Paul's Final Instructions 1 Corinthians 16:12-24

Intro

Good morning church and thank you for being here for the Lord’s day. Each week we are given the joy to be able to gather as a church family and worship together. We get to share our lives, our victories, our defeats, our struggles and our prayers. We get to serve each other and with one another. We get to listen to the word of God and sing his praises. We get to pause our normal grind and re-remind ourselves that we are people of purpose, with a purpose, but that our value doesn’t come from what we produce. We are loved, not because we are lovely, but because Christ poured out divine love on us declaring our worth. We are beautiful not because we look good and pleasing but because we are the Bride of Christ that he cherishes deeply. We are holy, not because we are perfect or even good, but because Christ frees us from our sin and is making us into those that bear his image.

Friends, you come to church today not to prove your devotion or to be counted as one who is worthy of God’s love. You come today because the truth we proclaim is that God’s love is yours despite of what you produce or how well your week went. You are loved and seen by a Holy God who knows your name and loves you massively.

Sit in that this morning. Treasure this truth inside of your heart. Reflect and meditate on his mercies that renew each morning. Each day is another one to find and feel the great love of God that he has plunged you deep beneath the ocean of.

That said, welcome to church.

Tension

Today we finish up our last passage of 1 Corinthians for the year and its path through us. You may have heard the highlights before like 1 Corinthians 13 or the simple powerful gospel of chapter 2. But if you’ve never studied it before, my hope is that the word lept off the page and found its way to the part of your heart that calls to action.

Many messages are contained within this letter of what to strive for, for what a church should make its focus, what we should do about doctrine and the invasions of various winds of teachings. What we should do about unity and the struggle of corporate congregational life. All of these things call us to do something about it. That we need to do the extra step of taking those thoughts and ideas and implant them deep within our hearts that we might walk in them for God’s glory.

Today we finish up by talking about chapter 16:12-24; Paul’s last remarks in this letter to this loved and wayward church.

Truth

1 Corinthians 16:12–24 (ESV)

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

14 Let all that you do be done in love.

15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—

16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,

18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.

20 All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.

22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Prayer

Exposition

Corinthians 16:12–24 (ESV)

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

verse 12 gives us some insight into how well Paul thought of his brother in the ministry, Apollos. He remarked in 1 Corinthians 3:9 “9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” indicating that Paul didn’t see himself as a leader of underlings but as a worker among peers who delighted in being used for God as they built and strengthened his churches. Apollos was such a friend in Paul’s life. Indeed the camaraderie between pastors and missionaries is essential to maintaining focus and stamina in the field. In 2007, while MO was in a winter wonderland, I was in Swaziland, South Africa, serving with some IMB missionaries who’d been in country for 5 years by that time. One thing that was special to them was one day when it rained and we couldn’t go do our planned activities. Instead we sang worship music in an impromptu service for a couple hours. Our missionaries sobbed tears of joy for being able to simply sing songs in English with other believers.

It can be hard feeling alone and fellow brothers and sisters who share the journey can be a welcomed sight.

Apollos, despite Paul’s nudging, elected to stay behind in Ephesus while Timothy came out with the offering. Apollos didn’t have as much a bitter idea towards coming as much as the timing wasn’t going to work. I imagine Paul wanted his brothers to gather with him to help Corinth together as a united group who had nothing but the best intentions for the church. Better together so to speak. But, as we discussed last week, this didn’t happen, and Paul didn’t even go into town as he expected too. The bitterness of the church toward him had grown too large for Paul’s desires to benefit them. So he elected to withdraw from them for their own good.

Paul now begins a five-fold line to the church as his closing remarks to them.

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

14 Let all that you do be done in love.

Be watchful or on your guard. this can also be translated “be diligent” as in be diligent in carrying out the will of God. To give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

Stand firm in your faith. Remembering that one of the supreme issues for the church was the Corinthian’s propensity to dive into false teaching and heretical preachers. Their ears itched for fancy ideas and shiny new doctrines and Paul pulled them back to things of merit. Stand in the truth that you know. The gospel is paramount. Remember it and judge all other things against it.

Act like men or “be men of courage”. Echos of Psalm 27:14 “14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” can be felt deeply here. This is a call to no longer be children of faith but to tackle the hard and noble hills that need to be taken. Don’t shy away from the good fight because God will make a way. Paul called them to not remain children but to step up and be counted on.

