A FAITHFUL STEWARD

Sometimes we cannot praise God when we are unable to see what He is doing. But we who have eyes and have seen what God is doing give Him praise because we see in the Spirit. The apostles spoke of the time that we are now in; the beginning of the end. God is calling forth His true apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, when for years and years, these gifts were imitated.

The Father has now said, “True gifts come forth.” The Father allowed man to tarry for a long time. He allowed them to say He [God] was in handkerchiefs and cloths, speaking in tongues and in the dress code. However, when the devil thought he had the world up against the ropes, God said, “Now true apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers and evangelists come forth.” If we cannot see this, then surely the god of this world has blinded us.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Why would God call us new creatures? It is because the entrance of His Spirit makes us new. I know we are still in these fleshy bodies, but nevertheless, we are new creatures. We are not the same. We are now in Christ and He is in us. We must believe this, for it is the foundation of our entire Christian walk.

When we are re-born of the Holy Ghost, everything about us changes. We take on the character, nature and love of our Father. To be in Christ means your soul exists within the Spirit of Christ. It means: - To be a new creature - Old things are passed away - All things are new.

STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD

1 Corinthians 4:1

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Let men look and make the judgment that we are the ministers of Christ and the keepers of the mysteries of God. There are certain things we did not know until we came in contact with a steward of the mysteries of God. When we came into the church there were certain negative mindsets we did not know how to break until we came in contact with a steward of the mysteries of God.

Do not look at a steward after the flesh. Do not see one fall and say he is not a steward. There were years we walked in sin but even then, we were predestined to be stewards. God spoke before the foundation of the world and called us stewards. If God can use a man who persecuted the church and killed Christians, He can certainly use a man who was addicted to drugs. A steward is a new creature.

1 Corinthians 4:2

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

In other words, more importantly than what you call me, I have a requirement, and that is to be found faithful. Ministry is the gift invested in a Son, by God as He so chooses: but a steward’s requirement is to be faithful. We are required to be a manifestation of the Word, which is more important than what people call us.

1 Corinthians 4:3

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 [Amplified Bible]

1 So then, let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God.

2 Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].

Faithful –

1. Firmly and devotedly supportive: Loyal.

2. Worthy of trust or belief: Reliable. Webster’s Dictionary

Others’ judgment of Paul herein is of little significance to him. Not that the judgments do not exist but Paul did not regard them. Our lives are the only things that are important to God. Anything we do for God is by the gift He has given to us. Any type of ministering, preaching, teaching, counseling, healing, prophecy, etc., is strictly produced by the gift. Our requirement is to be found faithful.

Our ability to minister the Word of God does not guarantee our entrance into the Kingdom of God. Only those who endure to the end in righteousness and holiness, and have a testimony that they overcame the world, will make it in. Many can preach, teach and counsel overcoming, but if they themselves have not overcome they will not make it in.

No one is hidden from God, although they may be hidden from the natural eye. Also, we each know when God is not using us. We have to be found faithful. Our very souls are at stake. We must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.

1 Corinthians 4:3

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Paul is telling us that he did not judge his own self. We certainly did not know what to judge until Jesus came into our lives and shined His light on us. We did not know we were full of lust, pride and wantonness until salvation came. Paul did not judge himself by himself because he was not justified by himself. Paul did not hang on a cross for his own sin. He did not redeem himself nor did he give himself the right to call God Father. Jesus gave him that right, and that same Jesus is the One who is judging

Paul: Preaching · Teaching · Counseling · Healing and · Prophecy are all produced by the gift given by God. Jesus’ testimony was that He had overcome the world. We, too, must have this same testimony.

Overcome - 1. To defeat in competition or conflict: CONQUER.

2. To prevail over by mental or moral effort: SURMOUNT.

3. To surmount opposition: WIN OUT. Webster’s Dictionary

John 16:33

[Amplified Bible] 33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

DARKNESS IN THE HEART

1 Corinthians 4:5

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, because He is going to bring light to all those things that have been hidden in the darkness.

When we look at where we have come and begin to love the Father, this alone makes us want to live holy. What darkness is Paul speaking of here? The darkness (iniquity, evil) we have willingly allowed in our hearts; for the light has come to expose that darkness. We can preach and teach but God is not going to give us any power until we deal with the darkness in our heart. We can pray and lay hands but if we have darkness in our hearts that God has already shined the light on, and still choose not to renounce those hidden things, people’s lives are going to be on the line because we are not faithful.

If we are stewards of the Word of God and one of our requirements is to be found faithful, what good are we if all we can do is minister the Word? Some will need a healing when we are on the scene, but how can we give this when we have darkness in us? Let us be fervent to walk the walk of Faith, ensuring there is no darkness in us. Let us love in all purity and rid all darkness from the heart!

t to walk the walk of Faith, ensuring there is no darkness in us. Let us love in all purity and rid all darkness from the heart! I love you, Apostle Mary Banks