‘The Significance Of A New Creation’--XIII—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10...
14. The PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-B—2Corinthians 6:3-10...
Part B-i of point 14 in the series.
Attention:
There is a Subaru commercial(2015-16) which opens with a little boy(4-5 yrs. old) driving up in a toy electric car. Dad turns to his son, dangles the keys to the car in front of him, & asks, “Ya’ ready?”(to drive). Before the son answers, the next scenes show the son’s thought processes as he ponders his father’s question—He sees himself off to work, passing his saddened friends at home--The boy sees his car receiving a parking ticket as he hurriedly hollers at the ticketing officer, “I was only gone for 5 minutes!”--The boy sees himself dropping off his Dad at work. Dad gets out & turns to his sons reminding him to pick him up at after work. The son is driving in his pajamas, disheveled, rubs his forehead & lets out an anguished sigh--He sees himself leaving the grocery store with a bag of groceries which breaks open spilling its contents in the parking lot. He lets out another anguished cry.--Lastly, The boy sees himself impatiently & angrily stuck in traffic & lets out another anguished cry of frustration.
Then the boy satisfactorily responds to his Dad’s question, “Dad, No , I’m good.” as he drives off in his toy electric car.
No matter what we dreamed of being or doing, much more was required to bring about the actuality or to live out the dream, than was considered/grasped at its origin.
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)
14. PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY--A(6:3-10)
A. OFFENSE & BLAME(6:3)
Today we will see that Paul commended his apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church thru a list of Practical Realities within which he operated.
The significance of 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.
14—A new creation is significant in the...
PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY--B(6:3-10)
B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(6:4-10)
6:4—“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,”
“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God:...”
Though they see no viable need to “commend themselves” to the Corinthian church(5:12), Paul & Timothy nevertheless do indeed “commend themselves” by the manner of their walking commitment to/in Christ. Such a “commending” walk is specified beginning with “much patience” & ending in 6:10 with “having nothing, & yet possessing all things.”
Paul & Timothy “commend themselves” “as ministers of God” in truth. Their lifestyles make it very plain that they are called to apostolic(their) ministry.
It is notable & interesting that their “commendation” does not come by means of miraculous works, yet their works obviously point supernaturally to God & not to themselves.
All of the ministry proofs which follow(:4-10) are centered in & flow from Paul & Timothy’s being “ministers of God.” In “all” of these things they are “commended”(Js. 2:14, 17, 21-22, 26).
Js. 2:14, 17, 21-22, 26—“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”.....“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”.....“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, & by works faith was made perfect?”.....“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Lk. 14:25-30—“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned & said to them, “If anyone comes to Me & does not hate his father & mother, wife & children, brothers & sisters, yes, & his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross & come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first & count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--lest, after he has laid the foundation, & is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, “saying, ‘This man began to build & was not able to finish.’”
Thus the church herself can draw much direction & strength from the practicalities of Paul & Timothy’s “commendation.” Their “commendation” begins here & follows very descriptively thru :10.
There are 28 proofs/“commendations” of Paul & Timothy’s being “ministers of God.”......& these all beg the question....?What commends or negates your/my ministry?
“In”5X—en—Preposition—1) In, by, with etc...
“All things”(See 5:17, 18; 6:10, 14)—pav—Adj.—1) individually—1a) Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2) collectively—2a) Some of all types. Strong—apparently a primary word; All, any, every, the whole.
“Commend/Approving”(See 5:12)—sunistaw, sunistanw, sunisthmi—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To place together, to set in the same place, to bring or band together; 2) To set one with another; 3) To put together by way of composition or combination, to teach by combining & comparing; 4) To put together, unite parts into one whole. Strong—To set together, i.e. by implication--To introduce(favorably), or figuratively--To exhibit; intransitively--To stand near, or figuratively--To constitute. Used 16X.
From—sun—a primary preposition denoting union; with or together(but much closer than meta[Amid] or para[From, of at, by, besides, near.]), i.e. By association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.—&—isthmi—To stand(transitively or intransitively), used in various applications(literally or figuratively).
“Ministers”—diakonov—Noun Nominative Plural Masculine—1) One who executes the commands of another, especially of a master, a servant, attendant, minister—1a) The servant of a king, 1b) A deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor & has charge of & distributes the money collected for their use, 1c) A waiter, one who serves food & drink. Diakonov represents the servant in his activity for the work; not in his relation, either servile, as that of that doulow, or more voluntary, as in the case of yerapwn, to a person. Doulow opposed to diakonov denotes a bondman, one who sustains a permanent servile relation to another. Yerapwn is the voluntary performer of services, whether as a freeman or a slave; it is a nobler tenderer word than doulow. Uperethv suggests subordination. Diakonov also may designate either a slave or a freeman, it denotes a servant viewed in relation to his work. Strong—probably from an obsolete diakw(to run on errands; compare diwkw[To pursue or persecute]); An attendant, i.e. (genitive case)--A waiter(at table or in other menial duties); specially--A Christian teacher & pastor(technically--A deacon or deaconess).
