Serving with Sensitivity

LUKE 19:1-10

THEME: follow Christ’s example of sensitivity to detect/recognize those in need of your service.

                                                                                        

INTRODUCTION:
Would you like to involve yourself in meaningful ministry, but you don't know where to start? Do you know what a ministry moment looks like? Awareness involves vigilant alertness; the ability to draw conclusions from what we observe and experience.  Awareness focuses attention on others to perceive intuitively their spiritual and emotional state. Christ’s ministry provides us with the perfect illustration for becoming aware of ministry opportunities through a sensitive heart. 

Many people are simply too uncomfortable with admitting their needs for assistance; therefore, we must develop the ability to sense the crisis around us and spring into action. God will certainly lead us to such occasions if we follow Christ’s example daily.  It is vitally important that every believer explore this standard practice.   

We have a prime example of serving with sensitivity in the way Jesus dealt with Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho. At the time Jesus met Zacchaeus, He was on His way to Jerusalem for the last time. Our Lord was probably less than two weeks away from His death on the cross, which Jesus knew would happen during the upcoming Passover feast. Jericho is one of the well-known cities that Jesus passed through as He left the Galilee area and made His way south to Jerusalem.

Luke 19:1–10, gives us the focal point for this study. Jesus and Zacchaeus illustrate how sensitivity can lead to ministry opportunity.  If we are not aware of a chance to serve, then we cannot respond to it. Sometimes, we are faced with so many problems, troubles, and hurts that we wonder if our singular efforts really make a difference. Other times we can become hardened, calloused, unimpressionable, uncaring, and unfeeling toward the cares of others because we don’t want to get involved. We know involvement will cost us time, energy, resources, security, control, and possibly require sacrifice. Still, I beg you, let us take a closer look at Jesus Christ the sensitive and aware servant that we may become such ourselves.

LESSON:  

I.  The Desperate Need of Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-2, And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. [2] And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.  

    1.  Zacchaeus Was a Lonely, Wealthy, Curious, and Desperate Man.

Luke tells us that he was short in stature, which tells us why he climbed up into a sycamore tree.

      A.  But Jesus Did Not Single out Zacchaeus Because He Was Short, or in a Tree.  

             1)  He Looked Beyond the Appearance to See the Real Needs Inside the Heart.

                  a)  In your own experiences, you have discovered that someone was not on the inside who you thought they were on the basis of what you had observed on the outside. 

                  b)  Jesus did not judge the book by its cover; He was seeking to rewrite his life story! We must learn to look beyond the way things appear outwardly to discern the true needs. Many Christians will do their very best to give an outward show that everything is ok, when they know deep inside it is not. We as Servants of Christ must learn to be aware of the needs of those around us.

             2) He Does Not Make Shallow Pre-judgments Based on Outward Appearances.

You, like me, may have been misjudged in your life as being something that you are not on the basis of your appearance or outward demeanor.  Beloved, I can assure you this is not how the Lord Jesus works; He looks beyond the externals and into the very soul, all the while realizing the real needs there. There is no one more aware of whom you really are like the Lord Jesus and no one more capable of satisfying the needs in your life.

      B.  No, Jesus Responded to Zacchaeus Because He Saw in Him a Need, a Desire, a Longing.

    2.  Zacchaeus Was the Chief Tax Collector in Jericho.  Luke 19:2, And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

      A.  In this Position, He Worked for Rome.

Zacchaeus, therefore, was considered by his fellow Jews to be part of the evil oppression that had been placed upon the Jewish people by the Roman occupation forces. Tax collectors working for Rome often collected more than the tax due, and they often became very wealthy in the process of cheating others. Tax collectors were much despised and were considered to be great sinners.

      B.  When the Crowds Saw Zacchaeus Attempting to Get Close Enough to See Jesus, it Was No Wonder That the Crowd “Closed Ranks” and Did Not Let Him Through.

Often we allow the failures, reputation, or general perceptions of a person to discourage us from opening up to them or reaching out to them with the Gospel of Christ.  Sometimes we fail to forge evangelistic friendships because of a failure to see what our care and God’s grace could achieve in that person’s life.  Sometimes we close our ranks of church membership/fellowship to those who are a little bit different than ourselves. It is a fact that unless you do something positive to reach out to someone visiting your church, they will perceive your congregation as closed, and uninviting.  

    3.  Zacchaeus Could Not Get To Jesus, But Jesus Was Sensitive to His Needs!  Luke 19:3

       A. Zacchaeus thought he was seeking Jesus (Luke 19:3), but Jesus was seeking him! (Luke 19:10)

       B. By nature, the lost sinner does not really seek the Savior (Rom 3:11).

       C. When our first parents sinned, they hid from God, but God came and sought them (Gen 3:1-10). When Jesus was ministering on earth, He sought out the lost; and today the Holy Spirit, through the churches, is searching for lost sinners. We can rejoice that a seeking Savior will always find a sinner who is looking for a new beginning.

