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"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 must be 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. The counsel of the Holy Spirit is the foundation and guide: the rock in every season. How we do anything or everything stems from this understanding.
The next verse, 1 Corinthians 4:1-3 NASB, says, "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy."
Trustworthy is 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."
How to show you are worthy? Wow. That seems like a big responsibility - almost scary to me except that we find Jesus Christ 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
This is 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
Phew! Leadership is hard, but 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 fulfil 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 is willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure." MSG
This encourages the soul. Leadership must rely on the energy of God deep within us. 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 complementary 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].
Paul, theologian and Apostle pointed out a prophecy by Daniel, the government official and prophet, that the coming of the 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.' 2 Thessalonians 2:3[CJB]. Daniel stresses that this Apostasy (i.e. departing from the 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 the battle is against the truth in the 'Holy covenant,' which Paul lets us know are the Holy Scriptures of YHWH.
''...Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favour to those who forsake the holy covenant."Daniel 11:30b
"With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him." Daniel 11:32.
Those who resist the blandishments of this invader 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."
Knowing Jesus' voice intimately means his followers are not deceived by an imposter due to ignorance. Jesus is the word of God that has become human. Knowing the scriptures intimately enables us to know Jesus and YHWH intimately.
We are in a time when developing our knowledge and faithfulness to the scriptures in culture is of the utmost importance.
Other Biblical References:
"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
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