WE ARE FOOLS FOR CHRIST
(Who’s Fool Are You?)

(Luke 5:17-26)
by David C. Hairabedian

“We are fools for Christ's sake,” declared the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 4:10). King David “danced before the Ark of God with all his might” while “uncovering himself before the handmaids of his servants” (2 Sam. 6:14-23). He danced like a fool, one might say! His wife was not pleased with David's display. She responded disrespectfully to God's king and said into the ears of all the people:

“How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” (vs. 20, NIV).

King David quickly responded to his angry Israelite wife:

“I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (vs. 22, NIV).

Scripture indicates that David's wife reacted to his “dancing and leaping before the Lord” by “despising David in her heart” (vs. 16). God's reaction was quite different from hers. He saw David as “a man after his own heart” (Acts 13:22). As for David's wife, the Bible indicates her actions that day were judged by God. “Therefore...she had no child unto the day of her death” (vs. 23). She became barren in her womb for judging the Holy Spirit's manifestation of dancing and leaping through David as a work of David's flesh. “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven” (Mt. 12:31).

Many are the accounts of God's Prophets, Apostles and numerous other servants becoming “fools for Christ's sake.” Sadly, there are also the accounts of those who despise such men and women of God in their hearts. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Corinth, described it this way:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” (2 Cor. 4:7-11, NIV).

Paul further elaborated, “For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.” (I Cor. 4:9, NIV).

The Old Testament Psalmist penned it this way, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Ps. 34:19). The New Testament says it another way, “we must through much tribulation [trouble, anguish, pressure] enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts. 14:22). What are you going through today for Christ's sake? Have you become a fool for Him? Are you perplexed on every side? Have men said all kinds of evil against you. Have they despised you in their hearts because of God's Spirit working in you? If so, be of good cheer, for the Spirit of God and His glory rests upon you!

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Pt. 4:14).

God's word to you today is this, “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Heb. 12:3-4, NIV). Oh, how glorious to be “counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name” (Acts 5:41).

WHOSE FOOL ARE YOU?

A man named Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus one day to imprison and put to death more Christians. He was a man wise in his own eyes, and thought he was doing God a service. Suddenly, Saul was knocked from his horse to the ground and blinded by a bright white light. He heard the words, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4, NIV). Saul responded, Who are you?” The voice spoke back, “I am Jesus who you are persecuting…” (vs. 5, NIV). Saul remained blind for three days until he repented for serving God his own way and yielded to God's way. Later, in retrospect, he scribed these poignant words, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he might become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness” (1 Cor. 3:18-19). Saul's road to Damascus encounter with the Risen Christ forever changed him. He no longer persecuted the Church of God. Instead, he was “…ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die…for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13, RSV). Saul, who was once wise in the world's eyes, and a fool in God's sight, became wise in God's sight and a fool for the sake of Christ before the entire world. “But God has chosen the FOOLISH THINGS of the world to confound the wise...that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:27-29). “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent” (1 Cor. 1:19). The question: “Whose fool are you?”

EXAMPLES OF FOOLISHNESS

Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of God using the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. We see it early in Genesis as Noah built an Ark for the impending flood of the earth (Gen Chapter 6). It had never even rained before! How foolish Noah's obedience was in the eyes of his peers. Noah had, in the flesh, perhaps the world’s singularly most unsuccessful ministry, This “Preacher of Righteousness” preached at least one hundred years without a single known convert (2 Pt. 2:5, 1 Pt. 3:20). Yet, it was through Noah that God preserved the human race (see Gen. 6:7-8, 10:32). Noah did not look quite as foolish after the door of the Ark was shut and the rains began to fall! “And Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark” (Gen. 7:24).

Moses is another example. During a plague of serpents attacking the wandering children of Israel, God commanded Moses to “make a fiery serpent out of brass and put it on a pole” before all the people (Nu. 21:5-9). Anyone who had been bitten by the poisonous snakes and looked upon the serpent that Moses made, lived (vs. 9). Not the typical modern day medical cure by any stretch of the imagination. Nevertheless, doctors honor the incident all over the world. (Have you seen the medical sign at Doctor's offices? It is two serpents wrapped around a pole, lifted up.) “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise...that no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Cor. 1:27-29). Then there's Hezekiah's boil. The prophet Elijah told him to “place a lump of figs on it” and “he would live” (2 Ki. 20). Figs have no specific healing properties for boils, but the “foolishness to obey God” resulted in Hezekiah's life being extended “another fifteen years” (vs. 6). We might also consider the record of Naaman being cured of leprosy after being foolish enough to “dip seven times in the Jordan river” at the prophet’s command (2Ki. 5:8-14). Of course, Naaman didn't obey right away, but instead, “became angry and walked away” (just as most of us do, often missing or delaying our own miracle from God) (vs. 11). God then spoke to him through some of his servants, and he finally obeyed unto victory. “And he was made clean” (vs. 14). Paul declared, “If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he might become wise” (1 Cor. 3:18).

