We must come to realize and understand that God gave mankind the stewardship of earth during creation. Man according to Genesis 1:27 refers to both male and female-humanity or mankind, which are created in God’s Image: God is Love in 1 John 4:8 (His Principality and Character in which man were created in by default during creation). God gave mankind the stewardship of earth and every living creature that roams the earth. Genesis 1:28 reads, ‘Then God blessed them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that walks the earth.”’ Here we see clearly that not only mankind had dominion or stewardship over the earth but also the creatures that live on the earth (creatures of the air, sea and land that are part of God’s creation). Mankind is only a steward but not the owner! Genesis 2:15 reads, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Mankind was to tend and keep God’s Garden and creation on the earth (creatures) as faithful stewards but not ‘OWNERS!’ However, this all changed due to the Fall of Man in Genesis 3 (when mankind disobeyed God). Fast forwarding the scene to our Current Day and Age, today in the Seventh Day Adventist Church the topic of stewardship is upholded and presented commonly during seminars-in which covers a wide range of categories, like for example; stewardship of time, stewardship of money, stewardship of spiritual gifts, etc… That is general but is not our focus.
Our focus is on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. We will be focusing mainly on verse 4… One of the greatest stewardship task in which God gave man was the stewardship of His Gospel. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 reads, “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” Our keyword in the verse above is ‘entrust!’ Mankind lost their place in the Garden of Eden when they disobeyed God considering Genesis 3, in which led to the consequences of their sin in verses 15-19 and their eviction from God’s Garden in verse 24. However, after, Jesus Christ defeated satan and was victorious within this Great Controversy considering Mathew 27:24-54, He entrusted mankind with His Gospel-which is commonly referred to as The Great Commission considering Mathew 28:16-20. What a way for mankind to be saved-which is also to be proven trust worthy stewards of God’s Gospel. Just imagine, out of every perfect unfallen creatures in heaven, God chose the fallen human race or mankind to be stewards of His Gospel. What a way to be redeemed! Praise God and all Glory be to God!
The Gospel is God’s Gospel and not mankind’s gospel. Mankind is only a steward of the gospel and not the author or commissioner (owner or inventor)! 1 Thessalonians 2:5 & 6 reads, “For neither at anytime did we use flattering words, as you know, nor cloak for covetousness-God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.” These clearly shows how we too, should not try to make this gospel our own by using flattering words, seek glory from our fellow men (in tokpisin: seekim praise wokim nem), etc…
So how do we “NOT” make the gospel our own and uphold it as God’s Gospel? Well our answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12! Open your Holy Bible and read it to confirm it…
Considering 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, we would be good stewards of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our God proven trust worthy by establishing and maintaining our connection to the True Vine in John 15! John 15 :5 reads, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” This clearly shows how, when we connect (and maintain) to the True Vine, we bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, in which relates to verses 7-12 (what we should do naturally from the heart outward). For more information on The Fruit of The Holy Spirit, click and visit this link; http://peterjnrbebi.blogspot.com/2015/07/fruit-of-holy-spirit.html The True Vine is also the Way, the Truth and the Life in John 14:6. He is currently up in heaven as our High Priest interceeding on our behalf. However, before ascending to heaven, Jesus Christ promised his disciples The Comforter the Holy Spirit-in which they received on the Day of Pentecost. For more information on the Infilling and baptism of The Holy Spirit, click and visit the following link;http://peterjnrbebi.blogspot.com/2018/01/what-it-means-to-leave-all-and-follow.html
Even the good outcomes and accomplishments of good stewardship of God’s gospel is because of God and not the stewards (ourselves)! For example, if a pastor that maintains his personal relationship with the True Vine in John 15 everyday prays for a seek person and he is healed, it is not him that does the miracle but God! When an elder preach to a multitude and hundred thousand people take the stand to be baptize, it is not him that does the conversion but God through the Holy Spirit. When a Gospel group sings and a woman is touched and accepts Christ, it is not the singing group that does the conversion but God through the Holy Spirit, etc… That is how important The Holy Spirit is-also, the only means of our connection to the True Vine in John 15!
To conclude, God is Love in 1 John 4:8 that is why He gave us all the power of choice. Love does not force love into or onto someone else-that is just Who Love is: the opposite of Love is selfishness (satan’s principality and character). Even though Jesus Christ is already victorious within this Great Controversy considering Mathew 27:24-54, He will never force you and I to accept Him. And if we do (become Christians), He will never force us to follow Him (all His footsteps or examples according to His Word to us The Holy Bible) and be good stewards of His Gospel here on earth awaiting His Second coming-it will depend entirely on our personal choice. The power of choice is yours-every choice has a consequence: eternal life or the wages of sin which is death depends entirely on your personal choice!
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