Continued Concern-Part 17

Introduction-II Corinthians 6:1-10

Last time we were here in II Corinthians we concluded chapter 5 by considering the change that takes place in those who receive Christ and the responsibility that He has now given to us to be ambassadors for Him in this world.

When a person believes on Christ a miraculous change takes place within them wherein old things pass away and everything becomes new as he no longer views the world from a purely physical perspective having now the ability to see it from a spiritual perspective.

Those who know Christ have quite literally become new creatures in Christ and this transformation which takes place within him should ultimately be manifest in his attitudes and behaviors.

Today we will consider a passage which implores us a “workers together with him (the Lord)” to minister in a manner consistent with this fact exemplifying His character and enduring difficulties as we faithfully minister to others.

Workers Together With God (Vs. 1-2)

This passage is somewhat of a continuation from the previous chapter which closed with the idea that we are to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ in this world.

Those who are personally involved in the work of God are “workers together with Him.”

What a privilege we enjoy to be able to partner with God to accomplish His work in this world.

When you and I minister to others on Jesus behalf we are working together with God.

The challenge extended here to the believers in the Corinthian church was that they would not receive the grace of God in vain.

The grace of God in not only that which saves us but is also that which transforms and empower us for service.

The believers in the church at Corinth—like you and I who are saved—were recipients of the grace of God and yet it was possible that their reception of the grace of God might be in vain.

The reception of the grace of God is meant not only to save us but to equip us to fill a particular role in the work of God.

If the believers in Corinth who had received the grace of God would not then become involved in the work of God then their reception of His grace would be in a sense “in vain.”

Through this challenge God is using Paul to encourage the believers in the church at Corinth to allow His grace to form them into useful instruments in His work.

Verse 2 is a quotation of Isaiah 49:8 “Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, And in a day of salvation have I helped thee: And I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, To establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;”

The idea being conveyed here is that now is the time which God has chosen to extend the invitation to men to be saved—we are living in an age of grace and we must recognize the urgency with which we ought to operate.

This underscores the importance of their allowing the grace of God to work effectually in them that they might then be the means by which God invites men to Himself.

We often use this passage in reference to the urgency of responding to the message of the gospel for the unbelieving but it is primarily directed here toward those whom God would use to relay the message of the urgency to proclaim the truth of the gospel now.

The time for gospel ministry is now and we cannot afford to delay for now is the accepted time and now is the day of salvation!

This is a challenge to all those who have not yet become personally involved in the work of God to allow God to use their lives now!

Giving No Offense (Vs. 3-4a)

The believers in Corinth are now also challenged to conduct themselves in ministry in a manner that would reflect positively upon the one whom they serve.

They are instructed to give no offense in anything so that the ministry would not be blamed.

This involves behaving themselves in such a way as they minister on behalf of Christ that they would not do anything that would bring reproach upon the ministry more broadly.

The idea here is that some would act in a manner which would reflect poorly upon the ministry and would give a bad reputation to all those who are involved in gospel ministry as a result.

One scriptural example of this principle is seen in David’s life with regard to his sin with Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 12:14 “Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.”

As Nathan confronts David in his sin, he indicates that David’s behavior has “given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.”

This simply means that David’s behavior reflected poorly upon Israel and upon God because they were supposed to be the people of God.

There are countless illustrations of this principle today as well—many who call themselves ministers of Christ have said and done things that give Christianity a bad reputation in the minds of the unbelieving.

Illustration—the behavior of many church members and even ministry leaders on social media espousing opinions and engaging in attacks on the character of others all supposedly “in the name of Christ.”

Many fail to recognize that their social media posts draw the attention of the unbelieving and that their behavior gives a bad reputation to the ministry as a whole.

This is true also in the sense of local churches—on numerous occasions I have met someone who has been neglected or mistreated by a church and its leadership.

In many cases this has then given a bad reputation to churches in general and the person decides that this is the type of behavior they can expect in any church.

Rather we ought each to behave in a manners that is consistent with our being “ministers of God.”

Notice here we are encouraged that “in all things”—meaning every area of our life for it is not only our behavior inside the church that is under scrutiny—but our behavior in the community, our behavior in the workplace, our behavior online are all a reflection positively or negatively upon the ministry of Christ.

There are many who are involved in ministry who are far too casual in their behavior and who have thus given a bad reputation to many faithful ministers as a result.

We must carefully consider our behavior in every context so that we do not become a hindrance or act in a manner that would make it more difficult for others who minister for Christ.

Our actions and attitudes do not only affect us, they have a much broader effect upon the reputation of those who are involved in ministry.

We must act as genuine ministers of God at all times and in every context lest we become a hindrance to the ministry of others through our failures.

In Difficulties (Vs. 4b-5)

Every believer should ultimately be involved in ministry in some capacity and as we minister we will face difficulties.

We are to keep in mind this challenge to “give no offense in anything” and to “approve ourselves as the ministers of God” in these difficult circumstances.

We are to behave as genuine ministers of God—

“In much patience”—this simply means that we are to demonstrate a willingness to endure and to remain steadfast in our commitment to the Lord.

Effective ministry certainly requires much patience , and it is this patience which serves as evidence that we are genuine ministers of God.

“In afflictions”—We are also to maintain a right attitude and behave ourselves appropriately in the midst of afflictions.

It is much more difficult to maintain a right spirit and to minister genuinely when you are dealing with affliction—this could be some physical ailment or some difficult trial that you are facing.

“In necessities”—this is descriptive of times when we are in need, lacking in some fundamental area of our lives.

