When Carnal Men Claim the Throne — Carter Conlon

Carnal Men Claiming the Throne

Now I'm on number eight in a series of messages this morning on the Corinthian problem. It's subtitled the roots and resolutions to powerlessness in the last days Church. I shared with you about the issue of Corinth During the communion service today.

So, you know what the thread is of. Everything that the Lord has given me to speak on. I'm so excited Began I've been studying these books almost every day and It's just so coming alive I so see the thread of what the Holy Spirit was speaking through the Apostle Paul To this church and how it applies to us today.

I'm in the pulpit a little early today. I typically like to preach about 35 minutes. I'm going to be a little longer today. I've got to unburden my heart what the Lord has given to me and I'm going to bring a message today called when carnal men claim the throne.

When carnal men claim the throne. 1st Corinthians chapter 4. Find that if you will and put a marker there and then go to 2nd Chronicles Chapter 18 and put a marker there and that's where we're going to begin now.

I'm going to be going through a lot of scripture. If you're not familiar with your Bible, then don't be dismayed. Just listen carefully because I really can't. I won't be able to delay too long between scriptures for time's sake.

You might want to put a marker in your index, so it'll help you to find particular books more quickly. Now father, I thank you Lord for the anointing. Oh God, I praise you for your mercy your grace your strength your power Lord.

Thank you God. Oh Jesus Lord truly truly you're unlocking something of your heart to this generation. I Pray God that you give me the ability to speak this. Help me Lord to step out of the way Lord and to Let you alone be heard.

I pray God expand the frail borders of my mind and heart. To the left and to the right and let me see and think of God in the realm of the Spirit. I pray you give us ears to hear this. Truly Lord, you're reaching out to your people one more time one more generation.

God help me to preach it. God help us to hear it and I ask it in Jesus name. First Corinthians will start their Chapter 4, I guess I should have turned there myself first Corinthians chapter 4 beginning at verse 8 through to verse 16.

Is what Paul says now you are full now you are rich. You have reigned as kings without us. I Would to God you did reign that we also might reign with you. For I think that God has set forth us the Apostles last as it were appointed to death.

We are made a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised. Even to this present hour.

We both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place and labor working with our own hands. Being reviled we bless being persecuted. We suffer it being defamed. We intrigued we are made as the filth of the world and ours the off scouring of all things unto this day.

I Write not these things to shame you but as my beloved sons, I warn you. For though you have 10 ,000 instructors in Christ yet. Have you not many fathers for in Christ Jesus? I have begotten you through the gospel.

Wherefore I beseech you. Be ye followers of me. Paul says to this Corinthian church. You've reigned as kings without us. You've left us behind in other words We led you to Christ and then you developed or allowed into your midst a theological perspective that fast-forwarded you as it is to the throne of God where you will be one day and.

You've you've so moved you've you've abdicated the journey of faith and you've so moved to what you think is the victory. You've left us all behind those of us who have Led you to Christ. Paul was telling that Corinthian church you you've been led into theological error you've been brought into a place of thinking something that is not correct and Paul is pleading with them says you have you have 10 ,000 now and I think that probably is very applicable to America today and to the Western world.

You're filled with instructors, but you have not many fathers. Paul said I I bought you or brought you as it is Christ bought you but I brought you into the kingdom. It was the gospel that I preached that engraved something of God in your hearts.

And you heard of the kingdom and you turned to him. And you began as he says to the Galatian church you began so well. What happened to you who put this through this curve to you as it is who brought you on this journey?

Were you now reigning without us? Paul said now you're you're accepted. You're knowledgeable. You're popular. But he says we're not Those of us who are walking as apostles and Paul knew he was an apostle of that generation and season.

He says we are completely you are completely other than what we are. And that's why Paul said I warn you and I plead with you be followers of me. Now I want you to go to where the second Chronicles chapter 18 where you probably already put a marker.

And I want to show you today a type of what Paul is talking about now the Corinthians are Christians. They are the church, but they're they're moving into something that is rendering them Potentially powerless in their their generation.

