Stewards
of the manifold grace of God
It is stated quite explicitly that, to each one of us grace was given according to
the measure of Christ's , gift. Therefore, whatever gift/s we have
received, we are required to be faithful stewards of such gift/s, and be
accountable to God for them. For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the
things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
The rationale for receiving God's spiritual gift/s
is to serve Him acceptably, with reverence and
godly fear. And so we have been exhorted saying; Having then gifts differing according to the grace
that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in
proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches,
in teaching; he
who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with
diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness・(Romans 12:6-8).
Our gift/s is not for our own selfish gains, but was
given to us for the profit of all. For we have been instructed saying; “There are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. There
are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:'
“For to one is given the
word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the
same Spirit, to
another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same
Spirit, to
another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation
of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all
these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12: 3-11).
Having perceived therefore that I have received the
gift of the word of knowledge, and that of teaching, I have no other choice but
to share whatever I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, for freely I have
received, and freely must I give. For
according to the apostle Paul; if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast
of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the
gospel!
For if I do this
willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with
a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may
present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority
in the gospel・(1
Corinthians 9:16-18).
My earnest desire is to reach out to as many people
as possible with the gospel, taking into consideration those of different
languages, and those who are unable to read and write. But this can only be
achieved through the help and assistance of others, who are willing to
contribute according to the measure of Christ's gift. As we have been
admonished saying; "When He (Christ) ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and
gave gifts to men." (Now this, "He
ascended" --- what does it means but that He also first descended
into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far
above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
And He Himself 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, till we all
come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we
should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into
Him who is the head --- Christ --- from whom the whole body, joined and knit
together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by
which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of
itself in love” (Ephesians 4: 7-16).
It is through the effective working by which every part does its share,
that causes growth of the body, therefore, it is God’s ordained duty and responsibility of everyone to
prove all things, and hold fast to what is good, and be like the Bereans whom
we are told; “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find
out whether these things were so”(Acts 17:11).
If after searching the scriptures we find that it is so, it is our
God-given responsibility to first apply it to ourselves, and assist in the
furtherance of the gospel according to the measure of Christ's gift. For we have been instructed saying; “as each
one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God.'
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone
ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all
things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and
the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1Peter 4:10-11).
If we perceive or have seen the manifestation that someone has received
a gift from God, it is our God given responsibility to help and assist the
individual in the execution of this gift. For we have been admonished saying; “Therefore
I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus
accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Those gifted with the gift of teaching must teach in accordance to the
oracles of God, and not according to the customs and traditions of men and let us learn not to think beyond what is written
that none of us may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. For who makes
us differ from another? And what do we have that we did not receive? Now if we
did indeed receive it, why do we boast as if we had not received it?
Remember that, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for
the profit of all. Therefore, I am making an earnest plea to all who have
subscribed to this website, to let us utilize our God-given talents and
abilities as stewards of the manifold grace of God, to enhance, promulgate,
support, and share this website, according to our God-given talents and
abilities.
For, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those
who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:
14-15).
Remember it requires, the whole body, to be joined and knit
together by what every joint supply, according to the effective working by
which every part does its share that causes growth of the body for the edifying
of itself in love.
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X
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