Okay, we're now at verse 8 of 1Corinthinas 4 and we're looking at our being servants of Christ, our being of one Spirit without subversive divisions, but all of one mindset, that is to say having the mind of Christ. For to remain with a subversive mindset is to see things as the average Joe on the street, or as one still on the simple milk of the word under the slavery spill of mans religion be it what label, or brand it carries, of which there is about 3000 such. Every thing from Hindu to Muslim or any other letter in the alphabet soup. Each with its law(s) that foster obedience, condemnation, and for some a form of penance or repentance and don't forget taxation and oh don't forget a sin conscience or awareness of some sort. But we are all about leaving that all behind as the redeemed of GOD. Man does these things because deep within him is a need to know a deity or god.
1Corinthians 4:8-13 "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. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 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. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat [G3870]: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." (KJV)
1Corinthians 4:8-13 "Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, 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 held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; When slandered, we entreat [G3870]. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things." (ESV)
1Corinthians 4:8-13 "You are already saturated, literally jam-packed to capacity; you cannot get any wealthier than what you are! You are royalty (because of what happened to you in Christ) not because of Apollos or Paul! Oh, that you might know this so that we may co-reign together with you! (We are not ranked any differently because we are the taught or that we taught you the Good News! So do not try and make heroes of us while you reduce yourselves to mere supporters and spectators [look at 1Corinthinas 1:30 and 2Corinthinas 10:12]. Paul is re-enforcing the message of how complete we already are in Christ as our only reference. We are no longer striving towards completeness; we are living from completeness. The language of the Old Covenant was "towards;" the language of the New is "from!" The old said, "Do!" The new says, "Done!" ) If you really want to know, there is nothing glamorous about being an Apostle! It seems to some that GOD has us on exhibition as it were, as clowns in the circus; the laughing stock of the religious world-system! We are the latest gossip in town. Even the angles frown upon us! And you want to idolize us, think again! We are not handing out autographs! Neither are we your latest brand of Christianity! We have a death-sentence hanging over our heads! Because of Christ we are considered fools (in the eyes of the religious society!). Our foolishness serves only one purpose though: to prove to you that Christ is your wisdom. Our weakness serves to convince you of your source of strength in Christ; our ill repute in the eyes of popular opinion is to persuaded you of your honored standing in Christ! (Do not allow what we are suffering for you to distract you from realizing how wise, and strong, and honored you really are in Christ.) While writing this to you my life would seem such a contradiction! I mean here I am telling you how complete and without shortcoming you already are, and I can hardly remember when last I have had a decent meal! As I am writing this my mouth is dry with thrist, I'm stripped of my clothing; I have been beaten black and blue, and have nowhere to go. I feel the fatigue from my physical labor. When people insult us we make sure that we speak well of them. We are harassed, but bear with it. Hurtful rumors do the rounds but we find refuge and [1, G3870] comfort in our true identity. We are reckoned as scapegoats, the scum of society. This is what we are faced with on a daily basis. (The word, [1, G3870 from G3844 and G2564] parakaleo, comes from [G3844] para, a preposition indicating close proximity, with a suggestion of union, and [G2564] kaleo, to identify by name, to surname. The Greeks used to apply the term [2] katharmata as scapegoats, to victims sacrificed to make expiation for the people, and even to criminals who were maintained at the public expense, that on the outbreak of a pestilence or other calamity they might be offered as scarifices to make expiation for the state.) (The Mirror)
Well we made it, now for more in our next posting, the LORD willing. Until then may GOD be with you and within you as his dwelling place of worship and prayer.
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