The Disciples Examination
1 Corinthians 4:14–21
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Paul takes the front foot in this last portion of 1 Cor 4, both in defence but then also in attack as he sets up his witness against those who question HIS witness as an apostle of Christ.
He places the church in check and has them question themselves, examine themselves and consider his ministry consider his ministry in the light of their pride. He seems to deal much with their pride in this chapter.
The phrase “puffed up” is only found six times in the Bible, five of which are in this very letter of 1 Corinthians and out of the sixteen chapters, chapter four features it three times.
It is their PRIDE that believes themselves equipped to judge, and we shall see next week that it is their sin that predisposes them to pride.
Paul needs to deal with them firmly and address this pride because of that which he needs to deal with moving forward from this changer.
Paul however must first affrim both his authority as well as his integrity that they may attend to that which he expects.
The overall portion of this passage could be referred to as The Disciples Examination, for Paul gives several reference points in the passage respecting faithful stewardship and the character behind it, until he ultimately reveals HOW the examination presses to the truth.
He writes of the FATHERS CARE in verse 14-15, that they may know the sincerity of his affection toward them. He does so because he does not wish them to scorn his chastisement of them or to see him as an enemy, but as a father who has “begotten them through the gospel“.
He writes to a LEADERS EXAMPLE in verse 16, knowing that if they would follow him as he follows Christ, they will do well.
Then he references a standard by which all GOOD ministers ought to be held accountable, and that is their consistency respecting teaching the church of God. We see this employed to set up what comes next as the disciple is examined.
Lastly is his test of them, The DISCIPLES EXAMINATION, Where its is not their words that are tried, but that which manifests itself through the power of God, their external witness and re-presentation of Christ.
A Father’s Care
1 Corinthians 4:14–15
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
There are aspects of the character of the Christians in Corinth that bring questions to the mind of the apostle respecting their maturity in the things of the Lord.
Paul ought to have been expecting fruit that accompanies salvation, fruit that aligns itself with a congregation that has turned from the vanity of idolatry respecting the motions of the world, to that which recognises them as disciples of Christ.
He expected unity and not division.
Humility and not pride.
Meekness rather than hubris, and a focus on that which has eternal reward rather than efforts to comfort a temporal nest.
In short, Paul, as a father to those he has begotten in Christ, shows care to these children of the Gospel through correction and exhortation; not to shame them but to lovingly warn them.
1 Corinthians 4:14–15
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
Paul writes with the confidence and love of a father, not an overlord, and he does so out of love not spite or pride. They are after all, his “beloved sons“.
Clearly Paul is addressing the male members of the Churches of Corinth in particular, for it is they who are the governors both within the Church and within the family. but as my beloved sons I warn you.
Though all that he wrote above respecting their thoughts toward him is contrasted by his ministry in a somewhat cutting way, eg:
1 Corinthians 4:8
8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
1 Corinthians 4:10
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
It was for the purpose of exampling their high thinking of themselves and comparing it with reality seen in the life of the apostles.
It was not sarcasm for the sake of mockery, but a rebuke to prick their hearts into reality.
Thus he affirms his care for them by stating the truth of his desire in verse 14;
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
The correction of a father, or for that matter a minister, can be often misjudged as harsh until they are aware of his affection toward them and his purpose in correcting them.
It is one of the greatest challenges of being a parent;
children often think of themselves more highly than they ought to think, respect for mum and dad seems to disappear the moment our children know everything and sadly only ever seems to return after they have experienced the consequence of a foolish life.
The alarm that awakens the dream of omniscience seen in a proud heart.
Beloved, it is no less challenging in being a Pastor.
The greatest joy of a father is to see a child learn from their fathers wisdom, a wisdom gained often by many failures and experiences, and then to succeed in life without having time so consumed by needless trials. Nothing pleases a father more than a wise child.
Proverbs 23:24
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Contrast this with:
Proverbs 17:21
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
So too it is with Pastors and so too we see with the apostle Paul.
Paul sees the Corinthian Church as his children.
1 Corinthians 4:15
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Beloved, one of the fundamental reasons WHY all Pastors can only meet the qualification AS A PASTOR if they have their own children, is because only the experience of the love of a father is suited to properly minister to a congregation that are the Children of God.
1 Timothy 3:2–5
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
God is a father and desires his children cared for, loved and nourished, and sometimes rebuked and corrected, by a man who knows a fathers care.
Paul testifies to a FATHERS CARE.
Fathers love their children enough to WARN THEM when they are astray.
They reveal their love to them when they CORRECT THEM, not when they placate them.
They do not overlook the sin of their children, they care for them enough to WARN THEM.
Every Child is at a different stage in their becoming an adult. The Caring father watches his children diligently, he sees where they are at, teaches them, guides them but he also must care enough to warn them.
