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August 8 ~ 1 Corinthians 4:1-21
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. 3 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. 6 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!
9 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 offscouring 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 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. 18 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?
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In verse one, Paul asked the Corinthian believers to look at him as a servant of Christ. He uses a very interesting word “MINISTERS” of the mysteries of Christ. The word in Greek is: “Hyperetes” and means: properly "an under rower" (hupo, "under," eretes, "a rower"), as distinguished from nautes, "a seaman"…came to denote "any subordinate acting under another's direction;" From Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
If you ever saw the movie Ben Hur there was a scene where Judah Ben Hur was rowing at the oars in the bottom of a Roman ship. He was chained as a slave and I had to obey the command of the master. This is the meaning of the word minister in this context, a subordinate like an under rower in a ship. Paul was saying everything that I am doing is because Christ has commanded me to do it. I am simply following his leadership as my master. Christian leaders are to be the under rowers of Christ moving his ship the church in the direction that he leads. Sometimes the winds are fierce and contrary but the faithful pastor or Christian leader must continue to row listening to that heavenly drum beat.
Later in the letter when Paul writes saying you may have 10,000 instructors in Christ but not many fathers because I have begotten you through the gospel he was saying that it is because of the ministry of Christ through me that you came to have faith and were born again by the Holy Spirit. It is in the sense that the apostle Paul was the spiritual father of the church at Corinth. Good fathers care for the well-being of their children. The apostle Paul was caring for the children of God at the church in Corinth. He was concerned about their well-being and that they be united and strong.
For this reason he tells them that he is sending Timothy to them to remind them of his ways in Christ or in other words his lifestyle as a follower of Jesus Christ and also of the teaching that he deposited into every church. This tells me that truth can be reproduced and the same principles of the word of God can be taught anywhere in the world and produce spiritual results making disciples for Jesus Christ. Today, this kind of teaching many times is as systematic theology or teaching that establishes hearers in its truths. Verse by verse of expository teaching of the books of the Bible is very important to grow spiritually because you read what God said in the context of the Scriptures themselves.
Topical teaching is fine as long as the message preached does not compromise the original truth of the word of God. If you happen to be listening today and you have the gift of teaching I want to encourage you to develop that gift and not despise it. Sometimes the image of the teacher is not as exciting or flashy as the preacher or evangelist but it is vitally important that teachers rise up and deliver the word of God in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to establish people in the truths of God. Only after a few years of being saved I realized that God was calling me to teachers word. I had fallen in love with Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. Connecting with God through his word still excites me and it is the joy of my life to teach and preach his word!
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) If you’re a leader Christ has called you to be an under-rower!
2) Christians leaders are in charge of taking people to a destination in God.
3) When the winds are contrary you have to keep going and be faithful.
4) Spiritual fathers lead people to faith in Jesus and care for them spiritually.
5) Reproducing the life of Christ in others through the word of God is true discipleship.
6) It’s possible to reproduce quality Christian faith and character in others through systematic theology, in other words; teaching the same truths as a pattern for others to believe and follow.
7) If you have the gift of teaching don’t despise it but throw yourself into your ministry and teach, teach, teach the word of God and the Lord will bless you with much fruit the remains to his glory!
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
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. 3 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. 6 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!
9 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 offscouring 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 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. 18 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?
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In verse one, Paul asked the Corinthian believers to look at him as a servant of Christ. He uses a very interesting word “MINISTERS” of the mysteries of Christ. The word in Greek is: “Hyperetes” and means: properly "an under rower" (hupo, "under," eretes, "a rower"), as distinguished from nautes, "a seaman"…came to denote "any subordinate acting under another's direction;" From Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
If you ever saw the movie Ben Hur there was a scene where Judah Ben Hur was rowing at the oars in the bottom of a Roman ship. He was chained as a slave and I had to obey the command of the master. This is the meaning of the word minister in this context, a subordinate like an under rower in a ship. Paul was saying everything that I am doing is because Christ has commanded me to do it. I am simply following his leadership as my master. Christian leaders are to be the under rowers of Christ moving his ship the church in the direction that he leads. Sometimes the winds are fierce and contrary but the faithful pastor or Christian leader must continue to row listening to that heavenly drum beat.
Later in the letter when Paul writes saying you may have 10,000 instructors in Christ but not many fathers because I have begotten you through the gospel he was saying that it is because of the ministry of Christ through me that you came to have faith and were born again by the Holy Spirit. It is in the sense that the apostle Paul was the spiritual father of the church at Corinth. Good fathers care for the well-being of their children. The apostle Paul was caring for the children of God at the church in Corinth. He was concerned about their well-being and that they be united and strong.
For this reason he tells them that he is sending Timothy to them to remind them of his ways in Christ or in other words his lifestyle as a follower of Jesus Christ and also of the teaching that he deposited into every church. This tells me that truth can be reproduced and the same principles of the word of God can be taught anywhere in the world and produce spiritual results making disciples for Jesus Christ. Today, this kind of teaching many times is as systematic theology or teaching that establishes hearers in its truths. Verse by verse of expository teaching of the books of the Bible is very important to grow spiritually because you read what God said in the context of the Scriptures themselves.
Topical teaching is fine as long as the message preached does not compromise the original truth of the word of God. If you happen to be listening today and you have the gift of teaching I want to encourage you to develop that gift and not despise it. Sometimes the image of the teacher is not as exciting or flashy as the preacher or evangelist but it is vitally important that teachers rise up and deliver the word of God in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to establish people in the truths of God. Only after a few years of being saved I realized that God was calling me to teachers word. I had fallen in love with Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. Connecting with God through his word still excites me and it is the joy of my life to teach and preach his word!
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) If you’re a leader Christ has called you to be an under-rower!
2) Christians leaders are in charge of taking people to a destination in God.
3) When the winds are contrary you have to keep going and be faithful.
4) Spiritual fathers lead people to faith in Jesus and care for them spiritually.
5) Reproducing the life of Christ in others through the word of God is true discipleship.
6) It’s possible to reproduce quality Christian faith and character in others through systematic theology, in other words; teaching the same truths as a pattern for others to believe and follow.
7) If you have the gift of teaching don’t despise it but throw yourself into your ministry and teach, teach, teach the word of God and the Lord will bless you with much fruit the remains to his glory!
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
Remember, if you’re looking for Ministry Credentials and Ordination visit our website Diamond Institute to apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For more Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
Remember, if you’re looking for Ministry Credentials and Ordination visit our website Diamond Institute to apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For more Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll