1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-172004 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: 1 Corinthians 9:1-17

FerventWord Narrator [00:00:00]:
You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2004.

Jerry Simmons [00:00:13]:
Last week, and I wanna continue to encourage you in that that, we need to pray for those things within our hearts, and we need to ask the Lord to show us things that we are doing that potentially could cause someone harm, that potentially could cause someone to be stumbled in their walk with Jesus Christ. Well, as we look at chapter 9, as Paul's talking about Christian liberty, he uses himself as an example of being free and having certain rights, but not doing it when it potentially could be harmful to those around him. And so Paul uses himself, and the practices that he had when he was in the city of Corinth, which we look at and we see in Acts chapter 18 of when he was there, when he was ministering with the body there. We learned from the apostle Paul in this portion of scripture to put the needs of others first. To not be so concerned about our rights and the things that we are free to do, but to be more concerned about other people's needs and how they can be encouraged, how they can be, really brought closer into a relationship with Jesus Christ. And so as we look at chapter 9, we'll see this, very clearly through the example of the apostle Paul. And As we do, I would challenge you again as I did last week to to think about the things that you do, and specifically for those that are close around you. Maybe your husband, your wife, maybe your children, maybe your coworkers and those who work alongside you 40 hours a week, maybe it's the friends and family that the Lord has you with.

Jerry Simmons [00:01:42]:
Think about the things that you do around them and with them, and think about the use of your freedoms in that context. How is the use of your freedom, the use of the rights that you have as a Christian affecting their personal relationship or their understanding of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for you? And so as we look at this, I extend that challenge to you just as the Lord challenges me that we need to be ambassadors, examples of Jesus Christ to the world around us. Well, let's read together. 1st Corinthians chapter 9 starting in verse 1. Paul says, 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. 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? Whoever 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? Do I say these things as a mere man, or does not the Law say the same also? Verse 9. For it is written in the Law of Moses, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. It is is it oxen that 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 a partaker of his hope.

Jerry Simmons [00:03:35]:
If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? Or 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. Verse 15. 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 anyone 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.

Jerry Simmons [00:04:29]:
For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if against my will I have been entrusted with the 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 here in chapter 9 as he continues his discourse on Christian liberty and how we ought to live and and use our freedoms very carefully, he gives himself as an example like I said. And he gives, well, he talks about first the the rights of an apostle, the right that he had when he was there to be supported by them. And he gives five reasons, five examples in his foundation for this for his statement here that he had the right to receive support. He gives 5 examples, 5 reasons why he had that right. Now, he tells us very clearly at the towards the end of those, verses that he did not use those those rights and that right to to be supported by them. But nevertheless, he had that right.

Jerry Simmons [00:05:33]:
He had the right, and he gives five reasons why. So starting in verse 1 actually, verses 1 through 6, Paul gives us the first reason. The first example is that he was an apostle. As an apostle, he had the the right to receive support from them, to receive financial support from them that he would be able to provide for his needs whether it be food or clothing or shelter. So he says in verse 1, he says, 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? He asked a series of questions here, but the obvious answer to the questions is, am I not an apostle? Well, yes, you are. Have I not seen Jesus Christ? Well, yes, you have. We saw that in or we will see that in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 verse 8 where Paul says, hey. When Jesus resurrected, he appeared to the disciples.

Jerry Simmons [00:06:26]:
He appeared to, you know, certain people. One time, he appeared to over 500 people at at one setting, and and then lastly, Paul says in verse 8, he appeared to myself as well. And we see this story. We find it in Acts chapter 9 where Jesus appeared to the apostle Paul and commissioned him and sent him out as an apostle. That's what the word apostle means is one who is sent. And in Acts chapter 9 when we see Paul's conversion, Jesus himself appears to Paul and tells him, hey. I'm calling you. I'm sending you out to the Gentiles that you might be a witness to me, to those, that are not Jewish, to those who are unsaved, Gentiles.

