"Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (1 Cor. 12:27)
Centuries ago the psalmist said, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps. 139:14). The human body is a marvelous example of unity in diversity. Dozens of organs all performing different functions, yet working together in such harmony that we must make a deliberate effort to think of the human body in any way other than as a unity.
In the church at Corinth some had gifts that others did not have and, as a result, they thought of themselves more highly than they should have. This provoked the less gifted to jealousy. The result was discord and strife among the members. In substance Paul was saying to them, "You do not realize your relationship to one another and to Christ. You are joined to one another and depend on one another just as the members of the body are joined to one another and depend on one another. You are the physical expression and instrument of Christ in this world just as the body is the physical expression and instrument of the mind." "Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (1Cor. 12:27) Several practical suggestions about the church are called out by this text.
1. Each member of the church is different from every other member.
The church has the unity of a living organism. No two parts are alike, and each part carries out a different function for the good of the whole. Some inescapable, practical implications are seen.
A. Every member of Christ's church has some place of service cut out for him or her. Sometimes we wonder about the function of the appendix or the tonsils, but all in all, there are no useless members or organs of the body. They each have a function to perform, and unless they do, the whole body suffers. Likewise, no two members of the church have equal abilities. But every member has a function to perform for the common good. Under the leadership of the Spirit it is each person's privilege and duty to discover what that place is and to fill it.
B. Each member of Christ's church must perform his or her own function in the church. As Paul says, "The eye cannot say to the hand, I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" (v 21-22). Every pastor has had members of his church say to him, "All I can do is just go to church and just sit there." The majority of those who say something like this could do more if they wanted to. If every member of every church would only fill his or her place of service, what a difference it would make!
C. No place of service is so low as to be despised or looked down on, and no place is so high that it justifies conceit on the part of the one filling it. Some members at Corinth were discouraged. Their attitude was: "We don't amount to much in the church." Paul said to them, "If the foot should say, "Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body" (v15). Some at Corinth had too high an estimate of their worth. To them Paul said, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" (v21). To the Romans Paul was even more specific, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, But rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us" (12:3-6).
2. Each member of the church is to be devoted to the best interest of every other member.
Someone has said, "In brute creation it is the stomach that rules the world. "Selfishness rules. The law of the jungle is "Every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost." But in Christ's church the ultimate aim is the well being of one's fellow members and therefore the whole church. Since the church is a living organism, each member is to be devoted to the highest good of every other member.
Paul told the Corinthians, "There should be no division in the body, but...it's parts should have equal concern for each other" (1 Cor. 12:25). He gives two reasons for this:
A." If one part suffers, every part suffers with it" (v 26). When one member is the victim of half-truths or untruths, when any member is the prey of cheap gossip, the church is the loser. When one member falls into sin, all suffer. Sinning on the part of one member of the church is like putting poison in the public water supply. Sooner or later all the members are hurt by it.
B. "If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (v26). Since the church is a body, what is for the good of one is for the good of all. Paul urged the Romans, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (12:10). The members of a church are to be devoted to one another to the building up of the body in love. If only we followed that ideal, how different things would be in our churches!
3. Each member of the church is dependent on every other member.
The human body is dependent on the functioning of each individual organ. When one organ is diseased and unable to perform its function properly, the whole body is sick. The proper use of the hands and feet is dependent the health of the nervous system. The welfare of the nervous system is dependent on proper circulation. No part of the body is independent of any other part.
Likewise, no member of the church is independent of any other member in the worship and service of Christ. And no member is the whole of himself; his fellow members complete him. If the church is to grow and move forward, every member must fill his place and perform his function, because every other member is dependent on him!
Consider a serious question: What is the function of the whole body, each member performing his or her individual part? "You are the body of Christ," our text says. What the physical body is to the mind and soul, the church is to Christ--the physical instrument by which He works His will in the world.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
When Religion Gets Sick
And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said to them that sold doves, "Take these things from here; make not My Father's house a house of merchandise." (John 2: 15-16)
A famous preacher once asked, "What is worse than having no religion?" Then he paused for a moment and then answered his own question, " Having no religion is bad, but having the wrong kind of religion is even worse." Wayne E. Oates, in a provacative book entitled " When Religion gets Sick," proposed the possibilty of allowing religion to get sick, (just as we see in the the passage above) He concluded that having a sick religion is worse by far than having no religion at all, and I concur.
Jesus was concerned with sick religion as indicated by His driving the moneychangers out of the temple. Much of Judaism had gotten sick, and the Great Physician had come to bring healing. What did Jesus see in the temple that caused such aggressive action?
1. The Lost Sense of Awe and Reverence for God.
A. The Jews had lost the profound sense and reverence for God. Look carefully at what Jesus observed when He visited the temple. Mant Jewish patrons were coming and going. They had little respect for what took place in the temple, namely communion with God. They bought and sold animals, and they exchanged money as if the court of the gentiles was a market place.
God had intended the temple to be a meeting place for human beings and Himself. He had not intended the temple to be a den of thieves. He wanted it to be a place of prayer.
B. Christians often lose their sense of awe and reverence for God. As people go about the routine of Bible study and church attendance, they can lose reverence for God. The Lord, His church, and His book become rather ordinary.
Jesus' anger is aroused when He sees a lost sense of awe and reverence for His Father. Religion can get sick when the sense of wonder of God departs from aperson or a group of people.
2. The Lost Sense of The Cost of Religion.
A. The Jews had lost sight of the cost of serving the Lord. The presentation of the animals in temple sacrifice represented a commitment on the part of worshippers. ( Just as our tithes and offerings still do today.) God wanted the Jews to present the best animals out of their flocks. This would mean that they gave their best to God.
When Jesus walked into the temple, He saw that religion had been made cheap. People were told, " Leave your animals at home and buy one in the temple." Purchasing animals from the temple merchants cheapened the sacrificial system. And this anger the Master.
3. The Lost Sense of the Outsider.
A. The Jews had lost the sense of the Gentiles' need. The place where the moneychangers and merchants did business was in the court of the Gentiles. This was the place within the temple prcinct where Gentiles, outsiders, could come and learn of the Lord. Most of the Jews in Jesus' time were not concerned for the Gentiles. They were concerned for their rituals but not for the mission of being a blessing to the nations that God had given them.
