“Lessons from Paul’s Apostleship”
Opening Illustration: Challenge the Ordinary by Blue Fish TV.
We need to decide to live extra-ordinary lives as Christian and be all that we can be for the Lord.
Thesis: Paul was an apostle, which is a special messenger, who gave up his personal rights for the Kingdom of God. He was a messenger of Heaven because he served the Kingdom of God and because his goal was an eternal reward in Heaven not on earth. But as Christians special messengers should we not all do the same?
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 9
1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?
7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Introduction:
This is a interesting chapter written by the apostle Paul but this is what I hear him saying, “I have to be me and I am an apostle of Jesus Christ!”
My thoughts on this chapter remind me of a song I heard years ago: From Steve Shepherd - Sermoncentral.com
Singer Sammy Davis used to sing: “I gotta be me.”
Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am
I want to live, not merely survive
And I won’t give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
I don’t particularly agree that I have to be me, right or wrong, but we all should be the person that God intended us to be. That’s the real me – that’s why I was created by God so that I could be me! I do need to choose to do the right things. Why? Because that is God’s way and I am only really free to be me when I am living for God.
There is another song also echoing in my brain written and sung by Bob Dylan, “You gotta serve somebody!” We all need to be us but we also need to choose to serve the right person in this life so that I can be me!
Video Illustration: “Your Gonna Have Serve Somebody”
Paul chose to serve God and His Kingdom! That’s who he was and he was proud of it!
Paul was a servant to the Body of Christ – a slave for Jesus –a apostle for the Kingdom of God. He was a preacher of the Gospel message. His life and his focus in life was centered on delivering the special message of the Gospel. Paul was compelled from within to fulfill the call that Jesus commissioned him to do. He knew his purpose and he knew his goal.
DO YOU?
The Question: Do you know what you are called to be and to do with your life?
The apostle Paul tells us that various people are called to certain offices in the church. Are you called to a certain office?
1 Corinthians 12:27-31:
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Ephesians 4:11-13:
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are all called to use our God given gifts for the church:
1 Corinthians 12:4-12:
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
But the message from Paul to this church in Corinth and to us is that he was doing what called him to do and we too need to be doing what God called us to do.
You may be thinking, “What was going on here in this historical context? Why was Paul defending his apostleship? What does it mean to be an apostle for the Lord Jesus?’ All good questions and the answers to these questions will help us understand the importance of being us and being willing to serve the Kingdom of God. We do have to choose today who we will serve!
Historical Background:
Paul’s apostleship was being challenged by some of the people in the church. I would guess the, “I am of Peter group.” They most likely said we follow only the genuine apostles of Jesus and Peter is the one we follow. They most likely argued that Paul was not an apostle because he did walk and live with Jesus like Peter did. They also noted how Paul must not be called into ministry because he was not financially supported by the church. But the insinuation in Peter and the other disciples of Jesus were. There is also the connotation that Paul was incomplete because he was not married like Peter was. But Paul argues that he is an apostle because he met Jesus on the Damascus Road, he received his call and commission from Jesus himself. He also chose not to be a burden on the church and to require them to give him a salary, which he could have, but instead he chose to work as a tent maker to help the church get established. He also gave up his right to be married so as to focus 100% on service to the Kingdom of God. Paul makes his case for his apostleship and for its authenticity by his lifestyle, by his fruit and by his priorities in life.
Paul’s choice to be an apostle came from accepting the call Jesus gave him. It’s important when you hear the term apostle to understand its general meaning which is “One sent with a special message or commission” (Unger Bible Dictionary, page 72).
The term apostolic office is defined as one who plants churches and does this through supernatural power bestowed on them from the Lord Jesus Christ.
T.S. - Paul was and is an apostle and I want to draw your attention to choices that Paul made with his life. We too need to make similar choices if we want to be known as special messengers of the Gospel. Jesus has called all of us to go – not just the disciples – all Christians are called to deliver the special message of the Gospel through their lives. The Word tells us that Christians are all gifted with spiritual giftings, callings, and purposes. We need to choose to function in these callings for the Kingdom of God and fulfill our divine purpose.
I. We as Christians are called to give up our personal rights – like Paul!
a. Paul gave up his personal rights!
i. He chose to forgo a salary from the church and the ministry.
1. He did this to help the church get established in Corinth.
ii. He chose to be single and to forgo marriage.
1. He talked about this in 1 Corinthians 7 – see that sermon.
2. Last week’s I talked about the need for the church to give up some of their rights for the sake of the weaker ones in Christ:
a. Today no one wants to be held responsible for their actions.
b. I looked up the word “Responsible” and discovered this: The state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable (Wikipedia Encyclopedia).
i. We quickly say, “I can do that because it’s my right but what is your responsibility?”
1. What are you accountable for?
2. Who are you accountable too?
3. Who will you answer too?
c. In America we are quick to say what are rights are and ignore our responsibilities?
i. Wikipedia Encyclopedia explains “Rights” this way: “In the jurisprudence and the law, a right is the legal or moral entitlement to do or refrain from doing something, or to obtain or refrain from obtaining an action, thing or recognition in civil society. Rights serve as rules of interaction between people, and, as such, they place constraints and obligations upon the actions of individuals or groups (for example, if one has a right to life, this means that others do not have the liberty to kill him).
ii. Rights according to this book come with obligations!
