I Corinthians 4
Proper examinations come from the LORDverses 1-4
Let a man so account of us – as of the ministers of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God
Moreover it is required in stewards
that a man be found faithful
BUT with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you
or man’s judgment – YEA – I judge not mine own self
for I know nothing by myself
yet am I not hereby justified
but HE that judges me is the Lord
LORD will bring hidden things to lightverse 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
Watch out that you don’t puff yourself upverses 6-7
And these things – brethren
I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes
that you 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
For who makes you to differ from another?
and what have you that you did not receive?
NOW if you did receive it – why do you glory
as if you had not received it?
Some think they have arrivedverses 8-9
NOW you are full – NOW you are rich – you have reigned as kings without us
and I would to God you did reign -that we also might reign with you
For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last
as it were appointed to death
for we are made a spectacle to the world
and to angels – and to men
Apostles treated as the filth of the worldverses 10-13
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
Even to this present hour we both hunger – thirst – are naked – are buffeted
and have no certain dwelling place
and labor – working with our hands – being reviled – we bless
being persecuted
we suffer it
being defamed
we entreat
We are made as the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things
to this day
Paul the spiritual father of those in churchverses 14-16
I write not these things to shame you
but as my beloved sons I warn you
FOR though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ
yet have you not many fathers
for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel
WHEREFORE – I beseech you – be you followers of me
Paul sends Timothy to remind themverse 17
For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy – who is my beloved son
and faithful in the Lord
who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways
which be in Christ
as I teach everywhere in every church
Kingdom of God is not just talk but actionverse 18-21
NOW some are puffed up – as though I would not come to you
but I will come to you shortly – if the Lord will – and will know
not the speech of them which are puffed up – BUT in power
FOR the kingdom of God is not in word – BUT in power
What will you? shall I come to you with a rod – or in love
and in the spirit of meekness?
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (2212 “required” [zeteo] means seek, desire, try to obtain, attempt to find, strive for, expect, examine, investigate, or endeavor)
DEVOTION: Each believer is a steward of what the LORD has given them. Each have different gifts that the LORD has given. Each are required to serve the LORD according to the commands HE has given to all believers. One such command is that we are to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives outside the church.
Each believer should desire to be found faithful in their lifetime to the expectation of the LORD. Many never understand what the LORD expects of them because they never taught themselves through the Word of God or the church where they attended never instructed them properly.
Too often there are even seminary graduates that are not helped during their time in seminary to understand what is expected of them when they take a church. The training in many of the seminaries is lacking in practical theology.
One of the things that I appreciated when I went to seminary the first time was that they had professors who were currently pastors instructing us in very practical measures that needed to happen in the church. One of the practical measures was for the pastor to be in the home of those who attend the church at least once a year.
The second time I attended seminary things had changed. I had no professors who were currently pasturing churches. They taught the students that the people should make an appointment with the pastor and meet them in their office. There was no visitation taught. More of the students were concerned with being CEO’s rather than pastors. One of the professors went into the pastorate to only last a year because he was not visiting his people. One famous pastor who has written many books was fired from a church in New England because he never left his office to visit the people.
We sometimes wonder why the church is not influencing society as well as it used to. The reason has to start with leadership. There are good men who want to serve the LORD still serving in our churches. Some have gone beyond seminary training to teaching themselves to be true Shepherds of the flocks the LORD has given them.
CHALLENGE: Church leaders need to set the example for the people to follow. If church leaders are not out in the trenches what are the people going to do? Jesus and Paul were out in the trenches.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but HE that judges me is the Lord. (350 “judges” [anakrino] means examine, ask question, search, discern, study thoroughly, investigate in court, to evaluate carefully, to interrogate, to sift thoroughly, forensic, or to decide)
DEVOTION: Living the Christian life is a dangerous life. It is full of individuals who want to judge you. There are a lot of people who think they have a right to judge your actions. They look at you and say you are doing things wrong.
Paul has people judging him. His conscience is clear between him and the LORD. Does this mean that he thinks he never sins? NO!! He knows that he sins but he also knows that God has forgiven his sin and he can continue to minister until he dies. He knows he will answer to the LORD for all his actions.
