to hear what he is being prompted to say right now. 

 

“I see a hand reaching down from heaven. A hand, not palm up to receive from us, and not palm down to stifle us, but sideways, reaching out in an embrace. The Lord is welcoming us into fellowship with him through the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. Concerning Christ, I was there that day when he was crucified. I was among the crowd that day early in the morning, throwing stones, calling down curses, hating that this man claimed to know God and call God his Father, and yet he was always seeming to criticize Pharisees. . . .” And on Paul speaks, with Scriptures coming to mind, occasionally with a direct word to an individual. “God says this to you…” He encourages, he rebukes, he corrects, he instructs, at the leading of the Spirit. Paul is simply going with the flow.

 

One of these times was late at night, around midnight. A young man was sitting in the open window of this upstairs room. And…

“Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 

 

Just goes to show, doesn’t it? Better get a good night’s sleep before listening to Paul talk on and on. Paul was babbling on about Babylon, or was that baboons named John, baptizing their young, and on . . . 

 

…and the next thing he knew, Eutychus is outside on the ground, with Paul’s arms around him. 

 

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.”

 

Not always eloquent. But with power and in the Spirit. Not using clever stories and well-practiced illustrations, but going with the flow of what God seems to want people to hear. It is not the mind of an orator. 

 

“But we have the mind of Christ.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

Given a choice, I would rather walk in the Spirit. How does that sound to you?