They're going to lose their testimony. There'll be nothing in the long run but ruins left if they don't get this down if they don't come to an understanding of this and In 2nd Chronicles chapter 18, we see a type of a righteous man.

He's the king of Judah. His name is Jehoshaphat. But he's found in the wrong place. That's what Paul was trying to get through to the Corinthians. You've been bought with the blood of Christ. There's a there's an a given cleanness.

We call it an imputed righteousness to them and so they are a righteous people. But they're in the wrong place and if you are righteous and you're in the wrong place. Folks it can bring a blindness that is so deep it can bring an error that is so wrong.

It can bring a Christ that is so other than the Christ of the Bible. It can so so spiritual confusion. Into a generation that is looking for truth and Paul was fighting for this. He said I'm jealous for you.

I Want to present you clean as a bride to the Savior and he said I'm given to you though. He said the more I love you. It seems that the less that you are able to love me in return. Paul fought fierce opposition.

He could have just simply walked away say, okay. If that's what you want if that's the theology you want to embrace then count me out. But he couldn't do it because there was he knew the heart of God for these people.

And he couldn't walk away and he was willing to suffer ridicule and willing to be rejected. Willing to be publicly scorned and derided By the super apostles and prophets of that time that had made their way into this church in the midst of their self-seeking society.

Their message was the message of a fallen Corinthian society and they had now Sanitized it brought it into the house of God and they were now teaching and preaching This other Jesus to the people. Paul knew it.

He was not willing to let them go. Now Jehoshaphat is a righteous King and it says in chapter 18 verse 1 that he he joined affinity with Ahab now Ahab is the king of the other part of the divided Israel and And Ahab is a type of men who have surrounded themselves with ministry voices telling them What they wanted to hear exactly about themselves.

That's what Ahab was. He wanted a form of God. But he did not want the power of God. That would lead him into something other than what he envisioned himself to be and so he surrounded himself With spiritual.

Yes men, and there's never any shortage of these they find their gratification by budding up close to power and influence and money and They were all around they have thrown as a matter of fact the Bible says there was 400 of them.

There were willing to tell this mixed man anything he wanted to hear. There's a multitude now preachers in America that are willing to tell you anything you want to hear about yourself. As long as they can get close to your finances, they'll tell you whatever you want to hear.

They don't care what it is. Even if it sends you to destruction. Listen to what Jeremiah says in Jeremiah don't turn their chapter 23 verses 21 and 22. The Lord says I've not sent these prophets, but they ran.

I've not spoken to them. But they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel and caused my people to hear my words. Then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.

It's another time another season Jeremiah standing there a broken-hearted prophet of God watching his own people. Go into captivity and there are all kinds of prophets around them saying. Oh, this is a wonderful time.

This is a terrific season. What a what prosperity awaits us and Yet God says I've not spoken to them. But they ran if they had stood in my presence. He said they would turn you from that which is going to destroy you.

They would bring you into line as it is with the heart and the ways of God. I have no doubt that the ministry around Ahab was positive and encouraging. Verse 11. It says all the prophets prophesied saying go up and prosper to rameth Gilead and the Lord will deliver it.

That was their message. Go up and prosper. Do whatever you want. You're going to prosper live. However, you want to live you're going to prosper. You see that the bottom line is just about prospering.

It doesn't matter how you get there. It's about prospering. And so that's their whole focus. That's their whole theology and there's 400 of them standing there. It's it's almost like a whole section. It's it's the entire middle section of this church folks.

They get through for a moment. There's that many prophets around about the king's throne. Go and prosper they're all saying with one voice go and prosper. But where's it leading to verse 16 says there was one man who just didn't go with the flow his name was Micaiah and Jehoshaphat is sitting there with Ahab and these 400 are saying go prosper go prosper go prosper.

But Jehoshaphat is a righteous man. And because he's a righteous man. There's a troubling in him. How do you believe I'm speaking now to many people who are? In this court of mixture and Not just in Times Square Church.

