The Church at Corinth had gotten bogged down with divisions and contentions…

Some were saying, “I am of Paul” while others were saying, “So what, I follow the great orator Apollos.”

Still others claimed to be discipled by the great Apostle Peter… and yet others bragged how that they were under the direct orders of the Lord Jesus Christ himself!…

Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, in part, to set the record straight.

With a sigh Paul dipped his quill in the ink and wrote, “Let a man count us as ministers of Christ.”

Some might think that Paul was claiming preeminence or privilege in saying “Count us as ministers of Christ” in I Cor. 4:1…

In Paul’s day there were ships called galleys… large, low ships propelled chiefly by oars sometimes with the help of sails.

There were three banks of galley-rowers:

those on the upper bank had the advantage of fresh air;

those beneath were more shut in;

but the lowest rowers would faint with the heat. Their rapid strokes consumed the life forces of the slaves. Chained to the oars and in the worst position—that was their lot.

Paul said, “Count us as ministers of Christ.”

In the original language Paul said, “Count us as under-oarsmen.”
(Minister = NT:5257 huperetes (hoop-ay-ret’-ace) an under-oarsman)

Paul said, Let a man count us as “under-rowers”, men who tug at the oars on the lowest bench on a galley.

Let a man account of us as under-rowers…

Phil 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let a man account of us as under-rowers and stewards of the mysteries of God.
A Steward is a person who has been entrusted with the care of another man’s property.

He is the administrator of another’s finances and is required to give account of the way in which he handles the property of his master…

The Apostle continued, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Of all the characteristics of being a Christian, FAITHFULNESS is one of the most important of all… it is required…

Faithfulness is dependability.
Faithfulness is loyalty.
Faithfulness is reliability.
Faithfulness is steadfastness.
Faithfulness is trustworthiness.

A faithful man will hold on under fire.

Of the many songs originated in the war, at least one became a well-known hymn — “Hold the Fort, For I Am Coming.” It was born in an incident of the fighting around Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, when the Confederates isolated General J.M. Corse with his 1,500 men in Allatoona.
When a division of 6,500 Confederates attacked the outpost, and all seemed lost for the bluecoats, signalmen flapping their flags on Kennesaw Mountain sent Corse these messages:
Sherman is moving with force. Hold out.And:Hold on. General Sherman says he is working hard for you.

Corse did hold out, despite 705 casualities and 200 men lost as prisoners. Near the end, when Sherman sent a message asking if Corse had been wounded, the defiant reply went back:
I am short a cheekbone and one ear, but am able to whip all hell yet.

Faithfulness is one of God’s attributes!

Faithfulness is honored by God and man.

Everyone respects faithful men who steadfastly fulfill their responsibilities.

Faithful men will continue the work assigned to them even though it might mean great stress and strain to themselves.

Faithful men may be trusted…

The faithful man will be rewarded for his faithfulness…

A man may be extremely talented and bursting with ability, yet if he is not faithful… disgrace and shame are his companions.

Paul had a companion named Demas, who must have had some very fine capabilities to be invited by the apostle to be a close associate of his…

But listen to Paul’s cry in II Timothy 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”

Faithfulness is counted so important to our Lord that he said in

Luke 9:62
…No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The Lord Jesus has committed to us His people stewardship of the mysteries of God…

Each member of the Body of Christ has become a steward of the precious truth of God’s Word…

The mysteries of God have been entrusted to us:
1) The Mighty God in Christ
2) The New Birth
3) The sanctity of the Body of Christ
4) Divine Healing

We are blessed to be the custodians of these beautiful and wonderful revelations of God…

And we need to take it seriously…

Faithfulness calls for a steadfastness to the very last day of our lives…

It is not sufficient to be true and faithful for a few years and then quit…

Our faithfulness is forgotten if we cease to live faithful lives…

Does anyone here remember reading about the Battle of Saratoga or the brave men who defied the elements and marched on British held Quebec during the Revolutionary War?

