Stewards of Grace

Manifold Grace of God (I Pet 4:10)

“As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Many sides, like the sides of a diamond, are the angles of grace. It is the same stone, but looking at its angles in the light, etc, produces a different look. The body has many members serving one body. Likewise, God GRACED us with differing gifts as He saw fit: it has NOTHING to do with merit or exalting the flesh. Pastors are here to exalt Christ and show His power, but we are not to be worshiped or neglected.

Brethren have differing gifts, but God gave the gifts for His glory, so rather than COMPETE with each other, we tell what we’ve seen and heard and do what we desire for God’s glory. When God gifts, He gives a desire, and He gives ability to fulfill that desire: He brings it to pass. When He gifts a man to preach, He also covers up his sins and gives him repentance, lest he destroy the gospel with his life, which he preached publicly.

Don’t NEGLECT, be intimidated out of, or FORCE your gifts (Prov 18:16, 18). Serve God, preach Christ, walk in fear, and the Lord God will put you and I where we need to be. A man cannot impress, but he can show His thankfulness and obedience to Christ by service.

God Be Glorified Through Christ (I Pet 4:11)

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Everything is for His glory. He saves us ALONE, so that He can be praised for doing it all. He gives us grace, and the end of grace… the evidence of grace… is GLORY going back to God. You can tell who glorifies God by WHAT they say (the gospel) and how they say it (in love).

I have preached both in the Spirit and in the flesh, saying the same words. I may think, “The gospel needs Heshimu’s help, so I will say it this way to improve it”, but it won’t work. God’s gospel glorifies God, and those that believe serve God His way, for His glory, in helping men who hate Him naturally. The tree is known by her fruit - (Matt 7:20) “Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.”