Keeping The Right Perspective In Ministry Series

2 Cor 2:12-3:6 KEEPING THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE IN MINISTRY

Paul arrives at Macedonia from Troas, not in the best of spirits, saying “his spirit was not at rest.” (13)

• He was troubled by the painful letter he has written to the church in Corinth, and now awaiting for Titus to return with an update.

• The letter was one that he would not wish to write but it was necessary.

Titus came back with the good news that the Corinthians understood him and repented, and that comforted Paul. In response, Paul wrote back to them and we have 2 Cor.

• We see Paul’s perspectives on ministry despite all the persecution and pain.

2 Cor 2:12-17 ESV

12When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

14But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Paul launched into this doxology of praise. If we look closely, it was a doxology praising the roles of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

• He praises God for His triumphant leading, Christ for the beautiful aroma of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit for His transforming work in changing lives.

Despite the opposition and persecution, Paul did not see his ministry as a defeated cause. It might be difficult but not a failure.

• Even with the misunderstanding and the many who did not like him, his work for God continues and he believes it is worth it.

How do we measure success in ministry? We are often tempted to measure it by human standards – by its size, its wealth, its popularity, the number of likes on FB…

• Going by those measures, Paul’s work in Corinth would look quite miserable.

• He has enemies in the church he founded, people were opposing him, and there were divisions and strife, false teachers and sinners.

• He would have been quite a failure. If ministry is the work of men, then it is doomed.

Paul has a completely different perspective. Ministry is a spiritual endeavour. It is the work of God and not men. So we don’t measure it the way the world sees success.

• We do the work of God faithfully and look up constantly to…

1. … the GOD WHO LEADS

2. … the CHRIST WHO SAVES

3. … the SPIRIT WHO TRANSFORMS

IN MINISTRY, WE LOOK TO THE SOVEREIGN GOD WHO LEADS

Paul thinks of his ministry as one of triumph and not defeat, despite all the problems.

• He used the Roman victory parade as an analogy. Paul says God “in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession” (14).

• This is the picture of a General leading a procession through the streets of Rome after his victory in battle. Incense is burned or garlands of flowers scattered on the ground, hence the sweet aroma throughout the procession.

• And Paul sees Christ winning the victory and all of us who are a part of His work, following in the triumphal procession.

HOLD ON TO THIS PICTURE because Paul painted it correctly.

• It is a similar picture apostle John sees in his visions in Revelation. There is only one victor and he is not Satan, no matter how hard he might be working today.

• No matter how messy our world is, the end is sure because God reigns.

• Paul expresses his confidence in God and says He ALWAYS leads us in triumph.

• I believe even if Titus did not come back with good news, Paul would have continued his ministry undeterred. But God is gracious, He works to enlighten the people.

Flowing from the illustration of the Roman procession, Paul talks about the aroma of Christ – which leads me to the second point:

IN MINISTRY, WE TRUST IN THE POWER OF CHRIST TO SAVE

Paul points out that victory is not determined by man’s response to the Gospel.

• Verse 14 says God works through us to spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.”

• Verse 15 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.