“Preach the Gospel”

Spiritual Leadership in the Church Series

1 Tim 1:12-17

THEME: Faithfully fulfill the ministry committed to your charge.

RELEVANCE: discouraging and difficult tasks should not be permitted to force us to abandon the ministry committed to us.  We must be steadfast and faithful to our charge to keep the faith by teaching sound doctrine, proclaiming the Gospel, and defending the Faith.

INTRODUCTION:

If Jesus Christ had advertised for workers, the announcement might have read something like this:

“Men and women wanted for difficult task of helping to build My church. You will often be misunderstood, even by those working with you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come till after all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your ambitions, even your life.”

In spite of the demands that He makes, Jesus Christ receives the 'applications' of many who gladly give their all for Him. He is certainly the greatest Master for whom anyone could work, and the task of building His church is certainly the greatest challenge to which a believer could give his life.

MESSAGE:

Proclaim the Gospel (1 Tim. 1:12-17)

The mention of "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God" (1 Tim 1:11) moved Paul to share his own personal testimony. He was "Exhibit A" to prove that the Gospel of the grace of God really works. When you read Paul's testimony (see also Acts 9:1-22; 22:1-21; 26:9-18), you begin to grasp the wonder of God's grace and His saving power.

A. WHAT PAUL USED TO BE (V. 13 A). 

          1. He Was A Blasphemer.

·       He was a blasphemer because he denied the deity of Jesus Christ and forced others to deny it.

·       The reason this was so striking to the apostle was that he knew so well the pit from which he had been dug.

·       When he gave this description of his past, he was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, he was not exaggerating for the sake of effect. (See Acts 22:4-5, 19-20; 26:9-11 for the vivid truth.)

          2.  He Was A Persecutor.

·       He was a persecutor who used physical power to try to destroy the church. “Threatenings and slaughter” were the very breath of his life (Acts 9:1).

·       He persecuted the Christian church (1 Cor 15:9) and then discovered that he was actually laying hands on Jesus Christ, the Messiah! (Acts 9:4)

·       During this period of his life, Paul consented to the stoning of Stephen and made havoc of the church (Acts 8:1-4).

          3.  He Was Injurious.

·       Paul was injurious, a word that means “proud and insolent.”

·       A modern equivalent might be "bully,"

·       It conveys the idea of a haughty man "throwing his weight around" in violence.

          4.  He Was an Ignorant Unbeliever.

·       But the basic causes of his godless behavior were "ignorance" and "unbelief."

1.    Even though Saul of Tarsus was a brilliant man and well educated (Acts 22:3; Gal 1:13-14), his mind was blinded from the truth (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 4:3-4).

2.    He was a religious man, yet he was not headed for heaven!

3.    It was not until he put faith in Jesus Christ that he was saved (Phil 3:1-11).

·       Yet Paul was shown mercy because his actions were the product of ignorance.

1.    Willful disobedience triggers God’s wrath (Num. 15:22-31; Heb. 10:26).

2.    But God deals gently with the ignorant and misguided (Heb. 5:2).

3.    The German philosopher Nietzsche said, “If you could prove God to me, I would believe Him all the less.” No such willfulness characterized Paul’s unbelief.

B. HOW PAUL WAS SAVED (VV. 13B-15).

1. How Could The Holy God Ever Save And Forgive Such A Self-Righteous Sinner

A) Through Mercy and Grace. (Vs. 13, 14)

·       The key words are "mercy" and "grace." God in His mercy did not give Paul what he did deserve; instead God in His grace gave Paul what he did not deserve.

·       Grace is God’s undeserved, unearned, freely given favor. Grace is God’s loving forgiveness, by which He grants salvation apart from any merit on the part of those He saves (see Rom. 3:24; Gal. 1:6).

·       “but I obtained mercy” If the apostle Paul could find mercy after the terrible things he did against Christ, then God surely offers salvation with “open arms” to all people (see 2:4). 

B) With Faith.

·       faith and love. Attitudes frequently linked with salvation in the NT (cf. Eph. 1:15; 3:17; Col. 1:4,23). They are gifts of God’s grace in Christ.

