06PM March 26 1 Corinthians 3 1_9 Ridgeview Revival_1
March 26, 2006—Ridgeview Revival
The “Kingdom Workers” Series – Part 1
What Is a Kingdom Worker?
Beautifully Detailed Truths Concerning True Godly Saints
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Intro: As I began to meditate on the direction in which God would lead me for the messages for this series of revival meetings, I couldn’t help but remember what your pastor said the last time our churches held joint services. He said, “Too often, churches are in competition w/one another when they should be working together to accomplish the same goal.”
As I thought about that statement, I asked myself, “Why are churches in competition?” & I believe the answer is that they want to build their own church. Now there’s nothing wrong w/wanting your church to grow. In fact, there would be something wrong if you didn’t want your church to grow. But the problem w/most of the people in churches today is that they are more concerned w/church growth than w/kingdom growth. They are more concerned w/church work that w/kingdom work!
Jesus told His disciples that He would take care of church growth. He told Peter in Matthew 16 18 & I also say to you that you are Peter, & on this rock I will build My church, & the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. IOW, Jesus said that He’s in the church building business! That’s His responsibility not yours!
Now you may ask, “Pastor Dennis, are you saying that we shouldn’t do anything to make the church grow?” I’m saying that Jesus may indeed use you to grow His church, but if He does, it won’t be by using some gimmick you read out of a church growth book. But it will be something you read from THE book, the word of God going forth from your mouth that God promises will never return void but will always accomplish what He sends it forth to do!
So then, what are we to do? We are to be instruments in God’s hands. We are to work for the kingdom! We are to be kingdom workers! But what is a kingdom worker? Well I hope to answer that question tonight as we see beautifully detailed truths concerning true godly saints.
So I invite you to turn in your Bibles & we’ll read all about it from our text in…
1 Corinthians 3 1 & I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you w/milk & not w/solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, & even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, & divisions among you, are you not carnal & behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," & another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, & who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants & he who waters are one, & each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
- The 1st truth about kingdom workers in this text is found in the 1st 5 vv. & it is…
1. The Description of Kingdom Workers. (vv. 1-5)
- Who are kingdom workers? Who are they that strive to do the will of God for the glory of God?
- Notice Paul would describe them by saying…
A. They are Spiritual people. (v. 1) 1 & I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
- Now there were many problems in the Corinthian church & there were many people who were mere babes in Christ.
- Some people just never seem to gain any ground spiritually. They’re right where you saw them last time. They’re just satisfied to be saved.
- They don’t want to grow in the grace & knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ b/c that would mean that things would have to change & they like things just the way they are now!
- But Paul implies that kingdom workers are spiritual people. They know they aren’t where God would have them to be. They know they are not what God desires them to be. They know they need to grow.
- But the difference is they are willing; they are working; they are longing to be all that God would have them to be & so they are yielded to Him!
- They are constantly seeking His face! They want to know Him more & more & more!
- Kingdom workers are spiritual people who just never seemed to be satisfied w/their spiritual position. They always want more!
- These people are willing to put in extra time; they are willing to listen extra hard; they desire to hear from God so they can know what He thinks!
- It’s refreshing to me to hear people say, “What does God say about this?”
- They don’t seem to care what the latest Bible scholar has to say; they don’t seem to care what the latest church growth guru has to say; they don’t seem to care what some old dead guy said years ago – they just want to know what God says!
- & so they study His word – in context – & they pray & seek His face to know His mind!
- I don’t know about you, but I want to be associated w/people like that! God blesses that! God can use that! God encourages people like that!
- We’re calling them kingdom workers & Paul would describe them as spiritual people.
- He would also say…
B. They eat Solid food. (v. 2) 2 I fed you w/milk & not w/solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, & even now you are still not able;
- When you’re a baby you eat baby food. You ever taken a close look at baby food?
- It’s some-kind-of mashed up, mixed up, blended, pureed, liquefied paste!
- Now I know they didn’t have baby food like we have in Paul’s day, but he said he had to feed the Corinthians milk! They hadn’t even graduated to the liquefied paste stuff yet! They were still on the milk!
- & I understand that you have to start out slow, but there has to be progress!
- A baby will grow & so will a baby Christian if they are fed something of substance.
- I’ve asked many people who Jesus is & most of them will say He is the Son of God.
- & I’ve asked them what did Jesus do & most of them will say He died on the cross.
- But that’s a Sunday School answer! It’s true, but it’s superficial!
- It is true that Jesus is God’s Son, but He’s so much more!
- He’s the Alpha & the Omega; the beginning & the end; He’s the 1st & the last; He’s the Omniscient; Omnipotent; Omnipresent; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace; Almighty God!!!
- & He did die on the Cross of Calvary a horrible death by human standards, but His death was so much more!
