The Significance Of A New Creation-24 Series

‘The Significance Of A New Creation’--XXIV—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10...

14. The PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-B—2Corinthians 6:3-10...

Part B of point 14 in the series.

No matter what we do for a living or how we worship together corporately, much more is required to bring about the actuality of ministry than may be perceived/considered/grasped.

A true Christian receives a new nature.

Need:

*The key to our verses is 2Cor. 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Paul clarified the significance of being a new creation in Christ to the Corinthian church.

There is great significance to being a new creation in Christ.

14 significations/signifiers of being a new creation in Christ.

Previously we have found that A new creation is significant in its New...

1. PLEASUREs(5:9)

2. RECEPTION(5:10)

3. PERSUASION(5:11)

4. OPPORTUNITY(5:12)

5. SOUND INSANITY(5:13)Risk

6. LOVE(5:14-15)

7. CONSIDERATIONS(5:16)

8. NEWNESS/Creativeness(5:17)

9. RELATIONSHIP--Reconciliation(5:18-19)

10. INSTRUMENTATION/Mediation(5:20)

11. RIGHTEOUSNESS(5:21)

12. VIEW Of VANITY(6:1)

13. URGENCY(6:2)

Paul & Timothy commended apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church thru a tally of Practical Realities within which they operated.

The significance of how being a new creation in Christ is played out in the Practical Realities of Ministry.

We are going to examine the significance of these Practical Realities one-by-one in their manifestation as Commenders of God-ordained Ministry.

14—A new creation is significant in the...

PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-B(6:3-10)

So far we have looked at the significance of...

A. OFFENSE & BLAME(6:3)...as well as...

B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(6:4ff.)(CONT...)

i. (6:4)Patience—cheerful endurance & constancy

ii. Tribulations—pressures

iii. Needs—forced subsistence

iv. Distresses—narrowed circumstances

v. (6:5)Stripes—officially sanctioned punishment

vi. Imprisonments—(officially sanctioned removal from society)

vii. Tumults—chaotic/unstable lifestyle

viii. Labors—physically/mentally taxing work

ix. Sleeplessness

x. Fastings—prayer & fasting

xi. (6:6)Purity—living uprightly

xii. Knowledge—personal, of God & His way

xiii. Longsuffering—refrain from wrath/revenge/vengeance

xiv. Kindness—Useful moral goodness

xv. The Holy Spirit—

xvi. Sincere Love—Unhypocritical

xvii. (6:7)the Word Of Truth—God’s unfailing word

xviii. The Power Of God—God’s ability

xix. The Armor/Weaponry Of Righteousness—protection

xx. (6:8)Both Honor& Dishonor

xxi. Both Evil Report & Good Report

xxii. Perceived as both Deceivers & Genuine

xxiii. (6:9)As both Unknown & Well-known

xxiv. Perceived as Dying but Actually Living

xxv. Chastened, but not killed

xxvi. (6:10)Sorrowful yet Rejoicing

Continuing our look at MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS we find a 27th Commendation in 6:10....

14—A new creation is significant in the...

PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY--B(6:3-10)

B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(CONT...)

6:10b—

A 27th Commendation as ministers of God...

“as poor, yet making many rich”

Your commendation Comes in being regarded “as” “poor,” while at the same time actually “making many rich.”

Christians may be considered nothing by others of this world, so that they are sidelined & truly physically poverty-stricken & in needs(:4).

God’s people generally are “as poor” because they seek nothing this world desires. The Christian minister’s treasure is in heaven!

Mat. 6:19-21—“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In the eyes of the world, Christians are largely beggarly misfits. Christians seemingly have nothing to offer those who trust in gainful employment, & families, & worldly worth for salvation.

However, the Christian who faithfully ministers in God’s will has every ability & makes every attempt to “make many rich”!

—Christians have an extensive Christian family who are all kin by the blood of Jesus!

—Christians are ‘gainfully employed’ spiritually in their service to the King!

—Christians have great worth as they are precious to the God & Father of all!

—Christians have nothing in this life, yet have & offer to others, the grandest home mankind can possibly know—Heaven!

Though the ministering Christian may not find riches in the limited possession & power of things of the world, he/she does offer the real “riches” of that which is eternal. They offer this to others, & thereby from such ‘seeming’ poverty, many are “made rich.”

?How can you make someone, other than yourself, “rich”?...Today?!

We offer to others God’s riches at Christ’s expense(G.R.A.C.E.). And by each of us joining in Jesus’ sufferings(2Cor. 1:3-7) we gladly surrender any flesh-driven ‘richness’ for the sake of eternal richness in & for others.

?How can you make someone “rich”?...Today?!

In Christ, we become ‘responsible’ with the riches of the Kingdom of God...And not ‘rich’ in the things of this world!

?How can you make someone “rich”?...Today?!

1Cor. 1:26-31—“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, & God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; & the base things of the world & the things which are despised God has chosen, & the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--& righteousness & sanctification & redemption--that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”