"FIXER UPPER" - (Week 9) -|- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -|- Pastor Nathan Deisem - Fathom Church

"FIXER UPPER" - (Week 9) -|- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Pastor Nathan Deisem - Fathom Church
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1 Corinthians 4:1-5 [ESV]
1 This is how one should regard US, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

• US: Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter) … Certainly the Apostles
 (w/ application to pastor/elders as well)!
o Servants of Christ – No one should be held in higher regard than Jesus
 Stewards of the Mysteries of God – Taking Care of His Truth!
• Mysteries – Paul talks about this in Ephesians also! [CROSS]
o [No new “Mysteries” will be revealed today]

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

o Stewards: Those to whom this has been entrusted!
 Faithful: To whom? – To God Alone! [ 1&2 Timothy 3 ]
• Not faithful to worldly wisdom, trends, public opinion, personal opinion, peer pressure, media, - TO GOD!

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

• Judge: ἀνακρίνω – to investigate or examine
o This is different from κρίνω (Which we will examine in verse 5)
 I am not aware… – Conscience – Not all consciences work!
• Paul has a mature conscience [Romans 7:15-20]
o No longer struggling with the don’t-s

5 Therefore do not PRONOUNCE JUDGMENT before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

• Pronounce Judgment… κρίνω – (Against People – we do κρίνω deeds)
 Think SENTENCING - (Not Assessment)
o Before the time – Jesus is returning to pronounce judgment!
 Destroys the Temple (church) – Division/Factionalism
• Explicitly OT Language – Direct Comparison
• Bring to Light things Hidden in Darkness: [1 Samuel 16:7]
o Remember the “Bema Seat” Judgment – The Building Materials
 Tested by fire to determine their worth!
• Jesus will judge our motivation to assess “Commendation!”

*** SO WHAT ***
- Spiritual leaders are primarily Servants of Christ Jesus!
o Do not revere them above Jesus
 Respect and emulate those to serve Jesus humbly, righteously, zealously…
- Do not “Pronounce Judgment” on brothers and sisters in Christ
o (Which is to say sentence them or condemn them)
 We may need to examine out own actions and motives
• We all benefit from time-to-time from righteous input from loving Brothers and Sisters (Judgment of Deeds)!
- An element of spiritual maturity is to grow beyond struggles with the Don’t-s (Sin)
o And graduate to primarily be concerned with the DO-s (righteous deeds)
 Sanctification

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