B. Modern Christians can lose the sense of the outsider. The church can easily become an exclusive club with a preoccupation for its membership. Religion gets sick when people turn inward and do not look outward for the sinners.
How is the health of you Christian expression? If you do not mind, let's have a checkup. Is there a great thrill over the greatness and gradeur of God? Or are you taking short cuts? Are you asking for the minimal requirememts? Then, what about your concern for others? Let's keep our religion healthy and groeing.
A famous preacher once asked, "What is worse than having no religion?" Then he paused for a moment and then answered his own question, " Having no religion is bad, but having the wrong kind of religion is even worse." Wayne E. Oates, in a provacative book entitled " When Religion gets Sick," proposed the possibilty of allowing religion to get sick, (just as we see in the the passage above) He concluded that having a sick religion is worse by far than having no religion at all, and I concur.
Jesus was concerned with sick religion as indicated by His driving the moneychangers out of the temple. Much of Judaism had gotten sick, and the Great Physician had come to bring healing. What did Jesus see in the temple that caused such aggressive action?
1. The Lost Sense of Awe and Reverence for God.
A. The Jews had lost the profound sense and reverence for God. Look carefully at what Jesus observed when He visited the temple. Mant Jewish patrons were coming and going. They had little respect for what took place in the temple, namely communion with God. They bought and sold animals, and they exchanged money as if the court of the gentiles was a market place.
God had intended the temple to be a meeting place for human beings and Himself. He had not intended the temple to be a den of thieves. He wanted it to be a place of prayer.
B. Christians often lose their sense of awe and reverence for God. As people go about the routine of Bible study and church attendance, they can lose reverence for God. The Lord, His church, and His book become rather ordinary.
Jesus' anger is aroused when He sees a lost sense of awe and reverence for His Father. Religion can get sick when the sense of wonder of God departs from aperson or a group of people.
2. The Lost Sense of The Cost of Religion.
A. The Jews had lost sight of the cost of serving the Lord. The presentation of the animals in temple sacrifice represented a commitment on the part of worshippers. ( Just as our tithes and offerings still do today.) God wanted the Jews to present the best animals out of their flocks. This would mean that they gave their best to God.
When Jesus walked into the temple, He saw that religion had been made cheap. People were told, " Leave your animals at home and buy one in the temple." Purchasing animals from the temple merchants cheapened the sacrificial system. And this anger the Master.
3. The Lost Sense of the Outsider.
A. The Jews had lost the sense of the Gentiles' need. The place where the moneychangers and merchants did business was in the court of the Gentiles. This was the place within the temple prcinct where Gentiles, outsiders, could come and learn of the Lord. Most of the Jews in Jesus' time were not concerned for the Gentiles. They were concerned for their rituals but not for the mission of being a blessing to the nations that God had given them.
B. Modern Christians can lose the sense of the outsider. The church can easily become an exclusive club with a preoccupation for its membership. Religion gets sick when people turn inward and do not look outward for the sinners.
How is the health of you Christian expression? If you do not mind, let's have a checkup. Is there a great thrill over the greatness and gradeur of God? Or are you taking short cuts? Are you asking for the minimal requirememts? Then, what about your concern for others? Let's keep our religion healthy and groeing.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Rich Rewards of Prayer
".....The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16b)
The Bible teaches that those who have the habit of prayer experience rich spiritual blessings in their hearts and lives. Scripture and christian history both testify that those who have served God significantly have been men and women with an earnest prayer life. So lets take a look at some of the rich rewards that come to those who have faith in God that expresses itself in a life of prayer.
1. A Vivid Awareness of the Nearness of God.
" Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8). When the grateful and humble child of God seeks to come into the throne room of the heavenly Father, one of the great benefits that will come to him is a vivid awareness of just how close God really is.
A. Experiencing the nearness of God can be frightfully disturbing for one who has not experienced genuine repentance, sicere confession, and the joy of being cleansed from the pollution of sin.(Isa, ^; Luke 5:8-10)
B. Experiencing the nearness of God can also be very comforting (Ps. 23:4) He gives strength in times of difficulty
C. Experiencing the nearness of God can be very exciting (Phil. 4:13) The assurance of the nearness of God can give great courage and joy as one faces the trials of life.
2. A Vital Experience of The Dearness of God.
Jesus taught His disciples to approach the Creator God not on the basis of His being their Creator but in terms of His being " our Father who art in heaven" (Matt. 6:9). While He is the God who is in heaven, He is also the Father with whom we can have dislogue in the closet of prayer(v6). It is in the prayer experience that the Father communicates His nearness and His dearness to those who look to Him in faith.
3. An Enlightening Experience of the Wisdom of God.
Throughout the entire Bible and in the experience of the believers, we have testimony after testimony of how, as they prayed, God stimulated their thinking and caused them to have new insight that helped them to cope with the strains and pressures of life.
WE have instance after instance in which God recalled to the memory of His discouraged childern His goodness in the past to help them to face the pressures of the present.
4. An Enabling Experience of the Strength of God.
"He give power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa. 40: 29-31). Time spent in God's presence fills the child of God with the strebth that comes from heaven.
Most know the famous cartoon character Popeye. He faced many difficult and dangerous crises but was never quite adequate for these until he had eaten a can of spinach, which gave him superhuman powers. I have often thought of how time spent with the heavenly Father brings to His children strength comparable to that which spinach brought to popeye.
The apostle Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus that they might be strengthen witnmight through God's Spirit in the inner man and that they might be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:16,19). He encouraged them to trust in and depend on the God who was at work within them and who was able to do far more abundantly than anything they had previously asked for or even thought about. (vv 20-21)
5. A Cleansing Experience of the Forgiveness of God. ( 1 John 1:6-7)
God is eager to forgive His sinful children, He is eager to cleanse us and make us white as snow. Our heavenlt Father does not delight in our being guilty of or burdened by sin. He is eager that we forsake those ways and attitudes that are destructive and come to Him for forgiveness and cleansing.