Jerry Simmons [00:07:08]:
So Paul was sent out by Jesus. So Paul establishes first in the first verse, hey, I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. But he also asked a question at the end of verse 1, are you not my work in the Lord? Going on to verse 2, he says, 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 says, hey. Even if other churches, other people, other regions don't consider me an apostle, to you, I am an apostle because the very fact that you're a Christian, the very fact that you are saved, that you're a body of believers is a testimony that God sent me out to do his work, that God sent me out to preach the gospel, to begin churches, to to plant those seeds, and and to build those foundations. Paul says the very fact that that you are there and reading this letter is a testimony to my authenticity as an apostle of Jesus Christ. In first Corinthians chapter 4 verse 15, Paul told the Corinthians that, hey. You might have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but only one father.

Jerry Simmons [00:08:17]:
He says, I have begotten you. Not that it was his work or he was the one who actually saved him, but God is the one, who sent Paul. And as God sent Paul to begin the work there, Paul became their spiritual father. Paul became the one that God used to reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So Paul says, I'm an apostle. The very fact that you're a believer, that you have a church there is a testimony, is proof that Jesus Christ has called me as an apostle. He says in verse 3, this is my defense to those who examine me in this. Verse 4, he asked a couple more questions in verse 4, 5, and 6.

Jerry Simmons [00:08:58]:
He says, do we have no right to eat and drink? Next question. Do we have no right to take along a believing wife as do also, other apostles, the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? And then third question, or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? So he asked a couple more questions. We're apostles. He says, as apostles, don't I have the right to eat and drink? Don't I have the right to be supported and be fed? He goes on in verse 6 and says, don't don't I also have the right to take along a believing wife? To take along if I was married, Paul wasn't married, but if I was married, don't I have that right to to get married and take along a wife in my missionary travels, in my journeys, in my ministry? And then thirdly, don't I have the right to refrain from working and just be supported by you guys, the Corinthians? Paul asked 3 questions saying, hey. Since I'm an apostle, since I've been sent by Jesus Christ, I have the right to be supported by you financially. I have the right to receive the room and board that I would be able to continue on in the ministry that God has called me to. Now the word right that he used here in all three of these questions is interesting because it's the same word that's used in chapter 8, but it's translated liberty. We looked several times in verse 9, in fact, lest, beware, lest somehow this liberty of yours, this these rights of yours, it it's the same word.

Jerry Simmons [00:10:34]:
Paul's talking about the same subject. He says, I have the freedom to be provided for by you guys. I have the freedom to take along a believing life. I have the freedom to refrain from working. It's my right. It's something I'm able to do. It's a it's a God given privilege because He sent me out to preach the gospel. Now he asked the question, hey.

Jerry Simmons [00:10:58]:
Don't I have the right to eat and drink? And the obvious answer is, yes. You do have the right to eat and drink. He answer asked the question again in verse 6. Hey. Don't I have the right to take along, a believing wife like these other guys are, the other apostles and Peter? Now we don't see that specifically mentioned in scripture, but we know from Paul here that that they would as they had wise and and, families. They would take them along with them, and and the churches that they were ministering at, and staying at, and working at would provide for them and their family. And so Paul says, Hey, don't we have this right? And the obvious answer is, Yes. You're an apostle.

Jerry Simmons [00:11:32]:
You have that right, Apostle Paul. And then verse 6, where is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? And the implied answer is no. It's not just you and Barnabas. You have the right to refrain from working, to devote yourself completely and totally to this ministry and the calling that god has given you. It's the right of an apostle that god has given you. He's given you that calling. He's given you those rights, those freedoms that go along with it. So as Paul is building his foundation here that he had the right to receive financial support from them and and to be provided for by the Corinthians when he was there, this is the first thing that he says.

Jerry Simmons [00:12:10]:
Number 1, I'm an apostle. Well, number 2, he goes on in verse 7, and he gives the examples of natural thinking of just everyday living, everyday life that he had the this right. In verse 7, he says, whoever goes to war at his own expense. That's example 1. Who plants a vineyard and does not eat his fruit? Example 2. Or thirdly, or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? So he gives the first example. Look. Let me ask you a question.