C) With Love.

·       Grace and mercy are God's love in action, God's love paying a price to save lost sinners. It is not God's love alone that saves us, for God loves the whole world (John 3:16).

·       It is by grace that we are saved (Eph 2:8-9) because God is rich in mercy (Eph 2:4) and grace (Eph 2:7).

2. What Did Paul's "Ignorance" Have To Do With His Salvation? (Vs. 1:13)

A) Is Ignorance An Excuse Before God?

·       Of course not! The fact of his ignorance is related to a special Jewish law (Lev 5:15-19; Num 15:22-31).

·       If a person sinned knowingly "with a high hand" in Israel, he was cut off from the people. But if he sinned in ignorance, he was permitted to bring the proper sacrifices to atone for his sins.

B) Jesus Recognized This Principle When He Prayed On The Cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

C) Their Ignorance Did Not Save Them, Nor Did Christ's Prayer Save Them; but the combination of the two postponed God's judgment, giving them an opportunity to be saved.

3. Paul Stated That It Took "Exceeding Abundant" Grace To Save Him!

     A) The grace given to Paul was “exceeding abundant,” overflowing beyond all expectations.

1.    Therefore the apostle received God’s mercy, not His wrath. God’s grace far outpaced even Paul’s grievous sin.

2.    Where there was once only unbelief, God poured out . . . “faith” . . . “in Christ Jesus.”

3.    Where there had been violent aggression against God and His people, now God poured out the love of Christ. (See 2 Tim. 2:10.) 

B) Everything Paul Lacked, God’s Grace Had More Than Amply Supplied.

1.    The term “exceeding abundant”, means “to be present in great or superabundance.”) Here may be seen the full measure of what Paul meant when he spoke of the empowering ministry of Christ (1 Tim. 1:12).

2.    “Paul liked to use the Greek prefix huper (meaning "an exceeding abundant amount"), and he often attached it to words in his letters. You might translate some of these as "superincrease of faith" (2 Thess 1:3); "superabounding power" (Eph 1:19); "superconqueror" (Rom 8:37). This same prefix has come into the English language as hyper. We speak of "hyperactive" children and "hypersensitive" people.” ---W.W. Wiersbe

4. Paul Makes It Clear That This Salvation Is Not For Him Only, But For All Who Receive Jesus Christ (1 Tim 1:15).

A) If Jesus Could Save Saul Of Tarsus, The Chief Of Sinners, Then He Can Save Anybody!

·       “This is a faithful saying.” A phrase unique to the Pastoral Epistles (cf. 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8), which announces a statement summarizing key doctrines. The phrase “worthy of all acceptation” gives the statement added emphasis. Apparently, these sayings were well known in the churches, as concise expressions of cardinal gospel truth.

·       World refers to all humanity.

·       Save means to deliver or rescue. Christ came to die for the sins of humanity.

·       This faithful saying was based on the statements of Jesus recorded in Matt. 9:13; Luke 19:10.

·       “The central thrust of Paul’s personal digression, begun in verse 12, now becomes clear. It is a testimony concerning the purpose of the Incarnation of Christ. Jesus came not merely to set an example or to show that He cared. He came to salvage sinners from their spiritual destitution—and Paul said he was the worst of that lot. There must be no misunderstanding of this most fundamental point. It is a truth that is completely trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. (Four other passages include this “trustworthy” phrase: 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8.)” ---John Walvoord

·       “Here we come to the very heart of the difference between true Christianity and all other teachings. False religions tell man that there is something he can do or be in order to win favor with God. The gospel tells man that he is a sinner, that he is lost, that he cannot save himself, and that the only way he can get to heaven is through the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. The type of law teaching which Paul described earlier in this chapter gives a place to the flesh. It tells man exactly what he wants to hear, namely, that he can somehow contribute to his own salvation. But the gospel insists that all the glory for the work of salvation must go to Christ alone, that man does nothing but the sinning, and that the Lord Jesus does all the saving.”  ---William MacDonald

B) We Admire Paul's Humility!

·       We note that he considered himself to be the "least of the apostles" (1 Cor 15:9).