Even in the times when we do not have all that we need, we must still maintain an attitude that reflects positively on the ministry.

“In distresses”—the idea of distresses is one of being under pressure or being boxed in.

There will be times as we serve in ministry that we may feel as though we are under a great deal of pressure and there is nowhere to turn—even then we must resist the temptation to act in a manner that would reflect negatively on the ministry.

“In stripes, in imprisonments”—these were experiences which Paul and many other ministers of Christ had endured.

It is amazing that even when Paul was being punished unjustly and imprisoned for simply proclaiming the gospel—he maintained his composure and did not do anything that would hinder his or others ministry in the future.

“In tumults”—the idea of tumults here involves instability disorder and was often used to refer to political instability.

This has a very direct application today as there is much uncertainty and instability in our world as well.

When there is chaos in society—as ministers of God we must not become reactionary and we must resist the urge to join in with those who speak brashly and offensively on either side of the political aisle.

We must remember that future ministry is of far greater importance than winning an argument or gloating in successes now.

“In labors”—ministry often requires us to expend a great deal of energy and as we toil—often without a great deal of tangible results—we must not develop a bad spirit.

“In watchings”—this involves the idea of sleepless nights and is a common theme among those involved in ministry as they develop a genuine care and concern for those they minister to.

Even as these sleepless nights take a toll on us physically and emotionally, we must not become bitter or frustrated—we must still conduct ourselves in a manner consist with our being ministers of God.

“In fastings”—at times we may even choose to restrain our appetite for food or other things as a means of discipling ourselves and turning our attention towards God.

Yet if we should choose to do so we must not be as those who disfigured their faces and refused to wash so as to appear to men to fast—rather we do so without any appearance of discomfort of the sake of the ministry.

Exemplifying Godliness (Vs. 6-7)

Now we turn from the negative to the positive traits of a ministry which approves us as ministers of God.

It is characterized by

“pureness”—this involves the idea of both purity and sincerity.

Pureness refers to holiness of conduct—the ministers of God living and acting in a manner that is above reproach.

“Knowledge”—the ministers of God will possess a knowledge of God and His Word and will conduct their ministry in alignment with this knowledge.

“Longsuffering”—the ministers of God will be longsuffering—willing to suffer long with men who may not at first have a positive response to their ministry, displaying a patience towards others that goes beyond what is typical.

“Kindness”—the ministry of the genuine minister of God is characterized by kindness—a gentleness which displays itself in an overall demeanor that is never brash or unkind.

“The Holy Ghost”—the ministry of the ministers of God is marked by a submission to the Holy Spirit and bears the evidence of His work upon their lives and through their ministry.

“Love unfeigned”—the ministry of the minister of God is characterized by genuine love—not a pretended concern but one which truly cares for others.

“The Word of Truth”—the word of God should be a prominent and consistent theme in the ministry of any true minister of God.

“The power of God”—if a ministry is genuinely of God it will bear the marks of the power of God upon it—it will be evident that God is at work in them and through their ministr”—this indicates a person who is clad in the spiritual armor of righteousness and is prepared for spiritual warfare on the right hand and on the left.

This armour is our defense against those who would question our motives or doubt our sincerity.

However Others May Perceive Us (Vs. 8-10)

This final section involves the often contradicting ways that we may be perceived as we minister for Christ.

There will be times that we will be honored and times when we are dishonored—and yet we must maintain our testimony and we must continue to sincerely serve.

There are times when others may bring up an evil report of our ministry—making unfounded accusations or questioning our motives and yet we must not become embittered or respond in kind.

At others times men may give a good report of our ministry—and in this we must not become prideful of self-confident.

Some will say that we who minister for Christ are deceivers espousing lies and yet we must continue to speak the truth whatever the cost.

Those who serve Christ will often be unknown—they will not often rise to great prominence or position.

There are many faithful men and women who serve Christ faithfully whose names will never be widely known and yet to those they minister to on the behalf of Christ they are well known.

It is not important that we should make a name for ourselves in the world—it is of far greater importance that we would be well known among the people that we are called to minister to.

We may be called upon to suffer on the behalf of Christ and yet we live in Him, we may at times suffer under the chastening hand of the Lord, but this chastening is not to kill but to correct and transform us into more usable instruments.

As we minister for Christ there will most certainly be times of great sorrow as we suffer loss or experience tragedy-but at the same time there is always reason to rejoice as we consider the hope that is ours in Christ.

We may never be wealthy by the world’s standards—we may be poor and yet through our ministry on the behalf of Christ we have the opportunity to make many rich in spiritual blessings as we serve Christ and minister to them.

We may have nothing and yet in the end we have all that we need if we have Christ.

2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

Romans 8:31–32 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Conclusion

In the end—the emphasis of this entire passage is that whatever our experience may be, however we may be treated or perceived as we minister for Christ—we must do so in a manner that honors HIM!

We are ambassadors for Christ, we are workers together with God, we are ministers of God and we ought to act in a manner consistent with this identity.

We can ill afford to behave in a manner that would cause offense or that would hinder our ability to minister on Christ’s behalf in this world.

This is true not only when all is well, but especially when we face great difficulties in our ministry.

Our ministry must continually be characterized by those qualities that exemplify Christ.

Whatever others perception of us may be, we must maintain our testimony so that we can be effective in ministry.

At time, we and our ministry may be perceived in a positive light by those around us and at other times in a negative light—but in either case we must remain faithful to Christ—not allowing the perceptions of others to affect our ability to minister for Christ.