3. Last week we discussed the state of the union – and the present condition of the Body of Christ in America. If you recall we discovered that there are many people today screaming for their rights and running from their responsibilities.
a. Tony Campolo said it well when he said, “While I think it lays down the principles that make for the best political system ever devised, the Constitution has one basic flaw. It clearly delineates the Bill of rights, but it nowhere states a Bill of responsibilities…Government that ensures people of their rights, but fails to clearly spell out their responsibilities, fails to call them to be the kind of people God wants them to be.”
b. We have a problem in the country and in the church because no one wants to take responsibility for others or for their actions.
4. I believe many of us need cut loose the “Christian Bill of Rights” today. You may be thinking but “Pastor I did not know there was such a thing! What are they?” Well glad you asked here are the Christian Bill of Rights:
a. We Christians have the right to seek God and ask Him to tell us what we should do so that when He does tell us we can decide whether we want to do it or not.
i. We have freedom of choice.
b. We Christians have the right to treat Jesus as our vehicle to success rather than as our Lord since He wants us to prosper.
i. We have the right to success
c. We Christians have the right to pick and chose which Scriptures we can break because we live under grace.
i. We have the right to continually experience grace.
d. We Christians have the right to decide our own future employment and career since God loves us and wants us just to be happy.
i. We have the right to pursue happiness the word tells us!
e. We Christians have the right to choose to give out of our surplus and we don’t have to give if it hurts because God understands my special situation.
i. We have the right to decide when to give.
f. We Christians have the right to judge others especially the leadership of the church since we are as wise as God.
i. We have the right to be little gods.
g. We Christians have the right to pursue money since it all belongs to God anyway.
i. We have the right to our inheritance early.
h. We Christians have the right to a very entertaining church service since God is in the entertainment business.
i. We have the right to kept entertained at church.
i. We Christians have the right to never suffer because only Jesus did that.
i. We have a right to a perfect stress free life.
j. We Christians have the right to our own ministry and we get to pick where and when.
i. We have a right dictate how we will minister.
1. This list is hyperbolic and dramatic bit for some in the church this is their Christian Bill of Rights but the problem is it’s not Biblical!
iii. Paul deserved to be paid for preaching the Gospel but he chose not to for the sake of the church.
1. He chose to serve the body instead!
2. He worked as a tent maker so that there was more money to get the church up and running.
3. He put up with a lot of attitudes from others so as to not hinder the Gospel message.
iv. He chose to die to self and endure hardship for the spread of the Gospel.
1. Paul’s hardships: 2 Corinthians 11:23-31: “23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.”
v. Paul had the right to accept these things but he gave them up for God and for others.
1. Would you do that?
b. I need to ask another question this morning, “Were in the Bible does it say we have rights as Christians?”
i. DAVID F. LLOYD in his essay “Rights verses Responsibilities” Summer 2001 Issue of Vision:
1. … RIGHTS OR BLESSINGS? Interestingly, God never promised rights. He promised blessings, and that is the critical difference. A self-sacrificing individual who serves his or her society, a people that truly looks to God, doesn’t need to be and indeed isn’t focused on rights. Such people are focused on other people and on God, and on their responsibilities to both. This is the lesson of social responsibility: “For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Romans 13:9). Our narrow and selfish preoccupation with our rights threatens to engulf and destroy us. It is not until we begin again, as individuals and as nations, to look outside ourselves to our religious, moral and social responsibilities —to other human beings and to God—that we will reverse national, social and spiritual decline.”
2. There comes a time in ministry and as a mature Christian were you forgo your rights for Kingdom of God.
a. Are you willing to do that to please the Lord and fulfill your call?
T.S. – Paul taught us and modeled for us the importance of forgoing certain rights for the sake of the Body of Christ so that we could all win more people to Jesus. We need to do the same and we also must be willing to become slaves for the Kingdom of God.
II. We as Christians are called to become slaves for the Kingdom of God – like Paul did!
a. Paul was a slave to the Kingdom of God. He did this because he wanted to win people to Kingdom of God.
i. Paul made himself a slave to others – it was a choice he made to help the spread of the Gospel.
1. Galatians 6:17: “Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”
a. The marks of Jesus (ta stigmata tou Iēsou). Old word from stizō, to prick, to stick, to sting. Slaves had the names or stamp of their owners on their bodies. It was sometimes done for soldiers also. There were devotees also who stamped upon their bodies the names of the gods whom they worshipped. Today in a round-up cattle are given the owner’s mark. Paul gloried in being the slave of Jesus Christ. This is probably the image in Paul’s mind since he bore on his body brandmarks of suffering for Christ received in many places (2 Corinthians 6:4-6; 11:23ff.), probably actual scars from the scourgings (thirty-nine lashes at a time). If for no other reason, listen to me by reason of these scars for Christ and “let no one keep on furnishing trouble to me.” (Word Pictures of the New Testament)
2. Paul was proud of his willingness to be a slave and to serve the Kingdom of God.
a. Paul chose the path of servant hood so that he could win all kinds of people to Christ. His willingness to do this lead to the conversion of the Gentile population which still impacts you and I today.
ii. Paul disciplined himself so as to make his body a slave to the spiritual things of God.
