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Motive For Ministry.Hudson Taylor as founder of the China Inland Mission in the mid 1800s, often interviewed candidates for the mission field. Once he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service. “And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?” he asked them. One young man replied. “I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Another said, “I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ.” Others gave different answers. Then Taylor said to the group, “All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you ... namely, the love of Christ.” Motivation for ministry. In our ongoing study through 2 Corinthians we have seen how the Apostle Paul spoke about having an eternal perspective. Focusing on heaven not as a destination but a motivation. Knowing these earthly bodies are like jars of clay, and tents but we have a more permanent dwelling in heaven. As we finish chapter 5 today we will see Paul continue to speak of his motivations for ministry. And he will show us how all all believers are entrusted with the same ministry, called the ministry of “reconciliation.” Today aw we consider this important part of this letter we will see what Paul says about what motivates him. READ THE TEXT, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11-21 MOTIVE FOR MINISTRY. Motivation for ministry, some would enter the “ministry as a vocation”, they go to school to take up the profession of “a minister.” Yet the bible tells us that some are called to be Pastors, evangelists, or teachers, some have a higher calling than just a learned vocation or a trade. I remember in high school we took the U.S. Air Force exams that were suppose to determine what field of work you were best suited for. Mine came back showing an aptitude in electronics. Well I ended up working in electronics for more than 20 years, but while I worked in the corporate world I had a peer who told me he took those exams and they showed he was suited to be - a minister. The only problem was, although he was a likable guy – he was one of the most immoral people I ever met. He had no faith in God nor did he have a desire to serve God. As Paul speaks about his motivation for ministry, he tells us about what provokes him to preach the gospel. I believe these are these same things should motivate us in our service to our Lord. Three things Paul addresses as motivation for ministry.
Paul says: “We know what it is to fear the Lord.” Do you know the fear of the Lord? What does it mean to fear God? If bible says that “God is love and God is good” - why should we fear him? What is this fear stuff all about? Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The fear of God is a pure thing, the scripture tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom. It is the beginning - because the fear of the Lord, is the beginning of a relationship with him. Every person will one day fall before God and cry out “Jesus Christ is Lord”, they will do it now - as they humble their hearts and receive Jesus as Lord, or they will do it in eternity at the judgment seat of God. Those who trust in God, must first stand in awe (or fear) of Him before they can know him. I believe that a man / a woman must fear God, before they can really know him as the “God of love.” Those who do not fear the Lord during this life, view his silence to sin as approval, or non concern for their behavior. King Solomon in his search for meaning said. Prov 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. Eccl 12:13-14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. It is the duty of every man/ every woman to fear God. To live in obedience to him because he will bring to judgment every thing - good or evil. To fear God is to know that he can do anything he wants, he causes kingdoms to rise and fall. He holds life in his hand, and that fear of the Lord, sees his silence toward sin, not as approval, but as a sign of his mercy. Think of Jesus at his arrest, he could have called down 12 legions of angels, yet he didn't. He took the torture because he knew that was the only way. Jesus could have wiped them out, but his mercy shined forth. Understanding that, should cause us to fear the Lord. Knowing that he is all powerful, all capable, we fall before him when he is merciful and does not act. Paul say: “we know what it is to fear the Lord.” Yet I’m not so sure that today the church totally understands or lives in the fear of the Lord. TURN TO PSALM 34:11-14“Let me teach you the fear of the Lord.” Here is how the fear of the Lord manifest itself in a man or woman's life. First. Those who fear God will keep their tongue form evil. Gossip and slander will not be part of their speech. Rage, cursing, and hateful speech will not come from their lips. Each day our words are filtered by the fear of the Lord. James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Living in the fear of the Lord - we will put a tight reign on our tongue and refuse to indulge in gossip, slander or cursing. Secondly, the