·        And he referred to himself as the "least of all saints" (Eph 3:8).

·       Notice that Paul did not write "of whom I was chief" but "of whom I am chief." He was “first,” in rank.

·       Paul saw the degradation of sin and understood the sinfulness of human beings. Because of this, he placed himself first among sinners.

·       Few could be considered a worse sinner than someone who blasphemed God and persecuted His church (see 1 Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8). Paul’s attitude toward himself dramatically changed (Phil. 3:7–9; Rom 7:7–12).

C. WHOM PAUL BECAME (VV. 12, 16).

1.  A Minister. (Vs. 12)

A) The Grace Of God Turned The Persecutor Into A Preacher, And The Murderer, Into A Minister And A Missionary!

1) So dramatic was the change in Paul's life that the Jerusalem church suspected that it was a trick, and they had a hard time accepting him (Acts 9:26-31).

2) God gave Paul His ministry; he did not get it from Peter or the other Apostles (Gal 1:11-24). He was called and commissioned by the risen Christ in heaven.

3) “At this point Paul’s inventory of sinners, of which he knew he was the chief—combined with his remembrance of the gospel with which he had been entrusted—triggered within him a powerful surge of gratitude. Literally, the words “Thanks I have”—with “thanks” in the emphatic position—begins this section. Paul’s gratitude stemmed from the fact that God in His grace had provided Paul all necessary enablement (cf. Phil. 4:13) and, considering him trustworthy, had pressed him into a privileged place of service.”  ---John Walvoord

4) “Verses 12–17 seem to illustrate the lawful use of the law from Paul’s own experience. The law was not to him a way of salvation, but rather a means of conviction of sin.

First of all he bursts out into thanksgiving to Christ Jesus for His enabling grace. The emphasis is not on what Saul of Tarsus did for the Lord but what the Lord did for him. The apostle could never get over the wonder that the Lord Jesus not only saved him but counted him faithful, appointing him to His service. The law could never have shown such grace. Rather, its inflexible terms would have condemned the sinner Saul to death.” ---William MacDonald

B) God Saw That Paul Was Faithful, And So He Entrusted The Gospel To Him. (Vs. 1:12)

1) Even as an unbelieving and Gospel-ignorant Jewish leader, Paul had maintained a good conscience and he lived up to the light that he had. So often those who are intensely wrong as lost sinners become intensely right as Christians and are greatly used of God to win souls.

2) God not only entrusted the Gospel to Paul, but He enabled Paul to minister that Gospel (1 Cor 15:10; Phil 4:13). When someone obeys God's call to serve, God always equips and enables that person.

·       1 Cor. 15:10, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

·       Philip. 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

3) No person has the power to do spiritual warfare; no person can penetrate the spirits of other people. If a person is to minister to people, he must be empowered by Christ, for only Christ can penetrate the spirits of people.

·       Therefore, the minister must possess the power of Christ.

·       Thought 1. This is a critical fact. It means that a person cannot make himself a minister nor can other persons choose him to be a minister-not a true minister, not a minister who pleases Christ and can be blessed by Christ.

·       Why? Because no person can carry on a successful ministry in his own strength, not a ministry that truly reaches people for Christ and delivers them from sin, death, and the judgment to come. Only Christ can do this. This is the reason the minister must be enabled by Christ; he must minister in the strength and power of Christ.

·       The only way a minister can be what he should be...

1.    Is to be put in the ministry by Christ Jesus.

2.    Is to be enabled (strengthened and empowered) by Christ Jesus.

3.    "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (Jn.l5:16).

          2. An Example (vs. 16)

But Paul not only became a minister; he also became an example (1 Tim 1:16).

A) This Explains Why Paul Obtained Mercy.

·       It was so that he might be an exhibit of the longsuffering of Jesus Christ. Just as he had been the chief of sinners, so now he would be the chief display of the untiring grace of the Lord.

·       He would be “Exhibit A,” a living example, as William Kelly said, of “divine love rising above the most active hostility, of divine longsuffering exhausting the most varied and persistent antagonism.”

