2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (NASB)
1And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain —
2 for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION” —
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
9 as unknown yet well- known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,
10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.
13 Now in a like exchange — I speak as to children — open wide to us also.
Introduction:
Theme: Five characteristics of effective gospel ministry so you will understand the devotion required of its servants
I. Gospel ministry requires that we work together with God for reconciliation vs.1a
II. Gospel ministry warns against receiving God’s grace in vain vs. 1b
III. Gospel ministry is conducted with a sense of urgency vs. 2
“The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this.– ‘There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God.’ — By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God’s mere will and in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment.”
Johnathan Edwards, Sinners in the hands of an Angry God
IV. Gospel ministry demands the utmost integrity and devotion from its servants vv3-10
A. God’s servants must not give offense vs.3
Offensive by our choices.
Offensive in poor habits.
Offensive by convictions to do right.
B. God’s servants must be fully devoted to the ministry vv.4-10
Triads of suffering:
Afflictions-Hardships-Distresses
Beatings-Imprisonments-Tumults
Labors-Sleeplessness-Hungers
Spiritual Qualities:
purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, Holy Spirit, genuine love, word of truth,
V. Gospel ministry opens itself up in love vv. 11-13
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