Why Bother?

David

2024 Sunday Morning Sermons • Sermon • Submitted 3 months ago • Presented 3 months ago

1 Corinthians 9:16–23

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Psalm 147:1-11 / 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

2 Timothy 4:7 “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

What Paul didn’t do

Seek money

Traveling Orators commonly were paid

1 Corinthians 9:14 “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”

1 Corinthians 9:15 “But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.”

Acts 18 - Paul made tents with the tentmakers in Corinth

1 Thessalonians 2:9 “For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

Seek prominence in ministry

v19 - I have made myself a servant to all

v22 - to the weak I became weak

Break God’s Law

1 Corinthians 9:20–21 “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.”

Galatians 2:11–12 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.”

What Paul did

Gave up his life

Philippians 3:3–6 “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”

Philippians 3:7–8 “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

Crossed boundaries

Outside the Law

John 4:9 “The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)”

Acts 10:12–14 “In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.””

Under the law - He curtailed his liberties and preferences that he may be heard

Met people where they were

All things to all people

Why Bother?

I will not in this final section of the message seek to lay a burden of guilt on you, for this is not the point of the text, nor is it effective.

Rather, I’d like to put before you some of why Paul bothered, and see if The Holy Spirit does not stir in you a similar response.

A Necessity

1 Corinthians 9:16 “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

Jeremiah 20:9 “If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”

It is not to be expected to sense this equally every day, but I ask as Paul says there is a necessity about his ministry, do you not experience this also? Is there not sometimes, and especially when meditating on the Glory and Word of God a compelling stirring from deep inside? Do you begin to review your day and life and enquire what more you may do to show forth Christ?

A Duty

1 Corinthians 9:17 “For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.”

General Order 1: To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

General Order 5: To quit my post only when properly relieved.

General Order 11: To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

I sometimes think of the previous generations of faithful believers who knew and believed it was their calling to carry the gospel until it reached me. Am I, are we less called to a duty? Are we not entrusted with the stewardship of the gospel? of our church?

I do not ask if you know proof texts to say so, but ask if you do not sense this to be powerfully true as The Spirit moves over us?

Overwhelming Joy

1 Corinthians 9:23 “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

Church Family, there are a seemingly innumerable things to distract us from our Holy calling. Let us instead look to Heavenly things, and to the great need around us, and strive to finish well to the Glory of God.

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