(2)1 Corinthians 16:1-9 • The Hopeful Conclusion

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Back in chp.7:1 Paul said, now concerning the things of which you wrote to me...  

The church in Corinth wrote Paul a letter, a letter we do not have, asking him a variety of questions...  so far we’ve seen 6:

1. Marriage: chp.7:   we looked at,    marriage...     divorce...     being single...    &    remarriage...

2. Christian Freedoms:  chp.8-10 - We saw how that was related to our Christian Liberties...  &   it wasn’t can I do this or can I do that...   but   should I...

3. Our Conduct in the House of God: chp.11: dealing with head coverings...  &  divine order...    as it pertained to men & women...  

Beautiful picture of equality & hierarchy not only in the church...       but     in the marriage relationship...  

4. Communion Services: chp.11: we saw how the Bread & the Cup pointed to the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ...

5. Manifestations of the Holy Spirit: chp.12-14:,  we said that the Charismatic gifts or the main gifts are found in Rom.12:6-8, 7 of them 

The Offices of the gifts are in Eph.4:7-12, 5 of them...       &      the Operations of the gifts are in 1 Cor.12: – 14:

6. Resurrection of the Dead: chp.15:,    we spent 5 weeks looking at & learning about the Resurrection...

We saw that without the Resurrection of Jesus Christ there is no Hope...   no Faith...    no Salvation...   no Heaven...   

The Resurrection is thee single most important event in the history of all man kind...  & you must believe in it to be saved...

2. Current Study’s Overview

This brings us to the 7th & final question that Paul answers in chp.16:1-4...    Collection for the Saints:   read.

Now the Church in Corinth probably asked Paul about collecting tithes & offerings for those in Jerusalem...

This the topic of tithes & offerings is something we don’t talk about here at this church, except when we come across it in scripture...          

just like every other topic in the Bible, we eventually cover it...

I was asked why we never talk about marriage & divorce...   then we came to 1 Cor.7: and I was asked if we were ever going to stop talking about marriage & divorce...

If you’re taking notes there are 4 things we want to look at today:

Paul’s Collection Vs. 1-4

Paul’s Commitment Vs. 5-9

Paul’s Coworkers Vs. 10-12 & 15-20

Paul’s Closing Remarks Vs. 13-14 & 21-24

1. Paul’s Collection Vs. 1-4

1.1 Who It’s Given To Vs. 1a & 3-4

Saints:   hagios,   means Holy...    it of coarse is speaking of believers...   those who are born again...

This collection of money was eventually received by Paul on his 3rd missionary journey, Acts 18: - 21.

Someone from the church was sent to Paul to give Paul this love offering - These tithes.

1 Corinthians 16:3–4 NKJV

3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

If you remember he wrote 1 Cor. in Ephesus toward the end of his 3rd missionary journey...

So, after Paul receives this money, he subsequently brought the money to Jerusalem, Acts 24:17 & gave it to the Saints in Jerusalem... 

Acts 24:17 NKJV

17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,

Why the saints in Jerusalem? because there was great poverty there...          the reason for the poverty was 2 fold: 

Faith in Jesus Christ:   when Jews came to faith in Jesus they were ostracized by the community... they were rejected by their family...          &          they were fired from their jobs...

They became very poor...     totally destitute...    sad, we see the same thing happening today...

Famine in The Land:   a few years earlier in Acts 11:28-30 there was a sever famine in the Land...

So the food became very scarce...       &      subsequently very expensive...

turn Acts 2:44-47,  4:32-35,  because this collection is not something Paul just randomly invented... 

No, it was something the early church did...   &    Paul is simply following their example...    read... 

Acts 2:44–47 NKJV

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32–35 NKJV

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Go back...

APPLICATION: If this example was good enough for Paul...      well, it stands to reason it’s good enough for us too... 

And we use the Collection here at the Barn to go out to the Saints in a variety of ways...

Buildings to Meet In:     AC in the summer...    Heat in the winter...    Supplies like cleaning products, soap, paper towels, toilet paper...         &         by the way ya’ll go through a bunch of supplies...  Fixing & Replacing things...      Landscaping...       the list goes on...

Benevolence to Give Out:  we’re able to help a lot of saints who are in need because of physical illness, loss of a job, death of a loved one...    

there are so many different reasons why we might need help once in a while...

Missions & Outreaches:     to help the missionaries who can’t work because of Visa restrictions...    to  have various things like, Camps...  VBS...    

in fact, summer retreat this year...

And we by the way we should pay our pastors, their saints too...     Amen?...  

1.2 Why: It’s Given Vs. 1b-2

These tithes or this offering is given because it is a command - Pauls said, as I have given orders.

Order:  diatasso, 16, means command, military term,  it is an imperative...  so giving is not optional...

And you might be here and say, well that command is probably just meant for that church...  

No, Paul says churches, plural... all the churches of Galatia or Asia Minor...  modern day Turkey are commanded to give...   there is no getting around it...

Now there are 5 things things we should look at as it pertains to this command that’s given...

1. It’s not about What we Have: There are a number of things we can give to the Lord...

Money...  Time...  Talents...  Resources...  some say, I don’t have any money but I have a lot of time, ok...    

others say, I don’t have time or money but I have some other resources, ok...

2. It’s not about How we Feel:   well ya know if the Pastor gonna spit that fire preaching then today I’ll give...

It’s not about our feelings...    or   the mood we’re in...     this command is for all of us...

3. It’s Not about Quantity Vs. 2 - Now the NKJ might be a little misleading here...  because it seems to be saying if we give then we’ll prosper.

Now there is some truth to that...

