February 8, 2015
Evening Service

This morning we saw Paul address the second problem that the Corinthian church was experiencing. It was the problem of carnality.  Paul had taught them the basics of the Christian faith and the church continued to stay right there spiritually.  They had not begun the transformation of removing the worldly attributes from their life and replacing them with the “fruits of the Spirit.”  The scriptures repeatedly encourage us to “grow” in our faith.  We should not be satisfied with the “milk” of the Word but we should begin to desire the “meat.” He finished the chapter with stating that we should not glory in men, because all things belong to God.  As we begin chapter 4, Paul addresses these issues in more depth.

1Co 4:1-2 So let a man think of us as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  (2)  And the rest, it is sought among stewards that one be found faithful.

·         Paul compares himself and the other ministers to being stewards of God.

·         Steward-one entrusted to manage, care for, or supervise someone else’s property. 

·         We all as Christians are to be good stewards of the mysteries of God that have been revealed in the NT period.  Good stewards are defined by their faithfulness.  How are we doing with that?  Are you following Jesus’ command to?

 

Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

·         Are we being faithful in putting Him first in every aspect of our lives?  How are our finances, prayer life, Bible study, church attendance, giving, working and helping lining up?

·         Now we see how we are to judge our and others faithfulness.

 

1Co 4:3-5  But to me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court; in fact I do not judge my own self,  (4)  for I know nothing by myself. Yet I have not been justified by this, but He who judges me is the Lord.  (5)  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall each one have praise of God.

·         It is only to God that we have to answer to for our faithfulness.  Each of us is given our own cross to bear.  Actions that He has called us to be faithful to.

·          We are also NOT to judge anyone else, because we do not know what all is being done nor do we know the why either.  It is Christ who will judge by our heart.

 

1Co 4:6-7  And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, so that no one of you may be puffed up against one another.  (7)  For who makes you to differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

 

 

 

·         Paul asks why we would esteem one speaker over another, because it is God that has given each his own gifts and abilities.  Each of us is equipped by God to fulfill His purpose in His kingdom.

 

1Co 4:8 Already you are full! Already you are rich! You have reigned as kings without us! And oh that indeed I wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

·         The Corinthians felt they had already attained their righteousness and were now living this life as heaven on earth.  This life was relatively trouble free for them and it was much like the “health and wealth” doctrine that is being taught today.

·         This is NOT heaven.  This life is simply a journey of faith we are taking.  There is no place, before our grave, to stop and declare “I have made it, I am all that God wants me to be.”  Don’t become satisfied; always seek a deeper level with God.   Paul says:

 

Php 3:8-14  But no, rather, I also count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them to be dung, so that I may win Christ  (9)  and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith,  (10)  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death;  (11)  if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.  (12)  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.  (13)  My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

·         Paul could not say he had reached that pinnacle and there is no way we can either.  Listen as he describes the lives of the apostles:

 

1Co 4:9-15  For I think that God has set forth us last, the apostles, as it were appointed to death; for we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.  (10)  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.  (11)  Even until this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place.  (12)  And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; (13)  being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the off scouring of all things until now.  (14)  I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.  (15)  For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for I have begotten you in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

·         Look at the suffering God had the apostles to endure.  How can we feel we deserve any less?  These men set the example for us all.

 

1Co 4:16 Therefore I beseech you, be imitators of me.

·         Despite all the suffering Paul endured, he could still direct us to imitate him.  We are to imitate his unselfish devotion, tireless love, and service to Christ and his fellow believers.  We are to endure whatever hardships, trials, or persecutions that we encounter along our journey and still yet remain faithful stewards.

 

1Co 4:17-21  For this cause I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.  (18)  As to my not coming to you now, some are puffed up.  (19)  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills. And I will not know the speech of those who are puffed up, but the power.  (20)  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.  (21)  What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and the spirit of meekness?

·         Paul is sending Timothy to them to remind them of his teachings.  Some there felt he was afraid or too good to come and that was not the case.  He hoped to come himself, yet the kingdom is not made of words, but power.  The power is the God given authority in which those who are called can speak in His Name and authority. 

·         It was up to the church whether he would have to come in a spirit of reproof or one of exhalation.  Which would we receive?

 

Tonight are we being good stewards?

Are we pressing on to “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God?”

Are we imitating the perseverance of Paul?

 

Lord, may we live our lives in such a way that we too can be examples to others of one who is a faithful steward.