II. The Sensitivity of The Lord Jesus

Though the Lord did not ask Zacchaeus about his concerns, He was never the less fully aware of Zacchaeus’ Need.  Luke 19:5, And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him….

   1.  The Lord Jesus is Aware of the Needs of Every Man.

John 2:24-25, But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, [25] And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

       A.  The Lord Jesus Knows All Men!

John said about Jesus that He “knew all men, and  needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man” (John 2:24–25). We find evidence of this a number of times in the Gospels when we read that Jesus knew the hearts of men or that He knew what people were thinking and attempting to do.  (Luke 6:8; 9:47; 11:17; 16:15; 20:23; Jn. 1:42, 48)

       B.  The Lord Jesus Understands All Our Needs!

Psalm 139:1-5, O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. [2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. [3] Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. [4] For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. [5] Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

             1)  The Lord Jesus Not Only Knows about Our Needs but He Actually Understands Them.  Sometimes it is difficult for us to perceive the Lord this way.  But yet it is true.  Do you have a feeling when you come to God that He understands your concerns, or do you think of Him as either not knowing or not caring about your desires, temptations, issues, or emotions?

            2)  Jesus Came to Show Us That God Does Care about All Aspects of Our Humanity.

He is God's example that God understands how we feel and how difficult life can be, but He also knows that we can overcome temptations and live a pure and righteous life. Of course this is not in our strength, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God.

           3)  If You Struggle with the Concept That God Is an Understanding Servant, I encourage you to look up many of the references in a concordance that relate to compassion, mercy, or merciful. The Lord does understand, and He cares. As David wrote in Psalm 103:8, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”

Your need may be spiritual, physical, social, for someone to talk to, or for someone who will truly listen to you. Perhaps your needs are financial—things are hard presently and it is difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe you have lost your way...currently roaming aimlessly in a fog...Jesus can help you with that. It may be family struggles and you need real answers now!  Beloved, please hear me clearly, Jesus knows about it and is ever able to satisfy your need. 

  

   2.  Jesus Knew Zacchaeus Even Though They Had Never Met.

Luke 19:5…and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down….

        — He did not see him as a short man, a rich man, or a tax collector.

        — He saw him as a man desperate for grace and the good news that God might forgive his sins, reconcile him fully to Himself, and restore him to his people. 

        — The Lord Jesus even addressed him by his first name without having been introduced to him. 

        — Jesus knew him individually and his needs specifically!

You know, Luke 19:10, says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” The name Zacchaeus means “righteous one,” but this supervisor of tax collectors was not living up to his name. Certainly the Jewish religious community in Jericho would not have considered him righteous, for he not only collected taxes from his own people but also worked for the unclean Gentiles! And publicans were notorious for collecting more taxes than required, the more money they collected, the more income they enjoyed (Luke 3:12-13). Though Zacchaeus was a renegade in the eyes of the Jews, he was a precious lost sinner in the eyes of Jesus. Perhaps you too have never met the Lord Jesus in a saving capacity.  Today could be the day.

III. The Sensitive Servant of God

     1.  If You See People as Jesus Sees Them, You Can Minister to Them as Jesus Did. Before you can reach out to help someone, you must first see that person as having a need. 

Many times people have engaged me to talk, but they talked about everything under the sun except what was really on their heart. Maybe they were afraid to confide in another, or it could be they were intimidated by me. It is also possible they simply did not trust me enough to share their deepest hurts.  As a result, I was not always aware of a real need in those lives at the time.  There were even a few cases where the person was suicidal, and I did not detect their troubles and needs earlier.

 I do realize that we cannot read people’s minds and that folk should have the courage to say what’s on their hearts, but many times they don’t and thus we establish the need to be more sensitive and thereby become aware of the needs in the lives of those we serve.

     2.  Many People Are So Totally Turned Inward That They Do Not See Others or Hear Their Inner Moaning and Weeping.  

          A.  We Cannot Afford to Be Caught Up With Ourselves.

The true servant of Christ cannot be so consumed with themselves that they overlook those God has placed in our lives to serve.

          B.  We must Get Our Eyes off of “Self” and onto Others. 

The Lord Jesus knew that He was about to die maybe in just two weeks, yet he was not over concerned with himself.  Jesus does not leave us an example of being self-centered, but others-focused!

Her New Snowsuit….
A Milwaukee teacher took her first grade class to a dairy where a guide showed the children through the entire plant, explaining the whole process.  When the tour was over, the guide asked if anyone had any questions. One little girl raised her hand. “Did you notice,” She asked, “that I have on my new snow suit?”—Milwaukee Journal

That young lady’s attention was so centered on herself that she missed the entire tour through the dairy plant even though she was with the class.  Likewise, we often miss the opportunities to serve others because we are concentrating too much on number one.

