Intro:
1. John Piper noted:
Pastors have the job of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. But ordinary Christians do the ministry. What ministry looks like is as varied as Christians are varied. It’s not an office; it’s a lifestyle devoted to advancing other people’s faith and holiness. In this sense, the only life that counts for anything is a life of ministry whether you’re a banker or a bricklayer. Fulfilling your ministry is more important than staying alive…You may think you need to save your life in order to do your ministry…On the contrary, how you lose your life may be the capstone of your ministry. It certainly was for Jesus, at the age of 33. We need not fret about keeping ourselves alive in order to finish our ministry. God alone knows the appointed time of our service.
24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
2. Everyone has a God-given ministry because every believer has a spiritual gift. Many Christians today are joyless and full of complaint because they are more concerned about being ministered unto than ministering to others.
3. Living Life with Purpose – fulfilling our God-appointed ministry.
Trans: 1 Cor. 1:1
I. FIRST, PAUL’S IDENTITY. 1:1
A. The Method.
Today when we write a letter we write our name at the bottom of the letter, but in that day people always began a letter by identifying themselves.
B. The Meaning.
Paul – means “little” and indicates that when he was born, he was somewhat puny and apparently remained so all of his life (1 Cor. 2:1-5/ 2 Cor. 10:10; 11:6).
A presbyter in the province of Asia during the second century described Paul as “a man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked
Trans: The impression you get is that Paul was not very impressive to look at or hear and yet God called him to a ministry, which involved public speaking! Why?
9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 2 Corinthians 4:7
It is God in us that is important not us!
Some places in Arkansas when it is very dry, and they have to issue a fire band. Imagine someone watering his dry lawn in hopes of preserving it. The ground gladly takes in the water. Now imagine a little girl taking a toy sprinkling can and going out and watering the lawn. The truth is it doesn’t matter to that thirsty grass whether the water comes from a brand new expensive hose or a cheap little water can. It is not the vessel but the water that is vital. It is God’s Spirit working in and through our frail often-ugly vessels that minister.
II. NEXT, WE HAVE PAUL’S LEGITIMACY. 1:1
A. Determined by God.
called – a verbal adjective, in the passive vice meaning the subject received the action.
1. The Source.
Paul did not wake up one day and decide to be an apostle but was called to be one by God’s own sovereign choice. Like all spiritual gifts, they are given by God’s Sovereign choice (1 Cor. 12:4-7, 11).
2. The Service.
as an apostle of Jesus Christ – from apo meaning “from or away from” and stello meaning “to send forth.” Paul, like the Twelve, was sent forth by Jesus Christ to establish churches with great authority and power.
Chuck Swindoll writes:
The skeletal system provides the body’s basic support, making mobility and activity possible. The work of the apostles corresponds closely to the skeleton’s function of providing a sturdy framework for the body. The apostle's ministry was foundational to the establishment of the Church and appears to have been given only during those early groundbreaking days.
Trans: The point is that Paul had a ministry; there was something, that God wanted him to do. It is the same with all of God’s people (Eph. 2:10).
We need to be able to say, “Sam called to evangelize by Jesus Christ; Johnny called to teach God’s word by Jesus Christ; David called to be a financial planner by Jesus Christ; Dennis called by the will of God to be an attorney for the glory of God; Cindy called to be a homemaker by Jesus Christ; Ruth called to be a Doctor by Jesus Christ; etc.
B. Doubted by man.
We will discover as we continue through this epistle that Paul’s apostleship was being doubted because he was not one of The Twelve (1 Cor. 9:1-2/2 Cor. 10-13).
John MacArthur notes:
I believe there are perhaps five reasons why Paul, unlike the other apostolic writers, was so careful to assert his apostleship in his letters. First of all, he was not a part of the twelve. He had not been called by Jesus during His earthly ministry to be one of the inner circle of disciples who accompanied Him "beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us" (Acts 1:22). Of that original group, one (Judas) was disqualified and was later replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:21-26)—who, though identified by casting lots, was chosen by God (v. 24). With the selection of Matthias, the apostolic ranks were again complete. Beginning at Pentecost, the apostles were clearly the authoritative voice of the gospel. When Peter gave his message at that time, he did so "taking his stand with the eleven" (Acts 2:14; cf. v. 37), and the infant church in Jerusalem devoted itself to "the apostles' teaching" (v. 42). The apostles were the Lord's supreme earthly representatives, and they preached and taught with His authority. With Christ as the "corner stone," the apostles were the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20).
