February 18, 2024
Evening Service

Review Chapter 3:

·      Paul explained to the church at Corinth, that they were still young in their faith and had not grown to be able to digest anything except the “milk of the Word.”

·      This was shown by the divisions that were in the church with each one saying: “I am of Paul or I am of Apollos.”  They should have been united in the fact that they all follow Christ.

·      Paul went on to explain that each of us are a building (temple) being built by God and there are many people who God sends to us that invest in us building upon the solid foundation of Christ.

·      Paul finishes the chapter warning the church not to be “wise in this age.”  This world’s wisdom is foolishness to God and God’s wisdom is foolishness to this world’s wise men.  Let Christ be the center of our thoughts as “you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s”

·      Paul now begins Chapter 4 with the proper way to view those who preach the gospel investing in the spiritual lives of others.

1Co 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  (2)  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

·      Paul encourages the church to look upon those who are called to deliver the message of the mysteries of God as servants and stewards of Christ.

·      Servants as belonging to their Master and stewards who are in charge of caring for someone else’s property.  They are called to share the message the Holy Spirit has given them, not a message of their own design.  Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”  Preach the Word, not their own thoughts or message, but God’s.

·      These preacher, servants, and stewards are above all other things supposed to be found faithful to this calling.  They were to add nothing and hold back nothing that God had directed them to say.   To God faithfulness is a required attribute.

·      Paul continues his explanation of how the church is to properly view those who are called to share the gospel message with them.

 

1Co 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.  (4)  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.  (5)  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

·      It is within all of us to naturally try to judge those who speak to us from the pulpit.  We all have speakers we can connect with and seem to think on the same level as them.  There are others who speak that we struggle to keep track of what they are trying to say to us.  That may be why we have so many churches in this small town as everyone is looking for a speaker that they can connect with.

 

 

 

·      Paul here states that “it is a small thing that I be judged by you or by a human court.”  He does not even judge himself, knowing as a human we tend to either be too hard on ourselves or too self-glorifying.  Paul says it is the Lord who judges him and that is how he is justified.  Those who are called to share the message do so to please God, not man.

·      We as preachers of the gospel speak only what we have been given to speak with only the gifts God has given us to speak with.  No two are alike in manner, but the message should be the same, inspired by the Holy Spirit within us, and that should connect with the Spirit of those who listen.

·      We must be extremely careful in judging those who speak as servants and stewards.  Many love things presented as a spectacle or in a flashy or original fashion that entertains them and hold a low value to the simple reading and explanation of the Word.  Here at the Bride we keep it simple and allow the Spirit to do His work in our lives through the power of the Word.

·        Paul says to be safe, “judge nothing before the time.”  Many times the flash loses its appeal and it is the simple that remains faithful.

 

1Co 4:6-8 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.  (7)  For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?  (8)  You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

·      Those within the church were taking pride in who preached to them at the time they believed thinking that sets them apart from others.  Paul tells them that have no right to be prideful in this manner as it is God who chooses their path.  “What do you have that you did not receive?”  It is God that has blessed you.

·      In an attempt to help them understand their problem, Paul resort to sarcasm in verse 8.  “You all think you have already arrived and you know it all reigning as rich kings knowing everything and free to judge others.” You have already arrived as legends of the faith.  He now compares that boastful, prideful attitude with what he and the other apostles are experiencing who are legends of the faith as a bit of a reality check for them.

 

 1Co 4:9-13 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both 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 distinguished, but we are dishonored!  (11)  To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.  (12)  And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; (13) being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the off scouring of all things until now.

·      Paul compares himself and the other apostles to “condemned” criminals.  These criminals would be paraded through town as objects of derision.  While the Corinthians were boasting and living in spiritual complacency, the apostles were openly on display living under the sword and constant persecution.

 

 

 

·      These men were made subject to hunger, thirst, lack of clothes, beaten, homeless, forced to work to earn their living, and returned acts of faithfulness and love to those who treated them that way.  What an example they were to us; truly legends of the faith.  All giving their lives for what they believed in.  So much for the “health and wealth” ministry teachings!

·      Think of this next time someone says something unkind to you about being a Jesus follower.  It won’t stack up very well to what they went through.

 

1Co 4:14-17 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.  (15)  For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.  (16)  Therefore I urge you, imitate me.  (17)  For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

·      This teaching is not to bring shame to the church, but to warn them to open their eyes to how immature they are acting allowing their “carnal” attitudes to rule within the church.

·      He then does something that takes great confidence to do.  He urges them to “imitate me.”  He says this again in Chapter 11:

1Co 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

·      To make this challenge, you must be sure you are on the right path.  Paul lived such a life.  He was not perfect, but he was sold out to fulfilling the calling God had placed upon his life to be His servant and steward.

·      Are you at that point in your walk with the Lord?  Can you tell others to follow the example you are walking before them?  I believe all of us would humbly say no, we have a long way to go yet but we are growing to get to that point.

·      This was big for me in church attendance.  I would invite others to church, but then had to tell them I may not be there because of whatever reason.  I came to the realization that if I invited, I need to be faithful and attend.

·      Paul now finishes this chapter with strong words.

 

1Co 4:18-21 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.  (19)  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word 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 want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

·      Paul was well aware that there is power in presence.  A letter can speak strongly, but when someone is there looking you in the eye there is a unique power to that.

·      He tells them it is up to them the attitude he will bring when he comes.  If they have not repented and changed, he will bring a rod and correct them.  If they have humbled themselves and made changes then he will come with love and gentleness.  A good steward knows what is needed and will do whatever it takes to make things right.