‘The Significance Of A New Creation’--XIX—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10...
14. The PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-B—2Corinthians 6:3-10...
Part B of point 14 in the series.
Attention:
No matter what we do for a living or how we worship together corporately, much more is required to bring about the actuality than may be considered/grasped by the receivers of such.
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)
We have seen that Paul & Timothy commended apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church thru a list 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 role of...
A. OFFENSE & BLAME(6:3)...as well as...
B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(6:4ff.)(CONT...)
i. Patience(6:4)—cheerful endurance & constancy
ii. Tribulations—pressures
iii. Needs—forced subsistence
iv. Distresses—narrowed circumstances
v. Stripes(6:5)—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. Purity(6:6)—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
Continuing our look at MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS we find a 17th commendation....
14—A new creation is significant in the...
PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY--B(6:3-10)
B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(CONT...)
6:7—“by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand & on the left,”
“He[Paul] did not battle spiritual foes with the powerless weapons of human ideas, wisdom, & ingenuity, but with the invincible truth of the Word of God.”—MNTC
A 17th Commendation as ministers of God...
“by the word of truth”
Comes in/“by” “the word of truth.” i.e., A Commendable Ministry is delivered in/by the package of “the word of truth.”
Truth prevails over any lying untruth/evil. It may not prevent our own demise, but it will always prevail because it is from God. God’s word will not return unto Him without causing to prosper that for which it was sent(Isa. 55:11). This encompasses all of which God has set forth regarding every universal aspect of His creation—including man, animals, rocks, time, space, etc.!
The truth shall set you free, therefore the Son of God is the only One who can set you free!
Jn. 8:31-32, 36—Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, & the truth shall make you free.”.....“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
That is why the preaching of the word of God(truth) rather than placebo-like spirituality is so vital to a church & to humanity! That is the very reason why over half the budget of a small church is spent to employ a man to faithfully preach God’s word!
Eph. 6:10-20—“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, & having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, & having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance & supplication for all the saints-- & for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
The written revelation of God to & for man details all these(above) aspects of spiritual armor.
**Eph. 4:21—“...the truth is in Jesus”
**2Tim. 2:15—“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
**Js. 1:18—“Of His[God the Father] own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
?Does your WORD commend your ministry as born/borne of God...
...OR does it negate it?
“By/In”2X(See 6:6, 8—dia)—en—Preposition—1) In, by, with etc..
“Word”—logov—Noun Masc.—1) of speech—1a) A word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or ideaStrong—from legw[a primary verb; properly--To "lay" forth, i.e. figuratively--Relate(in words [usually of systematic or set discourse; ; whereas epw & fhmi generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while rew is properly, to break silence merely, & lalew means an extended or random harangue]); by implication--To mean]; Something said(including the thought); by implication a topic(subject of discourse), also reasoning(the mental faculty) or motive; by extension--A computation; specifically(with the article in John)--The Divine Expression(i.e. Christ).
“Truth”(See 6:8—alhyhv)—alhyeia—Noun Fem.—1) objectively—1a) What is true in any matter under consideration; 2) subjectively—2a) Truth as a personal excellence—2a1) That candor of mind which is free from affection, pretense, simulation, falsehood, deceit. Strong—from alhyhv; Truth.
An 18th Commendation as ministers of God...
“by the power of God”
Comes in/“by” “the power of God.” i.e., A Commendable Ministry is delivered in/by the package of “the power of God.”
The “truth” evidences the “power of God.” “God’s power” is seen in His “power” to create all & in that, to create mankind with a free-will, which at times may even seek to undo the very purpose of creation! God’s “power” is what (potentially)continually empowers the Christian’s walk—lifestyle & accomplishments in the Lord.
**1Cor. 1:17-18, 22-25—“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”.....“For Jews request a sign, & Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block & to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews & Greeks, Christ the power of God & the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, & the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
**1Cor. 2:4-5—“And my speech & my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit & of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
**1Cor. 4:18-20—“Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, & I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.”
**Eph. 1:15-23—“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus & your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom & revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, & what is the exceeding greatness of His power[dunamiv—inherent] toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power[kratov—practical] which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead & seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality & power & might & dominion, & every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, & gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
**Eph. 3:14-21—“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven & earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted & grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width & length & depth & height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever & ever. Amen.”
?Does your POWER commend your ministry as born/borne of God...
...OR does it negate it?
“Power”—dunamiv—Noun Fem.—1) Strength power, ability—1a) Inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts & puts forth. Dunamiv denotes power, natural ability, general & inherent Strong—from dunamai[To be able or possible]; Force(literally or figuratively); specially--Miraculous power(usually by implication--A miracle itself).
