©2002 Pastor Tom Miles

Chapter four begins with the first two verses talking about the mysteries of God and how we are all servants of God! You and I are servants of Christ! We are one with Christ stewards of the great mysteries of God. These great mysteries of God have not all been revealed to us and as they are revealed we need to show our virtue, honor, respect, honesty, trustworthiness, and willingness to manage and administer these revelations to others. We need to be teachers or witnesses of the mysteries of God! Father; let me always hold close to Your teachings so that I can administer those teachings/revelations to others!

Verses three to five tells us to never judge one another or even our self! The only one that can truly judge is God. And the decision that God makes is final and the only one that counts. No other judgment means anything if it did not come from God! If we need reprimanding it will come to us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can use others to give us correction at times and praise will also come to us in the same manner! Thus we will find ourselves giving praise unto God even for the correction!

Paul speaks in verse six about the things he had written about before pertaining to boasting in men instead of Christ. This pertains to religious teachers and groups or churches getting glory that belongs to Christ not man! Paul prays that a lesson be learned from the example set before them. Paul desires to see them follow the examples given and become apostles of Christ, not apostles of men! Paul uses his name and the name of Apollos so as to not openly accuse those amongst them publicly. Paul did not want to become judgmental. The ones being spoken about know who they are and because of this writing others will be able to discern who they are through Christ in them. Father God let me never become puffed up boasting and gloating in self or puffing up another as equal to or as great as Christ!
Who makes me different? Who makes you different? Verse seven asks the question: Who is it that makes us different--Man--Self--God! God is the one that makes us different. No matter what skill, talent, characteristic, or knowledge we have it comes from God! God is the one that gives us value and honor. Father, thank You for all You have given unto me--I am totally indebted to you!

Verse eight says that the people have become full in the gifts of God and so have the apostles. The difference though is that the apostles stayed in exaltation and edification of Christ and the body while the Corinthians began to give accolade and exaltation to self. You might say they became as greedy whoremongers filled with riches desiring always more and more thinking it was because of self they received. They began praising self and through their haughty attitudes caused divisions in the body stole the praise and joy of the apostles and of God! Father; help me to never boast of myself. Help me to never put myself above others!

Paul expresses the suffering a follower of Christ goes through daily in verse nine. Persecutions, degradation, and humiliation are the fare of those that stand strong for Christ!

In verses 10 to 12 Paul tells the Corinthians that the Apostles gave up their worldly treasures to follow Christ. Even if, Paul says, we seemed foolish to others we did not falter in our stand for Christ. The apostles lived a truth not a lie. The Corinthians were trying to keep the best of both worlds. The apostles relied only on the strength, power, and protection that came from God. The Corinthian's were trying to impress that they were godly through their own natural ability. Paul says that while they were receiving glory and honor from their actions the apostles were despised and forsaken for their true walk with Christ.

Paul continues in verse 13 to tell of how the apostles have been insulted and spoken badly of yet they do not falter in their walk for Christ. Their main goal is to edify and exhort the body of Christ instead of tear down the body of Christ. Paul refers to the apostles as the filth of the earth. The apostles were considered the lowest of the low--scum--that which is shunned and washed away. Paul also refers to the shunning of them by other believers too timid or afraid to stand firm for Christ. Father, thank You for causing me to recognize the fact that I will be treated at times like the scourge of the earth because of Christ and thank You for giving me the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome!

Paul's great love and compassion for the people is shown in this writing. In verses 14 to 17 he tells the people that he is not writing to shame them or make them feel badly instead he is treating them as he would his own children. He is correcting them because he loves them and does not want to see them lost on the day of the Lord. He desires to see them grow in the Lord. Although many will share the Gospel of Christ there is but one head. There is only one spiritual leader in the body. Paul says that he loves them and wants only to bring them up as Christ would. Live as I do because that is the way Christ lived! Paul reminds them that he is living the life of Christ and this is the way they should also live. Paul continues to tell the Corinthian's that this is the way he always acted no matter where he went. He even sends unto them, Timothy, who is his beloved and as if his own son saying that he always conducted himself in a Christ-like manner. He also states that the message he gave was universal--it was the same message everywhere he went. The words might be different but the meaning is the same.

In verses 18 to 20 Paul is saying that he will soon follow Timothy. Paul is letting them know that he cares enough about them that he will soon visit personally if God were willing. Paul goes on to say that the Kingdom of God is not in words of man but instead it is in the Power of the words! That Power is the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the words.

Paul concludes this chapter by saying he speaks to them with the authority vested in him as their spiritual leader. He asks how they would rather he comes to them: with rod in hand or with love, kindness, meekness, and nurturing in hand? The Holy Spirit as your leader and power gives you the power and virtue of Christ if you truly desire Him to work in you.
Father; give me the desire always to fully walk with You in all things. Thank You for showing me your love and power by sending Christ to redeem me and thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit! Thank You for showing me how to be a true steward of the great mysteries of Your Word!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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