COMPELLED TOWARDS MINISTRY
1 CORINTHIANS 9:16-27
INTRODUCTION: As Paul opens up this section of Scripture, what we see here is Paul’s seriousness about serving Jesus. From the very beginning we see such powerful words as “compelled”, “belonging to Jesus”, “by all possible means”, “strict training, and “disqualified. Paul declares ministry as critical for the believer. It would seem that many then, and even now were not taking their ministry for Christ seriously enough.
I THE GRAVITY OF MINISTRY FOR THE CHRISTIAN
A No doubt, ministry is a certainty!
1 “Yet when I preach”
2 For Paul the importance of the ministry of preaching the gospel is never in question
a For us the importance of ministry should never be in question
b Certainty as to its task
3 “When” leaves no doubt
a If says – might
b When says – will!
B No Doubt, God’s service is a matter of duty
1 Paul was compelled to serve
a To avoid is to disobey
b To avoid is to miss out on our purpose
2 Our choice in service
a Not to serve
1) Woe to me
2) Meaning – “considered terrible news
b Mandatory Service – obedient, but shallow
c Voluntary Service – service with reward
1) Wiling or unwilling, we are never released form our responsibility!
ONE SUBMITS TO THE CALL OF GOD EVEN IF THE CALL IS NOT WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING
ONE SUBMITS TO THE CALL OF GOD EVEN IF WE WERE UNPREPARED FOR THE CALL
HOW WE PREPARE TO RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL:
• Understand that it will come and that we need to determine now how we respond
• Understand that you have a spiritual gift from God that was meant to be used until you are translated into glory
• Discover your spiritual gift(s) now
II THE COMPROMISE IN MINISTRY FOR THE CHRISTIAN
A There is no compromise in the core truth of ministry
1 Paul is always under the law of Christ
2 We are always under the law of Christ
B When we serve out of certainty and duty
1 We service with a clean motive
2 We serve with integrity
C Our ultimate goal as a believer
1 Win as many people to Christ as possible
2 Need to ask if there is anything we can do to make the presentation of the gospel easier
a Prepare ourselves personally
1) Personal testimony
2) Memorize the verses
3) Take a class on evangelism
b Open up or homes for evangelism.
1) Invite friends to a bible study
c Invite other to join you in church
III HAVING THE RIGHT MINDSET FOR MINISTRY
A Enter to win
1 Must understand that we are hear to win the world for Christ
B We only reach the finish with persistence and diligence
1 If we don’t have it, we need to ask God for it
2 We do not have the luxury of just drifting through our Christian life
3 The world does not have the luxury of us drifting through our Christian life
C The Importance of Training
1 Helps us run for the right crown
a Do what we do to make an eternal difference
b Don’t do what you do for something that fades away and corrupts
1) Things done for God are eternal
2) Things done for men are perishable
2 Helps understand the discipline we need
a Need to do more than we think
b Need to realize our own weaknesses
There is a short line in the movie, The Substitute, where the principle holds up a board with one hand and breaks it with his other hand. He then says, “power perceived is power achieved.” The teacher standing beside him then says, “Boards do not hit back.”
1) What disqualifies us
2) Our unpreparedness
3) Our sin
If we are to be compelled for ministry, and we are not, we need to ask ourselves:
• What sidetracks us from our Christian Life
• Why are we so hesitant to commit
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