But those that listen on the Internet and those that will hear in the future and there's a deep deep Troubling inside and even with 400 voices Jehoshaphat says they have is there somebody else? Now that should be telltale and they have says well.

There is one other guy, but I never call him because really he's never got anything good to say to me. In other words, he doesn't tell me what I want to hear. So he sends an emissary to Micaiah and he goes to get Micaiah and he says Micaiah for goodness sakes for once in your life.

All the prophets are saying go up and prosper. Could you please just for this one time say what they're saying? Micaiah says I can only say what? God tells me to say so he comes into the king's throne and Ahab says in Jehoshaphat.

Is there a word? Micaiah looks at Ahab and I know he knows they're not going to listen. And he says go up and prosper and it God is going to deliver it into your hand. Now an unusual thing happens. I guess it's just the way he said it or Maybe Ahab looks at him and says how many times have I told you not to say anything to be but the truth now He's just said what?

400 false prophets have been saying and they have says how many times do I have to tell you to endure you? He says speak only the truth to me. Micaiah tells him I saw saw a lying spirit and I saw a meeting in heaven's court and the Lord said who will go and entice Ahab that he may fall at rameth Gilead and he said a spirit came before the throne and said I'll go and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets and My chaos stood in the court and says listen.

God has allowed this lying spirit to come the spirit that manifested as a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets. And then one of them came and slapped his face and said how did the spirit of the Lord leave me and go to you?

When my care looks at this false prophet a very zealous one. Actually when you read the text when he said there's a day coming. He said when you're going to go into an inner chamber to hide yourself. I'm telling you there's a day coming in America when all the prophets of bail all the false prophets.

Everybody who robbed the people listen to me carefully are going to be seeking seclusion. They're going to be hiding because suddenly there's going to be something happen. The people are going to know they've not been sitting on their truth he says you're going to see a day come and then he's and then they have says feed this man with the bread of Affliction that's what a carnal church will always do to those that speak for God slander him.

Cause him hard heartache write articles about him speak about him call him bitter column divisive. Call him all kinds of things feed him with affliction and my case and listen listen to me in the court as they're leading him Out if God has spoken by me, you'll know it and if he's not you're going to do it.

Micaiah knew he'd heard a word from the Lord, but he's trying to speak to a king who's completely given to carnality. That's a hub he is. He's had time and time awakenings and Opportunities to follow truth, but his heart is ultimately seduced back into living for himself.

Think about it for a moment. He's he's been with Elijah the prophet. He's seen fire of God come down on Mount Carmel. He's seen the Spirit of the Lord come on Elijah and he's watched him out run his own chariot with his galloping horses back into the city.

He's I know he's been stirred he's had these momentary and and people who are given to wrong theology didn't always start there and Didn't get blind overnight. There's a gradual blindness that comes and There have been awakenings and they have they have sat and can recognize truth.

That's the odd thing about it but ultimately He's given to He's given to carnality in first Kings don't need to turn their chapter 21. Verses 1 to 4 we see a season just shortly before his defeat in death.

He's lying on his bed, he's the king of Israel and he's lying on his bed and he's pouting. He won't eat and you can hear him whimpering in the corner in his bedroom. Who who who? And you know why he was pouting his neighbor had a garden and He wanted this garden.

He liked it. It was close to his house and he went to his neighbors and he said please I'd like to have your garden and the man says I can't give it to you. I said it's it's something that is been set apart from my family and He was so grieved that he couldn't have this garden That he went into his bedroom and laid down and cried.

I See all the Christians in our generation go home boo-hoo-hoo. I Haven't got a new car. I didn't get that promotion. Oh Everyone else seems to be doing so good and look at me how hard my life is then he's lying on his bed and he's pouting away and into the room and verse 7 comes a Seductive religious spirit that he's married to called Jezebel and she comes into the room and she's it's a type of a spirit that comes to those who are spiritually asleep and their their hearts are still gripped with a longing for carnal things and She comes into him and says aren't you the king?

Aren't you the king? Remember what Paul said to Corinth you are reigning as kings now Without us. I wish you were reigning that we could join you and Jezebel comes in to Ahab as he's pouting on his bed in the corner and she says aren't you the king of Israel?

