Here we read about the Apostle Paul who has given up much for Jesus Christ
Paul refers to his own ministry
Up until now he has been praying for them
Up until now he has been declaring the wonders of the Lord Jesus to them
Paul refers to himself and explains what genuine ministry is about
A true minister of the gospel is prepared to suffer
These verses don't just apply to gospel ministers but to us all
There are some difficult phrases (v24)
There are some tremendous challenges - the ministry is to every man
What is the scope of our ministry?
The Call of Gospel Ministry
He had a special call
He became a minister
He did not choose to do this
He became a steward (v25)
Minister (v23 and 25)
Can be translated deacon
Deacon can mean servant
A common servant, who washed the feet of guests
Minister is not to do with a high position but someone who is a common servant
The apostle Paul is glad to use this term of himself
He does everything for the sake of the church of Jesus Christ
How much do we pray and labour for one another?
He was an apostle to all the Gentiles and to all lands
We are not to leave our land unless we have a special calling
He knew that God had called and commissioned him
God laid this upon his heart when he was converted
Minister vs. Steward
Steward
Has authority
Went forth as a servant of men but with the authority of God
How does this apply to us?
Each of one us are called to share the gospel and be servants of others
Some have a special calling to preach the gospel full time
The Cost of Gospel Ministry
Paul says he is suffering for "you"
There was great cost - "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church" (v24)
What Christ suffered on the cross was a terrible and awful suffering
He bore our sins
He bore the wrath of God
He made complete atonement
Full remission for sin was made
"It is finished"
It would be blasphemous to think that what Paul is saying that in someway there is something lacking of the afflictions of Christ on the cross
What then does this mean?
Every Christian is united to Christ
'If they persecute you, they persecute me'
On the road to Damascus Jesus called to Saul, 'Why are you persecuting Me'
John 15:19-20 - " If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."
Rev 12:13 - "Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child."
It is the work of satan to persecute the church
Although they come to us they are meant for the Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus continues to suffers in the sense that as they persecute us (the Church) they persecute Him
The Apostle Paul could say he bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus
He had been beaten and whipped
He knew much anguish in spirit
He prayed for believers - it concerned him greatly when a church like Corinth wasn't walking with God
It affected his spirit
He knew sleeplessness often
As he suffered, Christ suffers
As we suffer, Christ suffers
We are the body and He is the Head
When the church is persecuted and suffer physically, so Christ suffers also
"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you"
I am glad that through suffering God's blesses
As I strive in pray God blesses
As the affliction abounds, so the consolation abounds even more - 2 Cor 1:3-7
I am glad to be made weak as I know the power of Christ resting upon me
I rejoice in Him
How much do you and I complain when we feel some form of persecution?
How much do we murmur when we suffer because of other Christians?
Paul rejoiced in his sufferings as he knew there was a purpose in it all
Paul knew that God would use this to build up the church of Jesus Christ
Paul was bound in prison, known many beatings, yet he rejoiced in the Lord
What encouragement, strength and boldness it gave to the church
Each of us needs to count the cost of being a Christian and take up their cross
His yolk is not burdensome
The Content of Gospel Ministry
"The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (v26-27)
Gospel ministry is not just a vague call or suffering, it is something so precious
It was a mystery hidden from people
The prophets in the Old Testament did not see it
That Christ would dwell in the hearts of people
That God would tabernacle among people
That the Holy Spirit would dwell in the Church
This wonderful message has been revealed to us
The apostles understood it
It was such a revelation
"Christ in us, the hope of glory"
Ian Parry quoting Martin Luther about a drunk man on a donkey
It is so important that we understand what the gospel is
We must not slide off into legalism
We must not slide into casualness
The gospel is Christ died once for all for our sins - out of our love and gratitude we seek to please Him
It is based on historical events - Christ dying for our sins and rising from the dead (objective truth)
It is based on subjective truth - we have experienced Jesus in our lives
The Gospel is not something abstract but very real and precious
We must never reduce the gospel to a decision or a commitment
It is a marriage bond, a covenant
Romans 7 speaks about Christ being our husband - a picture of Christ and the Church
The Comprehensiveness of Gospel Ministry
"Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (v28)
Not a selective ministry
The Character of Gospel Ministry
Preach, warn, teach
Positive aspects and negative aspects
'Warning every man'
Not standing there telling people off
Warning people that they are going in the wrong direction
Not only teaching positive truths but about warning against the path that leads to destruction
'Teaching every man'
We are to be wise people
We need to study and understand the Bible
We need to pray
The Consummation of Gospel Ministry
"...that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (v28)
We want saved people to grow and mature
Paul: 'I look at the Christian church and want them to grow up'
Paul: 'I long for the church of Jesus Christ to grow up'
Eph 2:11-13 - "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"
God is at work and perfecting His saints, bringing us to that place of maturity
He will present the Church as a spotless bride before Him
What is our vision for Tabor Baptist Church?
Do we want to keep no record of sins?
Do we want to see the church mature?
Do we want gifts and faith?
Do we want love?
Do we want to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Paul wanted every man to be presented mature in Christ Jesus
The Continuance of Gospel Ministry
"To this end I also labor..." (v29)
Gospel ministry continues as God's people work
God doesn't bless lazy servants
Think of the parable of the talents
Paul worked very hard
1 Cor 15:10 - "...I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
There was no boasting here
'I did work harder than every body else, but it wasn't me; it was God working in me'
"To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."
God working in me
As you strive and labour, God comes to us, God lifts us up, God empowers us
Think of John Wesley - how could he do this if it wasn't for the power of God in him?
Col 4:12 - "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."
Gospel work continues in the power and strength of God
