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According to the dictionary faithfulness is being true to one’s word or commitments. Faithfulness is also doing what one has pledged. We can count on God’s faithfulness of keeping his promises. Therefore, when we make a bond, a contract, or an oath we should also uphold its promises.
Knowing this, brings us to the next important truth, if you have given your word to be a member of a church, then you should be faithful to the church and it’s a Events. You should uphold its constitution and/or manual. According to the word of God, this would be your reasonable service.
According to scripture, we are living in the last days, because there is a great falling away of the church. Church attendance across the country is down. Pretty soon, there will be no church, because the few that believe and giving God more than 10% no longer be here. Then, what happens if all the church doors close? where will the presence of the Lord be found? How will it manifest itself? Who will teach the younger generation the words of the gospel? Who will be the lighthouse for the hurting? Who will be the lighthouse that saves the lost. The revelations, standards, and guidelines that help us live as Christ would be lost. There would be no love, there would be no mercy, there would be no kindness; and evilness would reign.
With that, let’s dive into the word today, and let’s pay attention to what God expects of each of us.
Let me get a you what the Holy Spirit has given me.
First, we should be Stewart’s of the gospel and ministers of the word.
Secondly, we should pursue after humbleness. Throughout our walk with Christ we should always and forever be humble.
Thirdly, we should run the race with our eyes on the prize. Meaning we should stay focused and never take her eyes off of the Lord. For example, consider driving down the road. It could be smooth or it could be full of pot holes now if you’re like me, you want to avoid all the potholes, because you don’t wanna damage your truck. Likewise, if we take our eyes off God we will get into all kinds of trouble.
1 Corinthians 4:1-13King James Version
4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
Versus one, two, and three, tell us that we should be good stewards and ministers of the word of God. So what does that mean? Or what does that look like? in Cornith, the day Paul wrote this, a Stewart was commonly placed in the household.
This is a How to message! -Show your faith in God to the world…
The Stewarts had many responsibilities. The Stewart of the house make sure that everything ran smoothly. They were the number two in charge. They could make executive decisions, because they had the power and authority. For example, they made sure meals were served, and make sure everything was clean and orderly, and that the animals were cared for and nurtured. So to be a good steward of God‘s word and God‘s gospel we are ministers. We are too Gilva the gospel to the world. We are not to withhold the gospel from anyone. Gods Stewart’s, also make sure that their own house is clean and that their own house is in order, spiritually speaking. Because one has to have a clean house in order to help seek lost souls, heal the sick, and cast out the demons.
If you don’t believe, this preacher, the Bible tells us that we can do these things in several places. Look at the following scriptures:
Matthew 10:7-8
New International Version
7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven(A) has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Mark 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Faithfulness is to give everyone access to this full gospel. Sanctified Christians are those who are mature. They have their house in order and it’s cleaned up. They belong to God and God belongs to them. They actively serve God and obey his voice. They walk after the spirit and not after the flesh. They are upright. They are honest. They have integrity. They have a good reputation.. They have a pure heart that is in tune to God. They are disciplined by reading God‘s word, meditating on God‘s word, studying God‘s word, praying, and constantly being in conversation with God. And then, that constitutes being a good Stewart of the word. If we had, good Stewart’s, church membership and attendance would not be falling away. People would not rob God with their time and money. They were put God first in their life. Coming to church one day a week is good, but God gave it all, and we should be attending every time the doors are open; especially, if you became a member of the church. For my church, that looks like two services on Sunday, one Bible Study on Tuesday, and one service on Wednesday night. That’s not too much to ask from your members. God understands if we’re sick and feeble, but while we’re able we should be serving the Lord and honoring his house.
So, our responsibility in the house of the Lord brings meaning to the lives of people. For example, if you play the piano or the Oregon you are bringing the full gospel to the people through your strokes of the keys. If you are a teacher you are bringing the full Gospel and planting the seeds of that gospel in the hearts of people. If you are an usher or a greeter, your role is to welcome people to the full gospel. There is no role too big or too small in the house of the Lord. Every role and every callIng makes up the body of Christ and it is important. The church is the lighthouse and the community.
Let’s consider versus three through five, because these tell us to be humble and not to judge.
To judge means to find the excellence for the defects of something or someone. Often times, we judge others when we are fluffing our ego. Paul, said it was better not to even judge yourself. For example, each one of us makes a judgment about ourselves before we leave the house. Sometimes, i find that I talk to myself in the mirror. Yes, I talk the image. The put gel in my hair and style my curls. A question myself on if I have the right dress on with the right body shaper. But then, God says: “are you puffed up today? Is it not I I brought you out? Are you being boastful? Don’t determine the excellency or the defects of another person. It is not for you to judge.
