Called Out
Notes
Transcript
Last week:
We have been given the ministry of reconciliation, not to reconcile to darkness nor evil, but to God
We have been made to be ambassadors of Christ
Today, we will see what that looks like
Illustration:
When I was in school, probably like many, I wanted to be liked, I wanted to be popular. So before the next school year, I was determined to look the part, to fit in, that people would see me and I would be the most popular kid at school. So when my mom went school shopping for me, I purposed to pick out outfits that I recall the popular kids wore. I had finally assembled one of the most identical outfits I could find, and I was sure that this would elevate my status into top tier popular. So you could imagine my disappointment when the style of all the popular kids had changed. I was wearing what was popular last school year… I was a year behind. And as disappointing this was to an insecure and growing teenage boy, it reminds me that as a christian, I was never meant to fit in. In fact, what we learn today is that we are actually called out from the world to be set apart wholly unto the Lord
As Servants of God (V.1-10)
V.1
O: And working together with Him
I: As ambassadors of Christ, working with the Lord
A: The Lord wants us to work with Him, to take part in what He is doing
We do this as ambassadors of Christ, exercising the ministry of reconciliation with the world
The first thing we need to know… we are invited to work with the Lord!!
O: we urge you also not to receive the grace of God in vain-
I: Paul is strongly encouraging them not to take the grace of God for granted
A: Grace= getting what we don’t deserve… the unmerited favor of God
How do we receive grace in vain??
David Guzik says:
2 Corinthians 1. The Responsibility of God’s Great Offer (1–2)
It means to receive the goodness and favor of God, yet to hinder the work of grace in one’s life.
Paul would say in 1 Corinthians 15:10
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
The grace we receive, always merits a response. If we receive His grace, and His grace is working in us, but we aren’t changing, we aren’t laboring… you still have grace, but you have received it in vain
In fact, Paul will actually explain a bit in the following verses
V.2
O: For He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you”
I: Paul, quoting from Isaiah, that the Lord has heard our cry and has been our source of salvation.
A: This reminds us that the Lord has heard us, and answered our cry.
O: Behold, now is “the acceptable time”, behold now is “the day of salvation.”
I: Even though speaking from Isaiah, the Lord is speaking now, salvation is here now.
A: The Lord’s word is being fulfilled NOW, today is the day of salvation
The wonderful reminder that God’s grace is here now, and we have every opportunity to receive it from Him
V.3
O: Giving no cause for offense in anything so that the ministry will not be discredited
I: We aren’t doing things that will cause problems and make what we are doing to be meaningless
A: This is how we receive grace in vain, that we do silly things to discredit what the Lord is doing.
Think of what Pau lsays in Galatians 5:13
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
And then Peter chimes in saying in 1 Peter 2:16
16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
Using our freedom for evil, for the flesh, to offend others and discredit the gospel… this is grace received in vain.
As ambassadors, we need to be careful to not offend anyone, because the gospel is offensive enough without our help
V.4-5
O: but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God
I: In all we do, in our lifestyles, in our thoughts, in everything, we are presenting ourselves as thse who are serving the Lord, representatives of Him, ambassadors.
A: Instead of offending, instead of receiving the grace of God in vain, we are proving ourselves as servants of God.
In the next 6 verses, we get to see how Paul has commended himself as a servant of God
Spoiler… it isn’t what we see in most today
O: in much endurance
I: Paul first says he is enduring many things
A: We must endure, to have patience. As ambassadors, as those who have received grace, we must endure. Look at what Paul says he has endured
O: in afflictions, in hardships, in distress, (5) in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in sleeplessness, in hunger
I: Paul faced all these things as he ministered the gospel all of the Roman empire
A: Paul will later give us his wrap sheet in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
This is a reality servants of Christ will face. Even Timothy is warned about this in 2 Timothy 3:12
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
But look at what Paul transitions to, in spite of sufferring…
V.6-7
O: In purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, (7) in word of truth, in the power of God; by weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left
I: in the Holy Spirit, with purity (root word hagios), knowledge (gnosis), patience, kindness, genuine love (Fruits of the Spirit), in the word of truth, in the power of God (Dynamas), by the weapons of righteousness
A: we need the Holy Spirit, even Jesus says in John 15:5
5 …for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Don’t ever do anything without the Holy Spirit.
Before you witness, before you talk with other people, before you leave the house, before you leave your bed, invite the Holy Spirit
Through the Holy Spirit, can we only see the power of God, can we use the weapons of righteousness
We need these things as we minister, and just as Paul knew the suffering of the ministry, he also knew the power behind his ministry
What we will see in these last verses, is that the circumstances don’t define us, our ministry, or the work we do.
