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 I Corinthians 4 (28:59)
Selected Verses:
II Timothy 2:6. The husbandman that laboureth must be first
partaker of the fruits.
Matthew 7:1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
I Corinthians 4:1-5. Let a man so account of us, as of the
ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover
it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But 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. 4For I know nothing by
myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore
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. Opening:
A man told me how God dealt with him about his minister. He
found a lot of things that he didn’t understand in this minister. But one
night, he had a dream or a vision, in which he saw this minister in charge of a
large store, a store in which a lot of things were sold that were good to eat,
even candy—chocolate candy. And he saw this minister in charge of this store
and sampling everything. And he got kind of jealous of the minister because
this minister dug into the chocolate candy and had a taste of everything that
he was selling—everything that the customers…
Well, what’s good for me is the good for the assembly, and
what’s good for the assembly is good for me, praise the Lord! “The husbandman
that laboreth must first partake of the fruit.” But the thing
that impresses me in this verse is this: that the Apostle Paul sets himself
forth as an example. A minister who’s not an example is not a very good
minister. He must first partake of the fruits. Any man who dares
preach something that he hasn’t experienced himself is going to fall flat.
… Selected Quotes:
Why is it that the Apostle Paul was
set forth “as it were appointed to death”—being defamed,
being reviled, being misunderstood, being criticized, being judged?—by the
saints! Let alone what the world did: they stoned him from city to city,
imprisoned him, tried to kill him again and again. And all these things the
Apostle Paul suffered. I’ll tell you why: he had to. He wouldn’t have
gotten anyplace—the church of Jesus Christ would not have gotten anyplace if
God hadn’t given to them a champion that was willing to lay down his life to be
faithful to Jesus Christ and to do the will of God as He appointed it for him…
The Holy Ghost will use you—make you an example, glory to
God! He’ll let you suffer. He’ll let you “die daily.” But as you do—as you surrender to Jesus, don’t regard the criticism
and the judgments of men who don’t understand. Regard only the command of God
and the will of God. And you can’t take time to explain everything. People
wouldn’t understand it anyway. But the result will be that the life of Jesus
will take over. The life of Jesus Christ will take over! And people will get
the light, and they’ll see, “Oh, it was the Lord after all.”
…
And He says, “If they called the
Master of the house Beelzebub…” Oh, beloved, what an
honor—what a great honor to suffer a little bit for Jesus! Unless I receive it
as an honor, I’m not fit for the ministry. Oh, God alone can make ministers!
God alone can. “You’ve not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.”
Jesus Christ, and You’ve ordained me, and You have enslaved me to Yourself as a
bondslave of love. You have pierced my ear. “I
come to do Thy will, O God,” Jesus Christ says in my heart when He
ordains me to be a branch in the Vine. Oh, for such a ministry!
…
What has God called you for? You’ll
never find it out until you “present your body a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable unto God.” And we’re not going to understand any of
these chapters in Corinthians unless we take the key: I Corinthians 1:9, “God
is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ
our Lord.” And what does that mean? Why, I give Him my
sin, I give Him my flesh, I give Him my bondage, I give Him my body, my soul,
and my spirit. And He takes it, and He gives me in return His own divine
nature: His humility, His purity. “He is made unto us righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption.” Fellowship!
…
Many times in people whom He has
really chosen, He hides their true worth under a lot of faults. And outwardly
they look crude, and sometimes they look very unkempt and unfinished. But oh,
inwardly, God has His work: there’s love and joy and peace and
longsuffering—there’s real love for Jesus Christ. And we
ought to be very, very, very careful not to judge. We’re so apt to judge
others.
… Illustrations:
A key qualification for the ministry: taking criticism. (from 5:31) The ministry of faith answered by divine provision. “I
know that in this work, God has striven to set up an example of a Holy Ghost
ministry that lives by faith. And we’ve seen such miracles… You try to have a
work like this without an organization and have every avenue—every part of
it—well supplied!” (from 7:00) A holiness preacher who spoke with unction and spiritual
pride. (from 22:17) The story of a boy who let his teacher judge for himself.
“That’s the place, the only place of safety for a minister: ‘He that judgeth
me is the Lord.’” (from 25:03) German at 11:43:
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Hab’ ich das Haupt zum Freunde
Bin ich geliebt von Gott,
Was schaden mir die Feinde,
Was acht’ ich ihren Spott’?
Ich weiß und glaub’ es feste,
Ich rühm' es ohne Scheu,
Daß Gott der Höchst’ und Beste,
Mein Freund und Vater sei,
Weil er in allen Fällen
Mir will zur Seite stehn’
So werden Sturm und Wellen
Ich werd’ niemals untergeh’n
Preis der Herrn. |
If I have the Head for a friend,
If I am loved by God,
What harm can enemies do?
I care not about their mockery.
I know and believe it firmly,
I praise it without being shy,
That God, the Highest and Best,
Is my friend and Father.
Because in every case,
He will be at my side,
So that in storm and waves
I will never drown.
Praise the Lord. |
This is a modified quote from If God Himself Be for Me, by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676. The entire German hymn, and its freeform English translation appear here:
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Ist Gott für mich, so trete
Gleich alles wider mich,
Sooft ich ruf’ und bete,
Weicht alles hinter sich.
Hab’ ich das Haupt zum Freunde
Und bin geliebt bei Gott,
Was kann mir tun der Feinde
Und Widersacher Rott’?
