Be Examples of Me
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Church he makes the following statement,
“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”
1 Corinthians 4:15 & 16 NKJV
As wise stewards of the Gospel, every man, woman and child are to conduct themselves in such a way, that those who are saved through their ministry — which is really Christ’s ministry being out-worked through us — will continue to walk out their faith after the same pattern as Christ.
- As their example and father in the faith, Paul had walked the walk before them!
Just prior to these verses, Paul made an even more challenging statement.
“For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonoured! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the filth of all things until now.”
1 Corinthians 4: 9-13 NKJV
The Marks of an Apostle
Have you been condemned to death and made a spectacle to the world — both to angels and to men? Have you been a fool for the sake of Christ? Have you been weak and been dishonoured by men? For the sake of the Gospel have you known both hunger and thirst; been poorly clothed; beaten or homeless? Have you laboured and worked with your hands? Having been reviled, have you continued to bless? Having been persecuted for the sake of Christ, have you endured? Having been defamed, have you entreated men (asked earnestly or anxiously for something)? Have you been made as the filth of the world, the filth of all things?
If you can answer yes for the sake of the Gospel to any of these things, you may well bear in your body the marks of the apostleship of Christ to which Christ has called His Church. For this was Paul’s example first.
Similarly, when speaking of our inheritance waiting in heaven, the Apostle Peter tells us there is a purpose in suffering grief in all kinds of trials – that purpose which proves the genuineness of our faith resulting in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. The Apostle Peter said,
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1 Peter 1: 6 & 7 NIV
Peter goes on to tell us, that despite these trials, we are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy!
“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”
1 Peter 1:8 NIV
- Praise the Lord for these words!
A Testimony of Faith in the Church
Many years ago, when I was a lot younger, I had acted in a very unwise way. It was not until later that the revelation came to me that my motives in what I had done had been very self-serving. I had not been mindful or even aware of another person’s needs involved in what I did, or how it may have affected them. Yet that other person I believe, saw both my immaturity and my need for growth; and they continued to show me love in return and to pray for me. This they continued to do, I believe, over an extended period of time.
Their response to me was one of love, acted out consistently in actions, not just in words. This continued to sow a great seed of gratitude in my heart toward them — as an act of love and compassion will do. So much so, that I began to feel a great sense of loyalty toward that person for what they had done.
Many times, throughout the following years when faced with times of trial, when I felt I couldn’t proceed, I would remember their perseverance and what they had sacrificed for me. This enabled me to push through whatever the circumstances were that I was facing. Because I wanted their sacrifice on my behalf to count for something of eternal value and I wanted to produce living fruit as a result!!
Love and Kindness Flow Together as One
It was while contemplating my heart of gratitude towards this person one day, that the Lord began to reveal to me, that the bias I felt did not come from Him. While it may have seemed noble at the time, the loyalty I felt was coming from an impure motive inside of my heart. It was then, that the Lord began to ask me to take that same sense of loyalty I felt towards this person, and to give it to every man, woman and child I came across in life, regardless of their situation.
You see, I was basing my sense of loyalty and kindness, not on the goodness of Christ for others, but because I felt they were deserving of my loyalty and kindness. But the Lord began to show me this was not the way of Christ. Christ clearly teaches a Gospel that reaches out in love and kindness towards the least of these – See Matthew 25:40. That means that no matter what our discomfort, or what we think the other person does or does not deserve, we are to see them through the eyes of Christ. So that, when we are with them and when we greet them, we are able to treat them with the same honour and respect that Christ would, regardless of who they are. Christ also clearly teaches us, that we are to treat others as we ourselves would want to be treated – See Matthew 7:12 & Luke 6:31.
Upholding the Gospel of Christ
- When we are ambassadors of Christ, we must hold out the whole Gospel of Christ – not just a part.
- Christ’s Gospel is a Gospel of ‘whosoever will.’
