Paul's Apostolic Ministry

Glorious Ministry

Think about it, we have been entrusted with the very word of God. Within the Word we have the ministry of the word that was recorded and lived by the Apostles, Prophets, Disciples and for our learning and application today. The glorious ministry has not changed over the years.

Ministry, being a disciple of Jesus Christ can be hard and be challenging. But some things we have learned so far in our journey.

We are comforted in our affliction so to comfort others (2Cor1:3-5)

We are delivered through the suffering (2Cor1:9-11)

We have our triumph is in Christ who gives us victory (2Cor2:14-17)

We are Christ’s epistle written on hearts (2Cor3:1=6)

We also looked at the fading glory and the increasing glory (2Cor3:7-18)

(transition) So now we get to chapter 4 and we look at “this kind of ministry” and what did that entail for the apostles, for Paul in particular and what can we grasp, learn and apply. So, here is what we are going to look at this morning

This glorious ministry (2Cor4:1-6)

This valuable treasure (2Cor4:7-12)

This confidence of faith (2Cor4:13-18)

This Glorious Ministry

Value, what is something that is of value for you? What would you do with it or for it? Paul in this section is going to talk about something of great value, a glorious ministry entrusted to he and the apostles and in turn to the church.

A glorious ministry that brings men life

A glorious ministry that brings salvation

A glorious ministry that brings God’s righteousness

A glorious ministry that is able to transform lives

A glorious ministry free for all that is received from God.

This glorious, free ministry, available to all was with purpose, it was because of God’s mercy not of anything we have done (1Tim1:12-17)

1 Timothy 1:12–13 NASB95

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

1 Timothy 1:14–15 NASB95

14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

1 Timothy 1:16–17 NASB95

16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Now if that is not a set up for our passage than we are all asleep in our ministry together, so now may we look at the passage together.

2 Corinthians 4:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NASB95

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:5–6 NASB95

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: In (v.1) why do they not lose heart?

Because of the received mercy

Side note, also the ministry they have.

Question: ( v.2) Because of the manifestation of truth, they were commending to what?

Commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Question: (v.5) what were they (we) preaching?

Preaching Christ Jesus as Lord and themselves as bond-servants for Jesus sake.

Question (v.6) What is the Light shone?

Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus.

The way we look at ministry (service) to the Lord helps us to persevere and not lose heart. Paul gives some great information and examples for us in this passage

Glorious Ministry

Kept him from being a quitter (2Cor4:1; 2Cor1:8-10)

With such a glorious ministry because of the mercy received; even in the hard times:

2 Corinthians 1:8–9 NASB95

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

2 Corinthians 1:10 NASB95

10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

He could not lose heart, and in turn does not want us to lose heart either. How could you quit such a great and glorious ministry that is able to bring life, give salvation, impart righteousness, and able to transform lives

It kept him from being a deceiver (2Cor4:2-4; 2Cor14-16)

Paul previously had used the “veil”

2 Corinthians 3:14–15 NASB95

14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;

2 Corinthians 3:16 NASB95

16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

The unlifted veil because of hardened mind, and it is over their hearts. Removed under Christ but blinded the minds of the unbeliever here in our passage.

Many a false teachers can adulterate, twist the scripture to say what they want it to say vs. what God says and what God means. Paul’s claim is that he had been open, honest, nothing hidden and that they preached Christ Jesus as Lord .

It kept him from being a self-promoter (2Cor4:5-6; 1:9; 3:1-5)

This glorious ministry entrusted because of mercy received made it so Paul would not be a quitter, a deceiver and now not a self-promoter. He did not preach himself, or any of the apostles, but Christ Jesus. Look how he viewed himself and this glorious ministry.

Paul had no trust in himself

2 Corinthians 1:9 NASB95

9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

He trusted in God who raises from the dead

Paul did not commend himself

In 2cor3:1-5

2 Corinthians 3:1 NASB95

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

He tells them they are his epistle

And they are an epistle of Christ

A letter written by the Spirit of the living God

Paul did not preach himself (v.4); His heart, his desire was to preach Christ and Him crucified (1Cor2:2) He wanted to lead them to Jesus and build them up in their faith.

Something to consider, Paul uses creation and compares conversion and creation.

God Created that which was formless and void (Gen1:1-2); the lost sinner is formless and empty but when he trusts Jesus he becomes a new creation (2Cor5:17) Light, the God said let there be light (Gen1:2) and when the Light comes into the heart of the believer there is life in the Light, for the light makes everything new.

