Sermon – Gospel Motives for Service

1. Introduction

a. Dear congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, children, young people.

b. Our text is taken from 2 Cor 5:11-14a. Let me only read the last phrase of this text: For the love of Christ constraineth us.

i. So, our theme is: Gospel Motives for service

1. Fear

2. Honesty

3. Love

c. Now before we begin, let me say this:

i. These motives are not just applicable for those among us in church offices, they are applicable to any type of serving.

ii. So, let us keep in mind, they are as much for:

1. mothers and fathers who seek to deal honestly with the souls of your children.

2. For teachers, youth group leaders and their students.

3. Or, for us, as neighbors interacting with our community.

4. Or, for us, interacting with our co-workers or fellow-students…

2. Fear

a. Intro

i. Children, the day that Paul was converted, was a dramatic day… Not all of us have conversions like that…

1. Paul fell on his face and showed his ignorance of God when he asked: “Who art thou Lord?”

2. Paul thought he knew and feared God… Paul thought he was zealous for God… But, in reality, he was persecuting God and his people…

3. Those unforgettable days in which Paul wrestled with God, God send him one of his servants… Showing what God was calling him to do…

4. God said about Paul: “He is a chosen vessel unto me… To bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and children of Israel… I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

ii. Paul thought he feared God… But he didn’t. That can still be the case today…

1. People who think that they are doing God a favor, but all the time, it must be said that there is not the proper fear of God in their lives.

2. When the right kind of fear gripped Paul’s heart, he became fearless. He stood before kings, and he was gripped by a zeal to win souls…

iii. He stood before kings, and he did not fear… How is that possible?

1. It is possible, because of what our text says in verse 11: Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men!

2. Paul stood before the thrones of kings and he did so fearlessly, because in His mind, he knew, one day, I will stand before the judgment seat of Christ!

3. Beloved that is the proper kind of fear that we all need. When such fear grips our hearts,

a. that we one day will all stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords…

b. that we one day will stand before the One who created us…

c. that we will stand before the All-knowing, All-glorious, Ever-present, Majestic, Gracious, Just, Good, and All-powerful Lord of heaven and earth…

d. That should transform everything we do!

4. You see, before the day of Paul’s conversion, he excused his angry and violent heart, he excused his covetousness, he excused his sin… He thought it was okay.

a. But he could no longer do that after the Lord Jesus stopped him… humbled him…

b. From that moment, his life was gripped by the fear of the Lord. Children, what was one of the first things, he said: “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?”

c. He desires to please the Lord, as we considered last week as well.

iv. So, there he stands, before kings…

1. When we turn to Acts 24, Paul is suffering for the name of Christ.

a. He is arrested. He stood before the governor Felix…

b. Some time later Felix wants to know more about what Paul has to say. He is listening to Paul…

2. The Bible tells us that he reasoning with Felix? What does he talk about?

a. Righteousness –

i. Those things which are good and right…

ii. Those things which are pleasing to God…

iii. I trust Paul also talked about Christ’s righteousness!

b. Temperance –

i. Moderation, self-control…

ii. Living a godly life…

iii. I trust he pointed out how this is possible through the Holy Spirit.

c. Judgment to come –

i. Felix, we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, to be judged according to our deeds done in the body, whether it be good or bad…

ii. Christ is coming! Be ready!

3. Children,

a. Do you know what happened to Felix, when Paul talked about these things?

b. He became very uncomfortable! He felt convicted!

c. It says: Felix trembled! And answered: Go thy way, for this time; when I have convenient season I will call for thee.

4. And why did Paul do this? Well, our text explains: Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men!

a. Paul’s heart is filled with the realities of the Gospel, the realities that Jesus Christ, who died, who rose, and who has received an unshakable kingdom…

b. Will come back to judge the living and the dead!

c. And he knows that if people do not hear these things… They will go lost! Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God, and how can they know, except there is someone to tell them?

5. Paul knew the terror of the Lord!

a. The Lord Jesus commands us to fear that way in Matt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

b. That made him fearless before Felix…

c. Paul did not mince words, he was urgent! He sought to be persuasive!

d. Are these the motives for how we deal with the unsaved among us?!

i. Whether they are your children… Your neighbors… Any one, really?!