Who remembers the soldier of whom it was said that he was, “The most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army.” That same officer was desperately wounded during the battle on October 7, 1777. That same officer was credited with helping to win one of the decisive battles of the American Revolution, and causing the French to ally with the Americans. This officer was ultimately promoted to the rank of major general for his brilliance and heroics.

But we generally do not remember nor care to remember these things because later this same officer conspired with the enemy. He made plans to surrender West Point to the British in return for a royal commission in the British army and a sum of money.

He betrayed his country after becoming offended about junior officers being promoted over him and other things… his name?

Benedict Arnold

It is important to have a good beginning but it is equally important to have a good ending!

“He that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matt. 10:22).”

There is never a reason to cease being faithful!

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians in the fifth chapter and the seventh verse: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”

Many of the old time songs were written about faithfulness:

“What a Gathering of the Faithful that will Be.”

“I Am Determined to Hold Out to the End.”

Paul, at the end of life’s journey was able to say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith… (II Tim. 4:7).”

Our eternal reward has less to do with what type of ministry or work we are given to do as our faithfulness to fulfill to the end that which God has asked us to do.

We will be rewarded on the basis of our faithfulness.

In the judgment—all men will be equal.

Every Christian has the same opportunity to receive rewards.

We need to be faithful on the job.

Trustworthy & dependable… taking pride in the quality of our work and attempting to be productive.

Honest…

We need to be faithful to our family.

Our inconsistencies show up most readily at home.
If you are married, nobody knows you like your spouse knows you.
Our children know if we are Christians…

A BAD EXAMPLE
He whipped his boy for lying, And his cheeks were flaming red,
And of course there’s no denying, There was truth in what he said…
That a liar’s always hated. But the little fellow knew
That his father often stated, Many things that were untrue.
He caught the youngster cheating, And he sent him up to bed,
And it’s useless now repeating, All the bitter things he said.
He talked of honor loudly, As a lesson to be learned,
And forgot he’d boasted proudly, Of the cunning tricks he’d turned.
He heard the youngster swearing, And he punished him again…
He’d have no boy as daring As to utter words profane.
Yet the youngster could have told him, Poor, misguided little elf,
That it seemed unfair to scold him, When he’d often cursed, himself.
All in vain is splendid preaching, And the noble things we say,
All our talk is wasted teaching, If we do not lead the way.
We can never, by reviewing, All the sermons on the shelves,
Keep the younger hands from doing, What we often do ourselves.

We need to be faithful to God.

Faithful to attend God’s house…

Faithful to communicate with God…

Faithful to labor in God’s harvest fields…

Faithful to God’s expressed will in His Word…

Don’t forget that in years gone by Christians would walk many miles to church and then exchange wet shoes for dry ones. Sometimes the churches were cold and they would worship in a cold building.

God has made it so very easy for us to be faithful…

I want to be faithful to witness for God… I need to invite people to God’s house…
I need to teach Home Bible Studies… I need to bring children to Sunday School…

I can’t just do these things when I feel like it… faithful…

I must be faithful in my giving…

Faithful men know that 1/10th of our increase belongs to God…

Faithful men give offerings to God…

At the end of life’s journey, more than anything else, I want to hear my Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

At the second coming of the LORD to the earth when He returns with 10,000’s of His saints the Bible says, “…and they that are with HIM are called, and chosen, and FAITHFUL.”

The Lord told Abraham, “All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever (Gen. 3:15).”

The incredible wealth that God gave to Abraham did not shift his focus away from God. He stayed busy building altars and maintaining his relationship with the Almighty.

God promised Abraham that he would establish his covenant “between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God (Gen. 17:7-8).” God instituted the covenant of circumcision with Abraham and his seed. This is where we come in! You can start getting excited now!

Col. 2:11-12
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

When we repented, were baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus (circumcised with the circumcision made without hands), and received the wonderful Gift of the Holy Ghost we were brought into the Abrahamic covenant and became heirs to the covenant promises!

Gal 3:27-29
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

As long as you will “Seek ye FIRST, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33).”

I urge you to study the life of Abraham. Worship and build altars to God.