Paul had some charges brought against him and the other apostles as you know this is what a major theme of the book is. They thought Paul did not care, Paul was selfish, he acted underhandedly to get what he wanted. Paul addresses all of these things in 2Cor1-3 as you know. Still you know from the forthcoming passage some of what Paul endured and we are reminded “it’s always too soon to quit”

I found this quote from William Barclay worth noting:

“When our motives are misinterpreted, our actions misconstrued and our words twisted out of the real meaning, it is a comfort to remember that this also happened to Paul.”

(Transition) So in the Light of Him may we be a light for Him regardless of the things that we face for we have a valuable treasure.

We have a valuable treasure

From the glory of a new creation to the treasure we have in humility in our clay vessel (our body). It’s the treasure within that makes the vessel have great and significant value.

There are all types of vessels in this world, and even within the body vessels are different with different gifts and talents and we should not allow pride in but be humble knowing God uses our vessels for His purpose and glory. So let’s look at the passage, glean from it then talk about it.

2 Corinthians 4:7–8 NASB95

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

2 Corinthians 4:9–10 NASB95

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:11–12 NASB95

11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: What is the purpose of the treasure according to (v.7)?

So that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God not self.

Question: In looking at the pressures, the negative things in (vv.8-9) what are they?

Afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, struck down

Question: we have looked at the pressures, the negative, now look at (vv.8-9) and see the good things that happened.

Afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed.

Question: Why do we carry about the death of Jesus in our body (v.10)?

So that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

Question: now jumping down to (v.12) Paul was willing to not lose heart, not quit, to allow death to work in him why?

Because it is life in them, and in turn us today.

God has made us the way we are as vessels for His purpose and His glory, to do the work that He has prepared for us to do beforehand (see Eph2:10)

God’s vessels (some examples)

Paul was a chosen vessel to bear the name of Jesus to the Gentiles (Act9:15)

Acts 9:15 NASB95

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

Some of the things this instrument was used for were hard times, persecuted, run out of town, beaten and left for dead, and then those things we just looked at in (vv.8-9) - remember the treasure is in you, so keep focused on the treasure not on the vessel.

God formed you, made you the way you are, just the way you are with your gifts, with your talents, so embrace them and use them in your clay vessel for God’s glory. Consider (Ps139:13-16)

Psalm 139:13–14 NASB95

13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:15–16 NASB95

15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Paul reminded Timothy that God formed us, God will use us as a vessel for honor (2Tim2:21)

2 Timothy 2:21 NASB95

21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

So guard the treasure within (1Tim1:11)

1 Timothy 1:11 NASB95

11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

God permits trials, God controls the trials we go through knowing how much we can bear. God is glorified when we trust the treasure within vs the vessel which is weak. In honesty god permits vessels to be jarred, so that some of the treasure within can and will spill out and be a living example of the treasure within, the hope within us.

Warren Wiersbe said:

“Suffering reveals not only the weakness of man but also the glory of God.”

Another thing that is woven in this passage is another reason to focus on the treasure and not the vessel is to then focus on the Master and not the servant (vv.11-12) Paul was willing to suffer for the cause of Christ as should we.

Dr John Henry Jowett said:

“Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing.”

(Transition) How can we keep from giving up, quitting, losing heart? By remembering the treasure within, the gospel in our vessels of clay

This confidence of faith

The spirit of faith is our attitude, our outlook of our faith. It is what we hold, behold and what we do with our faith in light of the suffering, afflictions, trials we may face.

Faith that is based on the word (Rom10:17)

Faith that is believed and spoken (Ps116:10)

Faith that is reminding (vv.13-14) and challenging (v.16)

Faith that is seen in the unseen not the seen (v.18)

Now our passage:

2 Corinthians 4:13–14 NASB95

13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.

2 Corinthians 4:15–16 NASB95

15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NASB95

17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

While our time is very limited now, I do not want to do a passover of these verses I want to pull a few little things before we close out tonight.

(on each of the items below please expand very briefly)

Paul had no fear of life nor death, he assured the church that it is his faith that gave him victory!

Paul was assured of his ultimate victory (v.14)

Paul was sure that God would be glorified (v.15)

Paul was sure that his trials were for the good, and for him, not against him (vv.16-17)

Paul was sure that the invisible world was real (v.18)

Summarize (prayer) (exit)