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"To the present hour we both hunger and thirst..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 4:11

THE SUFFERINGS THAT WERE ENDURED

Paul was very candid and open about the sufferings he and his fellow-workers had to endure.

“To the present hour we both hunger and thirst,
and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
And we labour, working with our own hands.
Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
being defamed, we entreat.
We have been made as the filth of the world,
the offscouring of all things until now.”
1 Corinthians 4:11-13

1. “To the present hour” (of Paul writing his epistle to the Corinthians)

a) Much suffering was experienced and endured.

b) A short list of the sufferings:

i) Hunger and thirst

ii) Poorly clothed

iii) Beaten

iv) Homeless

c) Significant Responses of the faithful to adverse circumstances:

i) Instead of being supported, Paul and his fellow-workers had to work with their own hands.

ii) When reviled, they blessed.

iii) When persecuted, they endured.

iv) When defamed, they entreated.

d) The low regard of these faithful servants of God

i) The filth of the world (“the refuse of chamber pots”)

ii) The offscouring of all things (“the scum in waste vats”)

2. Outstanding faithfulness

a) To the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

b) To follow the footsteps left behind by the Lord Jesus Christ.

c) Great faith and courage displayed by these faithful servants of Christ.

d) They endured much and because they did, the Lord blessed their lives and ministries.

The Gospel reached many countries and thousands came to know Christ as their Saviour!