I perceive in the Spirit that it is time for the Jesus name baptized, Holy Ghost filled seed of Abraham to begin claiming, believing, and receiving the promises which God made to Abraham and to his seed.

This is a must if we are to ever accomplish much for God! Doubt, fear, and unbelief are our enemies! Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness! The same word of the Lord says, “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established (Isa. 7:9).”

Abraham realized and recognized that his abundance and material wealth were a gift from God. He valued the giver above the gifts. He was wise to understand and value the source more than the service, the giver more than the gift, and the eternal more than the temporary. This paradigm allowed God to safely trust Abraham with great material wealth as well.

Poverty must go! Spiritual and material blessings are promised to us. Pray the promises and remember to keep Jesus first as the blessings come rolling in! We have not because we ask not. God receives no glory from poverty. The Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant (Ps. 35:27). God is elevating his believing people…now. I challenge you to pray and receive the promises that were made long ago to our father, Abraham.

Aaron’s sister, the prophetess, danced and sang after God had delivered his people from the hand of Pharaoh. Miriam danced because God had miraculously delivered the children of Israel from a world power Egyptian army. Miriam danced because God had delivered her and her people from the sting of the lash. Miriam danced because God had delivered them from the shame of slavery. Miriam danced because God had given her and her people freedom.

The Angel of the LORD that led them in their exodus had gone around and stood between Pharaoh’s army and God’s children as if to say “Go ahead, make my day!” God had brought incredible darkness upon the enemy and a fiery cloud to light the sky for His people. God had caused a strong east wind to blow all night. In the morning, to the delight of God’s children, there was a path through the Red Sea. God’s children marched to safety.

The Wind is blowing again! We have been delivered from the armies of Satan, whom the Bible calls the prince of the power of the air. We have been delivered from the sting of the lash of sorrow and shame. Some of us still remember the pain of addictions. Jesus set us free! It’s just as Jesus promised in John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”

God has done mighty things for us, we ought to get up and dance and sing Miriam’s song:

Sing ye to the LORD
For He hath triumphed gloriously
The horse and his rider
Hath He thrown into the Sea.

The Psalmist said in Psalm 149
149:1 Praise (Halal) ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise (Halal) his name in the dance : let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred piece of furniture of the Old Testament. In it were deposited the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a golden pot of manna. It was the Old Testament symbol of God’s presence. It was borne by the priests in advance of the hosts of Israel. At its presence the waters of the Jordan separated; only when it was carried to the farther shore did the waters resume their usual course. The Ark was carried about Jericho and the walls came a tumbling down. The Bible tells how King David brought the Ark to Jerusalem

2 Sam 6:13-15
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

The ark was only a type and symbol of what God gave me at age nine. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?

David, the man after God’s heart, danced before the Ark of the Covenant with all his might. We need to get excited about the Gift of the Holy Ghost again!

We’ve read about Miriam dancing. We’ve read about the Saints dancing. We’ve read about King David dancing with all his might before the LORD. The Bible records an instance where Jesus, God come in flesh, danced for joy.

Luke 10:17-21.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Jesus rejoiced in spirit. Rejoiced… Greek, “AGALLIAO” Translated literally this word means to “jump for joy”. In that hour Jesus jumped for joy, was exceeding glad with exceeding joy, and rejoiced greatly.

He rejoiced or jumped for joy because:

1) The 70, representing all Holy Ghost believers, had successfully gone into the streets taking the Good News of Jesus and allowing His power to work through them.
2) God’s people returned rejoicing and Jesus loves His people to rejoice.
3) God’s people were claiming victory over the devil, shouting that even the devils were subject unto them through His Name.

Jesus “rejoiced”, jumped for joy, or danced and declared Satan fallen as a lightning bolt. Jesus declared, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

The seventy caused Jesus to dance. The same three things that made Him dance then will cause Him to dance now. I want you to understand that God is ready to start the dance of victory over your city, situation, and church right now. Listen, you may hear the voice of the Spirit asking, “May I have this dance?”