Bringing up children is a ACTIVE EFFORT not a passive one. And it is one in which we all give account.
So too it is with a Pastor.
A Leader’s Example
1 Corinthians 4:16
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Paul’s life is not a life that it without example. In the next verse he encourages the church to hear the testimony of Timothy, there is no doubt they knew of his former life concerning the faith and how that life has changed, but Timothy is to remind them of his way in Christ and of his consistency in preaching Christ.
And so Paul besought he church to “be ye followers of me”.
It is a matter of interest that he tells of all his trials and all his sorrows and yet encourages the churches to follow him!!
In this he testifies that all he endures is by way of example and thereby worthwhile. His life’s trials are sung from his lips and pen as a life exemplified and worthy to follow, a life filled with purpose and joy even in the midst of suffering.
His prison epistles, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians are examples of deeply considered purpose written from a Roman prison. Philippians itself known as the epistle of joy.
God so ordering this this letter in between Ephesians and Colossians, testifies to Paul’s affirmation that his life is worth following.
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” Phil 3:17
Paul reflects both the heart of a father AND the heart of a Pastor who loves his flock.
Paul reflects the heart of God in desiring only the best for those he ministers to.
Loving fathers desire the best for their children. Sons will never have a man want more for them than their fathers do.
“be ye followers of me” is their call. “Learn from me”, “learn of my mistakes so you don’tmake them, learn of my successes so you make them earlier and don’t waste your life in sorrow”, this is the desire of EVERY LOVING FATHER for their children, and so too it is for every loving pastor to his congregation.
“be ye followers of me”
But Paul qualifies this as should all pastors and fathers:
See chapter 11
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1
For as much as Paul testifies to Christ, follow him. For as much as fathers testify to Christ, follow them. For as much as Pastors testify to Christ, follow them.
Beloved, the greatest joy for leaders in homes and churches is that people would follow them as they follow after Christ.
When a pastor tells you of the value of the Bible and the transformative work it works within your life, he is BOTH encouraging you in that which he himself is encouraged, AND that you would follow after Christ.
THIS IS THE GREATEST JOY FOR A LEADER (A father or a Pastor) WHO FOLLOWS AFTER CHRIST.
Turn to 3 Jn 1:4
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
“I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.” 2 JOHN 4
When Paul wrote this precept he did so both by knowing the value of his example and by qualifying the extent by which men may follow him;
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1
People become like those they follow after. We knew this long, long ago. Our parents knew this long, long ago.
They checked the friends we associated with knowing we may become like those we spent time with.
Social media personalities are not identified as “influencers” for no reason.
Those who lay with dogs will waken with flees was an old saying that rang true.
Beloved, look around and see who it is that you spend your time with and see if you want to become like them.
If they are lazy, you will become lazy, if they are active, you will become active.
If they are backslidden, the old saying that sorrow loves company will draw you in.
If they are growing in their love and fervour for Christ, fellowship with them is a must.
At the very least you will see if their spoken words match their physical witness. Is their “power”? (v 18-21)
But DO NOT attach yourself to the Godless and backslidden, you will be drawn in.
Turn to: 2 Cor 6:14-18
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
Your “yoking” with unbelieving Christians is just as bad (if not worse) as being yoked with unbelievers. Why?
Because they will have you excuse backsliding as if it is normal and acceptable.
Look for people who are were you desire to be and spend as much time with them as you can.
Be ye followers of them in as much as they are of Christ. Follow actions not words, words deceive but actions bear the fruit which testifies to the truth.
A Minister’s Consistency
1 Corinthians 4:17
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
“as I teach every where in every church.”
There is CONSISTENCY in this minister of Christ. He preaches Christ and preaches of him as he had received him.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Cor 15:3-4
The standard by which Paul preaches everywhere is the standard through which he has received it, “ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES”
This is THE standard and this is THE consistency by which EVERY MINISTER in history will be judged.
The minister of Christ is NOT to pander to the crowd like an entertainer. He is not to “feel the room” to see what is acceptable to the heart and playful to the ears, HE IS TO PREACH, to “bring to remembrance of… the ways which be in Christ” and to do so in every church, in every service and every sermon.
He is to bring the truth of the Bible forward KNOWING he is accountable to God and to God alone IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COST, irrespective of the loss.
WHY IS THIS SO RARE IN THESE DAYS?
The answer is found in a SINGLE word.
“Unbelief”
It is the “Unbelief” in the hearts of congregations which first “heap to themselves” ministers of like mind. We see this so clearly spoken of in the scriptures;
2 Timothy 4:3–4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
And beloved we are seeing so much of this today.
All the old heresies are coming back into vogue.
Some of the most classic distortions of reality being promoted by the YouTube gods which far too many christians are following today.
