REMEMBER THE WIN - 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19
Notes
Transcript
1 Corinthians 9:19 (CSB)
19 Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people.
BIG IDEA: WINNING IN THE KINGDOM REQUIRES LOSING ONESELF.
BIG IDEA: WINNING IN THE KINGDOM REQUIRES LOSING ONESELF.
I AM CONVINCED THAT AS A WHOLE, THE CHURCH HAS FORGOTTEN HOW WE WIN.
WE HAVEN’T (ON THE OTHER HAND), FORGOTTEN HOW TO ASSEMBLE…
HOW TO MEET...
HOW TO FELLOWSHIP...
HOW TO INSERT OUR PREFERENCES OR PROCLIVITIES...
NAW, WE’VE FORGOTTEN HOW TO WIN - HOW TO PUT POINTS ON THE BOARD FOR GOD’S TEAM!
THE OTHER DAY, I WATCHED IN PAIN AND ANGUISH, AS MY COWBOYS DEMONSTRATED COLLECTIVELY “WINNING AMNESIA!”
THEY FORGOT HOW TO WIN:
HOW YOU PUT YOUR BEST RUNNER IN, SO THAT THE OPPOSING DEFENSE HAS TO ADJUST, IN ORDER THAT THE RECEIVERS HAVE MORE FREEDOM TO MOVE ABOUT, THAT IN THE END, THE QUARTERBACK HAS MULTIPLE ARSENALS AT HIS DISPOSAL...
THEY FORGOT!
SO, THEY RESORTED TO TRICK PLAYS WITH LIMITED VISION, IN ORDER TO APPEASE THEIR OWN INTERESTS!!!
FROM THE SIGNATURE SUITES TO THE SIDELINES, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER, CHEERING AND DRINKING, THEY FORGOT THEIR PURPOSE! THEY FAILED TO EXECUTE A GAME-PLAN THAT WOULD YIELD A VICTORY...
CHURCH, WE MUST REMEMBER THE WIN...
WE MUST CONSISTENTLY HOLD UP GOD’S STANDARD FOR WINNING, WHILE PERSISTENTLY FIGHTING TO WIN ACCORDING TO GOD’S STANDARD!!
IF GOD AIN’T PLEASED WITH OUR WIN, THEN WE LOSE!
WINNING IN THE KINGDOM REQUIRES LOSING ONESELF.
Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 28)
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - MATTHEW 28:18-20
THERE’S NOTHING IN THE GREAT COMMISSION THAT I’VE JUST READ OR IN THE GREAT COMMAND TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF, THAT PUTS WHAT WE WANT UP AND ABOVE WHAT GOD WANTS...
BELOVED, I’M PREACHING TO ME AND TO YOU...
WHEN OUR VISION IS LIMITED, WE’LL SEE WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, AND VERY LIKELY MISS WHAT GOD WANTS US TO SEE....
WHERE THERE IS A DEFICIT IN DISCIPLES, THERE WILL BE CONFUSION ABOUT KINGDOM!
WINNING IN THE KINGDOM REQUIRES LOSING ONESELF.
THE CONTEXT OF OUR PASSAGE HAS PAUL REMINDING HIS NAYSAYERS AND HATERS THAT HIS CALLING IS PREEMINENT.
AS AN APOSTLE, PASTOR, PREACHER, PAUL’S CALLING COMPELS HIM TO SERVE AS A SLAVE FOR GOD’S GLORY...
Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 9)
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
COMPELLED - CALLED...
THIS CALLING - THIS UNCTION IS PAUL’S CONTINUAL MOTIVATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO ENSURE THAT HIS MINISTRY NEVER LOSES FOCUS!
OUR CALLING DEFENDS US AGAINST DRIFT.
CARS AND MOTORCYCLES DRIFT IN THE DIRECTION WHERE THE OPERATORS LOOK…SKIERS AND RUNNERS GO WHERE THEIR EYES GO!
DRIFT IS INEVITABLE. COURSE CORRECTION IS ESSENTIAL...
OUR CALLING DEFENDS US AGAINST DRIFT!
PAUL IS ABOUT THE CALL: NOT A NAME OR FAME OR CHANGE (MONEY).
Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 9)
we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.
SO OUR SINGULAR VERSE DEMONSTRATES HOW PAUL “REMEMBERS THE WIN.”
19A) ALTHOUGH I AM FREE FROM ALL AND NOT ANYONE’S SLAVE, I HAVE MADE MYSELF A SLAVE TO EVERYONE....
THE LANGUAGE OF THIS VERSE IS ASTOUNDING...
