with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️Instructions to the Church of Corinth about ministers and stewards in the gospel ministry. Paul as a minister and Apostle had not received anything but worked with his own hands. He says for this reason they are a spectacles to the world, angels, and men and of the filthy and off scouring of the world, yet they were workers of Christ. All who are followers of Christ are to be found faithful in all things.
*1️⃣1Corinthians 4:1-7:Account of true ministers of the Gospel and cautions against pride, rash judgment and self conceit.*
⏹️ Every minister of God should live an honest life, be at peace with God and members of the body of Christ. It pleases the Church to recognised how happy a thing it is to be forgiven, to be at peace with God, to have a sure hope of life everlasting. Jesus said, *"And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent"(John 17:3).*
⏹️Because of the honor of Christ and the honor of the gospel, it is important for those who are in the Lord to be found faithful stewards of the mysteries of God. The wiseman says, *"A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent"(Proverbs 28:20).*
*2️⃣1Corinthians 4:8-17: The Apostolic fatherhood of Paul to the Corinthians and example to follow Christ.*
⏹️The Christian life is a spectacle to their many neighbours and also to the angelic hosts who are witnesses and are part of our daily lives. The Apostle says, *"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"(1 Corinthians 4:9).*
⏹️True religion is marked by hard work, sacrifice, shameful living amongst the world, suffering and toil. The Apostle says, *"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation"(2 Corinthians 1:5-6).*
*3️⃣1Corinthians 4:17-21: Paul encourages the Corinthians to change their attitude and behaviour and so he sent Timothy to look into the issues affecting the Church.*
⏹️Paul an example of spiritual parenting and teachers, who loves his children. His is not as a schoolmaster but as a father,not to shame his children but to warn and chastise them in love. The Apostle says *, "But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons"(Hebrews 12:8).*
⏹️ His is not to threaten but to encourage, not to punish but to supply suitable help required by his spiritual children with firmness. The Apostle Peter says, *"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty"(2 Peter 1:16).*
*🅰️Appeal*
The Apostle take warning to his Corinthian believers to cease their unchristian feuds and rectify the abuses amongst them and return to their called duty. He speaks to them with the tenderness of a father among but with authority. However, the minister should avoid any conflict but have the spirit of love and meekness. The Apostle says, *" Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering"(Colossians 3:12).* Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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