1 Corinthians 16,5-24
1 Corinthians 16:5-24
February 2 2003
Intro: It’s been said; If you want to cause God to laugh plan out your
future.
A- Chuck Smith is fond of saying: “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken.”
1- I have been a staff member at 2 churches now. As C.M. and as Pastor
a- I came from the construction industry
- A life filled with: deadlines, driving, inspections, clients, and physical work.
· I also served in ministry 15-20 hours a week.
b- I went from there to fulltime ministry.
- I now only drive 5 minutes to the office and sit at a desk.
2- What I have found is the busyness of ministry, both spiritual and physical, to be more draining.
a- The preparation of bible studies.
b- The ministry to the sick and hurting
c- The business side
d- Leading the leadership
- There is all that I do not have to deal with out in the world.
· But every sin in the world, sooner or later, comes across my desk.
3- Ministry is: work, sacrifice, and all consuming.
a- Something the called gets tired in but never tired of.
- My cell phone #
· Ministry is to be 24/7
Ø As we study the Apostle Paul’s ministry, as a whole, we see one of evangelism and deification.
A- People getting saved and growing in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.
1- Notice: Wherever he was at whatever he was doing the furtherance of that ministry was always on him mind.
Romans 15:20-25, 2 Corinthians 12:20-21, Ephesians 6:21-24,
2- Paul knew his purpose in the Lord and continued to move forward in that purpose, AND God continued to use him.
a- God designed the church to be offensive.
Matthew 16:18, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
- The minute a minister or ministry stands still it is of no use to God.
Ephesians 4:11-13, And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Ø We are going to close out 1 Corinthians by looking at 6 aspects of a ministry that is moving forward in the Lord Jesus Christ.
#1- (V:5), With the knowledge that there will be changes, a
church is to plan for the future.
Read Acts 16:6-10
A- You can key on Paul going in the wrong direction here and question his obedience, ear for the Spirit, or over anxiousness.
1- But the key is he was on the move.
a- Try to steer your car standing still
b- Try to steer it moving
- A law of Physics says: Objects at rest tend to stay at rest AND Objects in motion tend to stay in motion.
· After a time of prayer it’s time to move.
B- God’s minister is always thinking “what next”.
1- Paul is presently ministering in Ephesus.
a- His plan: After Pentecost go from Turkey to Macedonia (N. Greece) to Achaia (S. Greece) Corinth.
- After Paul came to Corinth he wrote the epistle to Rome with thoughts of going to Spain.
· We limit ministry through our unwillingness to dream of what God will do.
#2- (V:6), The minister and ministry are to be pliable to God’s
desire.
Proverbs 16:9, A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
A- Moses and the Promised Land lead for 40 years by the pillars.
1- Jonah
a- Early in my walk god told me to prepare (for what??)
- I never knew what for until I was asked on staff out of the blue.
b- I was content on staff as a support to my Pastor until the Future Pastor’s of America.
- God was preparing me for another move .
· Ok VS Ont. (“O” and cows)
- Something He started on November of 1992
B- If God truly has sovereignty over your life you are always at His command.
1- Who knows better you or He??
1 Cor. 16:6, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go.
#3- (V:7-8), The church that is moving forward is faithful in it’s
present ministry.
A- Is God going to grow CCO into a big church.
1- Only if it is found to be a faithful small church.
a- Never look past the present that which is before you right here right now.
- Me and my excitement over a PM study when I still have to do the AM study.
b- What if Jesus cut His ministry short?
- Which pages of the Gospel’s do we tear out?
Acts 13:13, Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
Read 2 Timothy 4:9-11
B- Look at the purpose of this epistle (the exhortation of the church)
1- Paul also knew he needed to finish the work at Ephesus
a- Those who abandon one ministry for another.
- They get board.
· My boring bank (except for my investment).
2- Paul had an eye for the future with a dedication for the present.
#4- (V:9), The church that continues to move forward has an
understanding of God’s will.
A- Here we have a contrast that stops a lot of people in their tracks.
1- There is an open door with obstacles on the threshold.
a- Just because there is something to overcome does not mean that the door is closed (not open).
- Whenever God opens a door
- Satan steps in to block it.
· How many works of God were never done because the door was open but the path was hard.
See Judges 6:36-40
G. Campbell Morgan: “If you have no opposition in the place you serve then your serving in the wrong place”.
(Paul’s ministry in Ephesus) 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
#5- (V:10-12), the church (ministry) that is moving forward know it’s not about the efforts of anyone person.
A- Myself not here: BUT knowing the Holy Spirit is.
1- You never see Paul ministering by himself.
Turn to Romans 16:21-24
V:21, Paul recognizes the people most familiar to him.
V:22, Tertius, not wanting to be left out of what God is doing, inserts
his name.
Tertius = Third, The #3 slave in the household.
V:23, The host of Paul and a church that meet in his house.
Erastus = A city dignitary
1- AND then last but not least Quartus.
a- A brother and slave as well
Quartus = Fourth
2- All just as important in the kingdom of God and all recognized.
#6- A church that moves forward:
Read Verses 13-15
#7- A church that moves forward: Is about the people.
Close Verses 16-24
1 Corinthians 16:5-24
February 2 2003
Romans 15:20-25
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
Ephesians 6:21-24
Matthew 16:18
Ephesians 4:11-13
Acts 16:6-10
Proverbs 16:9
1 Corinthians 16:6
Acts 13:13
2 Timothy 4:9-11
Judges 6:36-40
2 Corinthians 1:8-10
Romans 16:21-24