She said listen, don't be sad. I'll get you what you want. That's a spirit folks. Jezebel is a spirit that comes and says I'll get you what you want. I'll give you your your heart's desire not God's heart's desire for you, but I'll give you your heart's desire.

You can have whatever you want. Jezebel takes this owner of the vineyard. Has a phony party for him. Hires false witnesses to stand up in the midst of the celebration to say we've heard him blaspheme God and They end up stoning this man and killing him.

You see Jezebel is an employer of false Reasonings and witness who takes reward against the innocent. Proverbs chapter 15 verse 5 tells us that they that do this shall not Dwell in the presence of God she takes reward against the innocent.

She hires witnesses as it is that give a slanderous report of an innocent man and all folks I think of All the people today who in God's name are taking to themselves what rightfully belongs to someone else.

The scripture warns that all through the Old Testament that the right of the fatherless and the widow must never be taken away. Ball there's a right they had a right. The people were commanded under the Old Testament law.

You're not to harvest everything for yourself. There's always a portion to be left for the widow. The fatherless are always to be cared for. But selfishness will take that away. The Corinthian Church were eating their meal by themselves they were pushing the poor and those who had nothing to the sides of the temple as if they were insignificant and unimportant and they were feasting around a Common value system that Paul says is no different than the unsaved around you.

He was trying to get through and now they had a cultivated preaching that catered to this erroneous Thought of their heart. The scripture warns folks that you can't move into the fields of the fatherless.

God says when you do I Have to rise up and I have to set this right. And folks when we began exporting preaching over into other countries like our brothers and thank God for this righteous man I know he's a righteous man.

Thank God for those that are preaching the gospel, but in various parts of the world We've exported a theology that has robbed the widow and robbed the poor. They're robbed in the field now. They're robbed in the house of God and now we're at a place where the Lord says I've got to bring it all down.

And I've got to show the whole world. This is not who I am a Prophet he came to Jehoshaphat. Yes, they went into battle and in the battle Ahab was killed. Jehoshaphat the scripture says cried out to the Lord the Lord heard him and saved him.

And then he came back to Jerusalem again in chapter 19. I believe it is and a prophet of God came to him. Now keep in mind Jehoshaphat is a righteous man. The prophet of God came to him and said why are you helping the ungodly?

What are you doing helping the ungodly why are you helping men who are on their pathway to destruction? Why are you sitting listening to the very reasonings that they use to lead themselves and many others away from Christ?

What are you doing abetting men? That means helping them or aiding them who are? Taking away the fear of the Lord the true covenant promises of God the atonement of Christ's blood the power of the cross and the Blossom reverence that's due to a holy God.

This prophet came and said why are you doing these things? Jehoshaphat Revelation chapter 2 there was a church called Thyatira a very hard-working church. Whose deeds were actually increasing in measure and there was a commendation from the Lord for this church of Thyatira.

But he said I've got something against you. He said you you are allowing This prophetess Jezebel. It's the same spirit different person. But same spirit to come and teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

You're doing this. He said you're a good church. You're a working church. But you are you you are you are you are allowing this thing into your midst. You're giving part of your time to it. It's it's partly in your reasoning.

Now Christ himself knew this where this would lead to. Knew the destruction it would bring. It was the same message that Paul was speaking to the Corinthian church. Now go to 2nd Corinthians Chapter 5 please if you will with me.

2nd Corinthians 5 verse 15. Listen to the gospel that Paul preached. And that he died for all. That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves. But unto him which died for them and rose again, I think that says it fairly clearly.

Christ in other words died for all. That they which live should not from this time forward or henceforth live unto themselves or for themselves. They should not be motivated by themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again.

Chapter 6 verse 1. We then as workers together with him beseech you that's 2nd Corinthians 6 1. Beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain. Verse 3 giving no offense in anything that the ministry be not blamed.

Verse 10. Paul talks now about the ministry that he is part of a Sorrowful yet always rejoicing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things. Oh you Corinthians, he says in verse 11.