He also knows that there are people who think they have a right to judge his actions. These individuals think that they have arrived at the state in their Christian life that they can judge others.
Paul reminds theme that the only one who can truly judge his actions is the LORD. He doesn’t even try to judge himself because he might have a wrong evaluation of his actions. He knows that there is a time coming when Jesus is going to judge all Christians for their service to the LORD. It is then that he will know the truth of his actions.
We need to realize that there are always going to be people who look for our faults. They will even say some of our good actions are wrong. We have to answer to the LORD for our actions. Our conscience needs to be clear.
If we know we have done something wrong we need to go to the LORD and confess it. If we have hurt someone we need to go and ask for their forgiveness. We also need to not worry about what people think of us.
CHALLENGE: All we can do is our best with the help of the Holy Spirit and that will never be good enough for some. They will answer to the LORD as well.
: 7 For who makes you to differ from another? And what have you that you did not receive? Now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you have not received it. (2744 “glory” [kauchaomai] means boast, to display or proclaim publicly and ostentatiously a satisfied contentment with one’s own or another’s achievements, to pride (oneself), rejoice, be glad, to exult, or to vaunt)
DEVOTION: There are some people who think that they deserve salvation. They think that they are good people and God knows that they earned their salvation by their actions. They think that a select group of people receive salvation because they are just good people. They are wrong in their thinking but still think they are part of that group.
Paul reminds them that they have received their salvation purely as a gift from God and not given it because of something they have done or because they were born into just the right family.
These individuals think they have something to boast about. They think they are better than other people. In fact, this group thought they were better than Paul and the Apostles. They thought they were better than other people in their church.
Paul writes to correct this puffed up attitude. We are to have a humble attitude. We are to have a thankful attitude. We are never to have a puffed up or prideful attitude.
All believers receive a gift from God that only HE can give and HE gives it not on the merit of the person but on the merit of the blood HIS Son shed on the cross. We deserve hell for eternity. They deserve hell for eternity. They need to change their attitude to a thankful attitude and stop putting the apostles and Paul and their fellows church members down. We need to do the same today!!!
CHALLENGE: We need to make sure that we are humble in our attitude toward others and ourselves. We need to give the LORD all the glory.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. (1411 “power” [dunamis] means force, might, abundance, strength or mighty work)
DEVOTION: Church problems are real. They were real in the first century church. Paul was dealing with individuals in the church at Corinth that thought they had arrived at perfection. They thought they were better than Paul. They thought that they had a favorite spot in God’s kingdom.
Paul warned that the LORD is the judge. Everyone is going to appear before the LORD and HE will reveal all the hidden things of darkness that are to be found in every believer. The LORD is going to manifest or show the counsel of the hearts of those who think they have arrived. These individuals were puffed up in pride.
Paul describes the life of an apostle. He describes the life of a steward. The steward was to be faithful to the LORD. He described Timothy as one who is faithful. He described himself as the one who started the church in Corinth and that all those who were acting puffed up were his children in the LORD. He wanted them to learn and imitate him. They were presently not doing it.
When we look at all that the apostles went through to preach the Word of God, we should be amazed. Paul tells how they are appointed to death. He points out that they are going to be a spectacle unto the world. The world doesn’t like those who are on fire for the LORD. The church sometimes doesn’t like those who are on fire for the LORD.
There are people in our churches today that think that they have arrived and are better than everyone else around. Sometimes they are pastors. Sometimes they are people in places of authority in the church. They sound good but their actions show that they are full of false pride in their spiritual growth in the LORD. Paul wanted to check out what they were saying and if it was Biblical. Sometimes we can say the right things with a wrong attitude. That is what Paul was concerned about in this church.
Words can be used to make a person seem important. Paul wanted to see if the person demonstrated the power of God in his life. Words can be deceiving but people who watch us can see if God is real to us. There can be no puffing up on our part in our service to the LORD.
Is God real to us? Do we have the POWER from on high? If we were receiving a visit from Paul, what would he be coming with? A rod? Or would he come with love and in the spirit of meekness?
Watch our attitude in relation to others in the ministry. Make sure that you don’t get a better-than-thou attitude toward other believers. God will reveal it to you if you ask HIM or HE will reveal it on judgment day.