- His message of Salvation is that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
When speaking of the righteousness that comes by faith, the Apostle Paul said,
“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’”
Romans 10:8 – 13 NKJV
- No one is disqualified from coming to Christ.
- There is no special requirement to qualify for the redemption of Christ other than that we must come to Him in repentance by faith.
- Salvation in Christ is held out freely to all — for whosoever will!
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Revelation 22:17 KJV
But we Were Washed, we Were Sanctified and we Were Justified
Listen now to how Paul describes the past lives of those very people whom he admonished to take hold of the apostolic call with which Christ has entrusted His Church.
“Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
1Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28 NKJV
In Paul’s own words, some of the early Church had been fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers (abusive) and extortioners (excessively greedy or grasping) – and yet none were exempt from the apostolic call with which Christ has entrusted His Church — Because they had been washed, sanctified and justified in the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the same way, Paul exhorts us as the Church, that we are all much loved sons and daughters of God by our faith in Jesus Christ – and for no other external reason. Through the prophetic act of water baptism, we then choose to die to our flesh – from doing things our own way, to putting on Christ and choosing to do things His way.
Do Not Become Judges With Evil Thoughts
By Paul saying ‘imitate me,’ to the early Church, we understand that there is no man, woman or child who is exempt from the call of reaching people with the Gospel of Christ. The only situational preference of Christ is the call of grace He lays upon each one of us and how that is to be outworked in our lives.
The call of God to reach the lost is fulfilled in the same way that it began – by the grace and anointing of God. For this reason, there are to be no favourites in the Church. James sternly warns against favouritism of any sort – lest we become judges with evil thoughts. He directly warns against partiality or favouritism connected to the faith we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not to have faith with partiality.
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?“
James 2:1-4 NKJV
Favouritism Does not Come From God
In the testimony I shared above, I too had shown favouritism toward a person for what I thought at the time were noble reasons. Yet God showed me the motive of my heart was impure. The favouritism I showed was according to my own terms and not according to the truth of Christ’s Gospel. In that way, my faith according to the true Gospel had been completely misaligned. And just like those whom James is addressing here, I had unknowingly become a judge with evil thoughts – giving preferential treatment to some, whilst missing God’s heart for others. It is right at this very point in his address however, that James goes on to exhort,
“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonoured the poor man.”
James 2:5 & 6 NKJV
God Has Chosen the Poor to Inherit His Kingdom
When we show favouritism toward others, even with what we think is good intent, at the same time we are dishonouring the poor. Yet Christ has chosen those who are poor to inherit His Kingdom and He has chosen those who are meek to inherit the earth. The choice has already been made! Jesus said,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:3-12 NKJV
Just like the person in my testimony who was able to see my need – Christ wants us also to be drawn by His love and compassion toward meeting other people’s needs – even when we think they do not deserve it. The Apostle John teaches us about loving in actions, not just in words.
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
1 John 3:17 & 18 NKJV
There Can Be No Favourites in Ministry
When speaking of the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the Body of Christ, the Apostle Paul said,
“And He Himself (speaking of Jesus Christ) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:11 & 12 NKJV
While Christ Himself appoints men and women of God for this work of equipping the saints, not all who are anointed are appointed. Concerning those who minister into the lives of others within the Church there can be no favouritism, but each one must adhere to the purpose for which they have been called. There has never been a more important message concerning the life of the Church than the following verse,
“In Him (in Jesus Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men.”
John 1:4 NKJV
Let Christ do the work of the Ministry
The vessel or person themselves is not the light – but the life of Christ Who dwells within them. So, rather than looking to a man or woman who is the vessel, we are to look to Christ (the anointed One) Who dwells within.
- There are many vessels- but only one Minister – that Minister is Christ.
- Be ministers one – to – another as well.
- The ministrations of His Spirit are many and varied.