·       Paul teaches us an important lesson about lowering our guard as an evangelistic tool. Paul was not nearly as interested in creating an image as he was in being an example. He did not hesitate to share his past, because he knew his failures would allow others to have hope.

o   There are times when we hesitate to share our past struggles with others because we are afraid it will tarnish our image. This, however, creates an immediate paradox. For their knowledge of us is incomplete. They don't know us, and we are not sure they would still accept us if they did know us. But these problems are image problems; they are difficulties we encounter in trying to manage what others know of us.

o   Paul demonstrated that lowering our guard can be an important step in communicating the gospel. People will not believe the gospel is important if they can't see that it is crucial in our lives.

§  How has Christ shown patience with you?

§  Did he stay with you when you doubted and rebelled?

§  Did he remain faithful when you ignored his prior claim on your life?

§  Did he love you when you disregarded his help and his church?

§  Remember that his patience is unlimited for those who love him.

B) In What Sense Is Paul An Example To Lost Sinners Who Believe On Christ?

·       None of us has had the same experience that Paul had on the Damascus road (Acts 9). We did not see a light, fall to the ground, and hear Jesus speak from heaven.

·       But Paul is a pattern ("type") to all lost sinners, for he was the chief of sinners!

o   He is proof that the grace of God can change any sinner!

o   In the primary sense the verse means that none need despair, no matter how wicked they might be.

o   They can console themselves that since the Lord has already saved the chief of sinners, they too can find grace and mercy by coming to Him as penitents.

o   “All who follow can look back at Paul as a prototype or pattern (“example,” 2 Tim. 1:13). The ultimate sinner became the ultimate saint; God’s greatest enemy became His finest servant. Somewhere between these extremes fall all the rest. In studying Paul’s pattern, Christians can therefore learn about themselves.” ---Walvoord, J. F.

o   By believing on Him, they too can find life everlasting.

o   “believe on Him: Over 185 times in the New Testament the sole condition given for salvation is belief, having faith or trust in Jesus Christ. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day. All those who place their trust in Jesus for salvation will be saved from the coming judgment. To add any other condition to faith for salvation is to make justification a matter of works (see Rom. 11:6; Gal. 2:16).” ---Nelson Study Bible

C) But There Is A Special Application Of This To Today's People Of Israel, Paul's countrymen, for whom he had a special burden (Rom 9:1-5; 10:1-3).

·       Paul’s case would be a pattern.

o   In the printing trade, pattern means a first proof. It signifies a specimen or a sample.

o   Paul’s conversion would be a pattern of what God would do with the nation of Israel when the Deliverer comes out of Zion (Rom. 11:26).

·       The people of Israel, like unconverted Saul of Tarsus, are religious, self-righteous, blind to their own Law and its message of the Messiah, and unwilling to believe.

o   One day, Israel shall see Jesus Christ even as Paul saw Him; and the nation shall be saved. "They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced" (Zech 12:10).

o   This may be one reason why Paul said he was "born out of due time" (1 Cor 15:8), for his experience of seeing the risen Christ came at the beginning of this Church Age and not at its end (Matt 24:29).

D) Reflecting On How Good God Has Been To Paul Stirred Him To Respond With Praise To God!

·       He who was a blasphemer and persecutor, is now a praise leader! This verse is a natural, emotional response to these reflections about the mercy of God. When Paul realized all that God had done for him, he was left with no other words than praise.

·       God, our King, is eternal and immortal -- that is, he can never cease to exist. He is invisible -- we cannot see him or touch him; he is Spirit. He is the only God -- not one of many, but "the only."

o   God is called King, this denote that he rules over the universe.  The meaning of this expression is-"the King of ages" he is a king who rules throughout all ages.  The rule of earthly monarchs does not extend into successive ages; his does. Their reign is temporary; his is enduring, and continues as one generation after another passes on, and thus embraces them all.

o   Immortal This refers to God himself, not to his reign. It means that he does not die, and it is given to him to distinguish him from other sovereigns. All other monarchs but God expire-and are just as liable to die at any moment as any other people.

o   Invisible 1Tim 6:16; see John 1:18.

