ðŸ’Good afternoon, Christian family, I hope and pray all is well. Here is a friendly reminder that all of us as individual members within the body of Christ, have the personal responsibility to prove ourselves faithful before our pastor and church family; in order that we might be trusted with opportunities to serve Christ on the behalf of our local assemblage; both within and without. We cannot forget that this is the biblical pattern for those who seek a recognized position within a church, a title, honor etc. But here is the truth; we must be judged by our church’s leadership to determine whether or not we have met their requirements to serve in those positions, or to be acknowledged by others. We mustn’t shy away from future evaluations from those who are over us in the Lord, since the following verses clearly show and demonstrate the permission for Christians to judge other Christians as to whether or not, they’ve been found faithful in following after the doctrine of the N.T apostles for our personal spiritual growth, and our local body of believers.
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📜Acts 16:14 (KJB) And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
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•ðŸ’Lydia herself asks the apostle Paul and his company to judge if she was worthy to house them.
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📜1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJB) Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
📜1 Corinthians 4:17 (KJB) 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.
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💠The H.S writes through Paul, that ministers are required to be found faithful; He proved Timothy as an example who accomplished this observation.
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📜2 Corinthians 8:22 (KJB) And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
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ðŸ’The H.S writes through Paul, that one of these chosen men who companied with Paul was often proved for his faithfulness; and every time they did, he was found faithful.
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📜Colossians 1:7 (KJB) As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
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ðŸ’The H.S writes through Paul, that Epaphras serves as an example to the church, which was at Colossae, of how a faithful Christian should operate. He was acknowledged before them as their personal example of whom they should follow.
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📜Colossians 4:7 (KJB) All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
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ðŸ’The H.S writes through Paul, that Tychicus serves as an example to the church, which was at Colossae, of how a faithful Christian should operate. He was acknowledged before them as their personal example of whom they should follow.
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📜Colossians 4:9 (KJB) With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
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ðŸ’The H.S writes through Paul, that Onesimus serves as an example to the church, which was at Colossae, of how a faithful Christian should operate. He was acknowledged before them as their personal example of whom they should follow.
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📜1 Timothy 1:12 (KJB) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
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💠Jesus Christ counted Saul faithful, prior to putting him into the ministry of apostleship.
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📜1 Timothy 3:10 (KJB) And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
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ðŸ’The H.S writes through Paul’ men who desired to serve in the office or position of a deacon, must first be proved faithful. Well, how can one be proven faithful? Are they capable of fulfilling tasks asked of him by his spiritual leadership; is he faithful in his giving (both financially & physically with labor) ; treatment of his wife; as father (if he has children); attendance at church; the work of the ministry; for a few examples. It is obvious that God has permitted for Christians to judge other Christians, if they are worthy of serving in those positions as needed within an assembly of believers, if they have been found faithful.
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📜2 Timothy 2:2 (KJB) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
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💠The H.S writes through Paul, that future pastors, leaders, elders, bishops, or deacons; are responsible for selecting faithful men to transfer over to them both discipleship, and spiritual responsibilities that could be met at the church.
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📜1 Peter 5:12 (KJB) By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
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ðŸ’Lastly, the H.S writes through Peter that Silvanus was a faithful brother to both Peter’s ministry and personal needs; and the churches to whom they wrote.
ðŸ’So, let us do our best to prove ourselves faithful to our local church’s leadership that God has placed over us. Let us not become offended at their requests for accountability over our lives when asked or questioned about our outward demonstration of fidelity to the things of God. Let us be thankful that the Creator of the heavens and the earth was gracious enough to permit us opportunity unto His Son’s gospel, and then be used of Him as a vessel to represent Him unto those around us. Let us be thankful for the spiritual oversight that He has placed over us, for their labor truly is out of love for us, not lordship over us.
In love, brother Carlos.😊
