Marks of a Genuine Ministry

2 Corinthians 10:7-18

Introduction:

Paul was continually struggling with the criticism of others against his ministry

Almost certainly many were asking, at least in their minds, weather or not Paul’s ministry was real/true

*There were many who were preaching other “truths”

Some of the claims against Paul’s ministry:

1) They questioned his authority v. 8 deals with this

Paul was not one of the original 12

He came afterwards; therefore he did not have their authority

2) He was a moral coward vv. 10-11

He was bold in writing his letters but was not the same in person

3) He taught a frightening kid of freedom in Christ

His message was not full of do’s and don’ts

Many taught that to be acceptable you had to do many things

Paul’s message was about a relationship with God through Christ

4) He could not be real, he was having trouble getting support from Chruches

To answer the charges against him, he pointed out the marks of a true/genuine ministry

He begins by inviting them to take a look at his ministry vv. 7-11

*Take a look: so often ministries and ministers are condemned without ever looking into the charges against them

*Do not just consider the way things appear outwardly: obviously the outward appearance is an indicator of what is on the inside, but sometimes the outward appearance can be deceiving.

-Take for example Paul’s having trouble raising support

-Often today the ministries that are not Biblically sounds have the least trouble raising support.

*Make a decision for yourself; do not just listen to others v. 11

Shameful today how many ministries are destroyed by 2nd hand “truth”

What are some marks of true/genuine ministry?

They belong to Christ
They have true authority
They are not a “self-commending” ministry
They enter the doors that God opens for them
They seek to reach the un-reached
They boast in what God has done

I. They belong to Christ v. 7

Paul’s point in this verse is the fact that he belongs to Christ, Jesus is a central part of who he is; his ministry revolves around Jesus

Search of Epistles of Paul:

Mentions Christ 376 times

Mentions Jesus 206 times

Galatians 1:8-9

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

In Galatians 1:15-17 he tells them what that gospel is: God called me to preach Christ

A true Christian ministry will unashamedly talk about Jesus Christ
A true Christian ministry will point people to Jesus

Much talk today about “God” but often no mention of Christ

Many today claim to be led by God, but there is no mention of Christ

Any ministry today that talks about God, but leaves out Christ is not a genuine ministry

In our services we need to preach Jesus Christ

In our SS classes we need preach Jesus Christ

In our AWANA we need to preach Jesus Christ

In our outreach, etc. Jesus is the center of who we are and what we preach

II. They have true authority v. 8

Paul could boast about his authority because it was it was real/genuine

David Virkler last week talked about the authority that is given to us to reach all nations with the gospel of Christ

Paul had that authority, but also the authority of an apostle

He started his epistles talking about his authority

Anyone can claim they have authority but how do we know?

1. Their preaching and teaching is founded in God’s Word

Many today base their beliefs on what feels right or what seems right

A true Christian bases their teaching on God’s word

*One of greatest compliments someone gave me years ago was to say, “we notice that everything that you teach you base in God’s Word.”

2. We can look at the results of their ministry

In Matthew 7 Jesus was warning against false prophets and told His disciples that they could tell the difference by looking for the fruit of their ministry

Anyone can claim the authority of Christ with their lips, but only those with the genuine authority will see results

Paul shared some of his fruit in verse 8:

*The people were being edified: built up

As we look at a ministry: are Christians being edified?

*People were being brought to Christ:

No doubt they could look at Paul’s ministry and see this

III. They are not a self-commending ministry v. 12

*If someone is boasting about what they have done for Christ – be careful

*Paul says that are not wise – fools!!

Interesting how different ministries or ministers describe themselves:

“Dynamic speaker” “World renowned preacher” “Internationally known” “universally acclaimed”

Note how Paul described himself

Romans 1:1 “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God….”

Dr. Oswald Hoffman (speaker on The Lutheran Hour) was once given a flowery introduction which ended with “And now I give you the famous Dr. Oswald Hoffman.”

Dr. Hoffman stood at the pulpit for a moment, then said, “I’m not the great Dr. Oswald Hoffman. I’m a nobody…just like you.”

Because I was thinking about this last week I took great notice of how David Virkler spoke about his ministry. He did not lift up himself or who he was. It was clear that his ministry was about Jesus Christ and what He was doing.

IV. A true ministry enters the doors that God opens v. 13

Paul got to Corinth through the doors that God opened: His spear of ministry “includes you” v. 13

Can trace how God opened the doors for Paul to go to Corinth in Acts

Started with the Macedonian call in Acts 16:9

Go and read God’s call: See God opened the door and Paul went

In answering God’s call he went to Philippi, there got in trouble and ended up in jail

Got out and went to Thessalonica; preaching brought opposition

Went to Berea where his preaching brought about a riot

Left there and went to Athens (50 miles east of Corinth). There he preached on Mars Hill but they again did not receive his message.

Went east to Corinth. Paul preached throughout the city and the Corinthian Church was born.

2 Cor. 10:14 basically means that God marked out Corinth for Paul and then sent him there

Same idea in Rev. 3 in letter to Church of Philadelphia

God had set an open door before them and they took it

He did not force an opening or use craftiness of speech, God opened the door and he took it. See in Acts that when God closed a door he moved on till God opened another one.

*Know of pastors and ministries that force their way into people’s homes and almost have to be forced out.

A true/genuine ministry does not force open doors of ministry, it is sensitive to God’s leading and takes the doors that God opens.

V. A true ministry seeks to reach the un-reached vv. 15-16

Paul was not trying to reach those that another had already reached, Paul was attempting to reach others

Talked with a lady who represented another ministry to Churches recently and she shared with me how many Churches today are not concerned about growing, they are happy just to survive

Dave Virkler last week shared in the afternoon service how Churches in general today have gotten away from evangelism. Many are concerned with reaching people, but not with leading them to Christ.

Paul’s drive was to win the lost, reach the un-reached and see them come to Christ. Jesus, Himself, came to seek and save the lost. Any ministry that is not concerned with this is not a true Christian ministry!!

VI. A true ministry boasts in what the Lord has done vv. 17-18

They do not brag about how great they are and point others to what they have accomplished, they brag on Jesus Christ.

James 4:16 says that boasting in your arrogance is evil.

Galatians 6:14 Paul says “God forbid that I should boast in anything other than the cross of Christ.”