Lessons From Paul's Ministry
Lessons from Paul’s Ministry
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Introduction:
Last week we looked at the hard aspects of love
Paul had a great love for the people of Corinth, yet in that love there were some hard things that needed to be done for their benefit
Confrontation: constructive criticism: yet I think it was stronger than that
Forgiveness
Both of those need to be part of our “Christian love” today
Today we want to look at some more lessons that we can learn from Paul’s ministry:
I. Paul’s greatest desire v. 12-14
1. His desire is seen: Preach the Gospel of Christ
Acts 9 we see Paul saved, baptized, and immediately preaching Christ to his fellow Jews in the synagogues
Romans 1:15 “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”
Romans 15:20 Paul’s aim was to preach the Gospel where it had not been previously preached
1 Cor. 1:17 Christ has sent me to preach the Gospel
1 Cor. 9:16 “Woe to me if I don’t preach the Gospel!”
In Philippians Paul is rejoicing that even though he is personally suffering, he has opportunities to preach the Gospel as a result, therefore he is joyful.
Colossians 1:28-29 “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
1 Timothy 2:7 “…I was appointed a preacher and an apostle.”
2 Timothy: At the end of Paul’s life he wanted to make sure the preaching of the Gospel continued in Timothy.
Paul was also very careful not to take from the people, he did not want to them to think that he had any other motive rather than to preach the Gospel.
What is our greatest desire in ministry and life today? Is the sharing of the Gospel as important to us as it was to Paul?
Why was this so important to Paul?
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes….”
1 Cor. 15:1-2 it is the Gospel that is able to save.
Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Why was it so important? It is only through the Lord Jesus that mankind can know the forgiveness of sin, the change of life and heart that only He can give, everlasting hope and life.
There is no other means of salvation, Paul understood that and was driven by it to preach the Gospel.
Today many have idea that if people are just faithful to what they believe all will be well. We have lost the urgency to share Christ!!
*Why have dinner and Church is full, come together to share Christ and no one shows up.
*Why people are too busy to be involved in ministry of the Church. We are too busy to share the Gospel. It is not that important to us.
To Paul God opened a door, let’s go, to us God opens the door and we are often too busy!
2. His distraction: v. 13
It is interesting that what distracted Paul from ministry was the same thing that led him to preach: His love for people and a desire to see them walk with the Lord.
Paul was so concerned over the people of Corinth that he was distracted from his preaching.
Paul had sent Titus to visit Corinth, when he arrived at Troas he had expected to see him there and get a report, but evidently Titus had not yet arrived. Paul was so concerned that he left and went to Macedonia. We read more about this in 2 Cor. 7
What often distracts us from ministry today? More than likely it is not a love for other people. Often instead it may rather be a love for ourselves. We want and desire things, which leads us further and further from what God wants from us.
3. Paul’s declaration v. 14
Paul is thankful for the work that God did in the Church at Corinth.
II. Paul’s fragrance to the people vv. 14-16
When Paul refers to the triumph in verse 14 he is thinking of a Roman triumph. When a Roman general returned from battle with a significant victory there was a triumphal parade in his honor. One of the many things that was done was the burning of incense. The smell of incense was often the announcement of the knowledge of victory.
Paul is thankful, I believe that God was able to use him to be the fragrance of His knowledge. God allowed the Corinthians to know the knowledge of God through Paul.
To me it is an amazing thing that God often uses us to help other to get to know what His will and desire is. It is a very humbling thing.
The Church knew God’s will concerning their way of life, others knew of salvation through the preaching of Paul. He was the fragrance of life.
Not everyone responds in the same way. To some it is the smell of life, to others the smell of death.
My experience recently at a funeral service. Couple acted all the way through as if I was wasting their time with the message of salvation. Yet others were comforted and challenged by it.
Some hear the message of salvation and reject, some respond.
Peter said that to some Jesus is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. How true that is.
III. Paul’s driving force vv. 16-17
Yet Paul continued to preach and teach, why?
1. God’s call v. 17 We speak as from God
Paul was not serving himself, he was serving God
Began every one of his Epistles talking about God’s call
It is important for us know and then to remember who it is that we serve.
I am not like those peddling the Word of God
They were serving themselves
Paul was serving God
2. God’s provision vv. 16-17
Paul admits that he is not sufficient for these things, but God is.