Nun weiß und glaub’ ich feste,
Ich rühm’s auch ohne Scheu,
Daß Gott der Höchst’ und Beste,
Mein Freund und Vater sei,
Und daß in allen Fällen
Er mir zur Rechten steh’
Und dämpfe Sturm und Wellen
Und was mir bringet Weh.
Der Grund, da ich mich gründe,
Ist Christus und sein Blut;
Das machet, daß ich finde
Das ew’ge wahre Gut.
An mir und meinem Leben
Ist nichts auf dieser Erd’;
Was Christus mir gegeben,
Das ist der Liebe wert.
Mein Jesus ist mein’ Ehre,
Mein Glanz und helles Licht.
Wenn der nicht in mir wäre,
So dürft’ und könnt’ ich nicht
Vor Gottes Augen stehen
Und vor dem strengen Sitz;
Ich müsste stracks vergehen
Wie Wachs in Feuershitz’.
Mein Jesus hat gelöschet,
Was mit sich führt den Tod;
Der ist’s, der mich rein wäschet,
Macht schneeweiß, was ist rot.
In ihm kann ich mich freuen,
Hab’ einen Heldenmut,
Darf kein Gerichte scheuen,
Wie sonst ein Sünder tut.
Nichts, nichts kann mich verdammen.
Nichts nimmet mir mein Herz!
Die Höll’ und ihre Flammen,
Die sind mir nur ein Scherz.
Kein Urteil mich erschrecket,
Kein Unheil mich betrübt,
Weil mich mit Flügeln decket
Mein Heiland, der mich liebt.
Sein Geist wohnt mir im Herzen,
Regieret meinen Sinn,
Vertreibt mir Sorg’ und Schmerzen,
Nimmt allen Kummer hin,
Gibt Segen und Gedeihen
Dem, was er in mir schafft,
Hilft mir das Abba schreien,
Aus aller meiner Kraft.
Und wenn an meinem Orte
Sich Furcht und Schwachheit find’t,
So seufzt und spricht er Worte,
Die unausprechlich sind
Mir zwar und meinem Munde,
Gott aber wohl bewußt,
Der an des Herzens Grunde
Ersiehet seine Lust.
Sein Geist spricht meinem Geiste
Manch süßes Trostwort zu,
Wie Gott dem Hilfe leiste,
Der bei ihm suchet Ruh’,
Und wie er hab’ erbauet
Ein’ edle, neue Stadt,
Da Aug’ und Herze schauet,
Was er geglaubet hat.
Da ist mein Teil, mein Erbe
Mir prächtig zugericht’t;
Wenn ich gleich fall’ und sterbe,
Fällt doch mein Himmel nicht.
Muß ich auch gleich hier feuchten
Mit Tränen meine Zeit,
Mein Jesus und sein Leuchten
Durchsüßet alles Leid.
Wer sich mit dem verbindet,
Den Satan fleucht und haßt,
Der wird verfolgt und findet
Ein’ harte, schwere Last
Zu leiden und zu tragen,
Gerät in Hohn und Spott,
Das Kreuz und alle Plagen,
Die sind sein täglich Brot.
Das ist mir nicht verborgen,
Doch bin ich unverzagt.
Dich will ich lassen sorgen,
Dem ich mich zugesagt,
Es koste Leib und Leben
Und alles, was ich hab’;
An dir will ich fest kleben
Und nimmer lassen ab.
Die Welt, die mag zerbrechen,
Du stehst mir ewiglich,
Kein Brennen, Hauen, Stechen
Soll trennen mich und dich,
Kein Hungern und kein Dürsten,
Kein’ Armut, keine Pein,
Kein Zorn der großen Fürsten
Soll mir ein’ Hind’rung sein.
Kein Engel, keine Freuden,
Kein Thron, kein’ Herrlichkeit,
Kein Lieben und kein Leiden,
Kein’ Angst und Herzeleid,
Was man nur kann erdenken,
Es sei klein oder groß,
Der keines soll mich lenken
Aus deinem Arm und Schoß.
Mein Herze geht in Sprüngen
Und kann nicht traurig sein,
Ist voller Freud’und Singen,
Sieht lauter Sonnenschein.
Die Sonne, die mir lachet,
Ist mein Herr Jesus Christ;
Das, was mich singen machet,
Ist, was im Himmel ist. |
If God Himself be for me, I may a host defy,
For when I pray, before me my foes confounded fly.
If Christ, the Head, befriend me, if God be my support,
The mischief they intend me shall quickly come to naught.
I build on this foundation, that Jesus and His blood
Alone are my salvation, the true eternal good;
Without Him, all that pleases is valueless on earth:
The gifts I owe to Jesus alone my love are worth.
His Holy Spirit dwelleth within my willing heart,
Tames it when it rebelleth, and soothes the keenest smart.
He crowns His work with blessing, and helpeth me to cry
“My Father!” without ceasing to Him Who reigns on high.
To mine His Spirit speaketh sweet words of soothing power,
How God to Him that seeketh for rest, hath rest in store;
How God Himself prepareth my heritage and lot,
And though my body weareth, my Heav’n shall fail me not. |
German at 20:08:
Guter Gemeinschaft — Good companionship References:
Within the Holiest
by Gerhard Tersteegen (translated by Frances Bevan)
(Revelation 1:5,6)
His priest am I, before Him day and
night,
Within His Holy Place;
And death, and life, and all things dark and bright,
I spread before His Face.
Rejoicing with His joy, yet ever
still,
For silence is my song
My work to bend beneath His blessed will,
All day, and all night long—
For ever holding with Him converse
sweet,
Yet speechless, for my gladness is complete. Audio Quality: Good More Information...
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