Psalmist says in the fear of the Lord, we will speak truthfully. Not embellishing our conversations, but truthful in everything. A Christian has the belt of truth- holding their waist in place. Thirdly, those that fear the Lord will turn from evil and do good. They run after peace. That is how the fear of the Lord is lived out each day, as we interface with our neighbors, our family, and this world. We fear God knowing that the eyes of the Lord go to and fro across the whole world, and he sees every act, whether done in public or private, so we live in harmony and serve God. There a powerful scene in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. When the two girls, Susan and Lucy are getting ready to meet Aslan the lion, who represents Jesus Christ. As Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, prepare the children for the encounter, Susan says "Ooh, I though he was a man. “Is he quite safe?” “I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie." said Mrs. Beaver. "And make no mistake, if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knee's knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly." "Then isn't he safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king, I tell you!" Paul says: “we know what it is to fear the Lord.” Jesus said. Luke 12:4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. They came to the church leaders and told them they wanted to donate the entire proceeds of the sale of their property to the ministry. No one told them they needed to, they just wanted to. But when it came time to turn over the money, this husband and wife, Ananias and Sapphira, told the apostles they got less from the sale then they really did. Greed had entered them, so they conspired and lied about it. And if you have ever read Acts 5, you know that God struck them both dead. Not because of greed, not for holding some money back, but for lying to the Holy Spirit, because they did not fear God. And the result of that event is recorded for us. Acts 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. This is Paul’s first motivation for ministry – Since then we know what it is to fear the Lord – we try to persuade men. Do you know what it means to fear God? 2. LOVE OF GOD. The love of God really goes hand and hand with the fear of God. If you know how awesome, powerful and mighty God is – when you consider his mercy and grace, then you will see his love as even greater then before. I think too many in America just take God's mercy for granted. We don’t know about the thousands of idols, false gods, that other cultures worship. Like our friends in India, Michael Jah, Joe and Kumari Valenzuela, and Jennifer Creamer, have told us. How in India there are over a million goddesses, like “Calli”, the goddess of death and pain, the city of Calcutta is named after her and she is to be appeased or she will bring death and destruction on the people. She is not a god of love. Of course we know there is no god except the Lord and he is different then the idols of this world. Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. What love God showed us, when we should have been cowering - because of our sins, God sent Jesus to die for those sins and show us his love. Yet how many take that love for granted? The unbeliever takes God's love for granted by mistaking his patience and kindness for approval or indifference. But the believer can also take the love of God for granted. When the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart, when conviction comes for the things that God is speaking to you about, and you can harden your heart, refusing to obey the word of the Lord - in that you show contempt for the love of God. Rom 2:4 ….Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? Don't show contempt for God's mercy, remember it is kindness, that brings us to himself. Our text says that “God's love compels us” compels us into ministry, and compels us into obedience. Why do we tell of Christ’s atoning death? Because the love of God. Why do we share the gospel? Because the love of God compels us. Why do we speak of the deliverance from sin - the Spirit filled life, the grace of God, or the power of God to change lives? Because the love that God demonstrated to all who call upon him, should compel us to share that love with others. The Greek word for “compel” literally means, - “to be preoccupied by or arrested by” KJV – “constrains.” So Paul is saying, “God’s love has so gotten hold of me that I am preoccupied with nothing but trying to persuade men and women to faith in Jesus Christ.” Have you been so “arrested” by the love of God that persuading people to the faith is a preoccupation of life? Or do we show contempt for his love, tolerance and mercy. You can say, “Rich, I don’t know how to share my faith.” Why not? Learn the scriptures, tell them your story- what Christ has done for you. Share what you know – that God in love sent Jesus. Or just invite them to church. Paul’s motivation should be our motivation- 1st The fear of God, 2nd The love of God.