CHALLENGE: Remember that some people who think they are serving the LORD now are going to hear “I never knew you.” Watch whose example you follow!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
That which is writtenverse 6
Gospelverse 15
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 5, 8, 9, 20
Mysteries of Godverse 1
Praise of Godverse 5
Kingdom of Godverse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 1, 10, 15, 17
Judgeverse 4
Lordverses 4, 5, 17, 19
Return of the Lordverse 5
Jesusverse 15
Christ Jesus verse 15
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Spectacle to angelsverse 9
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Spectacle to the worldverse 9
Spectacle to menverse 9
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Judging before the timeverse 5
Hidden things of darknessverse 5
Counsels of the heartverse 5
Puffed upverses 6, 18, 19
Kingdom of God is not just wordsverse 20
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Ministers of Christverse 1
Stewards of the mysteries of Godverses 1, 2
Faithfulverses 2, 17
Justifiedverse 4
Praiseverse 5
Learnverse 6
Reignverse 8
Fools for Christ’s sakeverse 10
Wise in Christverse 10
Warnedverse 14
Begotten through Gospelverse 15
Consistent Teacherverse 17
Powerverses 19, 20
Kingdom of God comes with powerverse 20
Rodverse 21
Loveverse 21
Meeknessverse 21
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Ministers of Christverse 1
Brethrenverse 6
Apollosverse 6
Apostlesverse 9
Spectacle: world, angels, menverse 9
Fools for Christ’s sakeverse 10
Hungerverse 11
Thirstverse 11
Nakedverse 11
Buffetedverse 11
No certain dwelling placeverse 11
Working with our handsverse 12
Reviledverse 12
Persecutedverse 12
Defamedverse 13
Filth of the worldverse 13
Offscouringverse 13
Beloved sons of Paulverses 14, 17
Instructors in Christverse 15
Father = Paulverse 15
Follow example of Paulverse 16
Timothyverse 17
Faithful in the Lord
Bring to remembrance Paul’s ways
Paul teaches in every churchverse 17
Last Things (Future Events)
Judge nothing before the timeverse 5
Hidden things of darknessverse 5
Manifest the counsels of the heartverse 5
Coming of the LORDverse 5
Reign with Christverse 8
Appointed to deathverse 9
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QUOTES regarding passage
18–21 Now concerning his own proposed trip to Corinth, Paul addresses some in the church who had acted arrogantly as though he were not going to come and did not dare to do so. These were the false teachers who were trying to undermine his authority (cf. 1 Cor 9:1–3; 2 Cor 12:12) by saying he was unstable (2 Cor 1:17) and weak and that his message was of no importance (2 Cor 10:10).
Paul replies that, the Lord willing, he will come without delay, and then will find out the real power of the arrogant persons who are doing all the talking against him (v. 19). Alla (“but”) emphasizes the contrast: Talk is cheap! What real power do these people have to promote their unscriptural and derogatory ideas? Paul uses the expression “kingdom of God” in v. 20, not in its future eschatological sense, but, as the reference to the arrogant Corinthians here shows, in a present spiritual sense of God reigning over his people and demonstrating his power in their lives. The apostle is talking about the life that comes from Christ (2 Cor 5:17), the new birth and its power (cf. John 3:3–8).
Paul climaxes his thought with the question, “What do you prefer?” (v. 21). He poses two alternatives: Do you want me to come “with punishment or in love and with a gentle spirit?” So Paul has answered their charge that he is afraid.