     3.  The Fact Is, Every Person I Know Is in Need in Some Area of His or Her Life.

We all have problems, concerns, worries, struggles, temptations, and sorrows that nobody knows about and that we often try to keep hidden.

          A.  Learn Four Valuable Lessons on Spiritual Sensitivity.

               1.  Trouble Prepares Us to Help Others, 2 Corinthians 1:3–4.

               2.  Sensitivity Is Produced by Godly Sorrow, 2 Corinthians 7:10–13.

               3.  Enlightened Sensitivity must come from God, Ephesians 1:18–21.

                  4.  Degrees of Sensitivity Exist among God’s People, Hebrews 5:11-14.                                    

By keeping these thoughts in perspective we can understand why others may be slow to respond to ministry opportunities, and why God allows us to be ministered unto. Secondly, we are encouraged to depend on God to sharpen our ability to detect the requirements of others for ministry.

             B.  Look to the Model of Jesus to Develop Awareness. 

One of the greatest stories in the Bible about awareness is found in Luke 8:42–48.  In spite of the great mass of people pressing in to get closer to Jesus, he still sensed the woman’s touch and faith!

 4.  A Good Servant of the Lord Must Grow in His Sensitivity to the Needs of Others.

     A.  Decide to Remain Alert for the Needs of Others as a Servant.

             1.  Know When Others are in Need.

You and I are called to become so sensitive to the needs of others that we know when someone is in need of spiritual, emotional, or physical healing and when they are reaching out to Jesus, even though they may not initially acknowledge their need.

             2.  Serve With Confidentiality.

We are to serve those in need with confidence and with confidentiality. Our sensitive service to them can cause them to touch Jesus with renewed faith and bring them to a place of complete healing.

                                    

        B.  Plan to Respond With Sensitivity and Insight. What kind of sensitivity should we develop?

              1.  We Should Develop Sensitivity to Respond with Compassion to Others’ Misfortunes.

Job 2:11,  Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

Upon learning of Job’s troubles, three of his friends came to sympathize with him and comfort him. Later we learn that their words of comfort were not helpful—but at least they came. While God rebuked them for what they said (Job 42:7), he did not rebuke them for what they did—making the effort to come to someone who was in need. Unfortunately, they did a poor job of comforting Job because of their pride and insensitivity to Job's needs. When someone is in need, go to that person, but be sensitive about how you comfort him or her. (The Handbook of Bible Application)

              2.  We Should Develop Sensitivity to Focuses on the Other Person's Challenges.

Jonah 4:10-11, Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: [11] And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Jonah was angry at the withering of the vine, but not over what could have happened to Nineveh. Most of us have cried at the death of a pet or when an object with sentimental value is broken, but have we wept over the fact that a friend does not know God? How easy it is to be more sensitive to our own interests than to the spiritual needs of people around us. May God help us to value people, unsaved individuals, as He does. (The Handbook of Bible Application)

              3.  We Should Develop Sensitivity to Ensure our Responses Fit the Needs.

1 Thes. 5:14, Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Beloved, do not malinger around with the idle--those who float through life; warn them. Also do not yell at the timid and weak; encourage and help them--seek to strengthen them. At times it is difficult to distinguish between idleness and timidity. Two people may be doing nothing—one out of laziness and the other out of shyness or fear of doing something wrong. One key to ministry is sensitivity: sensing the condition of each person and offering the appropriate remedy for each situation. We cannot effectively help until we know the problem. We cannot apply the medicine until we know where the wounds are. (The Handbook of Bible Application)

“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Ps. 142:4).  

“THIS MAN CARED!”

It is to be feared that some Christians are idle because they have no concern for the needs of folk around them.

Over half a century ago there was a young surgeon beginning his practice in the city of London. He soon became interested in a rescue mission down in the slums, and went there after evening office hours. One night after the meeting was over, he discovered a ragged little boy lying asleep on one of the benches near the fire. The doctor gently woke him and told him it was time to go home. But the lad replied he had no home. Therefore the doctor took the lad to his own home and after they had eaten he asked: "Are there any other boys in London like yourself?"

"Lots of them," said the boy.

"Will you show me some?" asked the doctor.

"Let's go," said the child.

Soon after midnight they started treading their way through the streets and alleys and byways till they came to a wretched coal shed. "There's some of 'em in there," said the lad. The doctor entered and lit a match. Not a lad was to be seen. He thought he had been misled, but his boy-guide was not at all surprised. "Cops have been after 'em. They are up on the roof."

So they climbed up the rickety shed to the top. There lay thirteen little homeless boys, cuddled close together on the tin roof in a vain attempt to keep warm. There in the darkness looking down at those sleeping orphans, the young doctor saw the vision of one of the greatest lives of service ever lived in this generation.

That young man was Dr. Bernardo, the founder of those homes for "nobody's children" which at one time stretched like a line of lighthouses across the British Empire. It is said that some ten thousand British fighting men in World War I came from these homes.

