The Significance Of A New Creation-16 Series

‘The Significance Of A New Creation’--XVI—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)

Paul & Timothy commended their 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 examining 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)

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)

ii. Tribulations

iii. Needs

iv. Distresses

v. Stripes(6:5)

vi. Imprisonments

Continuing our look at MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS we find a 7th commendation....

B. MINISTRY COMMENDATIONS(CONT...)

A 7th Commendation as ministers of God...

“in tumults”

Comes by means of “tumults.” i.e., A Commendable Ministry is delivered in the package of “tumults.”

The life of a minister of the Good News is “tumultuous” in this world, being chaotic, unsettled, & unstable.

Jesus Himself had no place to lay His head(Mat. 8:19-20).

Mat. 8:19-20—“Then a certain scribe came & said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes & birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Some denominations attempt to alleviate some of this by moving their pastoral ministers intentionally(humanely), or giving them tenure, by offering lands or houses, or retirement programs or health insurance, etc....They recognize the “tumults”... But even in such provision there is instability. Following God yet interacting with man is a stimulus to “tumults.”

Such instability keeps some from serving God in any appreciable fashion. Yet it also ‘separates the men from the boys.’ As with “imprisonments,” Christian nationals living in nations whose political base is at odds with Christianity(Communist, Muslim, Hindu, etc.) live tumultuously.

An actual church building may not even be able to be openly maintained in such situations. In such situations evangelistic efforts & ministry in general may become more clandestine as well.

We tend to get upset when some or someone leaves ‘our’ church for another Bible-believing church. We consider that “tumultuous”!

Example: Our AWANA program was built around the ‘Commander’ & his wife. After one season of AWANA they were called of God to continue their education in another location, leaving us in the lurch as it were. Both commanders & church—Tumultuous, unsettled, unstable!

Unfortunately, many people live tumultuous lives due to their willful acceptance & allowance of sin in their lives! NOT a commendation of God’s work in them!

?Do your TUMULTS commend your ministry as born/borne of God...

OR do they negate it?

“Tumults”—akatastasia—Noun Fem.—1) Instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion. Strong—Instability, i.e. Disorder. Used 5X.

From—A(as a negative particle)—&—a derivative of kayisthmi—To place down(permanently), i.e. figuratively--To designate, constitute, convoy. 14—A new creation is significant in the...

An 8th Commendation as ministers of God...

“in labors”

Comes by means of “labors.” i.e., A Commendable Ministry is delivered in the package of “labors.”

“Labors” describes the fatigue & physical pains of intense physical work. Ministry places much wearying stress upon the body.

“Labors” entails—Putting one’s ‘nose to the grindstone’ as it were!

Most ministers work all day...& then work thru the church!

Keep in mind that ‘mental’ work is also work! It is laborious & effects the body negatively.

The stresses of ‘herding cats’(working with volunteers)—getting people of various experiential backgrounds to work together—is something only God can do! Involvement in any local church can potentially take its toll on every aspect of ministry!

What I mean by the ‘herding cats’ analogy is—the battle with the flesh that all Christians have on every tier of ministry as they attempt to & do work together!

Mention various ministries within the church:

Sign, Trustee, Deacon, Teaching, Social, Coffee, Sunday School, Contact, Discipleship Training, Event, Breakfast, etc.

I am reminded of what makes FBCC’s involvement in the Riverfront Festival a success— Prayer, Authorization, ‘Legal’ commitment, Set up(tables/chairs/tents/banners), Ice, Bottled water, Bibles, Tracts, Brothers/Sisters to man our booth, Break down, Storage, etc...But it is an absolute blessing, knowing others are confronted with & invited into relationship with Jesus!