Scripture tells us that our God is a forgiving God who forgives fully and freely and forever when His children sit in judgement on their own sins and turn from the sin that disrupts their fellowship, destroys their influence, and deprives them of joy. Prayer is the div ine gift by which we can come into God's presence, receive His forgiveness, and experience both the cleaness that follows and the joy of a restored fellowship.
Do not rob yourself by neglecting to pray. When you do not feel like praying, that is all the more reason you should pray. Prayer is not a process by which you make "brownie points" with God. Prayer is not a magical means by which something happens automatically. Prayer is meant to be an experience in which a spiritual tranformation takes place. This is why we are commanded, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." ( 1Thess. 5: 16-18).
The Bible teaches that those who have the habit of prayer experience rich spiritual blessings in their hearts and lives. Scripture and christian history both testify that those who have served God significantly have been men and women with an earnest prayer life. So lets take a look at some of the rich rewards that come to those who have faith in God that expresses itself in a life of prayer.
1. A Vivid Awareness of the Nearness of God.
" Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8). When the grateful and humble child of God seeks to come into the throne room of the heavenly Father, one of the great benefits that will come to him is a vivid awareness of just how close God really is.
A. Experiencing the nearness of God can be frightfully disturbing for one who has not experienced genuine repentance, sicere confession, and the joy of being cleansed from the pollution of sin.(Isa, ^; Luke 5:8-10)
B. Experiencing the nearness of God can also be very comforting (Ps. 23:4) He gives strength in times of difficulty
C. Experiencing the nearness of God can be very exciting (Phil. 4:13) The assurance of the nearness of God can give great courage and joy as one faces the trials of life.
2. A Vital Experience of The Dearness of God.
Jesus taught His disciples to approach the Creator God not on the basis of His being their Creator but in terms of His being " our Father who art in heaven" (Matt. 6:9). While He is the God who is in heaven, He is also the Father with whom we can have dislogue in the closet of prayer(v6). It is in the prayer experience that the Father communicates His nearness and His dearness to those who look to Him in faith.
3. An Enlightening Experience of the Wisdom of God.
Throughout the entire Bible and in the experience of the believers, we have testimony after testimony of how, as they prayed, God stimulated their thinking and caused them to have new insight that helped them to cope with the strains and pressures of life.
WE have instance after instance in which God recalled to the memory of His discouraged childern His goodness in the past to help them to face the pressures of the present.
4. An Enabling Experience of the Strength of God.
"He give power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa. 40: 29-31). Time spent in God's presence fills the child of God with the strebth that comes from heaven.
Most know the famous cartoon character Popeye. He faced many difficult and dangerous crises but was never quite adequate for these until he had eaten a can of spinach, which gave him superhuman powers. I have often thought of how time spent with the heavenly Father brings to His children strength comparable to that which spinach brought to popeye.
The apostle Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus that they might be strengthen witnmight through God's Spirit in the inner man and that they might be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:16,19). He encouraged them to trust in and depend on the God who was at work within them and who was able to do far more abundantly than anything they had previously asked for or even thought about. (vv 20-21)
5. A Cleansing Experience of the Forgiveness of God. ( 1 John 1:6-7)
God is eager to forgive His sinful children, He is eager to cleanse us and make us white as snow. Our heavenlt Father does not delight in our being guilty of or burdened by sin. He is eager that we forsake those ways and attitudes that are destructive and come to Him for forgiveness and cleansing.
Scripture tells us that our God is a forgiving God who forgives fully and freely and forever when His children sit in judgement on their own sins and turn from the sin that disrupts their fellowship, destroys their influence, and deprives them of joy. Prayer is the div ine gift by which we can come into God's presence, receive His forgiveness, and experience both the cleaness that follows and the joy of a restored fellowship.
Do not rob yourself by neglecting to pray. When you do not feel like praying, that is all the more reason you should pray. Prayer is not a process by which you make "brownie points" with God. Prayer is not a magical means by which something happens automatically. Prayer is meant to be an experience in which a spiritual tranformation takes place. This is why we are commanded, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." ( 1Thess. 5: 16-18).
Monday, March 4, 2013
Prayers We Need To Pray
With my whole heart have I sought you: O let me not wander from your commandments. (Ps. 119:10)
Pslam 119:9-16
It is altogether appropriate for us to say "Amen" when we hear the prayers of others and those prayers express the deep desires of our heart. The Hebrew word "amen" means " let it be so." It is an affirmation of concurrance and agreement. Each of us can participate more meaningfully and more profitably in the public prayers spoken by others if we listen intently and appropriately say "amen."
With great benefits coming to us, we can study the written prayers of others. Often they verbalize the prayers that we would like to utter, and we can then say "amen " as we read written prayers.
Psalm 119 is an artistic record of the psalmist's devotions and dialogues with God. The psalm contains many prayers that we could profitably pray as our very own prayers.
Lets take a look at the second of 22 stanzas in this acrostic poem. It contains some prayers that each of us needs to pray.
1. "Let me not wander from your commandments."
The psalmist recognized the human tendency to wander away from the proper path and offered a prayer that he might be saved from a life of aimless wandering. Why does man wander away from God's truth?
A. Perhaps because of our fallen nature.
B. Perhaps it's because we are forgetful.
C. Many of us are preoccupied with other things, and we find it easy to drift.
D. We can be tempted by the promises and possibilities of what the world has to offer.
E. Some of us wander because of weariness. The psalmist prays that God will so work in his life that he will be saved from straying from God's precious commandments.
2. "Teach me your statutes." (v12)
Throughout this longest psalm in the Bible, we hear the psalmist repeating the petition, "Teach me your statutes." each of us should repeat this prayer and mean it with all our heart.
In this petition the psalmist is saying, "I want what God wants." God's grace had worked within the innermost being of this man to cause him to want to follow God's statutes.
We need to remember that our Savior was thought of as the great teacher ( Matt. 5:1-2; 7:28-29). Only as we understand the teachings of God through Jesus Christ can we truely walk in His ways and do the things He wants us to do.