Surely this is a demonstration that there is service for all who have nurtured a concern for the souls of those perishing around them.(Source Unknown)

                                                                

We need not wonder what we can do for the Lord. Simply ask him to give you a heart becoming of a true servant of Christ. Then began addressing humanity at our deepest need—salvation through Christ. Also ask God to make you aware of the areas of specific ministry and service where your gifts and abilities can be used to the max for the glory of Christ and the souls of men! A sensitive heart will certainly make for an aware servant.

CONCLUSION: Where are you in your service?

Once again, the example Christ gave us involved sensitivity that leads to awareness. Where are you in your service? What is God calling you to do?

You must be aware of the needs of others before you will ever make any effort to meet those needs. Living in a constant state of outreach to others at all times—on the job, at home, in the community, at church, and wherever God leads is our calling. 

The Mission

ACTS 1:8; GEN. 1:27-28; JOHN 15:16

SUBJECT:  THE MISSION & PURPOSE OF A CHURCH

THEME: the purpose of this study is to captivate us with a vision for worldwide evangelism and church planting.  Secondly, I want to challenge you to become involved with the missions ministry of your NT church to boost Christ’s worldwide outreach.  Thirdly, I hope to focus your life’s goals on God’s central purpose & design for every Christian and NT Church—missions: church reproduction. There is no other endeavor in this world more important than this!   

INTRODUCTION:

Each church is to seek to fulfill the Great Commission and has every right to do so—to preach, evangelize, disciple, baptize, ordain, and send forth missionaries.  Notice the priority these early churches placed on the mission.

Consider the Church at Antioch.

Acts 13:1-4, Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Consider the Church at Thessalonica.  

1 Thes. 1:7-8, So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. [8] For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Consider the Church at Philippi.

Philip. 2:15-16, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

 A MISSION is the work of the church in and to the world. It is related especially to world evangelism, as this is the definite emphasis of the N.T. Until the early 1900s, missions referred almost exclusively to the proclamation of the gospel and to church planting. A modern trend has been to broaden and change the concept of Christian missions. Now the term often is used to describe every form of social/political activity, even that which has nothing to do with gospel work. This usage of missions is unbiblical in that Christ's Great Commission did not include such activities. The Apostles gave themselves wholly to evangelism and church planting.—Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible

The GREAT COMMISSION is a title commonly applied to the command given by Jesus Christ to His disciples to preach the Gospel in all the world (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:44-48; Jn. 20:21; Ac. 1:8). It involves two major tasks: evangelism and discipleship. The Gospel is to be proclaimed to every person; those who believe on Christ are to be baptized and trained. The Great Commission is to be fulfilled by the churches and is to result in the multiplication of churches as we see in the N.T. pattern (see the book of Acts).—Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible

LESSON:

THE MEANING OF MISSIONS AND CHURCH PLANTING

Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

   

Having completed the preparations for His departure, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives with His followers gathered around Him. He had instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were given power from on high, after which they were to witness about Him to the uttermost parts of the earth.

A.  THE MISSION IS A CONTINUATION OF CHRIST’S EARTHLY WORK

John 20:21-23 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: [23] Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

   1.  The Lord Jesus Was a Missionary From Heaven and the Best Gospel Preacher Their Ever Was.

   2.  The Lord Died For the Sins of the World Not Merely a Few Elect.

   3.  The Lord Fulfilled His Mission of Presenting God and Providing Our Atonement.

   4.  The Lord Jesus Himself Started His First Church to Carry On His Work.  

   5.  The Lord Commissioned, Authorized, and Empowered His Church to Take Over His Work in the World.

The Church is only doing the Lord’s work when it is literally carrying out the elements of the great commission. Our work is spiritual, and not political in nature; it is also eternal and not temporal in nature. Sacred and not secular in nature! We are to continue Christ’s work undistracted by the cares of this world.

Matthew 13:22, He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

2 Tim. 2:3-4, Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

We must refuse to become distracted by the Affairs of this life, if we are going to please Christ!

   

B.  THE MISSION IS A LITERAL COMMITMENT TO THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

     1.  We Must Be Committed to Preach/Teach the Gospel To Every Person.

     2.  We Must Be Committed to Baptize Every Convert

     3.  We Must Be Committed to Indoctrinate Every Saint and Church Members.

     4.  We Must Be Willing to Plant Churches That Will Do the Same.

     5.  We Must Be Willing to Answer God’s Call to Mission Work When It Comes.

C.  THE MISSION IS A MINISTRY OF RECONCILING SINNERS TO A HOLY GOD

2 Cor. 5:17-21, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

     1.  We Are New Creations and We Have Been Reconciled to God.   (Relationship & Fellowship) vs 17-18

To be in Christ is to be a new creation (see Gal. 6:15). This new creation is brought about by the Holy Spirit, the Agent of regeneration (Titus 3:5) and the Giver of divine birth (John 3:3, 6-8). God’s new creative work, begun in each one who believes in Christ, will one day be consummated on a universal scale (Rev. 21:4-5). The old life of slavery to self and sin has gone (2 Cor. 5:16; cf. Rom. 6:6-14; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9). The new life of devotion to Christ means that one has new attitudes and actions (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:4; Eph. 4:23-5:2).

