Sunday Morning Service

I Corinthians 9 (Click scripture reference for audio access)

“God's Program Or My RIghts?” • 11.04.12 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- In chapter 8, Paul deals with areas of personal liberty which, though not intrinsically sinful, were potentially harmful to those with weak consciences.

- To blatantly promote a freedom, entiicing a brother or sister to reject their conscience, was a sin which led Paul to make this dramatic statement at the end of chapter 8.

• I Corinthians 8:13 : "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."

- You can almost perceive a grumble from the crowd. "He would never do that!" But Paul had forsaken his rights. Chapter 9 serves as Paul's illustration. He lays it out for us like this:

Text

• I Corinthians 9:1,2 : “Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.” : Paul was an emissary, sent with a mission that came directly from the Lord Jesus.

- He had encountered the Lord personally in His post resurrection glory on the road to Damascus, where his commission began. Paul was free, able to exercise all apostolic liberty.

- An intriguing argument to the Corinthians however, was their own existence! Others could openly question Paul's credentials, but the Corinthians could not.

- Their spiritual health, their understanding of the Lord's Word, their gifting in the Holy Spirit, was facilitated by the Apostle's 16 month plus tenure with them!

- When one considers the work of a church, those within who have seen fruit borne in their lives can duly testify to the reality within. The Corinthians were "the seal" of Paul's apostleship.

- The “seal” was a mark made by a signet ring, usually in wax, indicating ownership and authenticity. This was the ancient way of insuring identity protection.

- The Corinthians themselves were the proof of Paul’s calling! Had he been a fraud, they would never have been established. He goes on.

• I Corinthians 9:3-6 : “My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?” : We will get a stronger sense of the opposition to Paul in II Corinthians but we see the seeds of it here.

- The language indicates that there were standing questions against Paul and this was his answer, his apologetic to them. He states it rhetorically.

- Don't we have certain rights? To eat or drink? To bring along a wife? The answer is yes.

- Notice his language. We have rights! This ties to what he had talked about in chapter 8. Paul's ministry brought him certain freedoms.

- Apostles, even from the earliest days of the church had the right to eat and drink, ie. from the support of the church, this extended to any family, ie. a wife, that would accompany them.

- The people did not object to supporting the brothers of the Lord and Peter bringing their wives. The Corinthians did not complain when it came to supporting these men.

- The apostles had all the freedom to enjoy support from those they ministered to and it was right for the churches that they ministered in, to provide for their basic needs.

- The Corinthians thought differently toward Paul and Barnabas. When Paul was in Corinth, he spent his days working as a tent maker with Priscilla and Aquia. (Acts 18:2)

- The Greek mind looked down on menial labor giving birth to the thought that Paul was inferior to the other apostles. "We don't have to pay him, so he must not be a real apostle!"

- But this is not what was expected in any other line of work. He gives them three examples.

• I Corinthians 9:7 : "Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?” : In wartime, soldiers are not expected to fight and then work a normal job so that they can afford their munitions!  We rightly expect them to be separated unto their work.

- The vineyard worker works for a wage and gets to enjoy some of the fruit. The same goes for Shepherds. It's interesting that Paul employs these three common jobs.

- An Apostle then and a Pastor now fights a fight for his people that they are rarely aware of. He labors to plant them so that they will bear fruit and he cares for them, that they would walk right.

- If you believe that these are worthy of a wage, how much more an Apostle? In your human experience, who works for free?

- Human experience aside, the law of God also spoke to this principle.

•  I Corinthians 9:8-10 : "Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.’ Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.” : Paul will not let it suffice to give only secular illustrations. He does not want to speak as a mere man so he quotes from Deuteronomy 25:4.

- The concept of that verse refers to the feeding of the animal that is working. That beast needs food to continue to work and it is right to feed it and satisfy it's hopes.

- Paul rightly understands that while God is interested in cattle in terms of good and right treatment, the purpose for putting this in scripture was to illustrate a spiritual point.

˚ "Since oxen cannot read, this verse was not written for them!"  Warren Wiersbe

- An ox would be fed. That was the hope. The one who plows and the one who thresh the wheat, sometimes the same guy, does so with a hope of enjoying some of the harvest.

- A worker in Christ needs to have that same hope, knowing that he does not have to leave the job of ministry for another job!

- The one who works should have a hope of partaking of what that work produces. There is a harvest that is coming and with it is an expectation of sharing.

•  I Corinthians 9:11-14 : "If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel." : Like a farmer, Paul had sown spiritual things in them?

- He had labored in the Word, spent time in thoughtful prayer, answered the call to counsel. Paul had sown spiritual things. These were spiritual things. It was done unto the Lord for their sake.

- Because that was so enriching to them, what were material things? To those with the correct perspective, this was not a big deal to part with.

- Spiritual value is worth at the very least, material value, though we know it's of greater value.

- Notice Verse 12: “Nevertheless we have not used this right.” It was right that they should take of whatever funds were available to them even as other had. Paul and Barnabas dd not!

- He would not take a living from the gospel lest that right hinder the gospel of Christ. This does not mean that others should not. In the case of Barnabas and Paul, they would not.

- For them specifically, there were dynamics involved that would have hindered their mission. One gets the idea that Paul was referring to the Corinthians attitudes.

- It's possible that they would have created a huge stink over Paul's action and muddied his reputation with their complaints. Aside from those particulars, every minister faces a similar decision.

- Some ministers have the opportunity to be fully supported and consecrated to the work, while others need other employment.