3. Putting feet on our prayers.
For prayer to be meaningful and productive, we must do more than just talk to Father God. We must cooperate with Him as He works to bring about the fullfillment of the desires we have expressed in the prayer we have offered.
A. We can keep our lives pure by bringing our thoughts and actions under the searching light of God's word.( Ps. 119:9)
B. We can avoid a life of sin by storing up God's word in our hearts that it might serve as both a restraint and as a challenge (v11)
C. We can verbalize the great truths and the great insights that come to us from God's word in our conversations with others (v13).
In order to pray effectively, we need to delight ourselves in God's precepts, His ways, His statutes (vv 14-16).
Devotional Bible study can be the listening side of prayer. God will speak to our needs through His Word if we study it with trust and with a willingness to be obedient.
Pslam 119:9-16
It is altogether appropriate for us to say "Amen" when we hear the prayers of others and those prayers express the deep desires of our heart. The Hebrew word "amen" means " let it be so." It is an affirmation of concurrance and agreement. Each of us can participate more meaningfully and more profitably in the public prayers spoken by others if we listen intently and appropriately say "amen."
With great benefits coming to us, we can study the written prayers of others. Often they verbalize the prayers that we would like to utter, and we can then say "amen " as we read written prayers.
Psalm 119 is an artistic record of the psalmist's devotions and dialogues with God. The psalm contains many prayers that we could profitably pray as our very own prayers.
Lets take a look at the second of 22 stanzas in this acrostic poem. It contains some prayers that each of us needs to pray.
1. "Let me not wander from your commandments."
The psalmist recognized the human tendency to wander away from the proper path and offered a prayer that he might be saved from a life of aimless wandering. Why does man wander away from God's truth?
A. Perhaps because of our fallen nature.
B. Perhaps it's because we are forgetful.
C. Many of us are preoccupied with other things, and we find it easy to drift.
D. We can be tempted by the promises and possibilities of what the world has to offer.
E. Some of us wander because of weariness. The psalmist prays that God will so work in his life that he will be saved from straying from God's precious commandments.
2. "Teach me your statutes." (v12)
Throughout this longest psalm in the Bible, we hear the psalmist repeating the petition, "Teach me your statutes." each of us should repeat this prayer and mean it with all our heart.
In this petition the psalmist is saying, "I want what God wants." God's grace had worked within the innermost being of this man to cause him to want to follow God's statutes.
We need to remember that our Savior was thought of as the great teacher ( Matt. 5:1-2; 7:28-29). Only as we understand the teachings of God through Jesus Christ can we truely walk in His ways and do the things He wants us to do.
3. Putting feet on our prayers.
For prayer to be meaningful and productive, we must do more than just talk to Father God. We must cooperate with Him as He works to bring about the fullfillment of the desires we have expressed in the prayer we have offered.
A. We can keep our lives pure by bringing our thoughts and actions under the searching light of God's word.( Ps. 119:9)
B. We can avoid a life of sin by storing up God's word in our hearts that it might serve as both a restraint and as a challenge (v11)
C. We can verbalize the great truths and the great insights that come to us from God's word in our conversations with others (v13).
In order to pray effectively, we need to delight ourselves in God's precepts, His ways, His statutes (vv 14-16).
Devotional Bible study can be the listening side of prayer. God will speak to our needs through His Word if we study it with trust and with a willingness to be obedient.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Christian Unity
" I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Endevoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." ( Eph. 4:1-3)
Paul doesn't deal with any problems in his letter to the Ephesians. All news was good news from the people at Ephesus, and Paul had the joyous priviledge of writing a positive letter to encourage them. The theme of his letter is "Christian Unity". Paul had established many churches and watched them grow, so he knew that without unity nothing else really matters. And with unity nothing can defeat the church.
In his first three chapters, Paul lays the foundation of christian unity. In his last two chapters, he describes the practical results of christian unity. In this post I am going to focus the attention on this forth chapter. Here Paul speaks of (1) the behavior of christian unity, (2) the basis of christian unity, and (3) the benefits of christian unity.
1. The behavior of christian unity (Eph. 4:1-3)
Paul begins with behavior, it has everything to do with christian unity. Often it appears that behavior is more important than beliefs in maintaining unity in the church. For example, in any giving church are many different beliefs concerning prophecy, the second coming of Christ, and social practices, and yet most of these churches are in unity. But a person could absolutely destroy a church by their misbehavior.
Few church splits can be traced to bad theology. But many can be traced to bad behavior. ( I can list several such splits, but I wont.) Therefore, Paul quickly and directly deals with behavior as a matter of priority. " I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith you are called," (v 1). In case the church at Ephesus doesn't understand what kind of behavior Paul is talking about, he spells it out for them. He lists seven characteristics of the kind of behavior that builds christian unity.
A. It is compatable with our calling; If we are to help bring christian unity, we must conduct ourselves in a manner that doesn't reflect poorly on our calling as christians. Since we bear the name of Christ, we must not bring that name into disrepute.
B. It is humble; (v2). With all lowliness and meekness, A very wise person once said, " Egotism is the sedative nature provides to deaden the pain of being a fool."
But how does humility come about? It comes from two things:
1. Self-knowledge. Humility depends on honesty; it depends on having the courage to look at ourselves without the rose colored glasses of self-admiration and self-love.
2. God-knowledge. Humility comes from comparing our life with the life of Christ. As long as we compare ourselves with others, we may come out of the comparison fairly well. It is when we compare ourselves with Christ that we see our own failure. God-knowledge plus self-knowledge brings humility.
C. It is gentle (v 2). Those who are gentle are so God-controlled that they are continually kind and gracious towards others. They are people in whom self has died through whom Christ in all His humility lives. Paul said, " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me..."(Gal. 2:20)
D. It is patient (v 2). Patience has been defined as , the spirit that has the power to take revenge but never does. Patience is the spirit that bears insult without bitterness or complaint.
E. It is magnanimous (v2). as christians we must make allowances for one another; we must be magnanimous towards others and their faults as God has been magnanimous towards us.
