Coworkers for the Kingdom 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NKJV)

Coworkers for the Kingdom 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NKJV) Chapter 6 is really a continuation of chapter 5 where Paul discussed his motivation for service. Now he moves on and reminds us that we are not alone in this ministry of reconciliation. Vs. 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. Paul saw himself in partnership with Jesus. Not that Jesus needed Paul to get His work done, but in His grace He wanted to use Paul. In the same way He wants to use us to partner with Him to bring reconciliation to the world. It s what Paul was getting at when he said to the church of Philippi But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. Philippians 1:22 (NKJV) To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Colossians 1:29 (NKJV) It was a labor of love. Notice, Paul reminds the church not to receive the grace of God in vain. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NKJV) Notice what happened after he experienced God s grace he got busy. When I tried out for the soccer team in high school it never crossed my mind that I would ever sit on the bench. I got a jersey, I bought cleats so that I Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 1

could play; I even had a position in mind. At the end of the day, I just wanted to play whatever position the coach wanted me in. I just wanted to see the team score goals and to win our games. I wore myself out only to come back the next day to do the same. In all the years I have been around sports and athletes, I have yet to meet someone trying out to sit on the bench. When we received the grace of God, the love of God, it will motivate us to serve Him. To receive the grace of God in vain is to suppress that work, to undermine that work in our lives. Grace is not given because we work, because it is given to motivate us to work. Grace is given even if we don t work, but you would have to work against grace to keep yourself in a passive position. God does not want us to receive His grace and then become a couch potato spiritually. It s the grace of God that saves us, but it doesn t stop there. Peter would remind us. but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) When it comes to God s grace, His love for us, we don t one day arrive at a full knowledge of how deep and wide that love is. We will be growing in grace all throughout eternity. It s the heart of the Father that we grow in grace and be conduits of His grace so the world will be reached by His grace. It s a partnership and because it s a partnership we must do our part. He will always give you the love and power you need; our part is to put to work all the love and power He has given. That s why Paul says Vs. 2 For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Today is the day of salvation; today is the day to embrace His grace. Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 2

The reason Paul is quoting Isaiah here is that he wants for the church to get a sense of urgency. The day of salvation will not last forever, the ministry of reconciliation is only for time, and when that day is over it will be too late. I have been to and conducted a lot of funerals. When someone is a believer it s a celebration; it makes it easier knowing that one day we will see them again. It even gives me an opportunity as the pastor to offer the family the hope of salvation, to share with them the grace of God, the work of the cross, to help them prepare for death. But once in a while I will be called on to say a few words to a family who knew the one they were burying was not a believer. It s the hardest thing to do. I don t really get into where the deceased is at as much as I encourage the family to make sure they know where they re at with the Lord. The day of salvation is today because we don t know when our last day one earth will be, or our neighbor s last day, or our sibling s last day there should be a sense of urgency. Notice how this thought affected Paul Vs. 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. Paul wanted to make sure he never brought shame to the name of Christ. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. Acts 24:16 (NKJV) Notice the word strive here. Paul knew to have a clear conscience between God and man was hard work, it meant he would have to endure some heavy stuff. Listen to what Paul told the church of Philippi... Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 3

crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world Philippians 2:14-15 (NKJV) He wants for us to shine into the darkness, for us to be lights in a dark place, to be the preservative in a decaying world. That s for every believer, that s why he says don t give into complaining and disputing, it s part of the old life, it s what the world does. Have you ever people watched in an airport, waiting for the time when they start boarding your plane? It s amazing how grumpy we get in that line, waiting to get on that plane. If someone sits in our seat it s not good. If the plane has to get in a line or worse yet, have you ever had to sit in a plane and wait for a storm to clear? Grumpy! Paul is reminding the church that God wants us to shine and when we complain and dispute, we re not letting Jesus shine, we are no different than the world, and we re missing our opportunity to shine. The reason the Holy Spirit lives in us is to empower us to shine in the midst of crooked and self-absorbed world. That s for all believers. Now, for the leadership in the church he will require even more. In speaking to the deacons But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 1 Timothy 3:10 (NKJV) In speaking to the pastors For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money Titus 1:7 (NKJV) It was Paul s heart to represent the Lord properly and that meant his ministry was to be blameless. What s interesting is the church of Corinth had not spoken well of Paul and his ministry, that s what in part prompted the first letter. Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 4