Don’t buy into the trap that we need ideal circumstances to minister
V.8-9
O: by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true, (9) as unknown yet well known
I: Peoples perception will never determine the success of your ministry
A: We will be spoken of as all sorts, but it is the Lord we aim to please, no matter what people say
O: as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death
I: we face death and punishment, but we live
A: It may seem as we will be put to death, but as long as the Lord has you, you are invincible. That is, until He is ready to call you home
V.10
O: as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things
I: Tying it up with this… what we experience isn’t what defines us, Christ does.
A: We don’t have to get caught up with our circumstances
You have sorrow, but we have joy that can only come from the Lord
I think of Erika Kirk… the world doesn’t understand how she can move on after her and her children watched her husband get killed. Its because her hope isn’t set on her circumstances of having a husband around, it is in Christ, so even though she is sorrowful, she rejoices.
Maybe you don’t have money, but you are rich
Think of what Jesus says to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:9-10
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Just like them, even when poor, we are rich. We have the reward of eternal life, no money can buy that
Our circumstances don’t define us, they aren’t why we will stand before the Lord and hear, “Job well done…” we will hear that because “good and faithful servant.”
A Call to Accept Them (V.11-13)
V.11-13
O: Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is open wide. (12) You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. (13) Now in a like exchange- I speak as to children- open wide to us also.
I: Paul is asking the Corinthians to reciprocate the love he has shown to them. Paul hasn’t caused them to pull away, it was them
A: Our love for one another should never be one sided, but displayed for people to see. Think of what Jesus says in John 13:34-35
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Our love for one another is the greatest tool for evangelism. Don’t hold back showing that love toward one another
However, Paul says this in context of what we see here in the next several verses.
Separate From the World (V.14-18)
V.14-15
O: Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? (15) Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
I: Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to separate themselves from the world, because what do we have in common with them? Nothing
A: This has endless applications:
For those who are single, do not find a spouse who is unbeliever.
Don’t even date a person who doesn’t know the Lord
EX: Former worship leader- Young, talented
Evangelistic dating is NOT a good thing, lots of pain
Business partners
You will be coming from 2 different world views
The point is, don’t be “unequally yoked”
A picture of a yoke, used to pair oxen or same type of animals together to accomplish something, like plowing a field
If one were to yoke an ox with a horse, it would be disastrous, one trying to go fast, one with great strength, but they are working against one another
So don’t be yoked with unbelievers. Why?
no partnership between righteousness and lawlessness
No fellowship of light and darkness
Christ has no harmony/peace with other gods
Think of what we read in James 4:4
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Don’t seek friendship with the world or things of the world
Be careful what you decide to become a part of, even though there may be christians in some social clubs, the clubs are not christian themselves, which means, you may be yoking yourself to a godless, dark place.
General rule of thumb: Matthew 5:34-36
34 “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
DO not make an oath, or an allegiance to any person or organization. Your commitment is to Christ an Him alone
V.16
O: Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the Living God
I: God does not share worship with any other god or idol… He has made us to be His temple
A: Go back to James 4:5
5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
When we make ourselves friends with the world, we agree with their worship, their gods
Remember during COVID, if the world was telling us one thing, I figured the safest thing was to do the opposite.
EX: “Trust the Science”
Their god is the medical world, the scientific world. Our God does not share worship with any other
Why was I so against what the world wanted… because we are the temple of the Living God!!
There is no place for worship of their gods here in the church, nor will we promote their worship
O: Just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people
I: God has said in His scripture that He will be with us, be our God, and we belong to Him
A: Understand this, we belong to Christ now, there is no room for anyone else
V.17-18
O: Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord, ‘and do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. (18) “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to me,” says the Lord Almighty
I: We are called to come out of the world, to not participate in their folly, and we will be children of the Lord
A: Think of what the Lord says in Leviticus 19:2
2 “.’..You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.’”
Here is Paul, quoting from scripture, that we would be Holy, set apart to the Lord. That we would come out of the world, that we would not even associate with them. Jesus would pray in John 17:14-16
14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Conclusion:
The Lord has called us out from the world, and instead, to minister to them the word of truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our circumstances will not define us nor how successful we are, but that we would separate ourselves from the world and its systems. And what we see, there is a promise attached, that we will be sons and daughters, and the Lord will be our God. Next week, we get to see why these are important for us to know and hold to.