14—A new creation is significant in the...
PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY--B(6:3-10)
B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(6:4ff.)
i. Patience(6:4)
1st Commendation as ministers of God...
“in much patience”
Comes by means of “much patience/endurance.” Not merely “patience” but “much” of it!
“Much/Great”—poluv—Adj.—1) Many, much, large. Strong—singular--Much(in any respect) or plural--Many; neuter(singular) as adverbial--Largely; neuter(plural) as adverb or noun--Often, mostly, largely.
“Patience/Endurance”—upomonh—Noun Fem.—1) Steadfastness, constancy, endurance—1a) in the NT--The characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose & his loyalty to faith & piety by even the greatest trials & sufferings, 1b) Patiently, & steadfastly; 2) A patient, steadfast waiting for; 3) A patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. Upomonh is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering, makroyumia is the self restraint which does not hastily retaliate a wrong. The one[makroyumia] is opposed to cowardice or despondency, the other[upomonh] to wrath & revenge. Strong—Cheerful(or hopeful) endurance, constancy.
There is “much” that “ministers” of the Good News must deal with in its opposition & in its maintenance, in the midst of unrepentance, manifested in utter lostness as well as spiritual weakness. The minister’s “patience/endurance” is that which is cheerfully & steadfastly enduring & endearing.
Thus any minister of the Good News, though attacked viciously, sees his/her enemies as God does. He/She therefore does not rush into an attack but waits patiently for God to work his work in the detractors. All the while praying for & aiding the spiritual betterment of the present ‘enemy.’
Can a church be immune to such demonic attack?—No!
Can it be free from its influence?—Yes! Absolutely!
Accusations,Side-choosing, Mud-slinging, Back-biting, Disparaging words, Paranoia, Politicizing, are all related & all are sin. They are therefore ungodly & detrimental to the furtherance of the Good News of salvation by grace thru faith in Jesus, God’s only-begotten Son. They are likewise detrimental to the furtherance of the Church Jesus died for!
We should follow Jesus example of praying & forgiving, knowing that people may actually be acting in ignorance(Lk. 23:34).
**Gayle Anderson(author, teacher, & former hospital chaplain) is Jerry Houston Miller’s ‘minister partner’—she has written an article entitled, ‘Humans Display A Remarkable Inability To Walk In Unity.’ In it she quotes & states:
“Psalm 133:1-3—Behold, how good & how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing--life forever.”
“Brotherly unity is like the fragrance of the Spirit. Within it, people are cleansed, refreshed; they are blessed with life forever!”
“In the same way the Triune God is ONE, people can be. When such unity occurs, the world may believe that the Father sent Jesus. [But] Must people be exactly alike?”
“Heavenly bodies are glorious, bringing glory to God. Even so, they differ. Similarly, God radiates glory through people who differ with their unique bodies, talents, resources, & experiences. Uniqueness is no excuse to divide, though.”
“God says unity is possible; &, indeed, He requires it. Why, then, is there a lack of unity in the world? Unity is a God-gift.”.....“Unbelievers experience only its counterfeit: Sameness. Satan motivates the lost to demand “equality” that cannot be, yet seems plausible at the basest levels of human existence.”
“Uniformity does occur in evil, yes. People unite in dark purposes. But no true harmony exists. Only in Jesus do we see things unify correctly in heaven & earth(Eph. 1:9-10).”
“The saving work of Jesus makes unity possible. Holding to the essential doctrines fits His living stones together. Love cements us in place. To be & stay unified requires choice. We must recognize oneness in the Triune God. We must see His heart is for us to be unified together & with Him(Eph. 4:3-6).”
“Those who claim to be Christians yet walk in divisiveness need heed this: “Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother & sister(1John 3:10b).”
A couple helpful points:
1. Focus on Jesus. If we all tune into Him, we grow closer to each other (Rom. 8:5).
2. Humility is key. Don’t place your happiness, goals, kingdom-building, feelings, preferences, etc. above others (Php. 2:3).
3. Don’t bicker over nonessentials(Js. 4:1-10).
4. Beware gossip(Js. 4:11; 2 Cor. 12:20).[it’s easy to be drawn into a gossip situation]
5. Forgive(Eph. 4:32).[We must overwhelm sin]
6. Respect our differences(1Cor. 12:12-26).”
2Cor. 10:4-6—“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments & every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, & being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
?Does your/my PATIENCE commend your/my ministry...
OR does it it negate it?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The Subaru boy's considerations before accepting the responsibility of driving.
*Obviously some ministries are more fraught with difficulty than others, but they are all tied to spiritual relationships with other people & the physical hardships of sharing the Good News.
Action:
A new creation is significant in the...
14. PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-B(6:3-10)
B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(6:4ff.)
i. Patience(6:4)
A. OFFENSE & BLAME(6:3)
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/Worth(6:1)
13. URGENCY(6:2)
Part B-i of point 14 presented 04/24/2016pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
