THE BELIEVER, OWNER OR SERVANT
I CORINTHIANS 4:1-2
Introduction:
A believer is a person who trust or has confidence in another. A believer in Christ is a Christian, that is, someone who has faith in Jesus Christ as his savior. This belief is not just an attitude of the mind, but rather a condition of the heart as well.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, he becomes a servant of God by his own volition. Now he begins to think about his responsibilities as a servant of God. In the spiritual growth of the believer he becomes able to accept more responsibility and with time and experience, perhaps a position of leadership in the church.
Now, I ask: Is he the owner of his life or the servant of the LORD charged with the responsibility to take care of his life in order that God might profit by him? Does he give orders or does he serve? The response to these questions will determine if the believer shall be happy or unhappy in the LORD’S service.
I. Who Is The Boss?
A. The Creator is the boss, Genesis 1-2.
1. God the Father – “Abba, Father”
Romans 8:15, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
2. God the Son.
3. God the Holy Spirit.
B. The Savior, Jesus Christ, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, John 16; Romans 8:14, 26, 14- For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 26- Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
II. Who Is The Servant? The Believer!
A. The Stewards,
1 Chronicles 28:1 “And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1. Ministers of Christ.
(1) “Ministers” comes from a word that means “below” or “beside of.”
(2) Servant.
2. Stewards of the mysteries of God.
(1) Someone who has the responsibility for the faithful administration of the properties.
(2) He is responsible to administer according to his abilities that God has given him,
1 Peter 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Conclusion
The believer is not the owner of his life, but the servant of God. By faith in Christ he has surrendered the ownership of his life to be the servant of Christ. God has given him gifts (abilities) in order that he might be able to realize God’s will. What we do with those gifts will determine just how happy we are as a Christian.