6. That doesn’t mean that our words always will have the desired effect, for Felix said: Later! Not yet! Not now!

a. I first want to enjoy a little more of sin… the world… life… friends… pleasures…

b. Something similar happened two chapters later too…

c. This time, Paul stands before Agrippa! He is reasoning with him… And it comes to a point that Agrippa is so pricked in his spirit…

d. He feels the weight of eternal things pressing in upon him… hemming him in…

e. And so, what does he say, to be relieved of that pressure: Paul, you almost persuade me to be a Christian!

f. Maybe there are some here today… who don’t know Christ… who have felt the pressure…

g. The weight of eternal things… weighing upon you… But, you don’t want it… You don’t want the consequences. You don’t want to give up your easy life… Your pleasures, your sins…

h. And so, you say: I am almost persuaded… And you turn away from the Gospel… How tragic!

v. But perhaps, you say, pastor I understand that Paul does this with those who are not saved…

1. But, why did Paul speak about these things to Christians? Why did he speak about these things to the Corinthian believers?

2. Is it not far more beneficial to build believer up in their faith? Don’t they need much more encouragement? Yes, they do need encouragement!

3. But, when Paul addressed the Corinthians about the judgment seat of Christ, he was not aiming for their discouragement! He was aiming for their ongoing repentance!

4. And perhaps for some, who thought they were converted, but who are not gripped by the true fear of God, Paul was aiming for a first-time repentance.

5. And for those who were Christians, but are sleepy and backslidden… He seeks to awake them!

6. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men!

vi. A few chapters later, Paul shows that he is absolutely not sorry, when the Corinthians repent, when they are made sorry before God… Yes, when the fear of God is awakened in them, by true repentance!

1. Perhaps you recall that there were quite some issues in the Corinthian church, to which he responded in his first letter.

2. Then, when he saw there was no repentance, he paid them a painful visit, 2 Cor 2:1 tells us.

3. Next, he wrote them another letter, this time bathed in tears (2 Cor2:2-4).

4. But even when Paul feared his letter had been too harsh… The Lord used it in the lives of the Corinthians…

5. They repented! We read about this in 2Cor 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge!

6. In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

vii. And beloved that is what we all need this morning…

1. Sorrow after a godly sort! True fear! Godly fear! Fear that humbles us…

2. Fear that moves us to turn away from all known sin…

3. Fear that is more concerned about what God says and expects from my life, than what other people say or think…

4. Godly fear seeks to please God! No matter the cost!

5. Fear… that moves us to repentance… Fear that moves us to other people speaking to them about their soul!

6. Believers, I ask you honestly, do we have this kind of fear?! Are these the motives of our heart? Are we burdened for souls in that way?!

7. That will make us urgent, like Paul… Because this is the work of the Spirit in us! This is what Christlikeness looks like!

8. See the Savior, tears streaming over his cheeks, probably with broken voice, certainly with a broken heart, we see him cry over the unrepentance of Jerusalem…

a. Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings, and ye would not!

9. Our Lord was burdened, when said this, in his day about the response to his ministry and John’s the Baptist’s ministry:

a. Matt 11:17 We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

b. Is that true about some of us, here today?! Your pastors have sung a song about Christ and His love… And it didn’t stir your heart!

c. We have mourned about sin… we have preached about it, and it has not even made you sad!

d. We come again to you, if that is the case with you…

e. We know the terror of the Lord and we seek to persuade you…

f. Be ye reconciled with God!

b. So, what is this fear of God?

i. It is on the one hand

1. awe and adoration, that is given to us when we worship the Lord and contemplate His glory…

2. And it is also a deep humility that comes from knowing we live in light of Christ’s second coming…

3. And, it a honesty before the Lord… You don’t want to displease Him, which brings us to our next thought

ii. Our second heart-motive for service.

3. Honesty

a. Look at verse 11 again:

i. But we are made manifest unto God… Again, he uses the word manifest, which we considered last week, as well… then it was translated appear…

1. It means: Everything is naked and open to God! There is full disclosure of everything we do to God!

2. Paul trusts, the Corinthians have also recognized his fear of God, which leads to urgency and honesty. He assumes it is fully known in their consciences… when he says:

3. And I trust also are made manifest in your consciences…

4. In other words, Paul is saying: “I am well known to God. My life is an open book to God; and I hope that deep within your hearts also you Corinthians know what I really am, and that I fear God.”

5. I am not trying to deceive you. I am being honest with you about the judgment to come! I am honest with you about your souls! I am honest with you about the Gospel!

ii. Why is Paul saying this?

1. Because the problem is that there are teachers that have come to Corinth, that are not honest with you about sin… Those super apostles… They are trying to deceive you! They are trying to impress you…

2. They are not focused on the fear of God! They are trying to deceive you! They are trying to impress you!

iii. But I am honest with you, I am not holding a double standard before you, I, myself, am living in light of eternity!

