Enriched in every way

29th January 2012 Eltham Baptist Church

No. 364

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way 1 Corinthians 1:5-9

It tells us here in 1 Corinthians 1:5-9 that in Christ we are enriched. The first thought that comes to my mind is the phrase enriched uranium which is a term used in the making of nuclear bombs. This is uranium that has been sooped up, concentrated or in modern terms pimped. There is more uranium per square inch than there was before. In Christ we have been added too or sooped up as well, to be a far better product. Ordinary Uranium isnt used in nuclear bombs only enriched, and when we too have been enriched we are powerful for the Lords service. The word enriched in Greek is ploutiz: which is to make rich. Christ took the ordinary you and me, and enriched us for his service; we are now dangerous and radioactive so to speak. In Christ we are so much more than we were before. You might say that you dont feel like you are, but the Bible says that you have been made rich in every way. You have been added too. There is more God per square inch.
You are a new person when you are in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 You have access to His mind. 1 Corinthians 2:16 Your Spirit is joined to His Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17 You can do all things when you are in Christ. Philippians 4:13 You have eternal life now. John 5:24 You have His words in your mouth. Romans 10:8 You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 You have amazing freedom in Christ. Galatians 2:4

The list is endless especially in the New Testament. In a nut shell, all that Christ has is given to you when you are in Him. You can be a far better person than you were before when you are in Christ. You have been made into a nuclear bomb in the Spirit. I hear you say; If this is so then why dont we seem to be experiencing it as we should? Its the age old problem of Satan putting doubt in our minds, or keeping us ignorant of the truth. He cant stop us getting saved but he can keep us in the dark so that we stumble along in ignorance. Right back in the garden of Eden, Satan used this tactic by sowing doubt in the mind of Eve. He said Has God said? And Hes still saying it to us today.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1

As He said to Eve, so he does to us. Has God really said? .You can do all things, you can have eternal life now.You have every spiritual blessing? He also tries to keep us in the dark so that we dont hear these words at all. We may say that ignorance is bliss but in Gods Kingdom it can be hell and many people are going to go to hell because they never heard the truth of the gospel. They were kept in the dark all their lives. Many Christians too will live their lives running on 2 cylinders when they could run on 6 if they only knew the truth. Its the truth that sets you free, not ignorance. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 I feel sorry for Christians who are kept in the dark like mushrooms and told lots of pretty watered down stories each week by their pastors. All they are told is that they must be good and try harder to love man and God which is fine but it doesnt change you, enrich you or empower you. You end up doing everything in your own strength. We should be fed on enriched food like what Christ has done for us already, and all that you can do when you become Christ conscious instead of sin conscious all the time. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and enter into the Rest where we have ceased from our own works. The answer to our weakness and failure is Christ in us the hope of glory not to try harder to be a better Christian. It sounds good but its not the answer. Christ wants to enrich you with Himself. You have been placed in Him and have been made rich in every way especially in the area of your thinking and speaking.
For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge
1 Corinthians 1:5

There is no area in your life that God wants to remain barren. He wants every place to prosper, your health, your finances, your social networking, your creativity, your emotions, your plans everything. I know this first hand for when I came to Christ I was a mess. I had taken drugs and cooked my brain and barely wasnt able to think straight anymore. I was so paranoid and gripped with fear as well. I thought everyone was reading my mind and I couldnt control the bad thoughts that plagued me. I had lost my ability to draw and only wanted simple jobs to do that didnt require too much brain power. When Christ came along He enriched me in every area far beyond my wildest dreams. Fear left me in time and I soon went into the Rhodesian Army which

was a real war and later was able to stand before people as a preacher and a leader thats even scarier. Not only did I draw again but rose to be the top artist in my Art Studio. I have since stretched myself into painting landscapes, cartooning for Newspapers, built computers, write books and have done reasonably well in sport. At one stage I was ready for the Looney Bin but now in Christ I have been enriched, enhanced, pimped and I know that its true that He can enrich us. You are enriched in Him. If Christ could do it for me then He can do it for you.
He has enriched our minds. For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge 1 Corinthians 1:5

This is really only possible through the reading of Gods word. Its by putting all that wonderful knowledge into us that will make us rich. It empowers us to do great things and draws us closer to Jesus.
Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; Proverbs 24:4-5 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. (New Living Bible)

Our thinking has been enriched by the addition of scripture. It fills us with treasure and permeates every area of our lives. Im convinced that those verses I read in Sunday School when I was a child kept me from complete destruction. They held me back from going too far with drugs, where there would have been no coming back. Look at all the new words that you now have, that a non-Christian doesnt use in their vocabulary, especially Praise God. You now have the ability to appreciate and express yourself more now than before. You now know who made all the beautiful things around you and also know that all things work together for your good. What an amazing truth that is, it sets your free from stress and ulcers. Not only in knowledge are we enriched, but in out speaking too. He has enriched our words.
For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking 1 Corinthians 1:5

With all this added knowledge it affects your words. I can see why Paul highlighted knowledge and words more than anything else, for its these 2 areas that will eventually steer the rest of our lives. Christ has given us new words to speak and has enriched our vocabulary, especially after we have been filled with the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit is our Teacher and He gives us a new language as well. You didnt have an online teacher before but now you do. He is your invisible friend who is there to help you; talk about being enriched. I was useless at languages at School and was told to pull out of French and do commercial practise instead. When I was filled with The Holy Spirit I got a new language called tongues, just like Paul did and I now use it 24/7. I think I might be able to say like Paul. I speak in tongues more than you all. My vocabulary has been enriched. I can now pray the will of God and be edified from within. I can also pray for revelation after speaking this new language and have God speak to my spirit. Talk about having nuclear fuel.
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. Luke 12:11-12

Peter was really enriched, for he denied Christ on the eve of His death and yet 50 days later after being filled, saturated and enriched by the Holy Spirit he uttered words that led 3000 to Christ and the infilling of the Spirit.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:..When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far offfor all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:14, 37-40 Talk about someone being enriched in his utterance. In Christ we too have been enriched but we need to realise that Satan is trying to keep us in the dark about this amazing truth. We need to read the epistles and see what has been given to us in Christ and boldly declare it. You can do all things in Christ for you have been enriched by Him in every way. Amen. http://ghotter.blogspot.com