F. It is loving (v2). We should not bear with one another through sheer grit and determination, but through christian love. There are four Greek words for love, but the word used here is the highest. It means that we must love others so much that nothing they do or say will keep us from loving them and seeking their highest good. Even though they mistreat us and hurt us, we will feel only kindness towards them.
2. The basis of christian unity ( Eph. 4:4-6)
Behavior is important to christian unity. But a sound basis is absolutely indispensable. What is the basis, the foundation, on which christian unity is built? Paul lays seven foundation stones: one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God.
A. One body; (v4) Christ is the head and the church is the body. The unity of the church is essential for the work of Christ.
B. One Spirit (v4) There is one Holy Spirit, and He is saying and inspiring the same in all He is consistant, He doesn't bounce all over from one thing to the next, and He always speaks from the scripture. He is one Spirit, with one voice, and one motivation.
C. One hope; This is the hope of the ultimate consummation of our salvation in heaven.
D. One Lord (v5). " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me." ( Jn. 14:6)
E One Faith (v5). Paul is not talking about a set of beliefs that may characterize a particular denomination. There is " one faith" by which people come into a saving relationship with Christ as Lord. There may be many "faiths" (denominations), but there is only one by which we are saved-faith in Jesus as Savior.
F. One Baptism (v5). Just as there is one faith through which we come into a saving relationship with Christ, there is "one baptism" through which we make an outward demonstration of that inward experience.
G. One God (v6). There is one God-- and one God unites us into one family of God. Paul says four things about God.
1. He is Father of All-- that is, He created all.
2. He is above all--that is, He controls all.
3. He is through all--that is He sustains all.
4. He is in all-- that is, He is present everywhere.
3. The benefits of christian unity ( Eph. 4:28-32)
Quite predictably someone may ask, "Why all the fuss about unity? Does it really make that much difference? What are the benefits of christian unity?"
The last five verses of this chapter list the benefits of christian unity. Here we learn that unity in the church does make a difference--a big difference! Let's look at what happens when unity prevails.
A. Conduct is changed (v28). When there is christian unity, there is a change in conduct. No longer do we ask, "What can I get?" but rather, "What can I share?" When we are united in allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us, the hope of heaven to challenge us, and the Lord Jesus to guide us, our conduct is changed.
B. Conversation is clean (v29). "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth..." It is difficult, if not impossible, to be in unity with God and His people and still have a filthy mouth. An ancient proverb says," The heart of man is a well, and the mouth of a man is a bucket, and that which is in the well of the heart can be determined by what is in the bucket of the mouth."
C. Commitment is deepened (v30). when we live each moment aware that there is but one Holy Spirit by which we have been born again, we desire to do nothing to grieve Him. One of the benefits of christian unity is that we reach a level of commitment beyond beyond which we will not grieve the Holy Spirit.
D. Conflict is eliminated (v31). Unity gets rid of conflict. Conflict comes from "the sins of the spirit" Paul has dealt with the sins of the flesh. now he deals with the sins of the spirit-- or "christian sins". These are identified as " bitterness,and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking...with all malice." When we are one in Christ, we are free from all such disruptive and divisive conflicts.
E. Kindness is practiced (v32). To be kind means to exercise thoughtful consideration.
When the Roman soldiers on guard at Jesus' crucifixion were dividing the prisoners clothes, they came to Jesus' coat and discovered that it was seamless. To tear it would ruin it. For this reason they decided to keep it intact and to cast lots for it.
The seamless robe of Christ has become a metaphor for the unity of the church. Henry Ward Beecher prayed that the church might be one again, like the seamless robe of his Lord. The metaphor is one of great beauty and it quite appropriate. Strife and divisions within the church have been ugly efforts to tear into pieces the sacred garment of the truth.
The Crucified One must look down sadly at the miserable conflict between those He died to redeem. His look of love and sorrow is reminisent of His prayer, ..." that they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them, as you have loved Me." (Jn 17:23)
Paul doesn't deal with any problems in his letter to the Ephesians. All news was good news from the people at Ephesus, and Paul had the joyous priviledge of writing a positive letter to encourage them. The theme of his letter is "Christian Unity". Paul had established many churches and watched them grow, so he knew that without unity nothing else really matters. And with unity nothing can defeat the church.
In his first three chapters, Paul lays the foundation of christian unity. In his last two chapters, he describes the practical results of christian unity. In this post I am going to focus the attention on this forth chapter. Here Paul speaks of (1) the behavior of christian unity, (2) the basis of christian unity, and (3) the benefits of christian unity.
1. The behavior of christian unity (Eph. 4:1-3)
Paul begins with behavior, it has everything to do with christian unity. Often it appears that behavior is more important than beliefs in maintaining unity in the church. For example, in any giving church are many different beliefs concerning prophecy, the second coming of Christ, and social practices, and yet most of these churches are in unity. But a person could absolutely destroy a church by their misbehavior.
Few church splits can be traced to bad theology. But many can be traced to bad behavior. ( I can list several such splits, but I wont.) Therefore, Paul quickly and directly deals with behavior as a matter of priority. " I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith you are called," (v 1). In case the church at Ephesus doesn't understand what kind of behavior Paul is talking about, he spells it out for them. He lists seven characteristics of the kind of behavior that builds christian unity.
A. It is compatable with our calling; If we are to help bring christian unity, we must conduct ourselves in a manner that doesn't reflect poorly on our calling as christians. Since we bear the name of Christ, we must not bring that name into disrepute.
B. It is humble; (v2). With all lowliness and meekness, A very wise person once said, " Egotism is the sedative nature provides to deaden the pain of being a fool."
But how does humility come about? It comes from two things:
1. Self-knowledge. Humility depends on honesty; it depends on having the courage to look at ourselves without the rose colored glasses of self-admiration and self-love.
2. God-knowledge. Humility comes from comparing our life with the life of Christ. As long as we compare ourselves with others, we may come out of the comparison fairly well. It is when we compare ourselves with Christ that we see our own failure. God-knowledge plus self-knowledge brings humility.