1. We see this very clearly in 1 Cor 9:24-27, where Paul shows that he seeks to serve with integrity.

2. 1Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

3. 1Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

4. 1Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

5. 1Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

iv. I preached to Felix about what?

1. Righteousness

2. Temperance

3. Judgment to come

v. Why? Because I honestly seek to live my life in that light!

1. I am just like a runner who must deny himself, by a disciplined life, regular sleep and rigorous training, and a healthy diet… So, I run the race of the Christian life!

2. I run to win! I am not like a boxer who beats the air… no in light of the coming day of judgment… My aim is to please God…

3. To be honest lest I would be a castaway when I have preached to others… but myself fail to practice what I preach!

vi. And so, there are three things I seek to avoid! Look at verses 12&13.

1. He doesn’t want to focus on himself

2. He doesn’t want to focus on externals

3. He doesn’t want to focus on pleasing people

vii. Paul seeks to worship God in Spirit and truth, with an honest heart.

b. Let’s look at these three motives that show honesty in serving for a moment.

i. 1) Paul doesn’t want to focus on himself

1. Verse 12: we commend not ourselves again unto you…

a. Commending yourself means that you are happy with yourself… That you put yourself out there… And Paul says, that is not what I what I do…

b. I am not concerned about myself, nor about my own name! I am not trying to impress other people…

2. I am concerned about those teachers who are concerned about themselves and what they all do!

a. I am concerned about teachers who are happy with themselves…

b. I don’t want to focus on myself.

c. I don’t want to boast in my own character!

3. Instead, I seek God’s kingdom! God’s glory! I seek to win souls for Christ!

ii. 2) Paul doesn’t want to focus on externals

1. Let’s read again in verse 12: For we commend not ourselves, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in the heart.

2. So, Paul is basically saying, there are those super apostles… And the only thing they are concerned about is themselves… They take pride in their appearance…

3. Externals… And that is what they are focused on…

a. How they come across…

b. What they look like…

c. What they do…

d. And what they say…

e. And what other people might think about them…

4. They take pride in money, power and prestige.

a. They are not gripped by the fear of God! But they are gripped by their own reputation…

b. They don’t bother about heart religion or truth and living an honest life before God…

c. But they are concerned about living a glamorous life before the watching world!

5. They glory in appearance…

a. Are there some here today, who do that? … It doesn’t matter whether you call yourself a believer or not…

i. If the only thing we are concerned about is our looks?! our popularity?!

ii. We have deeply drunk from fountains of this world…

iii. And we need transforming grace! We need repentance! True faith in Jesus Christ, who though He was equal with God, made himself of no reputation! But humbled Himself to the cross… Even the death of the cross!

b. Oh, that that mind, Christ’s mind, through His Holy Spirit, would not just be in some of us, but in all of us!

iii. 3) Paul doesn’t want to focus on pleasing people

1. Verse 13: For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God, or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

2. Now, this is a rather interesting verse… It seems that some people accused Paul of imbalance and fanaticism.

a. They were saying about Paul: “When he preaches, or writes letters… He seems out of his mind, at times!”

b. Worse, the word used here for beside himself means: mad or insane!

c. And Paul is defending himself and saying: “If it appears that religion has gone to my head, then charge it to my devotion to God!”

d. But, if I come across sober-minded, then know one thing: “I only do that out of love and consideration for you! For your soul’s sake! So, that you may prosper spiritually!”

e. I don’t want to please people… but I want to serve people, and I want to serve well!

f. I want you to see the beauty, glory and grace of Jesus Christ!

3. Beloved, Paul was charged of fanaticism and imbalance…

a. Did we know that Jesus was charged with the same?!

b. One day, in Mk 3: 20-21, Jesus was very busy… He could not so much as eat bread…

c. And then we read: Mark 3:21 And when his friends heard [of it], they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

d. Think about this… The blessed and sinless Savior, devoted to the glory of His Father’s Kingdom…

e. Friends go and take a hold of Jesus… And they say: Jesus you are mad!

4. Do you see, how Paul in this verse looks like Jesus Christ, his Savior!

a. Not only here, the same was said to Paul by King Agrippa, when he was seeking to bring the message to his heart… when he was preaching, aiming for his conscience…

b. What did King Agrippa say, when he heard Paul speak?

c. “Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning has made you mad!”

d. What did Paul say: “No, king, you know very well, I speak words of truth and soberness!”

5. Could it be that Agrippa said this only, because it came too close to his heart, and he wanted to get out from under it?!

iv. Paul did not want to focus on boasting in himself, he did not want to focus on externals, but on the heart, he did not want to please people… But, he rather wanted to please God!

