FAITHFULNESS
1 Cor. 4:1-2 “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.
We have been studying the four major categories of our ambassadorship. 1. The privilege; 2. The Responsibility; 3. The Fight; 4. The Glory. The privilege of our ambassadorship, is the right given to us by God, enabling us to tell men about the grace of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. And we have a twofold privilege: A. To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery ,….Be ye reconciled unto God. B. Make our impact upon principalities and powers (angels) in heavenly places of the manifold wisdom of God.
1 Cor. 4:1-2: READ: “that a man be found faithful.” what does it mean to be found faithful? God wants a man to be responsible, to be loyal, to be constant, to be reliable, to be dedicated, to be devoted, to be steadfast and unmovable = to be found faithful! It is essential that we understand faithfulness to understand the adversary- the fight, because SPOE is coming next! The adversary will tempt you (like he did Adam & Eve) not to remain loyal, faithful. Satan will tempt us into changing our tactics, Change the message in order to be more successful, more popular, to reduce the opposition, the fiery darts of the devil. But Paul cautions us, DO NOT CHANGE THE MESSAGE! That would be an unfaithful steward.
We have been committed the ministry of reconciliation, and we are also stewards of the mysteries of God. A steward is a manager of his master’s wealth. Paul, like us are not the source of the wealth, but we are the “managers,” the “messengers” of God’s “hidden wisdom.” The mysteries Christ revealed to Paul concerning His heaven bound people, the church, body of Christ.
We as stewards need to be faithful (loyal) to the message. Faithful to the One who gave us the privilege to dispense the message. And faithful to the cause of the furtherance of the gospel. We are really talking about “evangelism.” The proclamation (or the preaching) of the gospel of grace to non believers resulting in their conversion to Jesus Christ and fellowship in the local body of believers, evangelism. Evangelism is a sore spot among grace believers. And it is due to lack of training. Paul was not pleased with the Corinthians Saints. Matter of fact Paul was reproving (rebuking, chastising) the Corinthians for using faulty standards. as you know, the Corinthians were saved, but they were carnal (worldly). They were even critical of Apostle Paul, they were judging him on his outward appearance. Because he wasn’t a silver-tongued orator like men who were preaching another gospel. And these were grace believers. We are to never compare ourselves with one another, we serve Christ. Christ is our power source.
But Paul didn’t let that hinder him. Paul was teaching godliness. There is a tendency to make the message of grace more palatable (agreeable, acceptable, attractive) because of its natural offensiveness. But Paul is reminding us to remain faithful to the message. Never compromise the message to make it more attractive to men. Remain faithful to the one who entrusted us with the mysteries of God. Remain faithful regardless, loyal regardless, to the cause of Christ. I like what Paul told Timothy, in 2 Tim.2:2: “Thou therefore (Timothy) ENDURE HARDNESS As a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (remain faithful Timothy, under persecutions, under suffering, under sickness, under hardships, under great pain, without giving up!
2 Tim. 2:3: REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE MESSAGE TIMOTHY: “do not compromise the message, do not change the message, do not water down the message, Why Paul? Because you are in a fight, a battle, a spiritual war, that’s why. “No man that warreth entangles himself, interweaves himself, in the affairs (personal business) of this life. Why? That he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. Remain faithful to your ambassadorship regardless. Because we are in a fight, conflict with other gospels, the perversions, corruption of the word of God. Present the message God gave you clear & precise. The gospel has a “baked in” offensiveness and it is foolishness to the natural man. And God designed the gospel exactly that way. The goal of the first part of the gospel is Romans .3:19; “that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be guilty before God.” The pride and the ego of lost men to hear that there is nothing he can do to save himself from God’s wrath, the lake of fire. And there will be no excuses accepted, offends lost men. And it should!
1 Cor, 1:18; “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. We like Paul are stewards of the mysteries of Christ. Paul did not know this information by himself, it was revealed unto him, and he revealed it unto us. We are not justified by the works that we do for Christ. What matters is what Christ does through the believer. That’s why you cannot be reluctant about taking a stand for the word of God rightly divided. We cannot be influenced by the fashion of this world. Instead, we should welcome the sufferings of Christ. Paul’s Only concern was pleasing God, not men. God is our judge, we should care nothing about the judgment of men. At the judgment seat of Christ, God will reveal the secrets of men’s, hearts, Oh yes, our motives and our intentions will be revealed.(Heb. 4:12). “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel (Rom. 2:16). As an ambassador for Christ, the first thing on MY mind when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing on MY mind as I close MY eyes to go to sleep is, 2 Cor. 5:10:“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: As faithful ambassadors, faithful to the message, faithful to God who entrusted Us with the message of the grace of God, and the mysteries of Christ, and faithful to the cause of Christ, we too have a crown of righteousness laid up for us, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give unto us at that day. And at that day we can say along with Paul to those SOULS at the BEMA, who WE have WON to Christ: “For you are our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye (as we stand) in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are (indeed) our glory & joy.1 Thess. 2:19)(Phil. 4:1) “Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (1Cor.4:1-5.
REWARDS FOR FAITHFUL (LOYAL) AMBASSADORS/ STEWARDSHIP:
1. Faithful stewardship of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). This stewardship concerns the special revelation of the mystery which was committed to Apostle Paul. The Twelve had the stewardship of the Kingdom committed to them. Most of Christendom have sadly confused these two stewardships. Reward in this area requires more than simple sincerity. Accuracy, careful handling, right division of the word: all of these are essential to faithfulness as a steward of the mysteries of God.
2. Faithful stewardship of worldly possessions (2 Corinthians 8, 9). The Israelites were subjected to a ten percent income tax, better known as the law of the tithe. Believers in this present dispensation of grace are not under the law (Rom. 6:14). Paul does not lay down any percentage. He simply states that sparse (scarce, stingy) sowing (planting) will result in a sparse (scarce) harvest, and that every man should give “as he purposeth (thoughtfully) in his heart” not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). Some have been entrusted with very little of this world’s goods, but if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man has, not according to that he has not. That is grace giving.
3. Faithfulness in soul winning. Paul said of those whom he had led to Christ: “ For what is our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his (Rapture) coming? (1 Thess. 2:19).
4. Faithfulness under suffering and trial. Again, Paul says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:12), and “if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8:17). I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18).
5. Faithfulness toward all men. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:9,10).
* Paul informs us that Christ will judge the living and the dead and his appearing and his Kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1; Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10). “His appearing” has reference to the time of the rapture of the body of Christ (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Christ will reward the Old Testament and Tribulation saints when He returns to the earth, but BEFORE this He will reward us (body of Christ) when we “meet the Lord in the air.”
*Our Account in Heaven: “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”
To God Be The Glory, Saints!!!
Colman J. Gilliland 