I think what Paul means here is that our ministry may not be rightly blamed. Some will find blame over anything. Someone is going to get rubbed the wrong way by the parking lot attendant, by the electric guitar player, or that they walked through the foyer and I did not notice them. I was in a church when I was younger that had a split over the wallpaper that was to be behind the baptistery crazy! Paul did his best to clean up any false accusations that were said about him, but at the end of the day he knew they were just not going to receive him, and that was on them. Notice here that Paul will give some of the marks of the ministry. Notice the first qualification here Vs. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience How many of you believe you know how patience is worked out? My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 (NKJV) Patience is the fruit that comes from the testing of our faith. Patience = hupomone: cheerful, hopeful, continuance, constant, endurance. It s not just waiting around for something to happen, it s not sitting in the Lazy Boy putting our feet up and taking a nap it s an active endurance. It s a great reminder that ministry takes time, relationships take time; as we go through life together, as we walk through the Word together, we see the Lord grow us up, molding and shaping us into the image of Christ. The bottom line is that maturity takes time, so there is a patient endurance knowing that as you continue to be faithful in the ministry, Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 5

fruit will be born, lives will be changed, and the saints will be equipped. Notice the next three words Vs. 4...in tribulations, in needs, in distresses When Ananias was told to go and pray for Saul, he was given a glimpse into what Paul was being called into... But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name s sake. Acts 9:15-16 (NKJV) Notice that Paul was a chosen vessel who would bear Christ s name before gentiles, kings, and the Jewish people, and then He wraps it up with suffering many things for Christ s name. Souls saved, souls equipped, and suffering present. In the believer s life and in the ministry we serve in, there will be tension, there will be pressure, and there will be trials and storms to endure. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake Philippians 1:29 (NKJV) As believers in Jesus Christ we have hope that in the midst of the trial there is a gift God has for us. A gift of grace, a gift of growth; it s producing in us a greater faith. That s what James was saying to let the test do its work on us because it s producing something both in us and through us that would not come otherwise. Notice he goes on Vs. 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 6

Paul speaks of stripes which imply that he was beaten. Imprisonments refer to Paul s jail time. And tumults speak of the violence that could be the catalyst for why he ended up in prison. When Paul blew into town and started preaching he never knew if there was going to be a revival or a riot, and in some cases there could be both. So it was not uncommon for Paul to be beaten or put in prison, hoping that would keep him quiet. Notice he goes on Vs. 5 in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings Paul knew what it was like to labor without sleep and when needed he would fast. Vs. 6-7 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left These are all the resources we are given to wage war against the enemy and win, to be fruitful and victorious in ministry. Paul reminds us For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) The battle we face and fight is not a fleshly, carnal battle and so we don t use carnal weapons because they would never work. We use spiritual weapons because the battle is spiritual in nature; the Lord does not win spiritual battles with carnal weapons and neither will His kids, especially those in ministry. the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord s, and He will give you into our hands. 1 Samuel 17:47 (NKJV) Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 7

He told Zerubbabel. Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) He spoke through David Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 (NKJV) I have been a part of churches and been under pastors that fight spiritual battles with a better program, with a new vision, or they may even call a strategy meeting. One of the best things a church can do to defeat the enemy is pray. When the church is powerless, when the pastor is struggling with warfare, that s when we pray more than we ever have. And let me add, communion is when we remember Him, what He did for us, how He defeated the enemy for us, and the power that is available to us. It s when we give Him His rightful place in our hearts and in the church, which is why we have it every Sunday night and every Wednesday night. It s where the enemy is defeated. Let s finish up with this last part. Notice here how the world would describe Paul they would use words like Vs. 8-10 and dishonor, by evil report as deceivers as unknown as dying as chastened as sorrowful as poor as having nothing But notice how God would describe Paul Vs. 8-10 by honor and good report and yet true and yet well known and behold we live and yet not killed yet always rejoicing yet making many rich and yet possessing all things. Paul always had a positive perspective because he had God s perspective he had the perspective of faith. Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 8

Remember, Wildwood For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 9