Luke 6:38 NKJV

38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

But what Vs. 2 seems to be saying is that we should give according to how much God has prospered us..

1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV 1900

2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV

2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

In other words, if God’s given us much...  we should give much...

Luke 12:48 NKJV

48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

I like what Pastor Chuck said:   it’s not about how much I give to the Lord...  it’s about how much I dare hold back for myself...

Psalm 24:1 NKJV

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

4. It’s About How We Give - Ultimately it’s not about How Much we give...     but     How we give it...     and this speaks of 2 things:

Internal: Listen to 2 Cor.9:7-11 because giving is about what’s on the inside...  it’s about the Heart...  read.

2 Corinthians 9:7–11 NKJV

7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

External:  Listen to Mark 12:41-44,  because how we give involves what others may see when we give...    read.

Mark 12:41–44 NKJV

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

Now the widow put in more then the rich man because she gave everything she had...  he did not...

So pay close attention because, Jesus saw HOW the people put money into the treasury...   

We’re not told here but Josephus tells us there were several Trumpet shaped brass collectors in the treasury... 

So when you put coins in it, it made a very loud noise... so you can imagine the rich man pouring in a bunch of coins drawing great attention to himself... but the widow put in 2 little coins...  

So we need to be careful not to draw attention to ourselves when we give...

Matthew 6:3 NKJV

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

5. It’s about Obedience to God:      if God commands we need to do it...  Amen?...

However we need to understand that Obedience is not something we work at or strive for...

Romans 1:5 NKJV

5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

If we’re not obeying God by His grace we’re trying to do it in the Flesh...       &      that is unacceptable.

2. Paul’s Commitment Vs. 5-9

2.1 Involves His Plan Vs. 5

In Acts 20:31 Paul was in Ephesus for 3 yrs, there he wrote this letter... but his Vision was to go to Corinth.

Paul had Vision...  a Plan...  Direction in his life...

The idea of vision is throughout scripture...    we see it time & time again...

Proverbs 29:18 NKJV

18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

APPLICATION: Do we have a plan? Do we have vision?

ILLUSTRATION: Find ONE...

But the one thing that really stood out is it Wasn’t Complicated...   He simply said, I’m going to Corinth.

Typically this is how the Lord gives us vision or direction in our lives...     one step at a time...

One reason God doesn’t give us the whole plan is because He knows we might not like it... and so we might not do it...    

so  He gives us one step at a time...  one piece of the puzzle...  

Like Abraham in Gen.12:1 get out of your country... go to a land I will show you...

Another reason He doesn’t give us the whole plan is so we’ll have to walk by faith not by sight, 2 Cor.5:7.

If God gave us the whole plan we wouldn’t have to put our trust in Him on a daily bases...

2.2 Involves His Flexibility Vs. 6

Paul had vision, he had a plan & that’s important...

Proverbs 14:15 NKJV

15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

But Paul was also Flexible...      he was Open to how God might want to change his plans...  

It’s important that we be flexible & open to God changing our plans...    our vision...   our direction...

In Acts 16:6 on Paul’s 2nd missionary journey, Paul Silas & Timothy had everything mapped out they were going to Phrygia & Galatia...  but  the Holy Spirit forbade them from preaching in Asia & sent them to Macedonia...

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Blessed are the flexible for they shall not break

2.3 The Will of God Vs. 7

Paul’s plan in doing this or doing that, in going here or going there...   all depends on if the Lord permits...  

We call it the Will of God...   this is a big issue, because does anybody desire to be in the Will of God.

There at least 2 aspects of the Will of God we want to look at:

1. God’s Specific Will:     we all can know what God’s Specific Will is for our lives from His Word...  

Eph.6:6     it’s God will,  we’re servants of Christ from the heart...  not the flesh...

Ephesians 6:6 NKJV

6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

1 Thes.4:3   it’s God will,  we avoid sexual immorality...

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Thes.5:18  it’s God will,  we give thanks in all things...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Peter 2:15  it’s God will,  we put to silence ignorant men by doing good...

1 Peter 2:15 NKJV

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—

1 Peter 4:19  it’s God will,  that some of us suffer...

1 Peter 4:19 NKJV

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

2. God’s General Will: turn Rom.12:1-2... we all need to know God’s General will for Jobs, Families, Homes...

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

So we all fall into one of two categories:  Conformed to the World.   or   Transformed by God.

Now in vs.1 & 2 we see knowing God’s perfect will involves 2 things:   our Bodies.   &   our Minds.

APPLICATION: Point:   as we Live for the Lord...   &   Set our minds on the Lord...   we’ll be Directed by the Lord... 

He will point us in the right direction to accomplish His good, acceptable & perfect will... 

2.4 His Priority Vs. 8-9

Paul’s priority was to stay in Ephesus because of the Calling God put on his life.

And here in Vs. 8 & 9 we God’s Calling for Paul involves 2 things:  

1. The Gospel:   Paul was faithful to what God called him to do because it was God who opened a door.

For Paul it was to Preach the Gospel, 1 Cor.1:17 Paul said Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel... 

And in a very general sense this is the same calling for all of us...    

2 Timothy 4:2 NKJV

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

APPLICATION: Maybe your here and your like well, I don’t talk very well I am an introvert. That’s fine!

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

2. The Adversaries: Paul prioritized his calling in spite of adversaries...    tribulation...   why,

Acts 20:23 NKJV

23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

Paul prioritized his calling because he knew it involved adversaries...    &    tribulation...

The same is true for us... 

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

John 16:33 NKJV

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

So the question is will we continue to prioritize God’s calling for us in spite of Adversaries...

ENDING....