It is up to us to be a minister of the gospel. Judgments in the church don’t look the same as this example. Oh no! I found, that we judge ourself more harshly. We judge others on how they speak, how they look, and how they act. And judging others, we judge their appearance, their smell, we judge what they say, we judge if they smoke cigarettes or not, but it’s not up to us to solve their problems. That is the job of the Holy Ghost. He judges, he teaches, and he guides. We, just get in the way sometimes. If we are judging, how are we supposed to tell them about king Jesus? – who can transform their life? we can’t! It is our responsibility to usher them into the kingdom of God. It’s not our job to customize or tweak their behavior, their attitudes, their habits, or their dress. It’s the Holy Spirit who sparks life into them. It is the Holy Spirit who takes them from a day been Christ to sanctification. It is God who cleans up man; not man who cleans up man. Through Christ Jesus we have victory over death. Through Christ Jesus we are so much more.
Let’s move on to versus seven and eight.
The Corinthian‘s were dealing with the issue of the pride of life. They were very boastful in their newfound grace. Because of grace they felt that they could live life to the fullest. They felt like they had a license to sin. They felt that they could do whatever they wanted to, because they were saved by grace. They felt that they could go to different temples and conduct themselves anyway they wanted to, Because they were saved by grace period because they were no longer under the loss. They posted about the five that I’m living like a king, because God sent us son Jesus, to be the sacrifice for all mankind; therefore it was settled and I’m fine. This was the issue going on in the Corinthian church; which, caused them to be puffed up. We can say the same about some people today.
It is so much easier to live in the light. It’s so much easier not to be too faced. It is so much easier not to lie. When Jesus comes everything will be in the light. When is judgment comes it will be final. I’ll be ready for that? Is your heart ready? well, let’s be ministers of that light. Let’s bring others to the healing! Stay focused on our call of life. Let’s be humble people and focus on the cross.
It is because of Jesus Christ that we can stay focused. It is because of Jesus Christ that we have entered into grace. It is because of Jesus Christ we will make heaven our home. Let’s stay rooted and grounded in the word and allow others to come in. Let’s not judge, but let’s love instead.
Let’s lift our hands to heaven today. Let’s be in the presence of God. Let’s be like that young child that reaches up for mom or dad. Let’s reach out for our heavenly father right now. I don’t know about you, but in this day, I need a hedge of protection from God. People in this world love the darkness more than they love the light. I see continual evil and that’s why Christians are so important today. The love of God shines so bright, that it shines right through you, and extends mercy, and it extends grace, And love to this wicked and dying world of destruction. It’s through our faithfulness that we will find God.
We should have a love for the church we should have a love for the gospel that would share it with everyone. this love should transcend into everything that we do and everywhere we go. We should be Stewart’s and ministers of the word of God on simple road trips with friends right on into our workplace. It shouldn’t matter where we are, but in this day and time mean a steward of gods word is not popular. However, be instant in season and out of season the Bible says. I think, I believe, that the world will always see the followers of Christ as gum. Now, let’s read what the next few verses of this song says.
Verses nine through 11
It seems like this verse is alluding to when Jesus was arrested. We all know the betrayal that he went through. But just as a reminder the cat of nine tails, the plucking of his beard, the striking of fists on his body, and if that wasn’t shameful enough how about the binding of his hands in his feet, and then nailed him to the cross.
What Paul is alluding to in this passage is the great tragedy that he has witnessed. Our missionaries Face the same fate as some of the people during Paul’s age, but for the most part in America this type of tragedy does not occur. During Paul’s age the King with Tar and feather Christians for the amusement of the kingdom. He would have Christian‘s fight light gladiators to the death. Kings would hang Christians upside down on process and burn them at the steak. So, we may be scum of the earth, but as well as we have Jesus Christ living inside of us we have won the victory. When this jig is up we have traded up!
Paul is telling us that this is our call, this is our duty, and it will be hard to stay faithful to it sometimes. God knows our faithfulness. Look at Job! The devil said if you allow me to do this; then, Job will denounce you, but God knew Job’s faithfulness and he knows ours too. So, when we are tested prove God right! Stay faithful to the calling of Jesus on your life. Be the best minister and the best Stewart’s of the word as you can. Stand firm on the rock of your salvation! Move forward in your calling.
So Paul tells us that we will be made a grant specular and the stadium someday, but if we endure to the end, heaven will be our home.
So, let’s Stay humble, stay focused, and stay faithful to the high Call lean God has placed on your life.