Christ’s death on the cross makes possible human reconciliation to God (Rom. 5:10-11). Reconciliation involves removing rebellious and sinful man’s enmity toward God (Rom. 5:10). This is one of the many marvelous accomplishments of the Godhead on behalf of a person the moment he believes in Christ for salvation from sin. Because Christ bore mankind’s sin on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), He made peace possible (Eph. 2:11-19). No longer need people be the objects of God’s wrath (Rom. 5:9). By trusting themselves to the reconciling work of Christ alone, people pass from God’s wrath to God’s blessing (Acts 16:30-31; Rom. 8:1) and from spiritual death to spiritual life (John 5:24; Eph. 2:1, 5). Then men’s sins are no longer counted, that is, imputed or reckoned, against them, for Christ has taken them on Himself (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).

      2.  We Have Received From the Lord the Ministry of Reconciliation. (Evangelism & Missions Work)   Vs 18

Few verses more precisely summarize Paul’s ministry and message (see Acts 26:16-18). As Christ had preached peace to all men (Eph. 2:17) on the basis of what He would accomplish (Eph. 2:16), Paul continued that proclamation in His stead. The immediate representative of God’s message of reconciliation was Paul, whose ministry is shared by all who are “in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17, 19).

3.  We Have Received the Word of  Reconciliation.  (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) vs 19

This is the treasure of the gospel which Paul proclaimed (2 Cor. 4:7), the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19) delivered in the ministry (see 4:1) of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18).

4.  We All Are Ambassadors for Christ.

All believers should serve Christ as His ambassadors. Paul’s appeal was not a perfunctory pronouncement but an impassioned plea (“we persuade men” [v. 11]) addressed to the world on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (cf. 1 Tim. 2:3-4).  We are the ambassadors whom Christ has sent forth to negotiate with people in regard to their reconciliation to God.

        a)   We Are Ambassadors.  (Scope & Purpose)

An Ambassador means to act as an ambassador, or sometimes merely to deliver a message for another, without being empowered to do anything more than to explain or enforce it.

        b) As Ambassadors We Represent Our Sovereign—Jehovah God of the Kingdom of Heaven (Dignity, Honor & Power); We Stand in Christ’s Stead!

An ambassador is a minister of the highest rank, employed by one prince or state at the court of another, to manage the concerns of his own prince or state, and representing the dignity and power of his sovereign.—Webster.

Of course we are to seek the honor of the sovereign who has sent us forth, and to seek to do only His will. We do not go to promote our own welfare; or to seek honor or dignity; but we go to transact the business which the Son of God would engage in if He were again personally on the earth. It follows that our office is one of great dignity, and great responsibility, and that respect should be showed the Ambassador = Preacher/ Missionary as the ambassadors of the King of kings.

        c) Ambassadors Are Negotiators of Peace to Avoid War—God’s Wrath, Eternity in Hell, Enmity With God.

He is sent to do what the sovereign would himself do if he were present. They are sent to make known the will of the sovereign, and to negotiate matters of commerce, of war, or of peace, and in general everything affecting the interests of the sovereign among the people to whom they are sent.

        d) Ambassadors Have Only One Peace Treaty for the World—The Gospel of Peace (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15; Rom.. 5:1)      

Ministers are ambassadors for Christ, as we are sent to do what He would do were He personally present. We are to make known, and to explain, and enforce the terms on which God is willing to be reconciled to people. We are not to negotiate on any new terms, nor to change those which God has proposed, nor to follow our own plans or devices, but we are simply to urge, explain, state, and enforce the terms on which God is willing to be reconciled.

Acts 20:21, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  

D.  THE MISSION IS SHARING CHRIST WITH THE WORLD   

Luke 24:43-49, And he took it, and did eat before them. [44] And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. [45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, [46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these things. [49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

  

E.  THE MISSION IS ULTIMATELY CHURCH PLANTING

This we will prove in our next point and next message.  As we see the Gospel going out to the world the ultimate objective is to establish Bible-believing churches.

CONCLUSION: 

The true significance of a church in the world is to share the gospel and establish other N.T. Churches who will also seek to reproduce themselves. The World will never here of Christ and the saving Grace of God unless we preach the Gospel on a global scale. With this knowledge we can maintain the work of the Lord with confidence that we are executing His will for our church.

So, are you captivated by a vision for worldwide evangelism and church planting? Are you involved with the mission ministry of your NT church to boost Christ’s worldwide outreach? Are your life’s goals trained on God’s central purpose & design for every Christian and NT Church—missions: church reproduction? Beloved, there is no other endeavor on the planet more important than this!                                                 

You Better Preach!