Jerry Simmons [00:12:44]:
Who goes to war at his own expense? Now he's not talking about kings and kingdoms, but he's talking about a soldier. A soldier doesn't go to war at his own expense. He doesn't pay the military that he would be able to go and fight and and die for his country. It's the opposite. Right? The military, the army, pays him and provides for, gives him room in board, and and pays for his his needs, and takes care of him, and gives him gives him different kind of benefits if you join the military here. You're very well taken care of. And the same thing was true back then. I don't pay you to go to war.

Jerry Simmons [00:13:18]:
You pay me to be a part of your army and to enlist, and you take care of me, and you provide for my needs. So Paul says, just as a soldier is that way, so is an apostle. That they don't have to provide for their own expenses because they're a soldier in the Lord's army. And these three examples that he gives, it's interesting because throughout scripture, we see them, in relation to or compared with a Christian walk where we know that the idea of of being a soldier from Ephesians chapter 6 as Paul gave us the the armor of God. Right? And so we know that we're we're soldiers in the Lord's army. And as such, it's God's responsibility to provide for us. And Paul would say that many times he would use the church, he would use the area where he's ministering to. Well, that's the first example.

Jerry Simmons [00:14:03]:
The second one he says is, who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who plants a vineyard? Who has a field? They plant the seeds. They they, you know, maintain it and prepare it and and reap the harvest, but does it have the right to to eat of its fruit, to eat of or partake of the things that it produced? Well, it's a silly question if, you know, you own the field, and you do the thing, and you bring it all up, and you reap the harvest, well, of course, you have the right to eat of its fruit. And that's Paul's point exactly. And then the third one he says, who tends a flock and does not get to drink the milk of the flock? Now, when I first read this, I was like, man, who would drink the, you know, the milk of the sheep? Why would you what's he talking about? But then I realized, oh, he's talking about goats. Goat's milk is different. It's okay. But he says, who tends a flock? Who, you know, who tends a flock? Who's the shepherd of the flock and doesn't get a partake of the milk of that flock? Who doesn't get a partake of the benefits of of shepherding that flock? And so Paul gives these three examples of everyday living that they would be able to understand and know that, yeah, you're right. An apostle, a minister of the gospel should be supported, should receive, back from from the ministry support and financially that they would be able to continue on in the things.

Jerry Simmons [00:15:19]:
Well, that was the second thing. The third thing the third example that he gives is verses 8 through 12. He gives the example of the law. Starting in verse 8, he says, do I say these things as a mere man, or does not the law say the same also? The Law. He's talking about the first five books of the Old Testament, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The books of Moses. He says in the mose in the Moses in the Law of Moses, he spoke about this, and he gives the example in verse 9. He says, for it is written in the Law of Moses, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.

Jerry Simmons [00:15:58]:
And then he asked the question, is it oxen that God is concerned about? Now the law could refer to the first five books or it could refer to the old, the entire Old Testament depending on the context, but this portion of scripture that Paul is quoting from is found in Deuteronomy chapter 25 verse 4. Deuteronomy chapter 25 verse 4. As god is laying down different laws concerning different things for the children of Israel, he puts this one in there specifically, and we might not think much of it today, but back then, it was significant. Because what they would do is as they were harvesting their corn or their grain, they would bring it into this area, which was called a threshing floor. And it was usually a round, kinda circular area, and they would put all the the wheat and everything in there. And they would have the oxen walk around in circles, and the oxen stomping on it and treading on it would break apart the outer shell shell, and and then all that would be left would be the the kernel, the grain, the the part that was good that they would wanna eat. And so then after that, they would, take like a like a shovel or like a pitchfork and and throw the grain and everything up in the air, and the wind would blow away the chaff. And we find that's what Gideon was doing in the book of Judges.

