“Motivation for Ministry!”
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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11 I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12 The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.
13 So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!
14 Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16 Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!
17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you?
18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.
20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
21 I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.
The title for today’s message comes from the end of (v.19) – “…and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.”
THIS IS THE HEART of a true shepherd or spiritual leader!
What motivates you to serve in ministry?
I’m not talking about WHAT you do, but WHY you do it.
Whatever authority Paul possessed was used, not for the edification (building up) of Paul and his ministry team, but for the building up of the congregation at Corinth!
I. His EXPLANATION of his AUTHORITY! – (12:11)
I. His EXPLANATION of his AUTHORITY! – (12:11)
A. The Pressure came from the Corinthians – (v.11a) - “...you forced it on me.”
A. The Pressure came from the Corinthians – (v.11a) - “...you forced it on me.”
NKJV - “...you have compelled me” - NIV – “…you drove me to it.”
B. His Position among the apostles was well known – (v.11b)
B. His Position among the apostles was well known – (v.11b)
“…since I am not in any way inferior to those ‘super-apostles,”
C. The Picture he had of himself – (v.11c)
C. The Picture he had of himself – (v.11c)
“…even though I am nothing.”
II. The EVIDENCE of his APOSTLESHIP – (12:12)
II. The EVIDENCE of his APOSTLESHIP – (12:12)
A. The Identity of this evidence:
A. The Identity of this evidence:
1. “…signs” – σημείοις - used seventy-seven times – emphasis on the purpose of God.
1. “…signs” – σημείοις - used seventy-seven times – emphasis on the purpose of God.
2. “…wonders” - τέρασιν - used sixteen times – emphasis on the people who are being affected.
2. “…wonders” - τέρασιν - used sixteen times – emphasis on the people who are being affected.
3. “…miracles” – δυνάμεσιν - used 123 times – emphasis on the power of God being displayed.
3. “…miracles” – δυνάμεσιν - used 123 times – emphasis on the power of God being displayed.
B. The Intent behind this evidence:
B. The Intent behind this evidence:
1. In the case of the Lord!
1. In the case of the Lord!
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name
2. In the case of the Apostles!
2. In the case of the Apostles!
3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will
III. The EXTENT of his PRESSURE upon them – (12:13-14)
III. The EXTENT of his PRESSURE upon them – (12:13-14)
A. His Method of dealing with them – (v.13)
A. His Method of dealing with them – (v.13)
HIs method was a QUESTION challenging the so-called harm he did, with a very SARCASTIC answer!
B. His Motive is clear – (v.14)
B. His Motive is clear – (v.14)
(v.14b) - “…since I am not seeking what is yours, but you.”
C. The Illustration he used to prove his point – (v.14c)
C. The Illustration he used to prove his point – (v.14c)
“…For children ought not to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.”
IV. The EXPRESSION of his LOVE for them – (12:15)
IV. The EXPRESSION of his LOVE for them – (12:15)
A. The Dedication he had toward them – (v.15a)
A. The Dedication he had toward them – (v.15a)
B. The Dilemma he faced – (v.15b)
B. The Dilemma he faced – (v.15b)
“...If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”
V. The EDIFICATION that he PRACTICED – (12:16-19)
V. The EDIFICATION that he PRACTICED – (12:16-19)
A. He EXPOSED their own problem! – (v.16)
A. He EXPOSED their own problem! – (v.16)
Paul’s satire set them up to see their own problem: They were arrogant and their questioning of Paul’s authority revealed it!
B. He EXPLAINED clearly that his motives were pure! - (vv.17-18)
B. He EXPLAINED clearly that his motives were pure! - (vv.17-18)
He never took advantage of them, nor did the men he sent to them!
C. He Emphasized that he and his co-workers were answerable to God, and that their purpose was edification alone! - (v.19)
C. He Emphasized that he and his co-workers were answerable to God, and that their purpose was edification alone! - (v.19)
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
VI. His EXHORTATIONS – (12:20-21)
VI. His EXHORTATIONS – (12:20-21)
A. Remove the hostility among believers! - (v.20)
A. Remove the hostility among believers! - (v.20)
Eight results of bad attitudes among believers in their relationships:
1. “…quarreling” – ἔρις - used nine times. NIV – “strife” – ‘Wanting your way!’
2. “…jealousy” – ζῆλος – Used seventeen times - ‘constant jealousy’
3. “…angry outbursts” – θυμοί, used eighteen times for a bad temper!
4. “…selfish ambitions” – the idea of developing cliques, factions, etc.
5. “…slander” – καταλαλιαί, - to speak down or against someone.
6. “…gossip” (NKJV - “whisperings”) – ‘excluding others by the things you say’
7. “…arrogance (conceits)” – This, and all these listed are PLURAL!
8. “…disorder” – ἀκαταστασίαι – quarreling, disputing!
16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice
B. Repent of all sinful practices! – (v.21)
B. Repent of all sinful practices! – (v.21)
1. “…moral impurity” – shameful talk and inappropriate jokes and remarks.
2. “…sexual immorality” – πορνείᾳ – a word for any sexual sin or immorality.
3. “…sensuality” – ἀσελγείᾳ – used nine times.
7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, distressed by the depraved behavior of the immoral
18 For by uttering boastful, empty words, they seduce, with fleshly desires and debauchery, people who have barely escaped from those who live in error.
Most of these practices are listed in as “works of the flesh” in (Galatians 5):
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,
Conclusion
Conclusion
What do we learn?
As a Pastor, there are several lessons:
First, like Paul, I must be clear of my CALLING!
First, like Paul, I must be clear of my CALLING!
His defense was that he was in no way inferior to the “super-apostles” (i.e., the Apostles of Jesus), and Christ had used him in the same way (v.12)!
Second, I need to constantly CHECK MY HEART!
Second, I need to constantly CHECK MY HEART!
What is my motivation for ministry? Am I okay with being misunderstood and slandered by those I am trying to serve?
Do I understand the sacrifice necessary to be in leadership? Can I claim (v.15) as my own?
Third, my preaching must be CENTERED IN CHRIST for the BUILDING UP of the Church - (v.19)!
Third, my preaching must be CENTERED IN CHRIST for the BUILDING UP of the Church - (v.19)!
Finally, I must not be SURPRISED at the hold sin has in people’s lives - (vv.20-21)!
Finally, I must not be SURPRISED at the hold sin has in people’s lives - (vv.20-21)!
TWICE Paul says, “I fear…”
Disappointment and discouragement are sometimes part of the journey—which means the work is not yet finished!
So what do we do? We keep ADMONISHING! We keep SERVING! We keep PRAYING! We set our hope fully on the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ!
9 We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature.
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