2TIM. 4:1-5; 1COR. 14:1-6

SUBJECT: BIBLICAL EXPECTATIONS FOR A CHURCH

THEME: Preaching is primary in a balanced church ministry. Such an emphasis is true and pleasing to our Lord, and bears the signature marks of the first century churches.  Beloved, seek to make your church what it should be for Christ.  

RELEVANCE: A failure to achieve such poise usually results in either overemphasizing, or substantial neglect of important functions. If we conducted a careful study of the many first century churches, we would discover those characteristics that were the driving and decision making features of real Bible churches.  Securing a biblical understanding of ‘Church life’ would serve as a blueprint to implementing and sustaining signature church features. Ultimately the final outcome should be a stronger local church, more committed Christians, and a sharper sense of obedience. Generally, we will be more concentrated on the Lord’s ministry expectations and not the culture’s.

                                                                       

INTRODUCTION:  

1. A Great Person’s Last Words Are Significant.

They are a window that helps us to look into his heart, or a measure that helps us evaluate his life. In this chapter, we have Paul’s last words to Timothy and to the churches. The apostle gave some final admonitions to Timothy about his responsibilities before the Lord and his ministry. One thing Paul emphasized to Timothy was the importance of preaching!

2.  Acknowledge the Primacy of Preaching.

“The supreme work of the Christian ministry is the work of preaching," according to one of the world's finest preachers of yesteryear, G. Campbell Morgan. The primacy of preaching is the subject of this message. By "primacy" we mean that preaching should take the greatest priority in our lives. It should rank first in importance. Preaching should be the preeminent function of our lives, and Christ should be the preeminent subject of our preaching.            
All our work should come together behind the holy desk, where we stand with the Bible before God and the church. The work of preaching, then, should be foremost, paramount. All other responsibilities will take a distant second or third place to this one. We need to thank God for the printed ministry, but the printed page can never take the place of the living preacher. While pastoral work is vital and we should not neglect it, it cannot and must not take the place of preaching, nor can it fully compensate for lack of power in the pulpit. — Excerpts from Dr. Charles Wagner

LESSON:

THE SIGNATURE OF PROCLAIMING TRUTH (2 Tim. 4:1–5)

Two of about eight words in the Bible for ‘preaching’ are of greatest interest to us. One means literally "to preach the gospel"; the other carries with it the idea of "proclaiming from the throne." These meanings led G. Campbell Morgan to define preaching as "the declaration of the grace of God to human need on the authority of the throne of God; and it demands on the part of those who hear that they show obedience to the things declared."

A. PREACH THE WORD! (2 Tim. 4:1–4)

 I want to focus on the subject of preaching. The supreme work of the Christian minister is the work of preaching.  This should be the expectation of every church member.

This is a day in which one of our great perils is that of doing a thousand little things to the neglect of the one thing, which is preaching.  The preacher must give the majority of his energies to the preaching of the Word.  We see this clearly illustrated in Acts 6:1-7.
 The preacher should never address a crowd without remembering that his ultimate citadel is the citadel of the human will. He may travel along the line of the emotions, but he is after the will. He may approach along the line of the intellect, but he is after the will. When preaching becomes merely discussion in the realm of the intellect or toying in the realm of the emotions, and when preaching ends in the intellectual or emotional, it fails. It is successful only when it is able to storm the will, under the will of God. The preacher comes with good news; but he does not come with something to be trifled with. His message has in it an instant demand, because he comes from the divine King. — Excerpts from Dr. Charles Wagner

  1.  Accept the Solemn Charge.  Vs. 1

     A.  Be Serious About This Command.  Vs. 1 “I charge thee”

 This was a serious moment, and Paul wanted Timothy to sense the importance of it.

         1.  It Was Serious Because Paul Was Facing Death.  He wanted the ministry to continue in great strength after his death.  The aged apostle knew that his death was at hand and that he might not see Timothy again (although he hoped to, see 4:9, 11, 13, 21). Therefore, these words held great importance for Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to realize how critical it was for him to obey his words.

         2.  It Was Serious Because Paul Calls on Divine Witnesses.  God and the Lord Jesus witnessed this holy command given to Timothy.  Unseen by Timothy, they were really present as Witnesses of the charge now to be laid on him. The first Witness, who is the First Person of the Godhead, is God our Heavenly Father, and with God is the historical Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

All service should be carried out with the realization that it is watched by God’s all seeing eyes.  We do not merely serve men, but God; we are not merely accepting a responsibility before men, but before God.  Take your area of service seriously, because God is watching.

