Friday, July 5, 2019

Pipelines for undeserved privilege

Paul begins I Corinthians 4 with, [1] 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.

Jordan explains, "A steward is not the owner, not the boss; he's a servant who, faithful to what the Master says, takes the Word to others: 'I'm just the guy handing out the stuff.'

"I Thessalonians 2:4 says, [4] But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

"Notice we were allowed of God. That's saying, 'I've been given by God this undeserved privilege to preach this.' He's taken His goods and entrusted them to me. I then give them out as a wise steward. I'm just a minister. I'm just the pipeline. I'm not the issue; He's the issue! The message is the issue!

"Paul writes in Ephesians 3: [7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
[8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

"That word unsearchable means untraceable. When you can't trace something you can't search it out. It's too deep, it's too broad. He says it 'passeth understanding.' You can't get your mind around it. Paul prays that you would comprehend it because it's just so big.

"Paul recognizes, 'I've got this message and I've been given the privilege of preaching it,' and that changed his whole thinking process.

"In Acts 20, Paul says, 'Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
[19] Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
[20] And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
[21] Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

"He talks about that lowliness of mind in Ephesians 4: [1] I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
[2] With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

"Humility and lowliness means not thinking you're something you're not. How do you do that? You look at the greatness of what God's done. It's THAT mental attitude that humbled Paul.

*****

"I want you to think for a moment and consider how privileged we are and think about some of the things we take for granted.

"I Corinthians 8 says:[1] Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
[2] And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

"II Timothy 2:15 says, [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"The word study means 'the application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge as by reading, investigation or reflection; to research, or a detailed examination and analysis of a subject.' The verb form is 'to apply oneself to the acquisition of knowledge; to endeavor, to think deeply, to reflect, to consider.'

"If you look at Ephesians 3:4 ('Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ') and I Thessalonians 5:27 ('I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren'), there's an issue of taking God's Word and reading God's Word and considering God's Word and thinking about God's Word.

"Romans 10:17-18 says, [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
[18] But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

"You notice it didn't say faith comes by reading? How in the world has their sound gone into all the world and their words unto the ends of the world? How did that happen? Well, that's a quote from Psalm 19 where he talks about 'the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.'

"There's not a language where the testimony of God's reality isn't made through His Creation. That's why when you talk to an atheist you don't have to argue about God. Everybody knows there's a God. You can't live in creation and not know there's a creator. Creation witnesses and your conscious witnesses. God fixed you that way.

"Romans 10:14-15 says, [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

"There's a process that brings faith to people. There's a sending and a preaching and a hearing and a believing. It was heard because it was preached, because someone was sent. It starts with the possession of His word, but it also starts with taking that Word and preaching it. Being a minister, putting it out there--the heralding of it and the hearing of it creates faith in what's said."

(to be continued tomorrow...)

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