o   The only wise God notes, Rom 16:27.   It is true that Yahweh is the only God; it is also true that he is the only wise God. The gods of the pagan are "vanity and a lie," and they are wholly destitute of wisdom; see Ps 115:3-8; 135:15-18; Isa 40:18-20; 44:10-17.

o   Be honour Let there be all the respect and veneration shown to him which is his due.

o   And glory Praise. Let him be praised by all for ever.

o   Amen So be it; an expression of strong affirmation; John 3:3. The solemn assent of the heart! (Matt 6:13; 1 Cor 14:16)

·       “As Paul thinks of God’s marvelous dealings with him in grace, he bursts out into this lovely doxology. It is difficult to know whether it is addressed to God the Father or to the Lord Jesus. The words the King eternal seem to refer to the Lord Jesus because He is called the “Kings of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). However, the word invisible seems to refer to the Father, since the Lord Jesus was obviously visible to mortal eyes. The fact that we are not able to distinguish which Person of the Godhead is intended might serve as an indication of Their absolute equality.

The King eternal is spoken of, first of all, as immortal. This means incorruptible or imperishable. God in His essence is also invisible. Men have seen appearances of God in the OT, and the Lord Jesus fully revealed God to us in visible form, but the fact remains that God Himself is invisible to human eyes. Next He is spoken of as God who alone is wise. In the final analysis, all wisdom comes from God (Jas. 1:5).” --- MacDonald, W.

Paul gave a third responsibility for the local church to fulfill besides teaching sound doctrine and proclaiming the Gospel....

Jesus Clears the Way for World Evangelization

Jesus Clears the Way for World Evangelization

 

John 16:7-16, Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

⁹ Of sin, because they believe not on me;

¹⁰ Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

¹¹ Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

¹² I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. ¹⁶ A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

A description of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus would be most beneficial especially when considering worldwide evangelization. The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Lord Jesus began when Joseph has a dream and discovers Mary has conceived a Son by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20; Luke 1:35).  Secondly Peter’s preaching in Acts 10:37-38, revealed that Christ was anointed by the Holy Ghost and that the Spirit descended on Him at His baptism (Luke 3:22).  Immediately afterwards the Spirit of God lead Christ into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matt 4:1).   Thirdly, the Lord Jesus was crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit as He offered Himself according to Hebrews 9:14, and Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit (Rom. 1:4).  Then finally the Lord Jesus commanded His apostles “through the Holy Ghost” (Acts 1:2). Again, the main work and function of the Holy Spirit is in connection with the application of the redemption that has been achieved and worked out by the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The importance of John 16:7-16 must be carefully considered to see this invaluable truth. These verses suggest that the very coming and presence of the Spirit in the Church and in the world is a part of the work of applying redemption (making it available) in a general way to all people—the world.  The Lord Jesus in John 16:8-11, teaches the effect the actual coming of the Spirit has upon the world, and the very presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church convicts it of sin, and righteousness, and judgment (Acts 5:29-32). As Father and the Son before Him, the Spirit takes up the work of God’s leadership. This is just one way the Spirit of God will lead our evangelism efforts.  

First is the fact that people did not “believe” on the Lord Jesus— “sin”. Therefore, the Spirit’s coming “reproves” or convicted the world of its complete error when it had denied Jesus of Nazareth; it is proof positive and final that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, the Savior of the world.  The second element deals with “righteousness” because Jesus returns to His Father and is currently unseen. The Father has not only accepted Jesus, but His perfect work at Calvary and the empty tomb also.  In fact, the greatest proof of God’s acceptance of Christ as our “justification” is the sending of the Holy Spirit into this world. The third element deals with the fact that the “prince of this world is judged.” The Spirit’s descent on Pentecost was the final proof that Christ defeated Satan and of the “judgment” pronounced upon him.