    B.  Be Accountable for This Command.  Vs. 1    

   2 Tim. 4:1, I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Timothy would stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ and answer for how he responded to Paul's charge (1Cor 3:4-17; 4:1-2; 2Cor. 5:8-11).  It was necessary for the charge to be taken seriously even more so because both Paul and Timothy would be judged one day when Jesus Christ appeared and will be rewarded in His Millennial Kingdom.

It would do us all good to occasionally reflect on the fact that one day we will face God and our works will be judged.  For one thing, this realization would encourage us to do our work carefully and faithfully. It would also deliver us from the fear of man; for, after all, our final Judge is God. Finally, the realization that God will one day judge our works encourages us to keep going even when we face difficulties. We are serving Him, not ourselves. 1 Cor. 4:4-5, For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. [5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

  2. Proclaim the Inspired Word. (See verses 2Tim.3:16-17)

Because the Word is inspired and profitable for all aspects of the ministry, proclaiming that Word was to be Timothy’s business “in season and out of season,” that is, he was to stand by this duty whether the opportunity seemed ripe or not.

     A. Preach it Loudly and Clearly.  Vs. 2, “Preach the Word!”

Preaching is the main responsibility that Paul shared in this section. Everything else he said is related to this.

          1.  Be a Preacher.

We have plenty of folk who want to lecture, too many who can maneuver concerned more about altering the message to make it more acceptable, and yet not a few who mislead or inject their own philosophy.  But what we need is some old fashion God fearing preachers.  A servant who has been alone with God in the Word. One who is about to explode if he does not tell somebody what God has given him to preach. 

          2.  Be a Herald.

The word “preach” means “to preach like a herald.”  In Paul’s day, a ruler had a special herald who made announcements to the people. He was commissioned by the ruler to make his announcements in a loud, clear voice so everyone could hear. He was not an ambassador with the privilege of negotiating; he was a messenger with a proclamation to be heard and heeded. Not to heed the ruler’s messenger was serious; to abuse the messenger was even worse.

Timothy was to herald God’s Word with the authority of Heaven behind him. The Word of God is what both sinners and saints need. It is a pity that many churches have substituted other things for the preaching of the Word, things that may be good in their place, but that are bad when they replace the proclamation of the Word. In my own pastoral ministry, I have seen what the preaching of the Word can do in churches and in individual lives; and I affirm that nothing can take its place.  Miming and Drama teams may be interesting, but preaching is essential!  This ought to be a primary feature in every church.

     B.  Preach It Often and Consistently.  Vs. 2

         1.  Be Opportunistic.  “Be instant”

Timothy should be diligent and alert to use every opportunity to preach the Word, when it is favorable and even when it is not favorable. It is easy to make excuses when we ought to be making opportunities.

Paul himself always found an opportunity to share the Word, whether it was in the temple courts (Acts 22), on a stormy sea (Acts 27), or even in prison (Acts 16). “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap” (Ecc. 11:4). Stop making excuses and get to work! 

         2.  Be Confrontational.  Vs. 2

The word “preach” suggests vigorous proclamation! Paul wanted Timothy to be bold and passionate.

              A.  Maintain Holy Boldness.

Preaching must be marked by three elements: conviction, warning, and appeal (“reprove, rebuke, exhort”).                                              

                       1.  Those in Error He Was to Reprove and Correct (2Tim. 2:25).

                       2.  Those Who Were Sinning He Was to Rebuke (1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 3:16; Titus 1:13; 2:15).

                       3.  Those Who Were Doing Well He Was to Exhort and Encourage. These are the facets of public ministry: proclamation, correction, rebuke, and encouragement—all of which must be done with great patience and careful clear instruction from the Bible.

              B.  Maintain Holy Balance.

To quote an old rule of preachers, “He should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.”  If there is conviction but no remedy, we add to people’s burdens. And if we encourage those who ought to be rebuked, we are assisting them to sin. Biblical preaching must be balanced.

         3.  Be Patient.  Vs. 2, “with all long suffering”

God’s speaker must be patient as he preaches the Word.  He will not always see immediate results. He must be patient with those who oppose his preaching (2Tim. 2:24, 25). Timothy should encourage those who were growing, for even those growing in the faith need patient and careful instruction and guidance.

         4.  Be Doctrinal.  Vs. 2, “and doctrine”

Above all else, he must preach doctrine. He must not simply tell Bible stories, relate interesting illustrations, or read a verse and then forget it. True preaching is the explanation and application of Bible doctrine. Anything else is just religious speech making.  Sound doctrine is a pervasive theme in the pastoral epistles.

     C.  Preach It Straight and Unwaveringly.   Vs. 3-4

Paul gave the responsibility—“preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2)—and he also gave the reason (2 Tim. 4:3–4).  Don’t change the message because some hypocrite frowns in dislike. Don’t change or water down the truth to accommodate fallen culture and traditions.  Don’t look for something else because truth is unpopular.