Let us not forget Moses' foolish (in the eye’s of the world) act (in obedience to God) of casting a tree into the bitter waters at Marah. As a result, “the waters were made sweet” (Ex. 15:22-26). Manna and quail from the sky? Miracle water from a rock (see Ex. Chapters 16-17)? What about “marching around the walls of Jericho for seven days? (Joshua 6). Moses stretching his staff across the waters for the Red Sea to part? (Ex. 14) Elijah “stretching himself out over a dead boy three times” until God “heard Elijah's prayer” and raised the dead boy back to Iife (I Ki. 17: 20-24). Or Elijah's successor, Elisha, who “lay upon the [different-ed.] child, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands,” until the boy sneezed seven times and his life was restored unto him (2 Ki. 4:33-35). Remember the account of Gideon's army of only 300 marching into battle against an innumerable army of Midianites and Amalekites arrayed for battle. Their only weapons were “pitchers, lamps and trumpets in hand” (Judges 7)? As they risked their lives in seeming foolish obedience to God, “breaking the pitchers and blowing the trumpets in unison,” God gave them victory! “And the enemy army fled from them” (Judges 7:22). What about that little shepherd boy named David who went up against a Philistine giant with only a sling and five smooth stones (I Sam. 17)? Or Samson killing a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass (Judges 15:9-20). When Samson was done fighting, and tired unto death, God revived him by providing water out of the hollow place in the jawbone in his hand (vs. 19). Amazing! What about God sending Ravens to feed Elijah? Or the cruse (jug or bottle) of oil and the barrel of meal at the widow's home remaining full until the day God sent rain to end the famine on the land (1Ki. 17:13-16)? Her miracle was released through foolish obedience also. The prophet told the starving woman to feed him first. Then the food multiplied endlessly! What is God calling you to give away (the key) to unlock your miracle from His hand?

Shall we also recount how a little boy offered, in foolish obedience, his five small loaves and two fishes to Jesus, resulting in the “feeding of the five thousand” (Mt. 14)? Jesus “spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay” resulting in healing of the man’s blindness (John 9:1-11); or the time that Jesus spit on his hand and touched a deaf mute’s tongue with the saliva to impart healing (Mk. 7:32-27)? Wouldn't the American Medical Association have had a heyday with this one! Healing spit? The FDA would never approve! “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise...that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1Cor. 1:27-29). What about Jesus and Peter walking on water (Mt. 14:25-33)? Or Peter's shadow healing the sick and casting devils out of all those who lined up in the street as he passed by (Acts 5:14-16)? Let's not forget the foolishness of Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons being taken from his body to the sick causing “the diseases to depart and the evil spirits to go out of them” (Acts 19:11-12). Or Paul and Silas “singing praises to God in a prison cell” until God sent “…such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” (Acts 16:22-36, NIV). Most of us would call a lawyer rather than praising God. The list of God’s mighty acts is long; as is the list of foolish acts of obedience He often requires before His miracles are released from Heaven. Are you a fool for Christ? Are you willing to step out in faith when He speaks to you? Are you willing to “suffer persecution for His name”; to witness the gospel to your co-laborer at work; to stop and speak to a street person in need; to visit, write or minister to a prisoner or his family; to lay hands on the sick at the Holy Spirit's unction, believing God for a supernatural healing, or demons to come out in Jesus’ Name? Are you willing to be an obedient fool for Christ’s sake?

It might be as simple as changing the radio to a Christian station at your job. “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1Cor. 1:21). But what about persecution and reproach, perhaps even a lawsuit, by your peers for taking such a step? “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1Pt. 4:14). God has not yet asked you to “walk naked and barefoot for three years” like He told the prophet Isaiah (see Isaiah 20: 2-3). Nor has he required you to “marry a prostitute” like he did Hosea (see Hosea 1:2). What is your breaking point in the foolishness of God? How far are you willing to go to obey the One who gave his life on a Cross for you? Are you foolish enough to “lower a crippled man through the tiles of a stranger's roof” to get him to Jesus, like the four men in Luke's gospel (Lk. 5:17-26)? How about taking the sick person to a healing service, or laying hands on them yourself? Or simply bringing the unsaved to Church? Or taking a prostitute or battered woman to a Christian shelter or into your own home? Are you willing to allow them in your car, your life, your Church? “In as much as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me,” Jesus declared (Mt. 25:40)...”Inasmuch as you have done it not unto the least of these, you did it not to me” (vs. 45). What's your breaking point in being a fool for Christ? “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes” (Rom. 1:16). How about a practical example:

“Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at “the resurrection of the righteous.’” (Lk. 14:12-14, NIV).

