A ministry of newness pt 1

2 COR 5:14-21           “THE MINISTRY OF NEWNESS PT1”

WHEN WE CONSIDER WHAT THE CHURCH IS MOST NEEDED OF AS IT RELATES TO MINISTRY, IT CAN BE COMFORTABLE STATED THAT THE CHURCH IS IN NEED A MINISTRY OF NEWNESS. NOTICE THE PHRASING, NOT NEW MINISTRIES, BUT A MINISTRY OF NEWNESS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE; YOU CAN START A NEW MINISTRY WITH AN OLD ATTITUDE. A MINISRTY OF NEWNESS IS FUELED BY THE PROPER MOTIVATION. THIS IS WHAT WE WILL DRAW OUR ARGUMENT FROM TODAY, POSSESSING THE PROPER MOTIVATION.

The first thing to consider is the markers of the ministry (markers: bookmarks, constant reminders of where you are at)

1)      We all have a ministry (4:1)

2)      We will have trials in our ministry (4:8)

3)      True ministry changes lives (3:2-3)

Markers should translate into the proper motivation:

1)      Our motivation should be from an internal point of view  (4:16-18)

2)      Our motivation should be from an angle of future reward (5:10)

3)      Our motivation should stem from the love of Christ

I)                   THE TERMINATION OF THE SELF-LIFE (VS.14-15)

1)      The ministry of newness must be blanketed with the termination of self.

2)      Termination: conclusion, or capable of ending (we must put an end to our self-life, however it must be tied to the love of Christ and our love for Christ.

3)      There are basically two ways for the believer to terminate the self-life:

a)      The Extinguishing of the Old Self (extinguishing: To bring to an end, quench, nullify or get rid of) This process is on-going, Jesus said it best concerning his ministry “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”

b)      What is my old self? (self-centered, selfish, selfish gain, secretive motives that hinders us from ministering to others)

c)      We can get rid of our old selves because of the love of Christ. The text says that the love of Christ compels us. (it changes our direction)

d)      Compels us: Holds together completely with irresistible power and limits us to the one great object to the exclusion of other considerations. The form in which this word is used implies to force energies into one channel.

e)       Ill: forcing a ship into a narrow channel. Forcing a beast into a position where it cannot move so the farmer can administer medication.

f)        Secret: We can get rid of our old selves because Christ’s love holds us in position and constantly injects us with his love.

g)      Why, because his love makes us do the things that we would not normally do. (a new direction!)

h)      Ill: in ministry, you must be led by the love of Christ or folk will run you out of here!

i)        Here is the key: Christ injects Himself in order to overshadow ourselves! (Bible: We love him because he first loved us!) (God demonstrated his love towards us that while we were still yet sinners, Christ died for us!)

j)        Secret: why we cannot quit.  Consider the aspect of love. Love does not envy, but it is jealous. (envy: means to covet something that somebody else has) Jealous: that  a person is getting more of your attention than I.

k)      Whenever that happens, the love of Christ gets active. (Bible: God is love, I am a jealous God.

l)        Ill: when I was a young boy, I had childhood sweethearts. A s much as we knew, we thought we loved them. We would sit around and fix our attention on them and would get active when we felt they were giving attention to somebody else! ( we would hold their hand to let folk know that we were together and she has not quit me!) (love of Christ, everytime I try to pay attention to something else, Christ’s love grabs my hand and reminds me that we are going steady, and I cannot quit him!)

m)    Not only does Christ’s love gives us a new direction, it also provides for us a new determination.  (judge: Pronounce judgment, make up in one’s mind) It simply means that we made up our minds at conversion and we have made up in our minds that this ministry, Christ’s love and walking holy is settled truth!

n)      Here is the determination: That one died for all, then all died.

o)      What did they die to?  Sin and self so they might live to God their redeemer, who we belong to!

p)      This is true ministry: (go to 1 Peter 4:1-4) When I cease for doing what I used to do!