- His death was substitionary for all who would believe; His death was sacrificial, the just for the unjust.
- His death was temporary b/c He rose from the dead! His death was once for all! His death was the beginning of life for all who would believe!
- His death paid my sin debt & set me free from the bondage of the curse of sin!
- If you’re a Sunday School teacher go as deep in the word as you can & teach the great deep truths of God to your class & help them grow in Christ!
- If you have any position of leadership in the church help those who follow you to be well informed; well fed & growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ!
- Paul implies that kingdom workers are spiritual people who eat solid food who are growing in grace & he would also describe them by saying…
C. They are Servants of God. (vv. 3-5a) 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, & divisions among you, are you not carnal & behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," & another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 5a Who then is Paul, & who is Apollos…?
- Proverbs 29 18a Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; KJV says, Where there is no vision, the people perish.
- IOW w/o the vision or w/o the revelation from God, people will do what is right in their own eyes & therefore will perish.
- So it’s wonderful to have vision in your church. But when you have many visions or you have many people saying “this is the way we should go,” those multiple-visions turn into di-visions in the church.
- & that is nothing but envy & strife; jealousy & bickering; hurt-feelings & quarrels among people who are supposed to be known for the way they love each other!
- Paul tells us in v. 4 that the Corinthians were picking men; siding w/men; aligning themselves w/men whom they believed to be “right.”
- & so Paul asks the question, 5a Who then is Paul, & who is Apollos…?
- His point is this – Don’t side w/men but serve God!
- Don’t bicker among yourselves even the heathen do that, you are to be different! You are to be a servant of God! & your actions & words & demeanor should show it!
- Kingdom workers are willing to take a back seat; willing to be overlooked; willing to be unrecognized as long as God is glorified!
- I’m talking about servants who are willing to serve in secondary positions.
- I’m talking about servants who don’t have to have their name in the bulletin for recognition for something they’ve done.
- I’m talking about true servants of God who don’t seek fame, but who serve by faith!
- True servants of God who don’t seek recognition, but who practice repentance!
- True servants of God who don’t seek rewards, but who give themselves away!
- Kingdom workers are servants of God who do rather than complain.
- You’ll never hear a kingdom worker say, “The music was too loud in church today!” or “The preacher went too long!” or “It was too hot or too cold in church!”
- Never! Never! A kingdom worker would never say that.
- You’ll hear kingdom workers saying, “We are not focused enough on evangelism! We need more opportunities to serve! We could reach “X” number of people if we started a ministry in this neighborhood! Let’s ask God’s direction on what to do w/our financial surplus!”
- We’re talking about people who are dedicated servants of God!
- I believe the Apostle Paul is trying to get the point across that kingdom workers are spiritual people who eat solid food who are servants of God & he would probably further describe kingdom workers by saying that…
D. They are Singular vessels. (v. 5b) 5b …but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
- Each one is unique. Each one is separate. Each one is gifted to be used in different ways.
- Each one is a minister through whom the Lord works to accomplish His will.
- It’s true; God uses churches to reach people.
- But it’s also true that God uses individuals to minister to the needs of others & to carry the precious truths of the word of God to them.
- Did you know that you are a personal messenger of God?
- The word translated “ministers” literally means, “One who executes the commands of another.”
- Do you realize that God is using you to preach the gospel to the world around you?
- He has given us the command to “Go into all the world & preach the gospel.”
- & He does it through you; through your words; your actions; your reactions; your body language; your smile; your pleasant demeanor; your self-control!
- Kingdom workers are people who are yielded to God’s will. They are not perfect people, but they are people who are striving to be all that God would have them to be.
- & God will use those kinds of people! God will work through those kinds of people!
Philippians 3 8 …I…count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 & be found in Him…10 that I may know Him & the power of His resurrection, & the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
- That kind of devotion, that kind of commitment, that kind of yielded-ness is what God uses in servants through whom He ministers.
- So Paul describes kingdom workers as spiritual people who eat solid food who are servants of God as His singular vessels to accomplish His will.
- But notice also that Paul speaks of…
2. The Focus of Kingdom Workers. (vv. 6-7, 9c)
- IOW Paul describes what kingdom workers’ aims are by using illustrations that show us, 1st of all…
A. The Agricultural aspect to their focus. (vv. 6-7) 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
- As a kingdom worker plants, his focus is not on how much of harvest he will reap. His focus is on what God will do through his labors.
- As a kingdom worker waters, his focus is not on the glory which he will receive. His focus is on the glory God will receive.
- You see, it’s not about us at all! It’s not about how many people we may lead to Christ. It’s not about how many times we share the gospel. It’s not about the number of sermons we may preach or the number of songs we may sing or the number of Sunday School classes we may teach. It’s all about the glory of God in the salvation of souls!