C. It is gentle (v 2). Those who are gentle are so God-controlled that they are continually kind and gracious towards others. They are people in whom self has died through whom Christ in all His humility lives. Paul said, " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me..."(Gal. 2:20)
D. It is patient (v 2). Patience has been defined as , the spirit that has the power to take revenge but never does. Patience is the spirit that bears insult without bitterness or complaint.
E. It is magnanimous (v2). as christians we must make allowances for one another; we must be magnanimous towards others and their faults as God has been magnanimous towards us.
F. It is loving (v2). We should not bear with one another through sheer grit and determination, but through christian love. There are four Greek words for love, but the word used here is the highest. It means that we must love others so much that nothing they do or say will keep us from loving them and seeking their highest good. Even though they mistreat us and hurt us, we will feel only kindness towards them.
2. The basis of christian unity ( Eph. 4:4-6)
Behavior is important to christian unity. But a sound basis is absolutely indispensable. What is the basis, the foundation, on which christian unity is built? Paul lays seven foundation stones: one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God.
A. One body; (v4) Christ is the head and the church is the body. The unity of the church is essential for the work of Christ.
B. One Spirit (v4) There is one Holy Spirit, and He is saying and inspiring the same in all He is consistant, He doesn't bounce all over from one thing to the next, and He always speaks from the scripture. He is one Spirit, with one voice, and one motivation.
C. One hope; This is the hope of the ultimate consummation of our salvation in heaven.
D. One Lord (v5). " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me." ( Jn. 14:6)
E One Faith (v5). Paul is not talking about a set of beliefs that may characterize a particular denomination. There is " one faith" by which people come into a saving relationship with Christ as Lord. There may be many "faiths" (denominations), but there is only one by which we are saved-faith in Jesus as Savior.
F. One Baptism (v5). Just as there is one faith through which we come into a saving relationship with Christ, there is "one baptism" through which we make an outward demonstration of that inward experience.
G. One God (v6). There is one God-- and one God unites us into one family of God. Paul says four things about God.
1. He is Father of All-- that is, He created all.
2. He is above all--that is, He controls all.
3. He is through all--that is He sustains all.
4. He is in all-- that is, He is present everywhere.
3. The benefits of christian unity ( Eph. 4:28-32)
Quite predictably someone may ask, "Why all the fuss about unity? Does it really make that much difference? What are the benefits of christian unity?"
The last five verses of this chapter list the benefits of christian unity. Here we learn that unity in the church does make a difference--a big difference! Let's look at what happens when unity prevails.
A. Conduct is changed (v28). When there is christian unity, there is a change in conduct. No longer do we ask, "What can I get?" but rather, "What can I share?" When we are united in allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us, the hope of heaven to challenge us, and the Lord Jesus to guide us, our conduct is changed.
B. Conversation is clean (v29). "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth..." It is difficult, if not impossible, to be in unity with God and His people and still have a filthy mouth. An ancient proverb says," The heart of man is a well, and the mouth of a man is a bucket, and that which is in the well of the heart can be determined by what is in the bucket of the mouth."
C. Commitment is deepened (v30). when we live each moment aware that there is but one Holy Spirit by which we have been born again, we desire to do nothing to grieve Him. One of the benefits of christian unity is that we reach a level of commitment beyond beyond which we will not grieve the Holy Spirit.
D. Conflict is eliminated (v31). Unity gets rid of conflict. Conflict comes from "the sins of the spirit" Paul has dealt with the sins of the flesh. now he deals with the sins of the spirit-- or "christian sins". These are identified as " bitterness,and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking...with all malice." When we are one in Christ, we are free from all such disruptive and divisive conflicts.
E. Kindness is practiced (v32). To be kind means to exercise thoughtful consideration.
When the Roman soldiers on guard at Jesus' crucifixion were dividing the prisoners clothes, they came to Jesus' coat and discovered that it was seamless. To tear it would ruin it. For this reason they decided to keep it intact and to cast lots for it.
The seamless robe of Christ has become a metaphor for the unity of the church. Henry Ward Beecher prayed that the church might be one again, like the seamless robe of his Lord. The metaphor is one of great beauty and it quite appropriate. Strife and divisions within the church have been ugly efforts to tear into pieces the sacred garment of the truth.
The Crucified One must look down sadly at the miserable conflict between those He died to redeem. His look of love and sorrow is reminisent of His prayer, ..." that they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them, as you have loved Me." (Jn 17:23)
Transforming Friendships
All my state shall Tych'i-cus declare to you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord. Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts." (Col 4:7-8)
Some of our most meaning relationships are those we have with friends. We can recall with warm feelings the hours we spent together and the joys, sorrows, and experiences we have shared. The Bible speaks highly of friendships: " A man that has friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Prov. 18-24)
Friendships help to make life beautiful and enjoyable. Elizabeth Barrett Browning once asked novelist Charles Kingsley the secret of his life. He thought a moment, then replied, " I had a friend." One of the most important things we can do in life is to make friends and cultivate lasting friendships.
When we come to the last section of the letter to the Colossians, we meet a whole host of Paul's friends who were with him in Rome. Remember that he was a prisoner and it was probably dangerous to be his friend. But these men chose to demonstrate their friendship and loyalty to Paul by staying with him. Some of these names we identify instantly--Mark and Luke, for example--but others are not so familiar.
In these names and references we find a great message: the message of transforming friendships. We can see a lot of gospel in the names mentioned here.
1. A Transforming friendshio can change a life.
A. A life can be changed. Paul refused to write about his personal problems in this public letter. The bearer of the letter, Tychicus, would fill them in on those details. With him would be Onesimus, who was described as a " faithful and dear brother," (col. 4-9) and who was evidently a native of Colosse.
Onesimus was the slave of Philemon, also of Colosse. He had stolen something from Philemon and fled to Rome to lose himself among the crowds. But while he was there he met someone--Paul--who introduced him to someone else--Jesus Christ. Now this man who once had been a fugitive slave was going back to Colosse with a letter to the church, but also with a letter to Philemon from Paul. In this letter Paul appeals to Philemon to take him in and receive him as a brother.
