Sunday Morning Service

I Corinthians 16

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“Some Parting Wisdom” • 2.3.13 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Paul has completely answered all the questions and dealt with all that was objectionable that had come to his attention.

- This necessary volume concludes with very ordinary instructions. It is, on the scale of Paul's greater chapters, almost mundane.

- There are however, practical nuggets of wisdom that the Holy Spirit knows that we need. In these final 24 verses of I Corinthians, Paul provides us with wisdom for:

I. Giving (v.1-7)

II. Working (v.8-18)

III. Loving (v.19-24)

Text

I. Giving (v.1-7)

• I Corinthians 16:1-4 : "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me." : Concern for the poor of the church of Jerusalem was an integral part of Paul's mission among the Gentile churches.

- In Paul's mind, this was a great way to show the real transformation and unity of the church.

- The church of Jerusalem had suffered through persecution for their beliefs. As a result, many were scattered. In more recent times, a severe famine had hit the land as well.

- As the Apostle raised churches throughout Asia Minor, those churches became outreach oriented, in that they began to raise funds for the believers in Jerusalem.

- The Jerusalem church had been the launching pad for many of the other churches when it had been scattered by persecution. Now, the younger churches took their plight personally.

- To their credit, the Corinthians had asked about the collection. They wanted to know about how they were to give toward this cause. There are three principles that we'll attend to.

- First, they were to give with regularity. They were to give each Sunday and accumulate funds on a weekly basis until Paul came. Our giving to God should also have a regular pattern to it.

- Second, they were to give individually. "Each one" was to give. Every believer that worships in a church should give. Additionally, each one should give according to their income.

- There is not a set amount. One may be able to give much, another may be able to give little. Each however, is to give something in light of what they have been given.

- Giving should be a planned, purposed activity of worship that must be determined by the giver. It is decided before you come and deposited, given toward the Lord's work.

- Note third, that there was to be integrity. Paul was not going to hold a "special offering" when he came. He was simply coming to aid in the delivery of this gift.

- There is not merit in a preacher who consistently pumps the congregation for money. The Pastor is to administer God's Word and oversee the congregation's spiritual develepment.

- The man who feels he must beg for cash has not understood the call to the ministry. When Paul offered to deliver the money, he made sure that the Corinthians sent approved delegates.

- "Letters" would be official recommendation notes that were used in that first century. These letters documented the authenticity of the officer.

- Paul was not going to be holding this money on his own. There was a diversity of checks and balances that kept things above board. Paul's only role would be to supervise.

• I Corinthians 16:5-7 : "Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits." : For all the difficulty that this letter addressed, Paul still wished to see these brothers and he didn't just want to stop by.

- He wanted to have adequate time with them before he went on, hoping to be there long enough to spend the winter and then for the church to send him on his journey.

- This refers to practical need that the church would help to meet. What provisions Paul would require during his stay with them would come from the willing help of the church.

- But even the most casual visitation was under the direct supervision of the Lord. Paul lived his life by the notion that God's will was supreme and that what He wanted was most important.

- Is that your heart as well? Are you most concerned with what God wants?

- It's good to be reminded that we are to seek His will for our lives, to be directed in our course by Him. This doesn't mean that we pray about a choice between peanut butter and jelly or ham!

- Rather, we are to be open to God's direction, willing to drop our plans should He have another one.

II. Working (v.8-18)

• I Corinthians 16:8-11 : "But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." : After Corinth, Paul sailed across to Ephesus, which really provided Paul with a very different experience.

- Paul had planned to remain there until May because God had opened up a great and effective door. The word "great" is huge and "effective" refers to activity.

- It was not a slow time for Paul. He was very active in Ephesus, working well, teaching daily in the school of Tyrannus and seeing many come to Christ.

- For a full picture of what was going on, I'd recommend that you take a few minutes and read Acts 19 again.

- The Apostle teaches us that we need to seize the great and effective doors that God puts in our path. We need to pray to see them and then pray to seize them!

- Notice what Paul's focus is: He is focused on the doors that have been opened, even though there were many adversaries or opponents.