- There are many ministrations – but the Ministry is Christ’s
God’s Requirements for Those in Ministry
There are very clear requirements that the Apostle Paul has set out in Scripture, concerning those who are to hold offices or positions of authority within the Governing Body of the Church. Understanding first, that God’s appointments are there to be representatives of Christ. For it is not man’s government they are representing, but the Government is Christ’s – of which there will be no end – For the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it. – See Isaiah 9:6 & 7.
For example, the Apostle Paul instructs Timothy,
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 3:2-13 NKJV
Let Your Love Walk be Real
Many years ago, the Lord said to me, “Know love – know authority. No love – no authority.” I understood by this, that God’s authority cannot be disconnected from His love, for God is love – See 1 John 4:8. If we want to walk in God’s authority, by necessity we have to simultaneously be walking in His love. The Apostle Paul describes what it is like to be on the receiving end of someone who is trying to minister devoid of God’s compassion and love. It is discordant at best – Harsh and jarring because of the lack of harmony with the love that is expressed only through Christ.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1 – 3
It may have been around this same time, that the Lord also gave me three very similar dreams within a relatively short period of time. In the first two dreams I was taken to what appeared to be a large cemetery. This cemetery seemed to stretch out for miles on a large, grassy, slightly undulating hill. But instead of grave stones there were many, many, great monuments, or what looked to be very large man – made stone buildings, like large tombs or sepulchers lying in rows. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of these. They did not appear to be particularly old but were discolored – slightly off white. I understood at the time that these were the tombs of many would be, great ministries, that had ended well before their time.
In the third dream I found myself again in this same place, and then later in a building off to the side. It appeared to be either part of a museum or part of the graveyard where the curator had his office. In front of me on the ground in the hallway outside, was a small brass object that represented authority. It was brass because it was not established in love. I realized at this time that the Lord was warning me, to be sure that I was always operating in love, or my as yet, very small ministry in it’s starting out stages, would become like one of those I had been shown. I immediately picked up the brass object at the end of the dream and handed it to the curator who was standing there, as if to say, “you can have this – It is yours – I don’t want it.”
In This Way be Imitators of Christ
In the last days, Paul warns Timothy, men will become lovers of themselves. These whom Paul speaks of are likely to be found within the Church, because ‘having a form of godliness they deny its power.’ From such people Paul warns Timothy — turn away.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
2 Timothy 3:1 – 5
The word ‘blasphemers’ used above in this verse is translated ‘blasphēmos’ in the Greek, meaning: ‘scurrilious, i.e. calumnious (a false, defamatory or slanderous statement) (against men), or (specially) impious (showing a lack of respect for God) (against God): — blasphemer(-mous), railing’ (complaining consistently) – See Strong’s Concordance. Paul warned Timothy to turn away from people like this.
In contrast to the above, the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians instructed them,
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Ephesians 4:30 – 5:2
The Love of God Will Never Disappoint us
Likewise, Jesus also warned of what people would become like in the last days.
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Matthew 24:12 KJV
The word for ‘love’ in the Greek that Jesus uses here, is translated ‘agapē’ and speaks of ‘affection’ or ‘benevolence’ (kindness); specially (plural) ‘a love-feast.’ Similarly, ‘wax cold’ is translated ‘psychō’ meaning: ‘to breathe’ and speaks of a reduction in temperature; ‘to chill.’ – See Strong’s Concordance.
Christ is warning, that because of iniquity in the last days, the affection and kindness of many will lose its warmth or grow cold. In great contrast however, when speaking of our perseverance through trials of faith, the Apostle Paul makes this joyful declaration!
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.”
Romans 5:5 NKJV
When there is love in our hearts there is always an outward expression. There is a ‘twinkle’ in our eye that expresses itself towards the other person. It is an expression of love without reserve. But the greatest example of all for this affectionate kind of love was given through Christ, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 NKJV
Now concerning the ministering of the Holy Spirit to the saints, the Apostle Paul states there will be no lack, but that all will result in praise and thanksgiving to God.
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:10-12 NKJV
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV
Amen!
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