The ‘Itching ears” I am witnessing in these days is astonishing, whether it be through the stupidity of the so called “Book of Enoch” and other Pseudepigrapha’s (false writings) that people are being so wilfully deceived by, or the signs and wonders of todays “filthy dreamers” that Jude wrote of in v8-16.
What does this mean?
THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE THEIR BIBLES.
The reason why so many ministers are inconsistent in their preaching is due to this very reason. They DON’T BELIEVE the Bible. The reason so many Christians are in sin today is for the same reason.
The reason Bible Churches are so small today testifies with absolute clarity that we are living in the Laodicean Church age (Rev 3:14-22), where many are falling away from the faith (2 Thess 2:3), will not endure sound doctrine, heap to themselves teachers having itching ears (2 Tm 4:3), who will overthrow the faith of many (2 Tim 2:18).
Jude warned us of them saying;
Jude 12–13
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
He goes on to describe them in verse 16 saying;
Jude 16
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
People are admiring men and not God. They think that simply because they have letters before their name that have knowledge. If becuase they can speak Hebrew or Greek they have “Secret knowledge”. They look for the hidden things and ignore that which is in plain sight….WHY?
UNBELIEF!
The will not believe the very words of God even exist today.
They ONLY way the Minister of God can have ANY consistency is if he first believes he has the words of God in his hands.
The ONLY way ANY Christian can LIVE A LIFE, and be seen to be living a life, CONSISTENT WITH THEIR FAITH is if they first believe they have the very words of God in their hands.
God cannot hold us accountable if there is nothing to be held accountable to.
Jesus said;
John 12:48
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Paul’s consistency, a ministers consistency, a Christians consistency is found ONLY through one single source, the words of God himself.
as I teach every where in every church.
The rules of Engineering must be consistent for a Building to stand firm.
The Rule of Law must remain consistent for justice to prevail.
The rules of Grammar must remain consistent for us to both read, write and understand language.
Your own lives must be consistent with the words of your lips before you will be believed.
Paul desire the Corinthians to believe him and he appeals to his CONSISTENCY.
A Disciple’s Examination
1 Corinthians 4:18-21
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Paul does not mince his words, he affirms that pride is retained in the hearts of some of the brethren, “Now some are puffed up” he writes.
Pride has its tendency of inflating the ego even to the point of expressing some inside knowledge that Paul will do contrary to an evident affirmation that he intends to come to them;
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will
Note the qualification of his words, “if the Lord will”.
In other words, he has absolutely every intention of coming to them, but he acknowledges that all is dependant upon the providence of God. God can overrule all our intentions should he choose to, he can interrupt any plan if he will its. This is the reason why we are charged not to make promises, but that our yes be yes, and our no be no (Mat 5:34-37), you and I cannot change a hair on our heads from white to black, we are not in control but God is.
Paul both affirms his intention to visit them, then qualifies it.
9 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Now we see an examination of the disciples of the Lord.
By Paul’s visit he expects to know them by their fruit not by their words. He will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Words are easy to express, vain words deceive the hearts of the simple and they who are cunning enough are very able to sow discord among the brethren. This is what has been occurring here against Paul and we see it fully expressed in Chapter 11;
1 Corinthians 11:18
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
For those who are adapt at deception, sowing discord is the simplest act in the world for them, or that is required to sow a seed is to first create doubt, thats all.
The serpent showed how simple it was in the garden, creating doubt in the integrity of God was ALL that was needed to precipitate the fall of all mankind.
So it is not the “speech of them” that tests them “which are puffed up, but the power“.
Peter spoke of such people, most especially in the last days, describing them saying;
2 Peter 2:17–19
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: …
Paul was not interested in the appearance, he would examine these disciples by power, that is, by the affirming work of the Spirit of God.
Is their rhetoric according to the scriptures?
Does it pertain to the truth of the Gospel?
While there is consistency in Paul’s ministry which he teaches “every where in every church.
Is there consistency in the ministry of them who are “puffed up”.
Beloved, Liars are NOT difficult to discover, all you need to do is to ask more questions. Keep them talking and it is inevitable you will recognise deception.
Inconsistency and contradictions ALWAYS come to the surface.
But TRUTH is powerful and affirms itself.
Lies contradict in both word and deed, truth affirms in both word and deed and does so powerfully.
They who lie try all they can not to speak for they know they will be caught out. They will deflect and defer as much as possible. They hate questions because they know that every question has opportunity to reveal deception.
They who speak the truth are happy to continue speaking the truth knowing full well that every question is an opportunity to affirm the truth.
Truth, especially in that related to the gospel, is powerful. It manifests its power on the heart of men either to condemn or to save, to convict or to bring life, to change mens hearts and to mend their manners.
This is the Disciples Examination.
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