Paul highlights the work of God, how Jesus died that we may also die to sins. And how anyone who is in Christ, is a new creation. But just what does it mean to be in Christ? Lets look at that famous scripture. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Whoever believes “in” him shall have eternal life, but what does it mean to believe “in” Jesus? A lot of people believe “about Jesus”, but fewer believe in him. Even Dan Brown and his Di Vinci Code book believe about Jesus. He does not say Jesus did not exist, but he does not believe in Jesus for who he is. Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah, the only Savior, God taking on the form of a man. The difference between believing about Jesus and believing in Jesus is huge. Its like if you showed a rope to a mountain climber, right before the big climb up a vertical cliff. And you ask them do you believe in this rope? What are you asking? Are you asking do believe this is a rope? Duh! Obviously it looks like a rope, feels like a rope, yes it is a rope. No – what your asking that mountain climber is “will you trust this rope with you life?” If the rope is damaged and farad, they will reject the rope, but if the rope is new and in good shape, they will trust that rope with their very life. That is the difference between believing about Jesus, and believing in Jesus. To trust him with your life. To trust him with your joys, your sorrows, your weaknesses and your strengths. So Paul speaks about reconciliation. Reconciliation is the theological term and an important doctrine and yet many in the church don’t understand it or think doctrine has no practical application for life. Just what is reconciliation? How does it effect my life? The idea of reconciliation in the new testament is the idea of “making to conform to a standard.” When you set a clock or a watch you “reconcile” it to the standard of the proper time. We reconcile our check books to agree with what the bank says is the right balance. Just as there is an exact time, or the bank most likely has accurate records -- so with God there is a specific standard and men and women are not on that standard because – all have sinned. So they must be reconciled / brought into conformance to the standard. Before sin entered the world Adam and Eve enjoyed face to face fellowship with God. But when they willfully turned their backs on God, God had to turn his back on them. They could no longer enjoy the face to face fellowship because sin made them out of standard with God. So, like a watch with the wrong time needs to be reconciled -- so all women, all men, need reconciliation to God. And our our last verse tells us how. 2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. I love that scripture, for encapsulates the gospel. That God made the sinless Jesus to take our sin, that we might be right with God. Paul’s motivations, the Fear of God, The love of God, and the Work of God. One last thought there in V17 we see the work of God – in the individual believer. That anyone in Christ becomes a new creation, old things are gone, and in the Lord – all things are made new. What things? Forgiveness of sins, power to live rightly, its all new, so in closing I would like us to see three things that help us live a reconciled life. 1. GOD’S VIEW OF YOU. How you think God views you - effects the way you live for him. If you think God sees you as a sinner far from him, then it will be difficult to live a victorious life. Difficult because you will miss God's forgiveness and grace and try to appease him by your own works. But if you understand that by faith in Jesus Christ -- God views you differently, he views you as a new creation. Then you will not try to appease God, but you will want to please God, living in obedience, because you know you are accepted in the beloved. When Jesus spoke to a religious leader named Nicodemus, he told him, that unless a man is “born again” he can not see the kingdom of God. That is the essence of the new creation, that believers have experienced - a second birth. Born of the Spirit and if God now views all who are in Christ as a new creation. Like V19 says “not counting men's sins against them.” Then like we studied last week. 2 Cor 5:9 So we make it our goal to please him. Last week we spoke about the two other men that were crucified with Jesus that day. Both these men mocked the Lord, then the one suddenly came to his senses. What were his thoughts? 1. We deserve to die. He knew his guilt. He knew he had broken the laws of man, and the laws of God. He knew he was getting what his guilt deserved.
He knew that mocking, Jesus was mocking God. He knew that the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning. And something began in him that day. 3. Jesus remember me. Faith came alive and suddenly he knew that Jesus was who he claimed to be. Maybe he heard his teachings or maybe it was what he saw that day. Be that as it may, by that simple act of faith, he is instantly reconciled to God. 4. Jesus response. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” He is reconciled to God --not because he did any good deeds, not because he was baptized, or went to church, but because “by faith he called out to the Lord.” Rom 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." First thought, how God views those who are in Christ. Important because when we understand reconciliation, we can overcome whatever we face in life. 2. GOD’S POWER FOR YOU. V17 says, “The new has come” - KJV= “All things have become new.” You are no longer in bondage to what bound you. Drugs, alcohol, lusts, habits, anger, all things become new. If God has made you a new creation, he has empowered you to overcome all things. John 16: 7 (Jesus said) But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Jesus said it is good that he was going away. Why good? Because the counselor, the comforter will come. The Holy Spirit is our guide, he empowers us to live rightly and to have victory over whatever enslaves us on earth. We have seen God's view of you, God's power for you, finally. 3. GOD'S ASSIGNMENT TO YOU. V20, Your are ambassadors for Jesus. An ambassador is one who represents someone greater and who is not personally present. Like an ambassador for the United States representing the president of the United States. As Christians we are personal representatives of God. We have the authority and power to do what he assigns. One thing he has assigned is this message of reconciliation. To implore everyone to “be reconciled to God. INVITE! What is your motivation for service to God? Do you know what it is to fear the Lord? Do you realize the depths of the love of God? Do you know works of God? Are you reconciled to God? If you are God's child – are you functioning in your assignment as an ambassador of reconciliation? PRAYER/ BENEDICTION / SING Series: 2 Corinthians -Through the Bible |
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