PAUL DECLARES HIS FREEDOM (IN CHRIST), WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DECLARING THAT HE VOLUNTARILY SHACKLES HIMSELF....
WHO DOES THAT?
SOMEONE WHO IS CALLED...
SOMEONE WHO SEES BEYOND THEMSELVES...
SOMEONE WHO IS MORE COMMITTED TO KINGDOM, THAN THEY ARE TO THEIR LIMITED VISION OR EVEN LIMITED UNDERSTANDING...
SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO WINNING!!!
AS PAUL CUFFS HIMSELF, HE CUFFS HIS PREFERENCES - HIS WANTS - HIS LIMITED UNDERSTANDING....
BEFORE WE GET TO THE WHY, WE NEED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WHAT!
THIS SELF-SLAVERY HAS BEEN LOST IN THE CHURCH AND IN MODERN MINISTRY...
WE MAKE CHURCH TO FIT WHAT CHURCH FOLK WANT!
WE MAKE MINISTRY FIT WHAT CHURCH FOLKS WANT TO DO!
WE AREN’T SLAVES. WE AREN’T SERVANTS…WE’RE CUSTOMERS!
IF ALL I WANT IS WHAT I WANT, THEN I’LL NEVER STEP ASIDE TO DISCOVER WHAT THE LOST NEED!!!
THIS IS PAUL’S CALLING...
HE SHACKLES HIMSELF.
HE CUFFS HIMSELF.
TO GET OUT OF THE WAY FOR OTHERS....
HERE’S MY FIRST OF TWO POINTS:
BE A SLAVE!
Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 10)
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - MARK 10:45
SUB-POINT: BE WILLING TO LOSE.
FRIENDS, OUR ABILITY TO GET OUT OF OUR OWN WAY, IS CRUCIAL TO KINGDOM WINS!
A freed Georgia slave named George Liele was one of the most significant figures in the history of Christian missions. He planted the first African American Baptist Church in North America, a church still in existence today.
And while William Carey is recognized as the father of the modern missionary movement, that designation also belongs to George Liele. In 1782, he and his family left the United States to share the gospel in Jamaica; a full 10 years before Carey left England.
19B) I HAVE MADE MYSELF A SLAVE TO EVERYONE, IN ORDER TO WIN MORE PEOPLE.
NOT ONLY BE A SLAVE. SECOND AND FINALLY:
BE A WINNER!
NOTICE IN THE TEXT, OUR SUBMISSION TO SERVE (TO GIVE UP OUR RIGHTS) IS THE PATH TO WINNING MORE PEOPLE.
CHURCHES BECOME STAGNANT...
NO BAPTISMS...
LIMITED CREDIBLE DISCIPLES...
WHEN THE MEMBERS REFUSE TO SEE BEYOND THEMSELVES...
REFUSE TO SERVE...
ARE TOO FULL OF THEMSELVES TO BE SLAVES....
AND ESSENTIALLY, THEY’RE ATTEMPTING TO WIN ON THEIR OWN TERMS!
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Evangelism)
The church ought to be a maternity ward where the cries of newborn babes in Christ are constantly heard.
BE A WINNER!
SUB-POINT: MEETING THE LOST WHERE THEY ARE, WITH THE MESSGE OF THE GOSPEL!
BELOVED, IT’S ABOUT WINNING MORE...
PAUL TO THE BELIEVERS AT GALATIA SAID: 13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT REAL EVANGELISM IS: Evangelism IS one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.
IT’S ABOUT WINNING MORE...
SELF-SHACKLING, SO THAT OUR CALLING CAN BE FULFILLED AND GOD’S KINGDOM CAN BE EXPANDED...
LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY, “SHACKLE UP!”
BE A SLAVE.
BE A WINNER.
TELL A DYING WORLD ABOUT A LIVING SAVIOR...
INVITE A HUNGRY PERSON TO COME HERE TO FEAST ON GOD’S WORD...
SERVE A NEEDY FAMILY WITH SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT...
TELL THEM: I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR. HE’S IN THE WORLD TODAY. I KNOW THAT HE IS LIVING, WHATEVER MEN MAY SAY. I SEE HIS HAND OF MERCY. I HEAR HIS VOICE OF CHEER. AND JUST THE TIME I NEED HIM, HE’S ALWAYS NEAR..HE LIVES - HE LIVES - CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY…HE WALKS WITH ME AND TALKS WITH ME, ALONG LIFE’S NARROW WAY - HE LIVES HE LIVES SALVATION TO IMPART - YOU ASKED ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES…HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART...
AND BECAUSE HE LIVES… I CAN FACE TOMORROW
Because he lives all fear is gone
Because I know he holds the future
And life is worth the living just because he lives