Be strong. Don’t be weak blown back and forth by those around who clamour for false things. Be that mighty oak who doesn’t bend. Stand on and for truth.

Do everything in love. Again, it all comes back to 1 Corinthians 12:31 “31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” and this excellent way. All of it needs to be done in and aimed at loving each other. All corrections are brought up in love. All changes made in love. All relationships repaired in love. All futures prayed through in love and walked out in love for Christ that binds us all together in his love.

15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—

16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

Achaia was the Roman province that Corinth was the capital of. The area extended over central and southern Greece. In that time, the household of Stephanas were among the first converts in the region, among those in Acts 17:34, we think. It was common practice that Paul would appoint elders over the budding churches to act as those responsible for the growth and direction of the church members. Elders functions, qualifications, and responsibilities are mapped out in 1 Timothy 3, but summed up, they were called to serve the church by leading. They did this by taking up responsibilities in leadership, discernment, preaching and teaching, and shepherding the flock.

Stephanas was one of these such men and Paul urged the church to emulate his faith and service. He exemplified a man who desired to be of service and welcomed maturity and responsibility. Submission and servanthood are hallmarks of such men as we are told in Matthew 23:11

Matthew 23:11 (ESV)

11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.

As well as Luke 22:26

Luke 22:26 (ESV)

26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.

Paul’s encouragement was that they look to such men as models and emulate their heart and their devotion to the church.

17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,

18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

Likely Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus were the bearers of the bad news that confirmed what Paul first heard about the church from Chloe’s people. But, despite that fact they were the kind of men who just being around them you became refreshed and encouraged.

As I have now served in full-time church leadership for 15 years, I know what Paul is talking about. I’ve been the recipient of such men who came bearing bad news or hard truths, yet, their demeanor and spirit calmed the waters and gave hope. I’ve taken to call this attitude being the “alca-seltzer” in the sea of indigestion.

I remember one of our deacons in Savannah who was such a man. He was held in great esteem by the congregation as well as the community, giving himself to servant leadership for the most part of his career. Now, retired, he brought that same desire to the church. He was in charge of finance and I remember that Tim would always have a way of talking about money in ways that calmed everyone down. One particular season we were discussing some outreach that we wanted to start up that wasn’t in the budget and I remember in all the conversations and infighting that Tim would often say, “Guys, if God is leading us to this, he is going to show us the way. Its there if we will keep our eyes fixed on him.” Sometimes people can open their mouth and suck the oxygen out of the room and Tim would open his and give us all the ability to breathe again because we were reminded that our problems are nothing compared to a God who is infinitely capable.

Paul acknowledged them and the benefit they had to him personally as well as the benefit they could have in the church if they would listen to them.

Title of Elder or none, I think being such a man or woman in the church is one that we could all strive for, paid salary, volunteer, or whatever situation we find ourselves in. We should all have the desire to walk so closely with God that we can benefit others who are learning as well. We should all desire to encourage and build up the saints and the pastors and missionaries to teach and preach. We should all seek to be the example to others in the church of what it looks like to joyfully serve and build up the church.

I think of Ted Coats in a previous church who was there every time you needed help. One night we were cooking Wednesday night dinner, tomato soup and grilled cheese. I joked with Ted who was flipping sandwiches on the griddle top, “About time we found a use for you, I was beginning to think we never would.” The 76 year old man made eye-contact with 22 year-old me, never blinking, flipped a grilled cheese in the air for what seemed like 20 rotations and landed it perfectly on the spatula, dropped it and looked at me with triumph. “Son you have no idea.” I loved Ted and so did everyone. In a world of chaos and confusion, struggle and frustration, flip grilled cheese and be an agent of peace and comfort. We can and all need to seek to be such men and women. We need more of their kind.

19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.

We now see two names that should be of great encouragement to all believers. Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers that Paul met in Corinth and that he stayed with there. They eventually followed Paul to Ephesus and remained there as church planters with Paul. They caught the vision of what God had done through the ministry and couldn't stand by. They got in the game and put their money where their mouth way. As such, they made their home available for the church to meet in, we are told in Romans 16:3-5

Romans 16:3–5 (ESV)

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.