The expression “a spirit of gentleness” is certainly not to be taken as referring to the Holy Spirit, but to Paul’s own spirit. Coupled as it is with “in love,” it means that Paul wants to come in a manner expressing gentleness. (Mare, W. H. (1976). 1 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 215). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
4:18–21. Paul anticipated that not all would be moved by his appeal. Some, probably the unnamed party leaders (v. 5) or guardians (v. 15), were arrogant, which was the cause of the Corinthians’ division problem. They might not be swayed by exhortation. They required action. And that, Paul knew, he was capable of meting out in the power of the Spirit (Acts 13:9–11). When he had preached to the Corinthians, he had not depended on his own ability but on the power of the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:4–5). He would rely on this same power for discipline (2 Cor. 10:4–6). This was the authority of God’s rule (cf. Acts 5:3–11). Though Paul loved the Corinthians he knew that a loving father did not shy away from discipline (cf. Heb. 12:7). If it were needed, he would wield a whip (rabdos, a “rod”). From the Greco-Roman point of view this “rod” was a symbol of discipline executed by one in authority. Paul himself had been punished by rods more than once (Acts 16:22–23; 2 Cor. 11:25). But he preferred a visit characterized by love and … a gentle spirit. (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 513). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Third, Paul was faithful to discipline the family (vv. 18–21). A child’s will must be broken, but not destroyed. Until a colt is broken, it is dangerous and useless; but once it learns to obey, it becomes gentle and useful. Pride is a terrible thing in the Christian life and in the church. The yeast of sin (leaven, 1 Cor. 5:6–8) had made the Corinthians “puffed up,” even to the point of saying, “Paul will not come to us! His bark is worse than his bite!” (2 Cor. 10:8–11)
Paul had been patient with their disobedience, but now he warned them that the time had come for discipline. Paul was not like the tolerant modern mother who shouted at her spoiled son, “This is the last time I’m going to tell you for the last time!”
A faithful parent must discipline his children. It is not enough to teach them and be an example before them; he must also punish them when they rebel and refuse to obey. Paul would have preferred to come with meekness and deal with their sins in a gentle manner, but their own attitude made this difficult. They were puffed up—and even proud of their disobedience! (1 Cor. 5:1–2)
The contrast in this paragraph is between speech and power, words and deeds. The arrogant Corinthians had no problem “talking big,” the way children often will do; but they could not back up their talk with their “walk.” Their religion was only in words. Paul was prepared to back up his “talk” with power, with deeds that would reveal their sins and God’s holiness.
This section prepared the way for the next two chapters that deal with discipline in the local church. There was much sin in the Corinthian congregation and Paul was prepared to deal with it. He had already written them a letter about the matter (1 Cor. 5:9), but the congregation had not obeyed him. It was then that some of the more spiritual members contacted Paul (1 Cor. 1:11; 16:17) and shared the burdens with him. Some of the church leaders had written Paul for counsel (1 Cor. 7:1), and Paul prayed that they might obey the counsel he wrote to them.
It is a principle of life that those who will not govern themselves must be governed. Insurance companies and medical authorities urge drivers to wear seat belts, but many of them refuse. So the government must pass a law requiring drivers to wear seat belts. If you fail to obey, you will be punished.
Paul gave the Corinthian church opportunity to set their household in order. In the following chapters, he explains how the local church ought to be governed in the will of God. Unfortunately, the church did not immediately obey. Paul had to make a quick visit to Corinth and his experience during that visit was very painful (2 Cor. 2:1; 12:14; 13:1). He then had to write them a very strong letter (1 Cor. 7:8–12); possibly it was carried by Titus.
To the glory of God, the matters did get settled for the most part. There was still some “mopping up” to do (2 Cor. 12:20–13:5), but the crisis was now over.
It is not an easy thing to be a minister of Jesus Christ. As a steward, you must be faithful to your Master no matter what men may say to you or do to you. You will be treated as refuse by the people of the world. Your own spiritual children may break your heart and have to be disciplined.