This is significant because the Holy Spirit convicts people of God’s coming judgment on them. This judgment is guaranteed because Satan (the “prince of this world”) has now been legally condemned through Christ’s death and resurrection. Those who reject Jesus share the devil's fate, while believers are forgiven. Notice John 16:11,

• “Of judgment”: The Holy Spirit alerts people to God’s final justice and the reality of divine judgment. It does not matter what a person believes is or is not possible…whether they ascribe to absolutes or not. They must deal with conviction and judgment.
• “The prince of this world”: is Satan’s temporary influence and control over the rebellious, ungodly systems of the world. “Prince of this world” implies an evil worldwide kingdom. Satan once led this world’s kingdoms excluding Christ, but now we who have believed on the Lord are now subjects of Christ’s kingdom. Colossians 1:11, says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” …. We can celebrate our spiritual transfer from the dominion of darkness (sin and evil) into the light-filled, loving rule of Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father delivered us from the “power of darkness” and conveyed us into the kingdom of His beloved Son!  
• “Is judged”: The Greek verb is a past-tense, completed action pointing to Jesus ultimately defeating Satan and his condemnation as already settled and cannot be reversed. These are guaranteed realities because of the cross and resurrection of Christ. 

God comforts us believers by revealing that the ultimate enemy, Satan, has already been and is finally defeated. Because the ruler of this world stands condemned, his power over those who trust in Christ is broken. We are free from His control.

Again, the ultimate proof of God’s acceptance of Christ as believers’ justification is the sending of the Holy Spirit. This is why the events of Pentecost are included in a great sequence of historic events, that establish our salvation. The very coming of the Spirit pronounced that there is only one way to salvation, righteousness, and it is through Christ Jesus (1Cor. 1:30). Nothing proclaims this so powerfully as the descent of the Spirit sent by Christ upon the Church on Pentecost.

So, the connection between Satan’s defeat and the coming of the Holy Spirit is set before us in John 16:7-13. The death of Christ at Calvary, His resurrection, and ascension, and His sending of the Spirit soundly declared the defeat of Satan (John 16:11).  Satan is now cast out as the Lord Jesus predicted and no longer controls this world. Satan once held all nations except Israel in a form of spiritual bondage, but Christ has dethroned him and now Christ reigns supreme and is controlling the world. It is incumbent upon Christ’s churches to get the gospel out to the farthest reaches of the earth to “every creature” then (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-49; Act 1:8).

We cannot pay this “spiritual debt” simply by giving money for missions and praying for missionaries, even though both of these ministries are important and essential. We must present ourselves to the Lord as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2), available to him for whatever work he wants us to do, starting at home. The first missionaries began their witness right at home in Jerusalem and then enlarged their circle of ministry to include “the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Dr. Oswald J. Smith often said, “The light that shines the farthest will shine the brightest at home.”

“Are people in today’s world lost?” is not an academic question for theologians to debate in some ivory tower. The question is at the heart of the church’s ministry, and the answer to the question is, “Yes, all men without Christ are lost.” And what are you doing about it? Are you paying your debt by sharing the gospel with others? (W. W. Wiersbe)

Certainly, our Lord Jesus cleared the way for worldwide evangelization, and we must recognize our opportunities to share the hope of Christ with others immediately before us and around the world. May we follow carefully the Spirit’s guidance as we steward the gospel to the world. Beloved, this is ‘kingdom’ work and our church’s mission.

 

Just A Thought

Just a Thought

 

It may take a few observations to express how important church life is to me. But please indulge me for just a few minutes.

Arriving at church on Sundays and Wednesdays has become something I anticipate and am thankful for. I find such thoughts help me walk in the Spirit throughout the week. Upon arriving at church, I am greeted by Deacon Tibbs most of the time; there are occasions when he is parking cars and caring for the church’s parking arrangements. But he typically greets with a smile, handshake, and a warm, “How’re you doing, Brother.” Deacon Tibbs can really make you feel important to the Lord and himself simply by his greetings. He and the other greeters literally ‘welcome you.’