B. The friendship that changes a life makes it profitable. "Profitable" is the meaning of Onesimus's name. Before he was introduced to Christ, Onesimus had been anything but profitable. But his friendship with Paul and his new relationship with Jesus had transformed his life, making him profitable indeed.
2. A transforming friendship can develop steadfastness.
A. A staedfast friend shares experiences with you. Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica who was a Jew by birth. Called " a fellow prisoner," he willingly shared the bondage of all believers in Christ.
B. A steadfast friend stays with you. Aristarchus is seen three times in the New Testement: during the riot at Ephesus at the temple of Diana when he was captured by the mob (acts 19:29), when Paul sailed as a prisoner for Rome (Acts 27:2), and here with Paul in Rome. He was a man who stood by Paul in a crisis, always at hand in times of need.
Someone has described a friend as one who steps in when the whole world steps out.
3. A transforming friendship can build a life.
A. Hasty decisions can hurt friendships. Mark is the next name mentioned. Mark had set out with Paul and Barnabus ( he was a relative of Barnabus) on the first missionary jouney but soon left them and went home to Jerusalem. Paul refused to take him with them on the second journey. Their mission team broke up because of Mark.
B.Friendships can rebuild and reclaim lives. Mark's life was mended because of friendship. Now Paul had Mark with him in a place of difficult service.
4. A transforming friendship can weld a heart of loving service.
A. Loving service can renew a church. Paul mentions Epaphras, who was likely the founder and pastor of the church at Colosse as well as those at Hieropolis and Laodicea. The concern that he had for the people there was manifested as he prayed daily for them that they might stand within the will of God.
B. Loving service can show a contrast in fidelity. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas are mentioned. Demas is mentioned only here, in Philemon 24, and in 2 Timothy 4:10, where the sad and haunting words appear, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." The following verse reads, "Only Luke is with me now." Demas and Luke show a contrast in fidelity.
C. Loving service is willing to share one's home for Christ. The last name listed is Nym-phas, who offered her home as the meeting place for the church. She shared what she had with Christ.
We show friendship to God and others when we serve them faithfully. We are friends of Christ when we obey what He commands and witness to others of what He has done for us. And we do all this because Christ showed His love for us by laying down His life for us.
Some of our most meaning relationships are those we have with friends. We can recall with warm feelings the hours we spent together and the joys, sorrows, and experiences we have shared. The Bible speaks highly of friendships: " A man that has friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Prov. 18-24)
Friendships help to make life beautiful and enjoyable. Elizabeth Barrett Browning once asked novelist Charles Kingsley the secret of his life. He thought a moment, then replied, " I had a friend." One of the most important things we can do in life is to make friends and cultivate lasting friendships.
When we come to the last section of the letter to the Colossians, we meet a whole host of Paul's friends who were with him in Rome. Remember that he was a prisoner and it was probably dangerous to be his friend. But these men chose to demonstrate their friendship and loyalty to Paul by staying with him. Some of these names we identify instantly--Mark and Luke, for example--but others are not so familiar.
In these names and references we find a great message: the message of transforming friendships. We can see a lot of gospel in the names mentioned here.
1. A Transforming friendshio can change a life.
A. A life can be changed. Paul refused to write about his personal problems in this public letter. The bearer of the letter, Tychicus, would fill them in on those details. With him would be Onesimus, who was described as a " faithful and dear brother," (col. 4-9) and who was evidently a native of Colosse.
Onesimus was the slave of Philemon, also of Colosse. He had stolen something from Philemon and fled to Rome to lose himself among the crowds. But while he was there he met someone--Paul--who introduced him to someone else--Jesus Christ. Now this man who once had been a fugitive slave was going back to Colosse with a letter to the church, but also with a letter to Philemon from Paul. In this letter Paul appeals to Philemon to take him in and receive him as a brother.
B. The friendship that changes a life makes it profitable. "Profitable" is the meaning of Onesimus's name. Before he was introduced to Christ, Onesimus had been anything but profitable. But his friendship with Paul and his new relationship with Jesus had transformed his life, making him profitable indeed.
2. A transforming friendship can develop steadfastness.
A. A staedfast friend shares experiences with you. Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica who was a Jew by birth. Called " a fellow prisoner," he willingly shared the bondage of all believers in Christ.
B. A steadfast friend stays with you. Aristarchus is seen three times in the New Testement: during the riot at Ephesus at the temple of Diana when he was captured by the mob (acts 19:29), when Paul sailed as a prisoner for Rome (Acts 27:2), and here with Paul in Rome. He was a man who stood by Paul in a crisis, always at hand in times of need.
Someone has described a friend as one who steps in when the whole world steps out.
3. A transforming friendship can build a life.
A. Hasty decisions can hurt friendships. Mark is the next name mentioned. Mark had set out with Paul and Barnabus ( he was a relative of Barnabus) on the first missionary jouney but soon left them and went home to Jerusalem. Paul refused to take him with them on the second journey. Their mission team broke up because of Mark.
B.Friendships can rebuild and reclaim lives. Mark's life was mended because of friendship. Now Paul had Mark with him in a place of difficult service.
4. A transforming friendship can weld a heart of loving service.
A. Loving service can renew a church. Paul mentions Epaphras, who was likely the founder and pastor of the church at Colosse as well as those at Hieropolis and Laodicea. The concern that he had for the people there was manifested as he prayed daily for them that they might stand within the will of God.
B. Loving service can show a contrast in fidelity. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas are mentioned. Demas is mentioned only here, in Philemon 24, and in 2 Timothy 4:10, where the sad and haunting words appear, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." The following verse reads, "Only Luke is with me now." Demas and Luke show a contrast in fidelity.
C. Loving service is willing to share one's home for Christ. The last name listed is Nym-phas, who offered her home as the meeting place for the church. She shared what she had with Christ.
We show friendship to God and others when we serve them faithfully. We are friends of Christ when we obey what He commands and witness to others of what He has done for us. And we do all this because Christ showed His love for us by laying down His life for us.