God’s faithful servants deserve our love, respect, obedience, and prayer support. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 585–586). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
4:18, 19 arrogant. They were full of pride, thinking they would never have to face Paul again. But, if God allowed, he was planning to see them soon. He would not let their proud sinning go unchallenged, for their own sake as well as the gospel’s (cf. Heb 12:6). The reality of how much real spiritual power they had would become clear in that confrontation. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Co 4:18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 18. Now some are puffed up, &c.] Some with their gifts, learning, and eloquence, and with the high station they were in, in the church; believing they should continue therein undisturbed, thinking themselves safe and secure through the absence of the apostle, and which they flattered themselves would always be the case: as though I would not come to you; and others that were for Apollos and Cephas against Paul, were puffed up against their fellow-members on the same account; hoping they should never see him more, to put them in any other situation than what they were in, by demolishing their factions and parties; and others, as the incestuous person, and those that took encouragement to sin by his example, were also puffed up upon this score, and mourned not over, nor repented of their iniquities, but remained secure and hardened; believing the apostle would never more come among them, to call them to an account for their mal-practices. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 626). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
18. Now some are puffed up. They are puffed up with a vain confidence; they say that I would not dare to come; that I would be afraid to appear among them, to administer discipline, to rebuke them, or to supersede their authority. Probably he had been detained by the demand on his services in other places, and by various providential hinderances from going there, until they supposed that he stayed away from fear. And possibly he might apprehend that they would think he had sent Timothy because he was afraid to come himself. Their conduct was an instance of the haughtiness and arrogance which men will assume when they suppose they are in no danger of reproof or punishment. (Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: I Corinthians. (R. Frew, Ed.) (p. 79). London: Blackie & Son.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Steward. In the OT a steward is a man who is ‘over a house’ (Gn. 43:19; 44:4; Is. 22:15, etc.). In the NT there are two words translated steward: epitropos (Mt. 20:8; Gal. 4:2), i.e. one to whose care or honour one has been entrusted, a curator, a guardian; and oikonomos (Lk. 16:2–3; 1 Cor. 4:1–2; Tit. 1:7; 1 Pet. 4:10), i.e. a manager, a superintendent-from oikos (‘house’) and nemō (‘to dispense’ or ‘to manage’). The word is used to describe the function of delegated responsibility, as in the parables of the labourers, and the unjust steward.
More profoundly, it is used of the Christian’s responsibility, delegated to him under ‘Christ’s kingly government of his own house’. All things are Christ’s, and Christians are his executors or stewards. Christians are admitted to the responsibilities of Christ’s overruling of his world; so that stewardship (oikonomia) can be referred to similarly as a dispensation (1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25). C. H. Duncan. (Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (1133–1134). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
The apostle Paul also saw himself as a steward (1 Cor. 4:1-2) who would have to give an account of his stewardship (1 Cor. 4:3-4; cf. 2 Tim. 4:7-8) as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Eph. 3:2; Gal. 2:7-8; Rom. 1:5-6; 13-15). There is also a sense in which every Christian is a steward entrusted with a divine gift (1 Pet. 4:10). Faithful and wise stewardship of this gift or ‘talent’ will result in blessing and reward but unfaithfulness will result in judgment (Luke 12:42-43; Matt. 25:14-30).R.H.S. (Achtemeier, P. J., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper’s Bible dictionary (1st ed.) (993). San Francisco: Harper & Row.)
I. The Contrasts between Faithful and Faithless Stewards (4:1–13)
A. The faithless steward (4:6–8, 10b, 10d–10e)
1. This person is filled with pride (4:6–7).
2. This person is presumptuous (4:8).
3. This person is wise in his own eyes (4:10b).
4. This person is physically strong (4:10d).
5. This person is well thought of by the world (4:10e).
B. The faithful steward (4:1–5, 9–10a, 10c, 10f–13)
1. This person possesses a clear conscience (4:1–4).
2. This person does not judge others (4:5).
3. This person becomes a spectacle (4:9).
4. This person is written off as a fool (4:10a).
5. This person may be physically weak (4:10c).
6. This person is laughed at by the world (4:10f).
7. This person is often hungry, thirsty, and without warm clothes (4:11a).
8. This person is brutally treated and homeless (4:11b).
9. This person is acquainted with backbreaking labor (4:12a).
10. This person blesses his or her enemies (4:12b, 13a).
11. This person is looked upon as the world’s garbage (4:13b). (Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (1 Co 4). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.)
S tewards of mysteries
T rainable thru prayer
E vangelistic
W orship
A ppearance
R iches
D etermination
The oikonomos was perfectly free to enjoy the materials that were placed under his jurisdiction, but they never belonged to him, and he was ultimately responsible to give an account of his stewardship. (p. 47)
Exodus 4
Aaron is appointed to help Moses.
INSIGHT
God does not need any one of us. He wants us and He would like to use us, but God does not need us. Take away one person, and the work of God is not diminished — it goes on.
