BELIEVERS SHARE (IN) GOD’S BLESSINGS (Outline)
1 CORINTHIANS 9:16-23 - January 16, 2005 - EPIPHANY 2
INTRO: People, in general, like to share. Believers love to share. God has shown us his divine bless-ings – physical and spiritual – that we may show them and share them with others. We share in times of joy and times of sadness with one another. We share in gifts of thanksgiving with praise and worship. The miracle of miracles is that Lord God shares eternity with us and makes us partakers of heaven itself. Our gracious God does this in spite of our wickedness, rebellion, and sin. "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus"(EPHESIANS 3:6). Today we study that mystery of salvation we have been made believers to dwell in the light of the knowledge of God. BELIEVERS SHARE (IN) GOD’S BLESSINGS. We are able to do this by: I. Freely preaching and being II. Freed for service.
I. FREELY PREACHING
A. The apostle Paul had very vividly seen the power of God to change men’s hearts and lives.
1. Paul had been a persecutor of those who followed the Way. But God had changed all that.
2. On the way to Damascus God miraculously called him into service. Verse 16 begins our text.
B. Paul was now compelled to preach about Jesus, the Way – instead of persecuting his followers.
1. God had changed Paul’s heart and life so that he could not help but do what the Lord wanted.
2. Paul did all of this with no reward. Verse 17. God entrusted to Paul the free gospel message.
C. But there was a reward for Paul. This reward was not measured as the world measures rewards.
1. Rather, Paul’s reward was to offer the simple gospel message free of charge. Verse 18.
2. Paul felt this was a great privilege though he often was met with persecution and beatings.
D. This free message of God’s gospel has not changed over the centuries. Some might feel that they need a miraculous experience to signal the great change of conversion in their lives. Not all, in fact, not many, are changed so visibly as the Apostle Paul was changed. Yet, becoming a believer is one of the Lord’s greatest miracles. We are told how this takes place. "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (RO-MANS 1:14). God’s gospel in word and sacrament quickly converts callous hearts into hearts of faith.
E. Purely out divine mercy and free grace our heavenly Father shares this blessing of believing with the human race who brought imperfection into God’s once perfect world. From that first sin Satan has had a grip on the human race. But the Lord God Almighty is far stronger than the devil. God has not destined mankind for eternal destruction but wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. This happens by means of believers in a sin-filled world. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"(1 PETER 2:9). Take time to reread those titles God gives us.
F. We look at Paul and admire his courage and bold confession. As believers we are to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Each day we can reflect on the blessings and promises God pro-vides to and for us. We are filled with wonder at the awesome gifts our gracious God freely gives! Our response is thankfulness. Out of thankfulness we freely preach God’s gospel to those who still sit in darkness. Like Paul, like the prophets we cannot help ourselves. "But if I say, ’I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot"(JEREMIAH 20:9).
TRANS: BELIEVERS SHARE (IN) GOD’S BLESSINGS as they freely preach God’s gospel. As be-lievers no longer held in the grip of Satan, sin, and death we are: II. Freed for service.
II. FREED FOR SERVICE
A. Paul realized the freedom that was now his. He was no longer held hostage by the law.
1. The apostle Paul was going to use that gospel freedom to win others. Verse 19.
2. Others who were still slaves to sin would soon learn about the freedom of the gospel.
B. Paul was freed for service to do whatever it might take to bring others under God’s kingdom blessings.
1. Verse 20. Even though Paul a Jew he now lived freely in the gospel.
2. Paul would live under the law so as to win those under the law. The free gospel wins.
C. Verse 21. Now Paul was not becoming a lawless criminal. His example was for those without law.
1. His efforts would include all men. Verse 22. We note Paul’s willing sacrifices for the gospel.
2. There was only purpose in mind. Verse 23. Paul wanted others to share in God’s blessings.
D. Freed for service is not a motto that the world would consider as very profitable. Who wants to serve when they can be served? Now this is a philosophy of the world. The world and people of this world find only one reason for motivation – the bottom line. All too often that bottom line (in this world) is dictated and governed by the standard of money and/or cost. Believers set free for service discover a change for motivation in living in this world. "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again"(2 CORINTHIANS 5:14,15).
E. Believers no longer live for themselves. True we often spend much time, effort, and money in making sure that our lives are very comfortable. One does not want to go over the edge. The worldly philosophy is: Look out for number 1. Take care of #1 and let the rest of the world take care of itself. It is easy to fall into that worldly temptation of making sure we are well taken care of. We have been set free from the standards of this world. We have been set free by knowing God’s love that we may share God’s bless-ings. "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love"(GALATIANS 5:13,14). Christ served us in love that we serve others.
F. By faith every believer knows that God is in control. Our loving Lord makes sure that all things work together for our good. Our loving Lord sent his Son, Jesus, to set us free from the power of sin, death, and the devil. Because of God’s great concern for us we are greatly concerned about those around us, es-pecially the many who still sit in darkness and are held in the grip of Satan. No longer are we driven to serve our own self-interests. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the in-terests of others"(PHILIPPIANS 2:3,4).
CONCL: As believers living in an ever-increasing unbelieving world how amazing it is that God has worked faith in our hearts so that we may appreciate the many blessings he provides day in and day out. The greatest gift God shares with us is eternal salvation. We have learned about God’s great blessings through the free gospel preaching of his word. We have discovered freedom for the many things that still enslave others in this world – sin, death, and the devil. Our freedom of service reminds us of the privilege we all have to live our lives for Christ who lived, died and rose again that we may live with him forever. May the Lord cause each one of our lives to shine brightly in this sin-darkened world. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another"(JOHN 13:34,35). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 2 readings (ILCW – A): ISAIAH 49:1-6; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9; JOHN 1:29-41
