Paul's desire and concern
Paul’s Desire and Concern
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Introduction:
Today is the first day of the New Year, 2006
What is your greatest desire in this New Year?
To many it would be: Lose weight, eat better, be healthy, etc.
Today’s passage gives us a glimpse into what Paul’s greatest desire was:
1. Paul’s desire for people
2. Paul’s concern for himself
I. Paul’s desire for people vv. 1-2
1. His desire stated: “do not receive the grace of God in vain.”
1) Note how much this meant to Paul: “I plead with you….”
This was not little desire for Paul, he begged them to listen
2) Note what this desire meant
Ties in with the end of chapter 5
There Paul reminds his readers of what Christ did for them
He came to reconcile men to God
He came to make them new creatures
He came to forgive their sin
He came to make them right before their God
Now that you have heard this message act on it in the right way
A. Receive forgiveness through faith in Christ
B. Allow God to accomplish what He desires in you.
Show that you are a new creature in Christ
Do not let this message fall into a vacuum
2. His desire’s reason: Based on what God did
1) God heard you
God heard man’s cries for forgiveness
Clear back in Genesis 3 God planned to provide forgiveness
All through the OT the prophets remind people of God’s plan
Even today the Jewish people are looking for God’s salvation
2) God helped you: In the day of salvation
Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
When the time was right God did exactly what He said he would, He provided for man’s salvation.
3) God has offered you
Now is the time for you to accept this offer of salvation
Now is the time to accept what God has done
Forgiveness of sin
Reconciled to God
Made a new person
Be made right in the sight of God
Application:
How many today hear the Message of salvation in vain?
Hear and walk away: do not want any part of it
Hear and say, “Later!” as if tomorrow is a sure thing
How many today hear the Word of God in vain?
Hear and do not apply
Hear and walk away unchanged
Paul’s desire is that no one would walk away from the grace of God in offering salvation!!
II. Paul’s great concern for himself vv. 3-10
Paul is concerned he will in no way turn someone off to the message of salvation
In everything that Paul did he was always concerned about what his actions communicated about Jesus Christ.
**Can that be said about us today?
V. 4 In everything I want to act as a minister of Jesus Christ!!
Minister not in the sense of Pastor, but in the sense of servant/follower
How do “Christians” become a stumbling block today?
The way that we talk
When our morals are no different from the morals of the world
When we live is a way that is contrary to God’s word
*It is not that we do not all fall at times, it is the fact that often we live that way as a way of life!!
*Our work habits are not different; our work ethic is not different
*When we focus only on ourselves
Note the areas of Paul’s concern:
In Patience: There were times when Paul felt like giving up, but he kept going, I am sure there were other times when he felt like being short with people and held his tongue.
In tribulations: Paul suffered a great number of tribulations as a result of his preaching. Paul strove to handle those in a way that brought glory to God
In needs and in distress: These both refer to times that Paul was suffering. Our suffering often shows were we are really at spiritually.
In stripes, imprisonments, in tumults: (V. 5) These all refer to Paul’s suffering for doing what was right. He was wrongly whipped and imprisoned. Yet in all of it Paul strove to be blameless as a servant of God.
In labors: In the work that he did whether in sharing the Gospel or in providing for his physical needs. Outside of our families the people that we work with see us in action the most. How well do we represent God before them?
In sleeplessness and in fasting: Both of these have the idea of going without what we need and deserve (food and sleep). Even if Paul did not get these things he still strove to represent Christ well.
By purity (v. 6): With a life and motives that are pure and right before God
By knowledge: The things that he set his mind to know and study. What do we put our minds to? What do we talk about around the water cooler?
By longsuffering: Being patient under all kinds of difficulties. Displaying the attitude of Christ when we suffer. 1 Peter 2:23 “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
By kindness: The way he treated others, whether they were kind to him or not!
By the Holy Spirit: Living under the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit
By sincere love: As Christians we need to constantly display the love of Christ to all. The chorus taken from the pages of Scripture says, “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
By the Word of Truth (v. 7): By his preaching and sharing the Word of Truth: Word of God. Paul not only preached it from his lips, but preached it with his life as well!!
By the power of God: This is how Paul intends to do these things, it God’s power and God’s might. The same power that enabled the lame to walk, the blind to see, and that enabled Jesus to rise from the dead!!
By the armor of righteousness: Refers to the armor of God in Ephesians 6 the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
VV. 8-10: In any circumstance that he might face
When given honor or dishonor
When given a good report or a bad report
Whether unknown or well known
Whether he was alive or being put to death
Whether he was sorrowful or rejoicing
Whether poor or rich
Whether having nothing or possessing all things
Paul had the attitude that regardless of what happened in his life, he would not be a stumbling block to others that would keep them from coming to Christ. In all things he would glorify God!!
What a great attitude for us to having going into 2006