When You Have Been Wronged
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in dispair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast, down but not destroyed; (2 Cor. 4:8-8)
Some people at Corinth did not like Paul. They were infuriated by his insistence on christian morality and his daring to correct those whose lives proved to be contradictions to their profession. These worldly church members and the judaizers joined forces against him. The man who seemed to be the ringleader was the same man Paul reprimanded in 1Corinthians (5:1-5) for having an affair with his stepmother. Apparently this man was influential. He persisted in his sin, leading an open revolt against Paul and and taking some of the leaders with him.
Because of Paul's second letter, the church came back into line. They recognized the evil of this man and disciplined him. But in the process Paul was grieviously wronged, both by this man and others in the church. They said Paul had no authority to advise them, that he carried no letters of commendation from the leaders in Jerusalem as they did, and that he had a weak and unimpressive appearance. They also accused him of going back on his word by not visiting Corinth when he said he would. If ever a man was wronged, Paul certainly was. But because of his strong christian witness even under fire, he has provided us with three basic truths that we can apply to our own lives when we have been wronged.
1. Lessons to learn (2Cor. 2:14) Any time we are wronged we can learn a lesson from the experience and emerge stronger and wiser. When Paul was wronged he learned three valuble leasons from his experience.
A. How to triumph over wrong (2:14). To triumph over wrong does not mean to overcome it or defeat it. Rather, it means to refuse to be overcome or defeated by it. We may not be able to control what others do, but we can control how we respond to the wrong done. There is both a human and a divine side to this victory. If we do our part, God will be faithfull to do His part.
1. Human endurance. " And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings: (2Cor 1:6)
An old mule, thought to be of no further use, was put into a deep ditch, and shovel after shovel of dirt was thrown down to bury him. The old mule refused to be buried. He would shake the dirt off his back, pack it down under his feet, and gradually but surely stand higher and higher until, after enough dirt was thrown on him, he simply stepped out of the ditch and galloped away!
2. Divine comfort. "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ." (2Cor. 1:5). We are not left to face our trails with sheer human endurance alone. The comfort of God sustains us. Between verses three and seven the word comfort ( or consolation) appears nine times. " The God of all comfort" (v3) uphold us with His compassion and care.
B. How to comfort others who have been wronged. Our God is the one "Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God." (2Cor. 1:4) Once we have endured suffering and sorrow, we are better able to help others who are struggling with the hardships of life.
C. How dependant we are on God. "...that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we dispaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:" (2Cor. 1:8-9) We have no information about the terrible experience that Paul went through at Ephesus. But he recognized the experience had been beneficial--it had driven him closer to God. It proved to him his utter dependence on God.
2. Attitudes to display. (2Cor. 1:13; 2:5-11; 3:1-2). Anytime we are wronged we must realize that real injury is not the wrong itself but the attitude that it creates. Rarely does being wronged cripple us. But we can cripple ourselves by our attitude toward those who have wronged us. Paul portrays the kind us attitude we must whenever we suffer an injustice.
A. An attitude of openness. " For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we had have our conversation ( conducted ourselves) in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. For we write no other things to you, than what you read or acknowledge; and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end." (2Cor. 1:12-13)
Some claimed that Paul in his letters didn't quite mean what he said. Paul replied that there were no hidden meanings in his words. He had maintained an attitude of absolute openness during his entire experience. He had told nothing but the truth, being honest with everybody involved. In the language of today he " called it the way he saw it."
What are we suposed to say when we have been wronged? We just need to tell the truth. we are not to be vindictive or accusative; we are to be open. And an attitude of openness is always the right attitude during troubling times.
B. An Attitude of Forgiveness. (2Cor. 2:5-11) When Paul came to Corinth he encountered the ringleader of the opposition. Paul's short visit had been poisoned by the efforts of one man. This man had insulted Paul. Although the man had been disciplined, some church members felt that it had not been severe enough and wanted to impose a still greater punishment. It is at this time that Paul's greatness shone through. Paul said that enough had been done. The man had repented, and to add more discipline now would do more harm than good. It might even drive the man to dispair.
Our job is not to render sinners harmless by beating them into submission. Instead, our job is to gather them back into the kingdom of God.
C. An attitude of innate integrity. (2Cor. 3:1-2). There are two kinds of integrity. "Infused " integrity is the reputation we hope to gain by what others say about us. "Innate" integrity, is the character that is ours because of the persons we are. One is counterfeit, the other is genuine. One is assumed, the other is inherent.
When we have been wronged, we should display the attitude of innate integrity. We don't have to answer every charge leveled at us. Our life and character are answer enough.
3. Ministries to fulfill (2Cor. 4:1). Paul says, "Therfore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." (2Cor. 4:1). In essence, Paul is saying,"In spite of the terrible wrong that has been done to me, I will not be discouraged and I will not quit--I have a minisrty to fulfill!
Too many people give up when they are wronged. If Paul had been easily discouraged, he would have quit the ministry long before he reached Corinth. We cannot allow the criticisms and ill will of others to distract us from our calling--we have ministries to fulfill. And the more quickly we begin to fulfill our ministry, the more quickly we will recover from the wrong done to us.
A. The ministry of Proclaiming Jesus Christ (2Cor. 4:5, 7-11; 5:18-20)
B. The ministry of separating ourselves from the world ( 2Cor. 6:17). Even when we are wronged by professing christians, we have a ministry to fufill. We must not allow offenses to cause us to give up and return to the world. We are called to separate ourselves from the world.
C. The ministry of dedicating our possessions (2Cor. 9:7) Even if we have been wronged by others in the church, we are still called to dedicate our possessions to God. Our christian stewardship is not unto men but unto God.
D. The ministry of celebrating our sufferings. ( 2Cor. 12:7-10). Paul says, "...therfore I willl rather glory in my infimities ( weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities (weaknesses), in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2Cor. 12: 9-10) Paul is saying, " If I am suffering in any way, for the gospel's sake, It will become a ministry of celebration because my suffering will be a living demonstration of the love of God as He delivers me from it.
When we have been wronged we have (1) lessons to learn, (2) attitudes to display, (3) ministries to fufill. Whatever wrongs we may have faced, we can say with Paul, "Now thanks be to God, which always cause us to triumph in Christ,....." ( 2Cor. 2:14).
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