When it’s time to pray; I am invited to enter the presence of God and given a prayer sheet. The church is counting on me to talk with God about the needs listed on the prayer sheet. These are items of great concern and some anxiety for several people. I sense my need to pray fervently. When it’s time to give, if it’s not my turn to usher, I typically silently observe that time because I give to CBC online. I also tend to listen carefully to the choir selections not only because they can really sing, but they often sing of a trait or quality about God I needed to be reminded of. As I sit in various locations in the church meetings, I am warmly welcome in those areas and those believers enthusiastically participate in the worship, congregational songs, specials by Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Anita, Brother Nathaniel, and the preaching. My how I have been corrected, inspired, and helped by their commitments to our Lord. They repeatedly provide the right kind of spiritual influence for me.

In Sunday School I am typically encouraged and informed from the Bible to keep living for the glory of God, by Deacon Hartwell. Many times, these same believers strengthen me greatly in the Lord. I love these occasions so much that I must restrain myself from adding my two cents when the class is prompted. This is a feature I cherish deeply in the church’s life as a Bible student.

My favorite part is the preaching of the Word which often follows the music leadership afforded by Brother Pascal. Pastor Baldwin always speaks from the Bible, and he favors expository explanations mingled with preaching that reproves, rebukes, exhorts, with a generous measure of patience and insight. I cannot count the number of times I have been helped from the Bible…. Sometimes I convince myself that my need is an explanation or reason and then I am reminded that what I really need is God. Sometimes I think an answer will solves my problem, but I am reminded what I really need is God. I may even be emphasizing a biblical idea so much that I forget about other equally important Bible concepts but preaching generally fixes that issue.

I know the most important time of all at church is during the invitation. It is a special joy to see people saved, baptized, and added to the church. Saint are also meeting with God in their seats and in the alter at invitation time. Every believer is encouraged to talk with our Lord. It is here that we all realize why we have come to church…it is to meet with our great and glorious God on his terms. The driving purpose in coming is to adjust by becoming more completely a living sacrifice to our Lord and His great will. Church is not church until I meet with my God in the assembly of the upright.

Yes, there will always be people who think too much of themselves and choose being a Pharisee instead of a humble servant. There will always be those who really think people come to see them…. There will always be some visitors and some members among us who just don’t get it. But praise the Lord for genuine saints who really pray for you and you for them, greeters who welcome you from their hearts, food preparers who will delight in feeding you, ushers who are poised to help, deacons who afford meaningful assistance and ministry, nursery workers who take care of your children like their own, members who love good music and cherish deeply solid preaching, a choir that sings for God’s glory, a preacher who proclaims God’s precious Word, and a God who meets with His children as we make ourselves available to him.

I am so thankful for my church family and do not want to take them for granted! They are a wonderful gift from my heavenly Father to me. I know that I am blessed! Yea even uniquely fortunate! I must do more to appreciate their service and sacrifices. I need to do more alongside them as we serve our Lord together.

It is Time to “Christ Up”

 

It is Time to “Christ Up”

Galatians 2:20

Theme: turn to Christ daily for whatever you need to live out God’s interests.

It's time to "Christ" up! You have heard of the phrase, "Man up" before perhaps in the context of a unique challenge to a youth or even to a fully mature man who is presently behaving more like a boy. Basically, we are forcefully encouraged to meet certain expectations...satisfy requirements or secure the necessary strength to elevate our performance. Well with "Christ" up there is a standard...expectation, a requirement. "Christ" is that standard, and this does not involve more self-reliance!

The strength we must summon is not physical and carnal, but totally spiritual and transcendent. At this level "Christ" does the amazing through our spirit's and mostly by His Holy Spirit. The result is God is glorified through "Christ" and we elevate to "Christ Mode" instead of settling for merely what is humanly possible with self-reliance. We intentionally capitulate to our human spirit that was made alive by God, embrace the power of the holy Spirit, and submit our carnal flesh by yielding to divine outcomes instead of mere cultural ideas. We live out the meaning of being a "living sacrifice." Christ is manifested, magnified, and made visible for others to be attracted to Him also.

This idea is offered in Galatians 2:20 which says: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. 

Critical Ideas to Capture:

1. “Crucified with Christ”: A believer's old sinful nature is dead, freed from any condemnation of God's law.
2. “Christ liveth in me”: The believer's life is now guided and empowered by Jesus Christ living within us through the incredible power of Holy Spirit, thus eliminating the need for self-reliance and personal isolation.
3. “Live by faith”: The daily life in the physical body ("the flesh") is sustained by faith in Jesus, not by following the law or earning salvation through our activities.