- Paul and Barnabas made this decision with the gospel in mind. They did not want to hinder, literally place a roadblock toward the progress of the gospel mission.

- His rights were akin to those of a Levitical priest who served and was given of the offerings.

- For those who have studied Leviticus with us, you will remember that the Priests were given part of the sacrifices for their food, territories for their homes and cattle for their families income.

- The people of Israel that they served were required to give toward that end.

- And if that were not enough, Jesus the Lord explicitly endorses the idea that His disciples should "live from the gospel." Jesus talks about this in Luke 9:1-6 and in Luke 10:1-10.

• Luke 10:7 : "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house." : How much more had the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel earn their living by the gospel.

• I Corinthians 9:15-19 : "But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that any one should make my boasting void. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel." : Paul wasn't saying this to manipulate them or change their policy toward him. He would rather die and I'm pretty sure that he wasn't exaggerating!

- For those who are truly called to the ministry, money is never the issue. They are not looking to make more than everyone else. They just need to make enough.

- Paul's heart echoes that of the truly called minister. He was forced to preached the gospel. "Woe is me" means "I am miserable if I don't." His priority was the Lord's work.

- "If I had the means, I would pay you to sit here and listen while I preached! I must do this. Everything in my life centers around the blessing to share God's Word."

- Paul knew that the secret to a great life, was to live out and live for, the call of God and toward any who work for the Lord, there is a promise of a reward.

- His reward was to present the gospel free of charge. In other words, It was enough that Paul had the chance to preach!

- For a man who had been a blasphemer destined for hell to preach about salvation and that he was going to go to heaven and you could to, was indeed reward enough!

- He did not want to hinder the preaching of the gospel, his ministry, by invoking and sticking to His rights. He did this to protect the integrity of the mission and to guard against himself.

- Paul was aware that financial support could help, but it could also hinder. He did not want to take the chance.

• I Corinthians 9:19-23 : "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ, that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” : The ministry of the word burned in Paul's soul and was going to preach it until his dying breath. He was free from all men, unbound by tradition.

- But, as a free man, Paul makes a choice to serve all because the payoff would be the possibility of salvation for some. The message was static but the method was dynamic.

- He would tailor his methods toward each group of people, so as to limit offense and maximize potential.

- He tells them this to explain his mission, as well as to defend against what some of them misunderstood for waffling before different groups.

- Paul explains that did not want to offend by using a method that would silence the message. So to the Jews he became as a Jew. To the Gentiles, a Gentile, the weak as one who is weak, etc

- He carried the gospel to each group in a way that gave them the chance to hear it best!

- This is a particular challenge in our day, when our freedom to speak about anything might seriously detract from the gospel message.

- In these highly charged political days, some might believe that the only way to be a Christian is to vote for a Mormon!

- Perhaps your platform is not a political one, but a moral one. Your freedom to promote certain values may jeopardize your voice to others.

- "I have the right to say what I want. That's called freedom of speech." Yes you do. Paul is saying that he wanted to be free not to speak if it meant a clearer voice for the gospel.

- He sums it up in verse 22: I have become all things to all people that I might save some! This is the focus needed in each of our lives when we consider what is at stake!

- Souls, lives, eternities are on the line and if I love my freedom more than those around me, the ones to whom I am called, then I will have missed the greatest opportunity.

- If they become republicans who home school their children and don't listen to secular music or watch television, then I've succeeded in changing the opnions of a person headed to hell!

- But if my message is the gospel, trusting in Jesus, repenting from known sin, then I have seen a soul changed, and let the Holy Spirit change their politics and moral life!

• I Corinthians 9:24-27 : “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” : In Pauline literature, there are about 12 allusions taken from the sports world.

- The nature of competition was to run for the purpose of winning a prize. Nobody shows up wanting to come in second. Everyone wants to win. This is why we keep score!

- He is saying that if I am going to do the work that the Lord wants me to do, then I had better live my life in view of the prize.

  - This is supposed to be our mentality. We are to live in light of what we are running for. Everyone athlete in the Isthmian games were temperate, self-governed, disciplined.

- They agreed to a very minimalist lifestyle, refusing certain foods, late nights and even sex! They were extreme! And for what? A crown that was given that was made of lettuce! LETTUCE!?

- Literally, without the aid of refrigeration, that lettuce crown would wilt very quickly. If they ran and prepared with great diligence for that, how much more should we run for the imperishable crown.

- Often times it comes down to this: What am I running for? Whose approval am I seeking? Are you living for something that will be destroyed in a matter of years or for something eternal?

- Paul equates his actions as akin to the athlete. By giving up his rights, he was disciplined and brought into subjection. Literally, treating himself like a slave, so that he would not be disqualified.

- Paul is talking about ministering the gospel to people. He did not want to lose his reward. The illustration has to be taken in context.

- The point is not to lose salvation, but rather to lose an opportunity and be out of the game!

Conclusion
- If the point of chapter 8 is that I will love God's people more than my rights, then the point of chapter 9 is that I will love God's program more than my rights!

- Let me suggest some statements that help us to focus our attention on the purpose of chapter 9.

- I will forego my rights in order that ministry to others is unhindered. Is the gospel hindered by your rights today?

- I will forego my rights for the sake of my reward. In some way, you can get the reward of your rights now or you can wait for one that comes from the Lord. Which do you value more?

- I will forego my rights for the sake of the possibility of someone's salvation. Need we say more? I have a feeling this says it all!