When God calls us to a ministry, it is for our benefit. If we are unwilling or impure, He can get the work done through someone else. We must realize that everything God asks of us is ultimately for our benefit — even serving Him. Moses is a good example of that fact.
(Quiet Walk)
The year was 1918, near the end of World War I, and photographer Eric Enstrom was putting together a portfolio of his work. He wanted to include one that communicated a sense of fullness in a time that felt quite empty to so many people. In his now much-loved photo, a bearded old man sits at a table with his head bowed and his hands clasped in prayer. On the surface before him there is only a book, spectacles, a bowl of gruel, a loaf of bread, and a knife. Nothing more, but also nothing less.
Some might say the photograph reveals scarcity. But Enstrom’s point was quite the opposite: Here is a full life, one lived in gratitude, one you and I can experience as well regardless of our circumstances. Jesus announces the good news in John 10: “life . . . to the full” (v. 10). We do a grave disservice to such good news when we equate full with many things. The fullness Jesus speaks of isn’t measured in worldly categories like riches or real estate, but rather a heart, mind, soul, and strength brimming in gratitude that the Good Shepherd gave “his life for the sheep” (v. 11), and cares for us and our daily needs. This is a full life—enjoying relationship with God—that’s possible for every one of us.
(By John Blasé, Our Daily Bread)
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
…in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 1 Corinthians 2:4
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Clearly there are two things at any rate that go with this term. It is something that happens that gives authority and power and the ability for service and witness. The apostles were given it at the very beginning, and the result was that they began to speak with other tongues, and Peter, filled with the Spirit, preached his sermon. Then again, after they had prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness. And when Paul was confronted by the opposition of that clever man, the magician Elymas, he was filled especially with the Spirit in order to pronounce a judgment, and the judgment fell upon the man. So it is clear that the filling with the Spirit happens for the sake of service; it gives us power and authority for service.
Let me emphasize this. This filling is an absolute necessity for true service. Even our Lord Himself did not enter upon His ministry until the Holy Spirit had descended upon Him. He even told the disciples, whom He had been training for three years, who had been with Him in the inner circle, who had seen His miracles and heard all His words, who had seen Him dead and buried and risen again, even these exceptional men with their exceptional opportunities He told to stay where they were, not to start upon any ministry, not to attempt to witness to Him, until they had received the power that the Holy Spirit would give them.
This is something, therefore, that is vital to our witness. It was the whole secret of the ministry of the apostle Paul. He did not preach with enticing words of human wisdom, but preached, he said, “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). He was filled with the Spirit for his task.
A Thought to Ponder: The filling with the Spirit happens for the sake of service
(From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 241-242, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Names of God
“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16)
Many stirring books have been written on the general subject of the names of God. Most of the names make use of one or two of the three primary names. The first is Elohim, meaning “mighty one.” It is a uni-plural name—plural in form but singular in meaning and verb usage, suggesting the uni-plural nature of the triune Godhead, appearing in most English translations as “God.” It most often is used when worldwide events or attributes are discussed, including creation, judgment, sovereignty, transcendence, and salvation. The second is Jehovah, meaning “the self-existent one,” which appears as “LORD” in English translations. It stresses God’s holiness, nearness, concern for man (especially Israel), hatred of sin, love of sinners, and His revelatory nature and communication. The third is Adonai, a more general term meaning master and used of both men and God. It appears as “Lord” in English Bibles.
For example, the name Elohim, the transcendent, uni-plural Creator God, is appropriately used exclusively in Genesis 1:1–2:4, the account of creation from God’s perspective. Throughout the rest of Genesis 2, the account of creation from man’s perspective, the combination name Jehovah-Elohim is used. Man was at this point without sin, in full accord with his Creator, and experiencing the fullness of His love and communication. The curse, as related in chapter 3, changed things forever, and in chapter 4, Adam and his offspring, painfully aware that their sin has broken God-established relationships, relate better to Jehovah, the Savior. In our text for the day, we see Noah obeying the orders of Elohim, the sovereign judge, to enter the Ark, but Jehovah, the loving Savior, making them secure.
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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