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Intro:
Tonight as we continue our series on 2 Corinthians, entitled, [Matters of the Heart], I want to speak on the subject of [Life-Long Service].
In a survey conducted with people over the age of 95, the question was asked, “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?”
The top answers fell into three categories.
They said they would, 1) reflect more, 2) risk more, and 3) do more things that would live on after death.
I have always been intrigued and interested in longevity.
When I was seven or eight years old, we visited my great-great aunt Roxie.
She was 98 at the time and lived to be 102.
She was born on Indian Territory before Oklahoma became a state.
I was enthralled with her stories about our family.
Living nearly a century, she had life-long wisdom to give us concerning many aspects of life.
But what I love even more than long life, is when I meet someone who have lived for Jesus the majority of their lives.
It is one thing to have long life, it is another thing to live for and serve Jesus throughout our lives.
As a young minister and now as a pastor, God has blessed me with people in my life who have been faithful to the Lord for decades.
I love to get around retired pastors who weathered many storms, yet learned how to stand strong.
One pivotal event took place when I was twenty-one.
I am sure I have shared this story before, but it bears repeating.
I was at Harvest Christian Center in Park Hills for a Fellowship Meeting.
Instead of a service, Pastor Dwight Jones had a panel of three long-term pastors.
He wanted them to share about their life and ministry.
The three men were Brother Dean Heady, Brother Gary Petty, and Brother Cuneio.
All three shared about some of the highs and lows of life in ministry.
At the end, Pastor Jones asked if anyone had a question.
Would you believe that I was the first to raise my hand?
At twenty-one years old, I asked, how did you make it and not quit?
I know many people my age who have started really strong, but did not finish.
I have seen people so far in my life start in ministry and quit as soon as it gets hard.
Before the three men could answer, another retired pastor, Brother Hugh Cerutti from Farmington First, spoke up, his words never left me.
He explained, “I am not on this panel, but I have an answer.
I have been through really good times and really bad times, but I never quit or wavered because I knew I was called.
I knew that because God called me He would never fail me and never leave me.
If you know you are called, then you will always be able to make it no matter what you face.”
Those words have never left me.
I left that meeting with a determination to give God life-long service!
When one gets saved and begins to serve the Lord, there is a euphoric feeling that everything will ALWAYS be great and that problems will never come.
Sure we know they happen, but if you are like me, I am normally blindsided when it happens to me.
But we have hope in the words of Paul to the church in Corinth.
After informing the reader that we are ambassadors for Christ, sent on assignment for Him, he tells us as workers how we are to live.
We must NEVER take God’s grace in vain.
We have sang the song many times,
“Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come.
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”
God has been so good to us in extending His grace for us, NOW is the acceptable time to live a life that pleases God.
Because we are saved, we should commit to God, I want life-long service.
I want to stay with you in the good and the bad times.
What are the attributes of life-long servants?
What does God look for in life-long servants?
[Servants that are Sincere] and [Servants that are Set Apart].
Let’s begin
1.
Servants that are Sincere
I am thankful the
Have you ever been around a person that is fake?
Someone that is insincere?
They say all the right things, but do not live what they speak?
There is nothing more damaging to our Christian testimony and our service to the Lord that insincerity.
Christians who say one thing and act another way are taking God’s grace in vain.
Remember part of the problem in Corinth.
There were false teachers who spread lies about Paul and his ministry.
They questioned in credentials, his motives, and his integrity.
Paul let them know, we have given no reason for people to question our sincerity.
We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us!
That is not to say that Paul’s life was perfect and without problems.
In the passage we read, he described a few types of struggles that he faced.
He faced internal struggles.
The pressures of ministry caused him to become stressed and emotionally drained.
He faced external struggles.
He faced external struggles.
He was beat, imprisoned, and faced intense violence for his leadership in the church.
He faced sleepless nights, hard labor, and hunger because of having little.
Nevertheless, he maintained sincere service to the Lord.
He understood that his worst day as a follower of Jesus was better than his best day as a sinner!
So he maintained sincerity in his words and conduct.
He chose to live a life of purity, patience, kindness, and understanding.
He made sure he practiced what he preached, by the power of Holy Spirit always clothing himself with the armor of God.
The NLT says he kept the weapons of righteousness for attack in his right hand and for defense in his left hand.
He characterized his ministry in a series of ups and downs:
by dishonor and by glory
by evil reports and by good reports
by deceivers yet he was tru
as unknown yet well known
as dying yet behold we live
as punished yet not put to death
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing
as poor yet making may rich
as having nothing yet possessing all things through Christ
How could Paul, who experienced both extremes of living for Jesus stay faithful and serve God?
He was sincere in his faith and he knew that the Lord would never fail.
Because he was a threat to the enemy, he understood that attacks were inevitable, but he would not allow the attacks to define him.
He was defined by the grace of God, which he refused to take in vain.
How can we become life-long servants?
God is looking for servants that are sincere!
2. Servants that are Set Apart
Notice the emphasis of the words, O CORINTHIANS!
Paul loved this church, but many had been influenced by false teachers who spewed lies and deceit.
They were not sincere in their devotion to the Lord, instead, it was all about what was good for them.
Many of them had closed their hearts and minds to the truth.
Paul begged them, I am being more open and vulnerable in this letter than ever before, so please open your hearts and minds to what the Lord wants to speak to you.
What was one of their problems?
As they had closed themselves off from Paul they were forsaking good and Godly relationships with bad partnerships!
They chose to be reserved in their relationship with Paul as they entered personal relationships with unbelievers.
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