"This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." 1 Corinthians 4:1-3 NASB
The fundamental Truth of our service in God's house is that we are first and foremost the servants of Jesus Christ. This means our allegiance and loyalty are to him and our directions primarily from Him. Though this does not mean we are not open to encouragement or counsel from fellow humans, it does mean nothing is higher than the instructions the spirit of God gives us in line with the scriptures. Am I ever so glad for the counsel of the Holy Spirit?! His foundation and guide are the rock in every season. How we do anything or everything stems from this understanding. What JOY to be in the service of the one who loved us so much, he paid the ultimate price for our freedom!
The next verse i.e. 1 Corinthians 4:1-3 NASB says "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy."
Trustworthy. A word also translated as Faithful.
As the Easy to Read version explains, '"Those who are trusted with such an important work must show that they are worthy of that trust."
To show you are worthy? Wow. That seems like a big responsibility - almost scary to me except that we find Master Jesus saying in Matthew 11:29-30:
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” NIV
Otherwise explained as:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” MSG
HalleluYah! Phew! What a relief that we have his help working in us to prove ourselves worthy of the trust bestowed on us! As the Apostle Paul said:
"for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" Philippians 2:13
This means we are to "be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure." MSG
This encourages my soul. The energy of God deep within me is what I must rely on. It is in watching and working closely with Jesus and the Father that I will be found worthy of his commission on my life. It is only in him that energy and rest find a complimentary balance. For this I am grateful.
In the other part of 1 Corinthians 4:1-3 NASB, Paul describes himself and his co-workers as "stewards of the mysteries of God." In other words, "the ones God has trusted to do the work of making known his secret truths." ERV
There is so much within the scriptures. The ear has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. But God revealed them through his Spirit who searches all things, even the depths of God.[Ref: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10].
One of the truths he has revealed is that the end of the age and full gathering of all believers will not occur till the 'Great Falling Away' occurs. This is the period preceding the rule of a king who will exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, speaking against the God of gods (i.e. YHWH) successfully till all foretold is done.
This preceding period will be marked by many people previously loyal to the 'holy covenant' forsaking it.
There are several takeaways when we read Daniel 11:28 -39 and 2 Thessalonians 2:5 -12. However, most important is what God wants us to focus on now.
The prophecy is that the coming of our Lord Jesus and the gathering of believers to meet him will come after 'the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah (scriptures) has been revealed, the one destined for doom.' [CJB]
Daniel stresses that this Apostasy (i.e. departing from Torah/scriptures) is what makes many of the people susceptible to deception and open to flattery so much so that they align with themselves with this King who exalts himself as God.
The takeaway is that when the Spirit warns us all to go back to the scriptures individually and collectively as his people, it is because he is preparing us for the times ahead. This predicted irreverent King is not against any earthly systems, groups or customs. His battle is against the 'Holy covenant' which Paul lets us know is the Holy scriptures of YHWH.
''...Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant." Daniel 11:30b
And
32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
Note that those who resist his blandishments succeed only because they KNOW their God. The word 'know' used there is the word יָדַע yādaʽ which means to know, recognize and understand intimately.
Jesus in John 10:14 -15 said “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
The reason for knowing Jesus' voice intimately is not just so He can lead us (individually and collectively) as his flock, but so that we are not deceived by an imposter due to ignorance. Jesus is the word of God become human. To know the scriptures intimately by the spirit of God is to know Jesus and YHWH intimately.
We are in a time, where developing our knowledge and faithfulness to the scriptures is of utmost importance.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Amen.
"For already this separating from Torah is at work secretly, but it will be secretly only until he who is restraining is out of the way. Then the one who embodies separation from Torah will be revealed, the one whom the Lord Yeshua will slay with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the glory of his coming.
When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them." 2 Thessalonians 2:6 -10 CJB
#everymanabiblestudent #mysheephearmyvoice #HisChurch #Jesusatthecenter #bymyspirit #deborahladeministries
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