Who are the poor, the crippled, lame and blind ones around you? Do you have anyone in mind? Then “…be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (Js. 1:22). Are you foolish enough to obey God? Are you a fool for Christ? But what will my friends and neighbors think?! Have you yet been made a “spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Cor. 4:9). Have you, like David, “danced before the Lord,” and been shunned by your own mate in the process? Other church members? The world? Or are you afraid to even raise your hands above your waist during worship at church? Do you proudly carry your Bible, sword in hand, “always ready to give an account for the hope that is within you,” sharing your faith with others God might sovereignly bring across your path. Or are you afraid they might call you “Bible thumper” or a member of the “God squad.” Whom do you seek to please, God or man? (Gal. 1:10). Do you pray over your food in public? “But we are not of them who shrink back unto perdition, but believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:39).

What has God told you to do that sounds foolish? Have you obeyed, or did you just walk away angry? Return and obey today. God will bless your foolishness.

21ST CENTURY FOOLS FOR CHRIST

A friend of mine loves to bake cookies. You might say she has the spiritual gift of hospitality (Rom. 12:13). One day the Holy Spirit directed her to “add some anointing oil into the cookie dough.” She obeyed this foolishness of God, and then prayed deliverance from alcoholism (for their intended recipient) over the batch. She gave them to the man’s wife, who then gave them to her alcoholic husband. He couldn't stop eating them! That night, something happened to him while he slept. He had an encounter with Jesus! He woke up delivered from the spirit of alcoholism and saved, immediately grabbed his wife's Bible, began reading and hasn't looked back! Another friend reported that she took her Son's pillowcase and sheets to her Pastor to pray over, asking God to deliver the unsaved teen from drugs and rebellion. She slipped them back into place that night before bed. He could not sleep! He tossed and turned all night. God's Spirit was in the bed with him, convicting him of sin. He had heard the gospel a thousand times, but this time the anointing of the Holy Spirit was all over him. Like Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons, this” fool for Christ” Mom was using a similar vehicle to see her boy delivered from sin and set free from drugs. By morning the youngster had made peace with God, giving his life to Jesus, totally delivered from addiction.

Another woman's sister was in an insane asylum for 34 years. She tried to mail in prayer cloths, but the asylum staff wouldn't give them to her sister, but they did allow candy. The Holy Spirit spoke to her to do a seemingly foolish thing. She took a bag of starlight mints to an evangelist who had come into town. She handed the bag of candy to him and said, “The Holy Spirit told me to give this to you.” He thanked her for the candy, and she said, “It's not for you, it's for my sister!” He said, “Well, my dear, then give them to your sister.” She said, “I plan to, but you have to put the bag in your suit coat pocket while you preach. When the Holy Ghost gets on you, it will get into that candy. Then I can give it to my sister in the Asylum, and she's gonna be set free from insanity!” The rest of the story is this...the asylum staff got the candy in the mail, with a note to give the candy to her sister. Three weeks later, she got a call. The staff said, “Come get your sister!” She said, “Why, is she dead?” No, she's perfectly well. We've run all kinds of tests on her and can't find anything wrong!” As it turns out, when the insane woman put that first starlight mint in her mouth, a demon of insanity came screeching out of her, and she was fine from that moment forward.

CONCLUSION

The Bible says, “We are fools for Christ” (1 Cor. 4:10). Mom, what foolish thing has God told you to do so your children might be saved? Dad, how about you, are you willing to be a fool for Christ when He speaks next time? College Student, has God called you to be a missionary to another nation? Pastor, are you called to start a street ministry? A youth outreach? Maybe a ministry to Bikers? What's your breaking point with Christ? Maybe you balk at the thought of the above. Could the spirit of King David's wife be in you? “She despised him in her heart...and was barren in her womb unto death” (2 Sam. 6:16, 23). Or are you willing to be “a spectacle to the world, angels, and to men” (1 Cor. 4:9). Become a fool for Christ. Leave the safety of the boat. Join Peter and walk on the water. Even if you sink, Jesus will be right there to pick you up and get you back to dry land! So, be bold, step out and do something in foolish obedience for Christ today! Simply repeat Isaiah’s one line prayer, “Here I am, Lord; send me!” (Is. 6:8).