Our mouth is open to you. Our heart is enlarged. You are not straightened in us, but you are straightened in your own bowels. And now here's what this means the word straightened means knit together in the Greek text.

That's what it means Paul's saying listen, we are given For you in completeness in entirety and our mouth is open to you. Our heart has been enlarged by God as it is for you. And our heart is is we've got this vision of God because our hearts are open to you where we're given to you.

We're not here to take from you. We're here to give to you. We're here to nurture you. We're here to see you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. He says but but you're not knit together with us.

That's what it means in verse 12. You are you are knit with the interior desires of your own nature. It's what Paul is saying to the Corinthians. You still have a bond to your old nature. You're not knit together with this new nature in Christ.

Now for a recompense verse 13. In the same I speak as into my children be ye also enlarged Paul's thing. Let your heart Be gripped by God. Be given to the needs of others. Be not equally you unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

Paul is talking about these theological and believers folks. He's talking about this selfish theology that is so interwoven itself in Corinth. That it's it's taking them away from Christ. He says don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

For what fellowship as righteousness with unrighteous and what communion as light with darkness. And what Concord is Christ with Belial or what part he that believes with an infidel? What agreement is the temple of God with idols for you're the temple of the Living God as God has said I will dwell in them and walk in them and be their God and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them and be separate says the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you. I'll be a father to you. You shall be my sons and daughters sayeth the Lord God Almighty.

Coming Out of Religious Mixture

Paul says come out from among them folks. He's talking about the theological preachers that were getting a hold of Corinth. That's what he's talking about. Yes, of course. It has an application to the larger society.

But it also comes home right into the places where they were meeting and the things that they were doing. Should you help the ungodly? The Prophet says to Jehoshaphat and I'm speaking to those who play the religious lottery in our generation.

You know where truth is, you know that you know where truth can be found. But still in the off chance that you give your thousand dollars to this silver tongued Theologian on television or wherever you're hearing it from and just on the off chance that a hundred thousand will come back to you.

You send your check and you support thieves who take from you and smite your simplicity in Christ. Paul says this in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verses 3 and 4. What are you doing helping the enemies of the Lord?

And this is the word that God has given me and it's not just for Times Square Church or a few that attend. This church is for the body at large. This is what God is saying to you. I believe the voice of the Lord is coming to all the Jehoshaphat's of this generation.

Righteous people who are found in an unrighteous place. Who are intermixed with something they shouldn't be playing with and God saying what are you doing helping these men? What are you doing helping the enemies of the Lord?

Should you help the ungodly? Now contrast this. Paul says listen, here's here's the true ministry. Paul says I didn't take anything from you. I didn't seek anything from you, but rather I came for you.

You'll find that you can study it later in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verses 7 to 9 verses 12 to 15 and in 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 and verse 3 I didn't take from you. I didn't seek anything from you.

Paul said I even worked with my own hands. I had a right. I had a right to be supported by you, but Paul said I didn't you abuse it. He said I worked with my own hands giving you an example. He says nobody I sent exploited you.

2nd Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 17. He said those who were birthed of the ministry that I represent who came to you. They didn't exploit you. They were not after Anything that you have but they were after your hearts that you be set apart for God.

Paul says I didn't let you live in unrighteousness because I loved you. 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 verses 8 and 9. Paul says I wrote a letter and it made you sorry. I'm not thankful for your sorrow. He said but I'm thankful that your sorrow brought you to repentance.

I'm thankful that you had indignation you cleared yourself in this matter. I'm thankful that it restored into you a zeal a desire for vengeance against the enemy of righteousness Satan himself. Paul says I'm so thankful that my letter brought you to this place of godliness again.

Paul said I'm willing to come to you and even suffer Misunderstanding because as Christ is and was so too am I given for you. 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verses 14 and 15. Paul says I'm given for you as Christ was given for you and that you and I are called to be given for others in the same way and We started with 1st Corinthians 4.