           1.  Regardless of its Familiarity.   Vs. 3, “For the time will come,” “sound doctrine”

The time would come (and it has been here for a long time!) when most people would not want the “healthy doctrine” of the Word of God. They would have carnal desires for religious novelties. They want to hear something new and strange or something that manipulates a passage beyond God’s meaning.  Some preachers know more than God knows and have no problem with correcting their Bibles to accommodate their new ideas.  Don’t allow yourself to get bored with the familiar.

           2.  Regardless of its Offensiveness.   Vs. 3, “they will not endure sound doctrine”

Because of their “itching ears” they would accumulate teachers who would satisfy their cravings for things that disagree with God’s truths. The fact that a preacher has a large congregation is not always a sign that he is preaching the truth. In fact, it may be evidence that he is tickling people’s “itching ears” and giving them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.

           3.  Regardless of its Rejection.   Vs. 3, “heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears,”  Vs. 4, “they shall turn away their ears from the truth,”

It is but a short step from “itching ears” to turning one’s ears away from the truth. Once people have rejected the truth, they turn to fables (myths). It is not likely that man-made fables will convict them of sin or make them want to repent! The result is a congregation of comfortable, professing Christians, listening to a comfortable, religious talk that contains no Bible doctrine. These people become the prey of every false cult because their lives lack a foundation in the Word of God. It is a recognized fact that most cultists were formerly members of churches.

Note the emphasis on Scripture: “Preach the Word... with... doctrine.... They will not endure sound doctrine... they shall turn away their ears from the truth” (2 Tim. 4:2–4). This emphasis on sound (healthy) doctrine runs through all three of Paul’s Pastoral Epistles, and this emphasis is surely needed today. 

B.  FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY (2 Tim. 4:5)

   1.  Stay Alert.  Vs. 5

   2.  Prove Your Ministry.  Vs. 5

“Make full proof of thy ministry” means “fulfill whatever God wants you to do.” Timothy’s ministry would not be exactly like Paul’s, but it would be important to the cause of Christ. No God-directed ministry is small or unimportant. In this final chapter, Paul named some co-laborers about whom we know nothing; yet they too had a ministry to fulfill.

A young preacher once complained to Charles Spurgeon, the famous British preacher of the 1800s, that he did not have as big a church as he deserved.
“How many do you preach to?” Spurgeon asked.
“Oh, about 100,” the man replied.
Solemnly Spurgeon said, “That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.”
We do not measure the fulfillment of a ministry only on the basis of statistics or on what people see. We realize that faithfulness is important and that God sees the heart. This was why Timothy had to “watch thou in all things”— be sober minded in all things (2 Tim. 4:5) and carry on his ministry with seriousness of purpose. (We have met this word “sober” many times in these letters.)

   3.  Endure the Hardships.

Timothy was not only a preacher; he was also a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3–4) who would have to “endure afflictions” (2 Tim. 4:5). He had seen Paul go through sufferings on more than one occasion (2 Cor. 6:1–10; 2 Tim. 3:10–12). Most of Timothy’s sufferings would come from the “religious crowd” that did not want to hear the truth. It was the “religious crowd” that crucified Christ and that persecuted Paul and had him arrested.

   4.  Remain Soul Conscience.

“Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5) would remind Timothy that all of his ministry must have soul-winning at its heart. This does not mean that every sermon should be a “sawdust trail, hellfire-and-brimstone” message, because the saints need feeding as well. But it does mean that a preacher, no matter what he is preaching, should keep the lost souls in mind. This burden for the lost should characterize a pastor’s private ministry as well. (See Acts 20:17–21 for a description of a balanced ministry.)

God has given special men to the church as evangelists (Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11); but this does not absolve a pastor from his soul-winning responsibility. Not every preacher has the same gifts, but every preacher can share the same burden and proclaim the same saving message. A friend of mine went to hear a famous preacher, and I asked him how the message was. He replied, “There wasn’t enough Gospel in it to save a flea!” — Excerpts from W.W. Wiersbe

CONCLUSION:

We must expect our church to bear the signature marks of the first century churches--preaching was preeminent.  Seek to make your church what it should be for Christ's glory; advocate for and support the preaching of the Bible and sound doctrine.  

Clearly ministry equilibrium is important to a church, but we must also ensure that we balance the correct responsibilities and requirements. Beloved, preaching is to be primary. Maintaining a balanced church life is a fundamental strategy which provides focus, facilitates a correct emphasis, identifies programs, and affords a fuller scale measurement of progress.  A failure to achieve such poise usually results in either overemphasizing, or substantial neglect of other equally important functions. If we conducted a careful study of the many first century churches, we would discover those characteristics that were the driving and decision making features of real Bible churches.  Securing a biblical understanding of ‘Church life’ should serve as a blueprint to implementing and sustaining signature church features. Ultimately the final outcome should be a stronger local church, more committed Christians, and a sharper sense of obedience to Christ. Generally, we will be more concentrated on the Lord’s ministry expectations and not the culture’s.