God highlights for us the incredible need to transition from self-reliance to living through Christ’s power. Beloved, it is time to “Christ Up” as we apply this idea to ‘Christian living.’ Make this all-important transition, change, and revolution!

What is self-reliance? The ability to depend on yourself for things instead of relying on others. The self-contained person is independent and autonomous — they take care of themselves.

Proofs of self-reliance are demonstrated through ‘fleshly’ resourcefulness, carnal flexibility, and independent decision-making, and displaying a desire to navigate challenges without relying on or involving others. Some of this is necessary and expected but this becomes dangerous as we promote ‘self-sufficiency’ independent of ‘Christ-reliance’!

What does God afford us is ‘Christ dependency”? Holy and transcendent living is not normal for fallen human beings but is only available to believers who are living sacrifices. Not merely saved individuals—though this should include every believer, but real subjects of the Kingdom of God. That is new wine, new life, new power, new purpose, new freedom, new hope, new significance, new fire, and new people reserved exclusively for the genuinely righteous lifestyle!

This is what holy and transcendent living is like:

Ephesians 5:18-20, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Galatians 5:21-26, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

The believers are deeply spiritual—enthusiastically Holy Spirit dominated! They are intimate with God and experience frequent connection with Him, consistent in life, and often surpass mere religious routines. They typically exhibit high levels of faith, humility, and holiness, prioritizing a direct, personal, and emotional relationship with God over mere formal, ecclesiastical, external, cultural displays of supposed faith. 

Beloved, transcendent living is rising above daily struggles and self-centeredness to experience God’s deeper purpose, joy, and connection to His Kingdom. It involves cultivating awareness of Him through His Word, nurturing agape love, and embracing moments of amazement as He fulfils His will through us. Such lifestyle transforms ordinary existence into a meaningful kingdom-focused journey.

The murky side of self-sufficiency often leads to exhaustion, long-lasting stress, worry, and isolation, as the irrational need to do everything alone causes us to view asking for help as a weakness. We can even regard asking God for guidance and power as an indication of weakness. Such an attitude or mindset can destroy fellowship with God, forfeit Christ’s Kingdom opportunities and dynamics, cripple relationships, hinder teamwork through the church, and cause believers to reject church or pastoral support, leading to emotional coldness and detachment and, in extreme cases, serious spiritual, physical, and mental health crises. 

What are some ways we are resorting to or even choosing self-reliance?

1.      Do we take personal responsibility for outcomes?

2.     Do we resort to the ‘flesh’ to take credit for results?

3.     Do we trust our instincts—feeling, personal ideas—instead of God and His Word?

4.     Are we maintaining emotional independence? You know…regulating our own emotions, validating our own worth, and not relying on God and His people for godly happiness and holiness.

5.     Are we actively solving problems rather than waiting on God for guidance and relying on His help?

These questions aid our self-evaluations before the Lord. It is okay to invite His help as we search our souls (Psalm 139:23-24).

Important factors of transcendent living to include:

• Shift your perspective to moving beyond the ‘ego-self’ or individual, mundane, and self-centered concerns.
• Stay still in God’s presence, being alert to the present opportunities, and noticing what He communicates (His will) to your heart and thoughts.
• Purpose to serve and get involved focusing on helping others, leaving a godly legacy, winning people to Christ, and contributing to God’s kingdom goals through your church.
• Accept and trust God with the way it is. We must intentionally let go of the need to control every outcome and instead trust God’s wisdom with the flow of life.
• Daily incorporate these concepts by applying God’s truth, moments of meditation on God and His Word, standing in awe of His incredible Person, and being watchful of daily life, relationships, fellowship opportunities and work.

Conclusion:

The pathway to realizing this “Christ up” mentality often involve surrendering to the Holy Spirit, forsaking the flesh as unacceptable on this transcendent level, cultivating real spiritual significance, gratitude towards the Lord, and connection with your church’s ministries.