As far as we know, however, Paul never saw or heard Jesus during that time. Paul was first known to the church as a bitter enemy and persecutor, "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1; cf. 8:1). He not only had not chosen to be a follower of Christ but had chosen to oppose Christ's followers with all his might. Even after his conversion, there was no way he could retroactively become one of the twelve. Yet he declared himself to be an apostle, based on the same foundational qualifications as those of the twelve. He, too, had seen the resurrected Christ (Acts 9:3-6,17; 22:11-15; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8) and he, too, in unique revelations, had been specifically chosen by the Lord to be an apostle (1 Cor. 1:1). He was concerned to establish the fact that he was equal to the twelve as a foundational teacher of revealed truth.
By way of application, we all have a God determined ministry and that ministry may well be doubted by man. I know that God has called me to teach the Word of God and yet many times Satan and those he works through have tried to get me to doubt my ministry. Once a lady visited our little church and never came back. I was later told by Mrs. Adam that the lady told her that she didn’t think my ministry was from God because of the low attendance.
I have heard more than one evangelist say that if a pastor did not baptize at lead 9 people a year, they should not be in the ministry! When I heard one of these I had only baptized 6 that year – and that was a good year!
We all have to choose whether to listen to God or man. One thing for sure at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will all listen to God evaluation. If He says Johnny you were not supposed to teach my Word, I wanted you to rake leaves for a living! I will bow down and apologize with every fiber in me! But until that day I can only do what I understand is His will for my life. When you think about it, God even uses those who oppose our ministry. You see it is all of these failures and negative people that God uses to produce some brokenness and allows His strength to work in our weakness. Abraham was known for being a man of faith but he did not start that way! You might remember he was the one who in unbelief said, “She is my sister!” Moses, Elijah, Peter, and many others all have their down days. Do not worry God is not finished with us yet, there is always more to the story.
C. It was Defended by Paul.
by the will of God – the only defense for anybody’s ministry is not popularity, man’s approval, but God’s will (Gal. 1:1, 10-11).
I guess we will find out sooner or later!
35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 "For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 "After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38 "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." Acts 5:35-39
Frederick Douglass was a great slave orator, once when the opposition was fierce, he said, “The white man is against us, the governments are against us, the spirit of the times is against us. I see no hope for the colored race. I am full of sadness.” Just then a woman rose up in the audience and said, “Frederick…is God dead?”
Everything looks different when we put God into the equation. God is not dead, and neither is a ministry built upon God and His Word.
III. FINALLY, PAUL’S FAMILY. 1:1
A. The History.
and Sosthenes - See, Acts 18:1-17.
Paul went to Corinth, and people were responding so well that the Jews complained to the Roman officials who refused to listen, in anger they beat Sosthenes up, who was at the time an unbelieving Jew who ruled the Synagogue.
B. The Testimony.
our brother – apparently what had happened was that Sosthenes later became a Christian. Paul was writing this letter from Ephesus and mentioned this man to encourage the believers who would have known him at Corinth.
Harry Ironside noted:
Those receiving the letter would at once recognize his name, and a thrill would go through their hearts as they exclaimed, “Yes, Sosthenes, once the persecutor, converted here in our own city is still with the apostle Paul and is sending his greeting to us.”
Paul was a multi-gifted person, but his basic gift related to seeing Gentiles saved. We may not be a gifted evangelist, but we all have the thrill of seeing someone saved (Mt. 4:19). But if you do have the gift, nothing else matters but seeing the lost saved.
David Brainerd wrote:
I care not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through so that I could but gain souls for Christ. While I was asleep, I dreamed of these things, and when I awoke, the first thing I thought of was this great work. All my desire was for the conversion of the heathen, and all my hope was in God.
As for teachers like me, we come behind and seek to get those precious converts growing. Not something that hits the newspapers or gets the community talking about you but I have to believe it is urgently needed.
Con:
1. Living life with purpose – fulfilling our God-given ministry.
2. David Roper put it this way:
So you’re not a major player. So you have no political clout or power base. So you’re not a Christian quarterback, a converted Rock Star, a multi-media personality, or a multi-millionaire. You can still be a catalyst for change…We are all designed to be of use to God. He planned our usefulness before time began. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Perhaps it will be a visible role, more likely it's concealed and hidden. It could be that our entire life will find its meaning in one person whom God wants you to touch in some significant way…no one is without a divinely appointed task and the divine meaning for getting it done.
Johnny A Palmer Jr.