- It’s God who plows through the cold, dead, hardened hearts of men through His word.
- It’s God who gives divine appoints that we must keep w/men & women, boys & girls.
- It’s God who allows us to share His precious word – the seed of the gospel message.
- It’s God who irrigates that seed. It’s God who germinates that seed. It’s God who causes faith to grow in the hearts of all kinds of people!
- Therefore, it’s God who gives the increase! It’s God who gets the glory!
- Paul says that kingdom workers understand that & that they live their lives for the glory of God in the salvation of others!
- & if you read closely the accounts of the missionary journeys in the book of Acts & the accounts of the follow up visits & letters in the NT, you’ll find that the lives that the missionaries lived, the radical difference that others could see in them, is what got their attention.
- & ladies & gentlemen, I would submit to you tonight that our radically different lifestyles should attract the lost! It should whet their appetite for the word of God!
- It’s not about us or anything we’ve ever done or will do!
- It’s all about pointing people to the Lord Jesus Christ & lifting Him up & praising Him & worshiping Him that others may be drawn to Him!
- It’s God who gives the increase!
- But Paul also uses another illustration that shows us…
B. The Architectural aspect to their focus. (v. 9c) 9c …you are God's building.
- Many people down through the ages have found beauty in buildings.
- & Paul here draws the Corinthians’ attention to the fact that their focus is to be constructive.
- There was so much turmoil in the church at Corinth b/c of personality conflicts & personal preferences & personal sins.
- There were so many destructive sins & attitudes that Paul had to bring their attention back to the constructive.
- There was little if any attention paid to the fact that God had built them as the body of Christ into a solid, useful, beautiful structure.
1 Peter 2 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Each one of us is a living stone which God places in His spiritual house in the place of prominence He has chosen for each one!
- Some stones He uses for structural purposes. Some stones He uses for decorative purposes – but each one is placed according to the place of prominence He has chosen for us!
- We are built on the chief cornerstone of the Lord Jesus Christ, the solid foundation on which we stand.
- & the love of God which flows through us to each one is the mortar that binds us together.
- Paul says “…you are God's building” & you have a vital role to play in the beauty, integrity & solidarity of that building. & that’s where your focus should be!
- Not on earthly differences that divide – but on divine differences that unite!
- & while Paul has that train of thought, he writes about…
3. The Unity of Kingdom Workers. (vv. 8a, 9a-b)
- & he tells us of…
A. The unity of their Purpose. (v. 8a) 8a Now he who plants & he who waters are one….
- As believers, as kingdom workers we are all made one in Jesus Christ.
- Paul is emphasizing that believers are one in Christ & should never do anything that disrupts or destroys that unity.
- No human leader, no matter how gifted or how effective they may be, should have the loyalty that belongs only to the Lord.
- Our purpose is to glorify the Lord; our purpose is to exalt Him; our purpose is to magnify Him!
- & so again, Paul reminds us that it’s not about us – it’s about God!
- We are one in Him; we’ve been united in Him; there is no one that deserves more praise than Him!
- & as we serve God by living a life to glorify Him, we seek to share the same life changing truths w/others that we have come to know by God’s grace!
[I read an article the other day that told about a tree in the southern part of the state of New Jersey. The article said that an oak tree & a pine tree were growing about 8 ft. apart, both being about 10 in. in diameter. But about 6 ft. above the ground, both trees took a bend toward one another & had actually grown together, so that there was only one tree top.]
- & that illustrates how we could come from such different backgrounds & have such different talents & abilities -- & yet still be made one in Jesus Christ.
- We are the body of Christ & as the body there are many members but just the one body.
- Each part has a vital role to play in helping the body perform at its peak.
[Your physical body is a good example of that. Every muscle, every nerve, every blood vessel, every cell in your body must perform its specific function if your body is to perform at its peak.
Think of the athlete. He trains his body; exercises his body; conditions his body to perform at its peak. & we must do the same to ensure that the body of Christ is trained, exercised & conditioned; enabling us to glorify God in all the body does!]
- Each part must do its part through the power of God to exalt the Lord of glory.
- Kingdom workers are united in this purpose!
- & Paul also shows us…
B. The unity of their Priority. (v. 9a-b) 9a-b For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field….
- What Paul is saying here is that he & Apollos & anyone else who may have been considered a leader in the Corinthian church were all just fellow workers w/God!
- It was not their ministry – it was the Lord’s ministry!
- The church in Corinth was not their church – it was the Lord’s church!
- & all the members of the church in Corinth were all the Lord’s members. They were the flock of God; they were the church of God; they were not the flock of any leader; they were the Lord’s field!
- & everyday Paul &/or Apollos &/or someone else was out in the Lord’s field working w/God; at His direction; according to His will; tending to the flock & preparing the field for the harvest!
