1 Corinthians 4

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Typhoon-Haiyan

Philippines

Philippine Military

Local Workers

US Marines

US Marines

US Marines

Red Cross

To Serve

To Serve

• Red Cross, US Marines, Local Workers, Philippine Military all were serving people who were affected. The people don’t say we don’t want this group to serve us and want that group. They receive any help with great joy. Likewise, God sent His servants of God to serve and each with unique gift and calling, true child of God accepts all servants from God

1 Corinthians 4:1

So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God's mysteries.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

Noah Preached for 120 yrs only 8 people were saved (Gen 7:13) - Faithful

Peter and John preached the Gospel message and 5000 men believed (Acts 4:4) - Faithful

ENTRUST

Assign the responsibility for doing something to (someone).

ENTRUSTED by God

• God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. Colossians 1:25

• By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Ephesians 3:17

• But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:24

Organizational Chart

1 Corinthians 4:3

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.

Human Opinion for Trash Can

I do not even judge myself 1 Cor 4:3

• We can judge ourselves of any conscious sin and set things right with God and with men.

• We cannot judge ourselves of any unconscious sin. But, as we grow in Him, God will give light then we will set things right and progress towards perfection till Christ appears.

• But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

1 Corinthians 4:4

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

Our Lord Jesus Said1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your mind.2) Love your neighbor as yourself.

GOD

n e i g h b o rLOVE

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a

result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 1 Timothy 1:19

How God Judges

• God sees heart and judges• God judges any hidden things• God judges our motives• God judges our thought life• God judges our intentions• God judges our private life• Also, God judges our fruit

Can we judge others ?Don’t Judge, but Judge

• Do not judge Matthew 7:1• By their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:16• 1 Corinthians 5:12,13 It isn’t my responsibility to judge

outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

Don’t Judge, But Judge

• Heart• Hidden things• Motives• Thought life• Intentions• Private life• By their fruit you will recognize them

Church with Carnal Christians do not care about sin, but care only about number of people

• Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man. 1 Corinthians 5:3

• Corinthians did not judge based on fruit but based on what they think, showed favoritism and partiality which is not of God.

Hebrews 10:25

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

1 Corinthians 4:5

So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time--before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

1 Corinthians 4:6

Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won't be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.

Mark of True Christian – Receives Everything From God

• Corinthians needed Apollo, Paul and Peter, not just one.

• Today, we need all the servant of God, everyone have unique purpose in the body of Christ.

Paul – Planting (Evangelism)

Apollo – Watering (Teaching)

GOD HAS BEEN MAKING IT GROW!!!

1 Corinthians 4:7

For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

What do you have that God hasn't given you?

• Color• Appearance• Birth Place and Parents• Fruits• Talents and Spiritual Gifts• Knowledge and WisdomDo not be proud or boast about anything, God is source

1 Corinthians 4:8

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign--and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!

To the Church in Laodicea

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Revelations 3:17

1 Corinthians 4:9

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.

Last and First

• Apostles were last in the eyes of the world but first in the Kingdom of God!

• Apostles were poor, humiliated and weak in the eyes of the work. But, Rich, Blessed and Strong in the eyes of God because they depend on Him and He is their source!

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

1 Corinthians 4:10

We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.

1 Corinthians 4:11

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

Carnal Christian vs. Spiritual Christian

• Carnal Christian want to appear great in this world and tolerate sin by accepting and approving it.

• Spiritual Christians are willing to appear weak and fools in the eyes of people and will not tolerate sin, because they know the price paid on the cross and will not receive grace in vain.

• If we are under grace then sin shall not rule over us.

1 Corinthians 4:12

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

Paul - Tentmaker

Discipline

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Finished the Race

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

1 Corinthians 4:13

when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world--right up to this moment.

1 Corinthians 4:14

I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.

Teacher works for salary

Dad Loves and Cares

1 Corinthians 4:15

Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 4:16, 17

Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:18,19

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come--and soon--if the Lord lets me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God's power.

1 Corinthians 4:20

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power.

1 Corinthians 4:21

What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Father Also Uses Rod – But in love and care

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man

who built his house on sand. Matthew 7:26

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who

built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24

Built On The ROCK

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be

able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2