Having Plans or Living in the Plan
Title: Yes & Amen
Theme: Learn lessons from the church while living in God’s plan for my life
Text: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Goal: Involvement in ministry within the community involves living in the spirit of God standing on his promises.
Introduction:
Me: orientation: (find common ground with the audience)
Have you ever been involved with doing something you had no idea what to do?
Home projects, promotions at work, even parenthood or marriage.
Maybe you were not equipped… even though you have training… Captain of the Titanic.
We: Identification (Make it clear that you struggle)
My first Pastoral assignment was as a youth pastor as a young man. I had completed my education, received my credentials from the denomination, moved my office together and went there for day one.
· I was scared
· Had no idea what God wanted
· Tended to rely on the past
· Struggled with measuring success or failure
You learn to struggle and wrestle while developing a closeness with God. If your ministry doesn’t bring you to prayer… you are not doing it right.
The question is then how can we learn from the Corinthians the lessons Paul was teaching?
God: illumination (The goal here is to resolve the tension by pointing people to God)
Here are five principles both leadership and the team can use to be effective in ministry, work, home…etc.
I. Avoid evil
A. Explain the background and history behind the book and text.
1. Do not become part of evil by communication or participation.
a. The letter was written because in the first letter Paul had difficult issues to deal with.
b. People mishandled information and through gossip and malicious busybody work attempted to cause trouble.
· Prov. 11:13; 16:28; 17:19; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20-22
20 Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
22 Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.
23 Smooth[a] words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.
Proverbs 26:20-25 (NLT)
II. Value others
13For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. I Corinthians 1:13-14 (NIV)
A. If you are going to boast boast in how the Lord works through others
1. People love to know when they are doing a good job. If you can encourage them and boast in their success… you will stay grounded
2. An encouraged team is a hard working team.
3. Thank them
4. Paul refers to the team in ministry… in the plural
III. the trustworthiness of the messenger affects the trustworthiness of the message
18But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas[b] and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes."
A. People were accusing Paul of going back on his word
B. Therefore if his words were like that, life untrustworthy, Gospel is the same
C. the trustworthiness of the messenger affects the trustworthiness of the message
1. believe me people will attempt to destroy you.
2. Gossip, back biting, perceptions etc
IV. God’s promises are yes and amen
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20 (NIV)
A. God’s promise are yes to you in Christ
1. God promised to redeem us… yess in Christ John 3:16
2. Sins forgiven Rom. 6:23
3. Redeemed to do good Ephesians 2:8-10
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
B. "Amen" to the promises of God. We finish our prayers by saying, "through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." When we have read scripture we frequently conclude it by saying, "Amen." Amen means So let it be, and the great truth is that it is not just a formality and a bit of ritual;
C. it is the word that expresses our confidence that we can offer our prayers with every confidence to God and can appropriate with confidence all his great promises,
1. Faith trust and belief in God
2. Stepping out of the boat
3. Living in what we may not see….God is true
V. Holy Spirit Lives in you
21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. I Corinthians 1:21-22
Deposit
13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 2:13-14 (NIV)
· We should sense him in our lives and being
You: Application (tell people what to do with what they have heard)
Involvement in ministry within the community involves living in the spirit of God standing on his promises.
· Avoid evil
· Value those serving God
· Faithful to God
· Promises are yes and Amen
· Holy Spirit will show the way
We Inspiration is an emotion identify, vision casting