A 19th Commendation as ministers of God...
“by the armor of righteousness on the right hand & on the left”
Comes through(dia)/“by” means of “the armor of righteousness.” i.e., A Commendable Ministry is delivered in/by the package of “the armor of righteousness on the right hand & on the left.”
This “armor”(implement/tool) that consists of “righteousness,” is probably chiefly defensive but can be manifested offensively as well. It avails itself fully from every angle/quarter as the minister lives out God’s “righteousness” by Christ.
It speaks of God’s righteousness from two contrasting positions as both offensive(sword) & defensive(shield).
NRSV—“with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand & for the left”
The minister is NOT held to a totally defensive position wherein he/she cannot move forward. The minister is neither helpless nor alone in his/her ministry. God’s “righteousness” lived out thru Christ Jesus commends one as he/she ministers.
God manifests/declares Himself through His servant’s “righteousness” that is God’s alone & not that of the world. Such “righteousness” is the instrument thru/“by” which commendation(:4) of any ministry is justified.
It is as if having God’s “righteousness” is a protective weapon/“armor” within & by which the minister of God can repel opposing forces, & thus potentially work unimpeded.
Henry—“...having on the armor of righteousness(a consciousness of universal righteousness & holiness), which is the best defense against the temptations of prosperity on the right hand, & of adversity on the left.”
**2Cor. 10:3-5—“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons[oplon] 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,”
*2Cor. 13:4-5—“For though He[Jesus] was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.”
**Isa. 11:1-5—[in speaking of the coming Messiah, Jesus]“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom & understanding, The Spirit of counsel & might, The Spirit of knowledge & of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.”
**Ps. 96:1-13—“Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great & greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Honor & majesty are before Him; Strength & beauty are in His sanctuary. Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory & strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, & come into His courts. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.” Let the heavens rejoice, & let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, & all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, & all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.”
**Rom. 10:1-4—“Brethren, my heart’s desire & prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, & seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
**Rom. 13:12-14—“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, & let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry & drunkenness, not in lewdness & lust, not in strife & envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, & make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
**Jn. 7:24—“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Lk. 6:37-38—“Judge not, & you shall not be judged. Condemn not, & you shall not be condemned. Forgive, & you will be forgiven. Give, & it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
**2Cor. 5:21—“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Illustration:
A protective structure
Sunscreen
Bugspray
?Does your ARMOR commend your ministry as born/borne of God...
...OR does it negate it?
“By/Through”(See 6:8)—dia—Prep.—1) Through—1a) of place—1a1) With, 1a2) In, 1b) of time—1b1) Throughout, 1b2) During, 1c) of means—1c1) By, 1c2) By the means of; 2) Through—2a) The ground or reason by which something is or is not done—2a1) By reason of, 2a2) On account of, 2a3) Because of for this reason, 2a4) Therefore, 2a5) On this account. Strong—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).
“Armor/Weapons/Arms”—oplon—Noun Neut.—1) Any tool or implement for preparing a thing—1a) Arms used in warfare, weapons; 2) An instrument. Strong—probably from a primary epw(to be busy about); An implement or utensil or tool(literally or figuratively, especially offensive for war). Used 6X.
“Righteousness”—dikaiosunh—Noun Fem.—1) in a broad sense:--State of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God—1a) The doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, 1b) Integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, & acting; 2) in a narrower sense--Justice or the virtue which gives each his due. Strong—Equity(of character or act); specially(Christian)--Justification.
From—dikaiov—Equitable(in character or act); by implication--Innocent, holy(absolutely or relatively).
“On the/For the/In the”—twn(o, h, to)—Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; the(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Right hand”—dexiov—Adj. Dative Plural Masc.—1) The right, the right hand; 2) metaph.—2a) A place of honor or authority. Strong—The right side or feminine--Hand(as that which usually takes).
“Left”—aristerov—Adj.—1) Left. Strong—apparently a comparative of the same as ariston[the best meal[or breakfast; i.e. luncheon]; The left hand(as second-best). Used 3X.
*!?Is it possible that your ministry is one which YOU have chosen,...
...Rather than one which GOD has chosen for you?!
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
*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:
14. A new creation is significant in the...
PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-B(6:3-10)
B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(6:4ff.)(CONT...)
xvii. the Word Of Truth—
xviii. the Power Of God—
xix. The Armor Of Righteousness—protection
i. Patience(6:4)—cheerful endurance & constancy
ii. Tribulations—pressures
iii. Needs—forced subsistence
iv. Distresses—narrowed circumstances
v. Stripes(6:5)—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. Purity(6:6)—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
Part ‘B’- subpoints xvii-xix of point 14 presented 09/18/2016pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