- Sometimes, it feels as though Christians will only accept smooth sailing and stress free lives as an evidence of a true work from the Lord.

- Unfortunately, at the smallest sign of an adversary, we assume a closed door! Sadly, nothing can be further from the truth.

- Biblically, through every great and effective door, there awaits a great and effective adversary! For every foray into the enemy's territory, there is an equal challenge.

- In Paul's case, there was a man named Demetrius, a silversmith that turned the entire silversmith guild against the Apostle and promoted the riot that took place in the Ephesian theater!

- Nothing in the Christian life comes easy, but is our focus on the adversary or the work that God can accomplish in spite of him! Thankfully, Paul did not quit!

• I Corinthians 16:10,11 : "And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren." : Timothy was Paul's right hand man. He would send him to various places to be sure that the churches were following the Apostolic order.

- He asks them to be considerate of Timothy, for the fact that he was a fellow worker in the things of the Lord. Paul wants them to reassure Timothy and to take care of his needs.

- Nobody should despise him, or as the NIV puts it, nobody should "refuse to accept him."

- Let him come and minister and then send him on his way to Ephesus.

- In a way, it's very sad that Paul had to say this, but this is yet another indicator of the sickness that had found it's way into the hearts of the Corinthians.

- They needed to be told to treat a worker in Christ with consideration. They had to be told not to freak him out!

• I Corinthians 16:12 : "Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time." : The Corinthians asked Paul about Apollos in their communique to him, perhaps probing the strength of their relationship.

- Paul had been in contact with Apollos, in fact, calling upon Apollos several times, with great urgency to go and visit the Corinthians.

- They were unified. These two men were working together toward the goal of the Corinthian's maturity, but the time was not right for Apollos.

- Notice that as a fellow worker, Paul respected God's ability to move in Apollos' heart. He voiced his opinion, but then let God do the convincing. In this case, Apollos disagreed.

- These men had made a commitment to this church, to watch it grow and flourish. They were hardly as divided among themselves, as the church had been divided over them!

• I Corinthians 16:13,14 : "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love." : Paul has talked about his work, Timothy's work, Apollos' work. Now, Corinthians, this is your work!

- "Be actively on the look out now!" Paul tells them that they have taken up a defensive position in Corinth. The sense is that the enemy would like to attack.

- Their position was right in the line of the fire, so it was imperitive that they be vigilant in their stand. Too many of us do not discern that we are in that same position until it is too late.

- We can be lulled into thinking that our position is safe because we have not seen much of the enemy lately. Perhaps he has given up! The Apostles words are strong medicine for us!

- "Watch!" Your enemy is actively scheming if he is not actively attacking! He is waiting for an opportune moment. He has not changed his thought toward you in the slightest!

- We are to watch, standing fast in the faith. We are to persevere in our faith. This is to be our attitude in life. I will walk forward in my faith. I will hold onto Christ!

- Be brave and be strong. Literally, the word "be brave" would be "show yourself to be a man!" Act like a man! It's biblical! Women, do the best you can! And be strong.

- You cannot help but see how much the Christian faith depends upon men and women who are the most resolute, the most courageous.

  - God is calling you to take on the attitude of the soldier who is defending every freedom that he holds precious. But how much more would we take this attitude, given what is at stake!

- Is eternal life not more precious and worth our most brave defense against the enemy?

- We are to have a soldier's attitude toward the enemy and God's love toward our brothers and sisters! Let all be done with love.

- When one is hurting, let love be the salve. When one is walking from Christ, let love be the corrective measure. When one is faltering, let love be the action that supports.

- The implication here is that they must go together to be effective. There are some who are brave because they don't care. Some fight like men because they are afraid of looking like less.

- Love is the motivation. Without love, none of these actions is worth much!

• I Corinthians 16:15-18 : "I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men." : Stephanas is part of the first group came to life in Christ among the group that Paul ministered to. He speaks here as a proud Father. "You know Stephanas don't you!?

- Listen to his household's enduring scriptural epitaph: "They devoted themselves to ministry!" What a testimony to have!? What will be said about your household?