5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

What could we or would we say about such people in our day. Good on them. We are thankful for them? Maybe a better you than me under our breath? They were all in. They knew the hope of Jesus revealed to them by the Holy Spirit and this weird traveling missionary named Paul and they couldn’t unsee what had been unveiled to their formally blinded eyes. They now wanted everyone to see what they had. They used their business to earn money for the cause. They gave Paul a place to minister from out of their own pocket. When he needed some people to come with him and see the missionary work to continue they sold it all the moved with him for the glory of God and the continuance of the gospel. Mind you, they were always laypeople. They had no formal training or education, they weren’t trained for this sort of thing, they just felt God call and they went. They gave it all up. Then, landing there, they worked alongside Paul, started up their tent business again, and even used their new place as the site of the new church. They were all in sold out followers of God who realized that they couldn’t take it with them. Such people facilitate and encourage Paul’s in their ministry and God uses their faithfulness for his church. Could he be raising up them in our day and even in our church? Could God be reading you and your family even now that he might send you out in the next 2 years for a work right now that you couldn’t even imagine? Don’t count yourself out friends because God can and does this still today. Don’t for a moment sink your feet in and say, “better them than me,” because its often been the case that those most dead set against it become the ones God calls and convicts. Instead make the prayer of your heart to be the cry, “God for your will all I have to give.”

20 All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

For flavor and because I found it interesting during my study this week; did you know that kissing one another was a thing in NT times? Today we find kissing to be a romantic form of affection that is usually reserved for opposite the sex but in the early days of the church is was appropriate and even expected to greet your brothers and sisters with a holy kiss to so affection and appreciation. It was seen and expressed more in the same vein that we kiss our children to show them we care about them.

By the way, that is the case if you see bianca all broke out in a rash. its not a rash but instead beard stubble that irritates the junk out of her. Sorry kid but not sorry.

It wasn’t until the second century that criticism from non-Christians and the danger of erotic abuse, we are told by Athenagorius and Clement of Alexandria, that kissing was seperated by sexes. This was later taken in the fourth century and applied further to the clergy and the laity starting up the foundations of a celibate priesthood in what would become the Catholic church.

That said, we are not bringing this one back. If you try to greet me with a Holy Kiss you will be greeted back with a punch of brotherly affection.

21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.

this next parts seems strange to some at first, but at this point Paul takes over himself. Paul has dictated this letter up to this point and for some this is blown out into a thing that it isn’t. It was common place to dictate letters in their day and likely, Paul struggling with eyesight and getting on in years, would have solicited the help of another brother to pen his words for him. This does not mean that he was not still influenced by the Holy Spirit or that “Paul didn’t write the letter himself.” Of course he did. He told the guys to write it and they did. And now he moves that guy off the desk. Likely, you would have seen the handwriting change at this point to something less pretty and far more shaky as Paul wanted these words to ring more personal to those who read.

22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

to his opponents; those who would seek their own agendas and not the building up of Christ and his kingdom. those false teachers and preachers who were sitting on thrones of false doctrines and outrageous claims, his point is clear: let them be accursed. Those people have no love for the church or for Christ and should bear the just fruits of their evil intent. Love here is the word “philei” meaning brotherly affection or literally “kiss” calling back to vese 20. You can’t call these people your brothers, kiss them with affection then teach them evil. He then calls on the Lord to come quickly, “maranatha”.

To his opponents this warning, to his beloved, those faithful and struggling in the church he asks and prays the grace of God be upon them. That is what they truly need right now and he asks it of God over them and these struggles. Indeed for the struggling and stagnant church, even today the grace of God and revival are the cure. We need to join Paul’s prayer and seek his grace on ourselves as well.

He then ends with vs 24. “My love (agape, unconditional and unrequited love) be with you all because I love you in Christ.” I’ll remind again that they ran him out of town and when he desired to come back for their good they made sure he knew he and his meddling were not welcome. Yet, it didn’t matter. Because Paul’s love was not conditional on how they treated him or felt about him. His love was the same kind that Christ had for them. He wanted God’s best for them and in them and no matter how they responded to him and his love, it would still be bearing down on them all the same.

Landing

So there it is, the book of 1 Corinthians tied up and fit with a little bow. A book of brokenness, bitterness, dissension, and turmoil. Yet, a book not fit with a white flag of surrender but one that is painted with hope. One that beacons the wayward to come back to love as the most excellent way. That teaches us that no matter the distance from the right path, a new course can always be charted back toward God. I hope sincerely you’ve been encouraged, you’ve learned some things but also that you’ve been affirmed in your walk with the Lord. Give all you’ve got and above all else, stand on truth in love. Be an agent of the gospel and share truths, even hard ones to other brothers and sisters as they seek to follow Christ too.