A Qualified Technician
Notes
Transcript
We see the value in working with people that are certified or qualified in their area of expertise or work
Plymouth Acclaim - Harvey - take a paperclip - and put that in the connector - started fine - the first part of the trip was good, but then it began to buck like a horse
Harvey was not a certified mechanic, and following his advise ended with me paying more
God wants to restore this church to one that is bringing glory and honour to His name
Paul just taught the church that he would rather abstain from some meat to help another continue in their walk with the Lord through charity
Now, Paul, still teaching through this principle, begins to establish and qualify the counsel given.
Paul gives counsel and then states the position God has given him to give the counsel.
Paul knew that God had been gracious to him and he was trying to help and not give place for the Devil to bring an excuse for people not to heed his counsel.
Paul’s Position
Paul’s Position
The Position
1 Cor 9:1
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Paul was an apostle
apostle n. — an envoy of Jesus Christ commissioned directly by Him or by other apostles; normally someone who has been taught directly by Jesus and who is invested with the authority to speak on His behalf.
Someone who had been with Jesus, chosen by Jesus, and sent by Jesus to preach the Gospel.
These men would be inspired by God to write Scripture, perform miracles, execute judgment, and evangelise the world
Who are apostles?
Luke 6:13
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
12 disciples
Judas Iscariot fell
Matthias would take Judas’ place
Paul & Barnabas
Acts 14:14
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
Andronicus & Junia
Rom 16:7
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
They are well respected among the apostles
They are well respected in (among means in) the apostles
Either way, the Bible tells us that these apostles were sent by Jesus personally
Usage of apostle
9 times - Gospels
69 times - Acts & Epistles
3 times - Revelation
This office has ceased
Heb 1:1-3
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
If someone tells you they are an apostle, be very wary as there is some wrong doctrine being taught
Qualifies the Position
1 Cor 9:1
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Free - free (not obligated) adj. — not under compulsion or restraint; able to act at will.
The usage here is speaking of being obligated or under compulsion or restraint
Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Paul was stating the fact that he was made free the law - the penalty of the law bringing the wages of death was no longer
Paul was free!
That’s what Jesus Christ does, makes us free!
John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Seen Jesus Christ
Very probable Paul saw Jesus in His ministry, but regardless
Acts 9:3-6
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Acts 9:13-17
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
The work
Paul stated the work that God has done through me credits my qualification.
May we look to Paul’s position and understand that he had the God-given authority to teach not only the Corinthians, but also us today.
Paul never sought this position:
God gave it to him
God gave him the grace
God confirmed it among others
Paul’s Testimony
Paul’s Testimony
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
You know me. You know what I preached. You responded to the Gospel. Many of you were saved because of the Gospel God gave me grace to preach to you.
Pro 22:1
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Paul’s Reasoning
Paul’s Reasoning
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
My life is being examined
He doesn’t go off the deep end and ballistically state - DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!
Paul doesn’t demand authority, but rather testifies about what God has done, and then begins to reason
No “pulling rank”
If you have to state what your authority is, then you don’t have that authority
I am your father
Answer - defense
Paul would not hesitate to defend himself if the cause of Christ was going to be hindered
Paul’s Rights
Paul’s Rights
Have we not power to eat and to drink?
Right to provide
Power - right ⇔ authority n. — a privilege (of a social or legal nature) reserved exclusively to a particular person or group.
Paul uses the sustenance his body needed to illustrate the need to provide for basic necessities of his life
Acts 18:1-3
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
Paul said I had the right to be bi-vocational to provide for his livelihood so he may preach the Gospel in Corinth
2 Cor 11:7-8
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
Paul had a salary provided by other churches and then he made tents, so he could preach Jesus in Corinth
Those in ministry have the right to provide for their families
Luke 10:7 ...for the labourer is worthy of his hire.
Right to family
1 Cor 9:5
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
As an apostle, a preacher of the Gospel, I have the right to have a family.
It is okay for a man preaching Christ to be married and to have his family with him
His wife and family validate his ministry
Paul answering some criticism
Exploring 1 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary Part 4: Difficulties in the Church (1 Corinthians 7:1–14:40)
People are the same all over. In Jesus’ day they criticized John the Baptist for his asceticism and they criticized Jesus for His accessibility. Jesus likened them to children at play; when one group invited the others to come and play at weddings, they refused to do that; and when they invited them to play at funerals instead, they wouldn’t do that either (Matt. 11:16–17).
It was the same with the apostle Paul. With some people nothing he did was right. If he accepted money for his ministry, that was wrong—he was just in it for the money. If he declined to be supported financially, that was wrong—he was being too independent. For him to remain single was suspicious, for him to get married would be wrong, too; it would hinder his freedom. If he were married but left his wife at home that would be wrong—people would say they didn’t get along. If he were married and brought his wife along, what kind of life was that for a woman? And besides, why should they pay her travel expenses as well as his!
As we look at who God had graciously given the church of Corinth to help them grow in Christ; may we take heed as these truths are applicable to our church and our lives.
May we not look at who God uses to graciously help us grow with disdain.
May I encourage you today, if you do not have a church home, to allow the Word of God to lead you to a church that will follow Jesus Christ.
Paul had this authority because of Jesus. Paul was the instrument that God worked through to help people see His marvelous grace.
There are a lot “Harvey’s” out there who will show you what you want to hear. We need to understand that this will cost us more than we think.