- The AV says that this house had "addicted themselves to ministry!"  This household made a commitment to serve the saints of God in Corinth. What a great reputation to have!

- Paul exhorts the Corinthians to submit or arrange themselves, to fall in behind their service.

- Presumably these men, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus were all part of that house and when they came to Paul, they made up for what he had been lacking.

- They materially met needs that the Apostle had, but more important, they refreshed his spirit and the people of the church.

- They brought a calm over people. Their presence was soothing. No wonder Paul could endorse them and call the Corinthians to acknowledge them.

- Perhaps this is a good prayer to pray over our lives: "Lord, let me serve your church in a way that brings peace and calm to those I serve!" Those people are very much wanted here!

III. Loving (v.19-24)

• I Corinthians 16:19-21 : "The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s." : No matter how rough this letter got, the churches still sent their greeting. Aquila and Priscilla, people who were right there when Corinth began sent hearty greetings.

- You would think that after what Paul had written that these people would "hardly" want to greet them, but that's not the case at all. They sent a hearty greeting!

- Aquila and Priscilla met Paul in Corinth, having been exiled from Rome. Somewhere after meeting Paul, God used them to host a church in their home.

- Beside being an entire household dedicated to serving the Lord, Aquila and Priscilla were just as devoted to the things of the Lord as a couple.

- I would encourage each of you, whether you are a household, or a couple or a single. Whether you have a home or an apartment, be useful to God!

- All the brethren greeted them, including Paul, who took a moment to sign his name. This last section is a large last moment of encouragement. All these people greet you. They love you!

- Greet yourselves with a holy kiss! Be encouraged. You are together! Let's see what God will do in our midst! Everything can be corrected, the ship can be set right.

• I Corinthians 16:22 :  "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!" :  What is the purpose of a Christian life? Love for the Lord Jesus Christ! A Christian before anything else, must love Jesus!

- Love requires obedience and a desire to please. If a person does not love the Lord, they are indeed cursed, anathema, meaning, devoted to destruction.

- You can almost hear the exasperation of the Apostle Paul, breathing out the word "Maranatha!" Oh, Lord come!

- Perhaps you have said the same thing! As you watch men and women love the Lord, there is a great blessing to our hearts. The burden however is to see those who don't love Him.

- You and I want them to come to Christ. We pray for their souls and that their hearts will open to love Jesus. Sometimes, when that doesn't happen we just ask Jesus to come.

- Each one of us should be torn over this. Our friends and family need time to come.

- But as believers that are growing in love with Jesus, we can't help but desire our Lord's return! Oh Lord come!

• I Corinthians 16:23,24 : "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." : God's favor to you all in Christ Jesus! May God's favor rest on us as well.

- Paul's final words to the Corinthians was a word of love! My love be with you in Christ Jesus. For a church in as much trouble as the Corinthians seemed to be in, Paul still loved them deeply.

- Nothing was going to change that from his side. He had been severe with them, chastening them, even at the point of his own exasperation.

- But he said it all with love in his heart. That never changed and it should never change with us either. We will have to correct one another and we may have to be very direct.

- We can do so in a loving way and with a loving motive.

Conclusion
- We know that the Corinthians made some changes which we'll begin to examine soon, but let's imagine that they made them all.

- Corinth would have gone from a divided church, to a united church. Their unity would have been in Christ's leadership and God's wisdom.

- Corinth would have gone from being a defiled church, to a pure church. They would no longer tolerate sin in it's gross or sophisticated way of expression.

- Corinth would have gone from being a disorderly church, to an orderly church. They would seek each other's good first in all things practical, like the church meal and spiritual, ie. the gifts.

- Corinth would have made the transition from being a doctrinally errant church, to a doctrinally sound church, embracing the resurrection.

- They would be a giving church, regularly giving back to God. They would be a working church, recognizing that each had a work to do.

- Finally, and most importantly, had they listened to Paul, they would have gone from being a cold church, to a warm, loving church.

- Do you know what's great? Despite what became of Corinth, we have the opportunity to follow. May all of these good attributes be named over our church.