He says I don't write these things to shame you but as my beloved sons I warn you you have 10 ,000 instructors in Christ, but you have not many fathers. I've begotten you through the gospel. I beseech you Paul said be followers of me.

The Last-Days Church and the Powerlessness of Self-Love

I beseech the Church of Jesus Christ in this generation. To ask God for an eyesalve once again that we may see in a purity of heart. That we may escape this selfish Generation. We're living in where Paul says perilous times are coming in the last days men will be lovers of themselves.

Boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents. Unthankful unholy they'll have a form of godliness, but there's no power in it. There's nothing in it that can represent God. It's all focused on self.

That's the powerlessness of it. They resist the truth as Janice and Jamboree's resisted Moses. They they resist the simplicity of a man or woman just abandoned to the will of God. Not not walking with God for what they can get but walking for what they can give.

Moses standing in the simplicity of faith with a staff in his hand and a sermon in his mouth saying let my people go. They resist it because they've got access to power and access to money and access to the throne.

And so they resist this simplicity. They resist Christ himself. We're living in this time folks. I'm not just here having a rant. I'm not pulling out a soapbox and just trying to make a point. We're living at this time.

We live in a theological climate that is resisting the simplicity of Christ himself now. Jehoshaphat was not crushed by the words of the prophet rather the scripture indicates That he carried on and became a true servant of the Lord.

He was a true servant of the Lord, but he moved on in 2nd Chronicles chapter 19. Listen to what Jehoshaphat did. The prophet came to him verse 2 and said you should you help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord?

Verse 4. Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem. Oh praise God folks. Jerusalem has always represented the very center of God's heart the very center of where he wants to dwell among his people. Jehoshaphat went back to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is where his feet are going to come down where he's going to rule and reign from Jerusalem is where David brought the ark in Jerusalem is where Solomon's temple was built. It's always. It's where it's where Abraham offered up Isaac.

It's where Orn in the Jebusite gave all he had to stop the plague of darkness and death that had been over that society. Jerusalem. He went back to Jerusalem. Praise be to God. That's what we have to do in this generation.

Get back to where God's heart is. Get back to where truth is. Get get back to what it means to being a Bible believing follower of Jesus Christ. And it says Joshua Jehoshaphat rather verse 4 dwelt at Jerusalem.

And he went out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim. And he brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers. Praise be to God. Oh folks. I see a revival coming in our generation.

I see a bride getting oil. I see a I see a sleeping church shaking off the slumber. Where have we been? What have we been doing? What have we been listening to what have we been following? Praise be to God.

I see a church again moving in the glorious power of the Holy Ghost. Verse 5 says he set judges in the land throughout all the fence cities of Judah city by city. In other words, he was used to bring truth and spiritual order again among God's people.

Verse 7 Established judges. And he said wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it. There's no iniquity with the Lord our God no respect of persons nor taking of gifts. He Jehoshaphat taught the fear of the Lord.

He taught the people to walk righteously and truly represent God. And he said you must not be a flatterer of people. You must not flatter people if you're going to stand and represent God and you must not allow Any bribery to come in and take the Word of God out of your mouth.

You must not be a respecter of persons. You must not be given to self-gratification or taking of gifts. Praise be to God. He had seen it firsthand. He had watched what it had done. He had seen a half bleeding in his chariot.

He knew exactly where these voices lead to. Verse 9. He charged them saying such thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart. He knew what kind of a heart would please God.

Verse 11 says he says behold Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord and Zebediah the son of Ishmael The ruler of the house of Judah for all the Kings matters and then also the Levites shall be officers before you.

He said deal courageously and the Lord shall be with the good he could inspire Courage and others as they face their own decisions of giving their all for the purposes of God. Chapter 20 talks about an incredible army came in against the kingdom that he was leading but in this chapter, it shows us that he could hear the voice of God again and Even though verse 2 says there was he was given a report that a great multitude was coming against him.

Verse 3 says he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Verse 4 says Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord even out of all the cities of Judah. They came to seek the Lord. Jehoshaphat knew where strategy it's seen seen this Chennai.