John 4 35 Do you not say, There are still four months & then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes & look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
- & I would submit to you tonight, that the fields of this world are already white for harvest!
- What we need are kingdom workers that are willing to stand united in the priority of the Lord & work the fields!
- Your home is the Lord’s field; your workplace; your neighborhood; your school; your favorite store; anyplace that the Lord may send you or place in to serve Him is your mission field for Jesus!
- & Paul is telling us, “WORK THE FIELD!”
[I remember that as a little boy, every summer my folks to take me to spend the week at my Grandmother’s house. & she would have me out in the field working that garden! It was hot & those were some of the longest rows of beans I’ve ever seen! & one thing I can say about my Granny, she didn’t stop! I wanted to take a break every few minutes, but not my Granny! She was a worker!]
- That’s exactly what we need in our churches today—kingdom workers who are willing to work for the glory of God!
- Now you may ask, “But pastor Dennis, what am I suppose to do?”
- You do whatever you can do; whatever God has called you to; whatever you feel gifted to do; whatever you’re good at, use it for the glory of God!
- Some people just love to cook; some love to knit; some love to share; some love to give; some love to paint; some love to talk; some love to teach; some love to comfort those who hurt; some love to listen.
- Whatever God has gifted you to do – do it for the glory of God!
2 Corinthians 5 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
- So we do whatever God has gifted us to do b/c one day we’ll stand before Him & receive…
4. The Reward of Kingdom Workers. (v. 8b)
- That’s what Paul talks about here in 1 Corinthians 3:8.
- Speaking of the reward of kingdom workers, Paul says that…
A. Their reward is Personal. (v. 8b1) 8b1 …& each one will receive his own reward….
- God does not & will not fail to recognize the faithful work of His servants.
- Each one, individually, will receive his own reward; IOW God will give to each one.
- & the word that’s translated “receive” in v. 8 literally means, “to take w/the hand, to lay hold of, to take upon yourself, to take what is your own or to take what is offered.”
- Now that means that, as we read just a moment ago, when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, He is going to offer you your reward & you will receive it into your hands!
- What will that reward be? I do not know exactly, but it will at least consist of a white, fine linen robe & the crown of righteousness.
2 Timothy 4 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, & not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
- & several vv. in the book of the Revelation tell us that we will be given robes made of fine white linen.
- Whatever else there may be I don’t know, but I do know that whatever else it may be, it’s going to be personally given to you by the Lord Jesus Himself!
But not only will kingdom workers receive a reward that is personal, but notice that…
B. Their reward is Personalized. (v. 8b2) 8b2 …according to his own labor.
- The way that’s worded in the original language, it literally means, “down from or through his own, intense labor united w/trouble & toil.”
- IOW, your own reward will grow w/the extent of your effort.
- You may face trouble & toil; hard work & disappointment; exhaustion & physical exertion.
- But your reward is personalized to the amount of hard work, to the amount of the physical & spiritual effort you put into it.
- So if you’re one of those kingdom workers, who have their sleeves rolled up, & their work clothes on, & their muscles exercised by the labor they’ve put forth for the glory of God; then you are going to get more reward for your labors!
1 Corinthians 15 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, & His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was w/me.
- Isn’t it wonderful to be a co-laborer of Jesus Christ?
- Think about it, He is going to reward you for your work, but He is the one who works through you!
- In essence, we get the reward for the work that God does through us! He does the work & then He gives us the reward!
- & yet that reward is specifically tailored to the person who receives it!
Hebrews 11 6b …God…is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
- IOW those who stretch & strain & strive as they seek to know Him & to be like Him will be rewarded for their diligent obedience & hard work.
Conclusion: We’ve been talking about kingdom workers. Paul describes them as spiritual people who eat solid food who are servants of God as singular vessels used for the glory of God! Their focus; their unity & their reward are really all about God & what He does through them. They don’t have their eyes on themselves. They don’t have their hearts set on earthly things. They’re all about the glory of God. They’re all about seeing people come to faith in Christ.
Kingdom workers are willing to serve in secondary positions. They are willing to be overlooked & even unappreciated as long as God is being glorified! & they feel that way b/c they know that Jesus Christ Himself will hand them the reward He has prepared for them.
Invitation: I wonder tonight, are you a kingdom worker? Are your thoughts centered on God & His work in you & through you? Or are you more concerned w/who won the ball game or the race today? Are you concerned for the lost souls around you? Are you willing to reach out to them w/the good news of Jesus Christ?
God is calling you to take a stand tonight. Will you follow Him? Will you work for Him? Will you serve Him? Would you come to Him in repentance & faith for salvation? Would you come to Him in repentance & commitment of yourself as His instrument?
Hymn