1. Why? We come back to our first motive…

2. The fear of the Lord…

v. Beloved, let us be honest today, what has gripped our hearts and minds?

1. Is it the spiritual realities of the Scriptures?

2. Or, is it only the visible world around us?

a. People might misunderstand us, when we seek those things which are above, where Christ is,

i. so be it…

b. People may say or think: You are a fanatic! You are mad! But Paul lived not by the judgment of others… Paul lived before God’s face… And knew only His judgment will matter in the end!

c. Are we honest like that?!

3. The fear of the Lord, makes us honest about our hearts and how we relate to the things of this world.

vi. That is not all…

1. There is one more motive for serving others… And, if that one would be absent…

2. The fear of the Lord, our urgency, our persuasive words, our reasoning and honesty would all be worthless!

3. What is it? It’s love! True love! Christ’s love!

vii. Let’s consider that after we sing Psalter 271

4. Love

a. Constraining love

i. Verse 14a: For the love of Christ constraineth us…

1. Here is the secret for true Gospel service! We need more than the Fear of God.

a. We need more than honesty. We need more than urgency!

b. We need a power from outside that moves us.

c. And that is what Paul is speaking about in this verse…

2. What is it?! It is the power of Christ’s love!

a. It is the power of the love of Christ in living a perfect life, for miserable sinners…

b. It is the power of Christ’s dying love, for miserable sinners… And even for proud and quarrelling disciples, who need to be taught that we need to esteem others better than ourselves…

c. About them, Jesus said: When He knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1)

d. It is the power of Christ’s love shown in the resurrection from the dead!

e. It is the power of Christ’s love that is poured out into our hearts, when the Holy Spirit was given unto us… (Rom 5:5)

3. Paul’s heart was gripped by THAT love of Christ for him… And that love motivated him in serving others!

ii. Our text says: Christ’s love constrained Paul…

1. What does that mean? To press on, to excite, to hold together… The word constrain means that there is pressure or power in Paul’s life…

2. What kind of power? Not so much controlling pressure… But pressure that cause him to act!

3. Pressure that motivates him to do what he does! To make Christ’s love known! And to make Christ’s love known, speaking about the seriousness of judgment day!

4. This made him go forth, speaking the truth in love!

iii. So, Paul was not doing these things in his own power…

1. No one who tries to excite fear of God, honesty or love in himself will ever be successful!

2. This is the free and sovereign work of God’s gracious love…

3. Undeserved! Yet, unrelenting love! Eternal love! Persevering love!

4. Shown to us in Christ’s suffering and death!

iv. This love Paul knew by faith…

1. Do we know this love of Christ? Do we know this love that motivates us to seek to persuade others to trust in Christ?

2. When Paul spoke about sin, about Christ’s love and the Gospel. God stood with him… How do we know?

a. 1Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

b. The power of God’s Spirit was with Paul… He did not want to persuade man with mere human wisdom…

c. With ideas, with talk that tickles the ears of his hearers, with things that keep people sound asleep…

d. No, when Paul preached… the Spirit was at work! God’s Almighty power was working in the hearers…

e. The Corinthians knew it… they had felt it… Some were changed by it! God was at work! Is He at work in your soul?!

3. How does the Spirit of Christ work? God unsheathes the sword of the Spirit… And dips it in the dying love of Christ…

a. And then he wounds the heart…

b. He exposes the heart…

c. He breaks the heart…

d. In order to then pour in the balsam of Christ’s eternal love…

4. He died… so that sinners, hardened, apathetic, loving self, serving self can be transformed…

a. Into those who fear the Lord…

b. Into those who are made honest before Him about our sin and need…

c. Into those who have tasted of Christ love, and are driven by the driving force of His love, namely the Holy Spirit…

5. So, when Paul stood before Agrippa…

a. who had entered the room with pomp and show…

b. who had made it in the world…

c. He desires that this rich king,

i. who thought he lacked nothing…

ii. would exchange with him

iii. for what he knew about Christ…

d. This is what Paul says to King Agrippa in Acts 26:29 “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” [Chains]

6. Beloved, that’s my desire for you too today… That each one of us, believer or unbeliever, would know for the first time, or know more of the power of Christ’s dying love, about which we hope to consider more, in two weeks time, Lord willing.

5. Conclusion

a. Now, let me finish by reading the following verses from 1 Thess. 5:19-24:

i. Beloved, here is the warning in light of our standing before the judgment seat:

1. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

ii. AND, here is a promise and encouragement of what God can do, and will do, for all who trust in Him:

1. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].

b. AMEN