1. He disciplined himself – This helped him to produce good fruit with his life.
a. 2 Corinthians 12:7: 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
b. Romans 8:13, 14: 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
c. Colossians 2:23: 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
d. Colossians 3:5: 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
b. Paul was compelled from within to preach the Gospel.
i. He could do nothing else but this with his life – it was burned into him.
1. His calling compelled him to do what he was doing and to endure the hardship of the task.
2. Paul was called by God and it changed and transformed his life – this is why he chose to be a slave to all and for the Kingdom of God.
a. He did it to honor Jesus!
ii. Paul did it because Jesus called Him to it.
1. Woe to those who have been called by Jesus to a task and fail to do it.
a. The Rich Man’s story:
i. A letter of regret, “If only I would have given all my money away and followed Jesus! I could have been somebody. I could have made difference for the Kingdom. I could be experiencing all kinds of rewards here in heaven but I chose to say no to his call! How foolish I was how blind I was. I wish I could choose to do it all over again. I would have given away all my money and followed Jesus. Who knows maybe people would know my name today!”
2. Share John’s (name has been changed) story.
a. He chose to forgo the call and lost his marriage to his wife, his ministry and his happiness!
T.S. – When we choose to serve God and His church He promises to bless us and keep us and then when we get to Heaven we will receive our eternal rewards.
III. We as Christians are to live our lives with our eyes set on eternal rewards not earthly rewards – like Paul did!
a. Paul lived his life so that he would get the eternal prize.
i. He knew the importance of planning for eternity and living for eternity now.
b. Paul finished strong because he had a vision of the future!
i. Paul was determined. Phil 3: 13-14
1. He said, "I forget what is behind."
2. He did not dwell on past events or even His past failures. He repented, forgave Himself and moved on.
3. Notice Paul never allowed grudges to control Him. He preached love to those who persecuted Him. Phil 3:13-14.
4. He never got mad at God for the trials, but just pressed on to spread the Gospel. Acts 15: 36-41.
5. Paul wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." (II Tim. 4:7-8)
ii. It is important that we as Servant Leaders finish well. Not just start well, but finish well.
c. What prizes are you working toward today and for whom are you serving? Is it eternal or temporary rewards?
i. Paul spoke of a crown in our text today. The Bible speaks of different eternal crowns given to the faithful ones.
1. Paul speaks about eternal rewards in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 He speaks about the “Imperishable Crown – the crown that will last forever:”
a. This crown is a reward promised to those who victoriously run the race of life.
b. This reward will be awarded to those believers who consistently bring the flesh under control and choose to be servants of the Kingdom of God.
c. These servants refuse to allow the sinful nature to take control their lives instead they live life led by the Spirit.
d. These Christians live out the truth found in Romans 6:6-14:
i. They are dead to sin but alive for the purpose of God.
ii. They do not let sin reign in their mortal bodies.
iii. They do not yield their lives to unrighteous acts but yield to the direction of righteousness.
iv. They do not allow sin to dominant them nor do they live legalistically but focused and rooted in grace.
2. Paul in Phil. 4:1 and I Thess. 2:19-20 speaks of another crown called the “Crown of Rejoicing or the Crown of Exultation”.
a. This crown will be one over which its recipients will glory and rejoice in forever. This is the “Soul Winners Crown.”
b. It is claimed by Paul regarding because of the work he did with two bodies of believers whom he had led to Christ Jesus.
i. The two were the Philippians and Thessalonians.
c. Jesus will distribute this crown to those servants who are faithful to declare the Gospel, lead souls to the Kingdom and then disciple them.
d. We need to remember that eternal rewards will be handed out at the Judgment Seat of Christ and will be based on quality not quantity (1 Cor. 3:13).
3. Paul speaks of another crown in 2 Timothy 4:7, 8 which is called the “Crown of Righteousness.”
a. This crown will be awarded to those who live each day , loving and anticipating Christ’s imminent return…those who conduct their earthly lives with eternity’s values in view.
4. The Bible speaks of another crown in James 1:12 called the “Crown of Life.”
a. This wonderful reward awaits those saints who suffered in a noble manner during their earthly life.
b. The significance of this reward is not only related to the ones who persevere under trial but who pressed on in their love for the Lord through hard times.
5. The Bible speaks of another crown in 1 Peter 5:1-4 called the “Crown of Glory.”
a. This reward is promised to those who faithfully “Shepherd” the flock in keeping with the requirements spelled out in verses 2 and 3. These shepherds proved to be:
i. Willing to serve the Body of Christ.
ii. Dedicated to sacrificing for the sheep.
iii. Humble in heart.
iv. Led by the Spirit and role-modeled an exemplary life to the sheep.
Conclusion:
We need to be the special messengers of the Gospel and to do this we must:
1. Give up our rights for the sake of others.
2. Choose to be slaves for the Kingdom of God.
3. Keep our eyes on our eternal rewards not temporal ones.