Jerry Simmons [00:17:15]:
Remember? He was throwing up the the grain, and the wind would blow away the chaff. And then the good part, the kernel would be a little bit heavier, and so it'd fall back to the ground. And so if you did it for a little bit, you would have, a lot of good fruit left, a lot of good grain and kernels left. And so as the oxen were walking around, now God gives this command, whenever you're having the oxen do this, don't muzzle them. Don't prevent them from eating, which means as they're walking around, allow them if they bend down their head and they, you know, get a mouthful of food and they're chomping down as they continue to work, That's okay. Can allow them to do that. Allow them to partake of the work that they're participating in. That's that's a god given right to to those oxen.

Jerry Simmons [00:18:00]:
So god put this law in there. Now Paul asked a question. Did god put this in there because he was really concerned about the oxen? He was concerned about, you know, the animal's rights and make sure everything's okay with the animals, and, well, Paul says no. In verse, 10, he goes on to say, 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 a partaker of his hope. Paul says it's not just for oxen. Yeah. I did, you know, specifically deal with that, and that's what, was part of God's concern, but it wasn't just for oxen. It wasn't just for the animals.

Jerry Simmons [00:18:43]:
It was a principle that God was giving that those who are are participating in a work should be able to receive from the harvest. They should be able to receive from the fruit of that. He says in verse 11, if we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? So we've been used by the Lord to bring you into the kingdom of God, to lead you into a walk with Jesus Christ, to really give you a new perspective on eternity and be impacted in a way like never before. He said, so is it a big thing? I mean, we've saved you from the depths of hell. Is it a big thing, Paul would say, for us to partake of your material things, to partake of financially the support that we need in order to continue and maintain the work of the Lord? Obviously, the answer is no. It's not a big thing. In verse 12, he says, 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. Paul says other people are taking advantage.

Jerry Simmons [00:19:52]:
Other people are using this right that they have in order to be able to be supported and and be, financially helped by you. He said, but if they have the right, then we have it all the more because, again, we are the ones who who did the work there initially. We're the ones that God used to to begin your your ministry in the Lord there, to begin your walk with the Lord. But Paul says, look, we never used this right. Even though we had the right, we never used it. We didn't partake of it. He says instead, verse 12, that we would rather endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Jesus Christ. He would rather endure the suffering, endure maybe the hunger, the heartache, the lack of shelter, whatever it takes, than hinder the gospel of Jesus Christ to to hinder the work that God had called him to.

Jerry Simmons [00:20:43]:
So the first three things we've seen so far. Number 1, he says I had the right because I was an apostle. Number 2, I had the right because natural thinking, everyday living just tells you that. The examples of war, the vineyard, the the sheep, or the the goats. Number 3, the law commands it. Well, number 4, he goes on in verse 13 and gives the example of the sacrifices, the temple worship. In verse 13, it says, 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. We looked at that a little bit last week as we talked about the pagan idolatry and the things that went on in the the pagan temples and as they were worshiping those idols.

Jerry Simmons [00:21:29]:
But just like the priest of the the pagan temples, the idol idolatrous temples would receive a portion of the alt the offering that was that was offered up on the altar, so too, the Lord did the same thing within the Jewish law. The Jewish priest, the Jewish people, the Levites who would be serving within the temple were provided for by the temple. They would receive the things that were offered up on the altar. They were also received, some of the different offerings like the grain offerings and and different things that would be brought in by the people that were commanded by God as a part of worship, but they would also sustain those serving within the temple, those serving and offering up those sacrifices for them. We see that, and if you wanna look it up on your own, you can look up Leviticus chapter 16 and also Numbers chapter 18. That's Leviticus 16 and Numbers chapter 18. They're just a couple examples of God providing for the the Levites, the people that served in the temple, in this way. So that's the 4th thing.

Jerry Simmons [00:22:31]:
The 5th thing the 5th reason that God that Paul says that they had the right to be supported by them is it found in verse 14, which says, even so, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. He says it's Jesus' command. It's his command that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. Where do we find that? Well, it's found in Matthew chapter 10. If you wanna turn there with me real quick, Matthew chapter 10. We'll jump back to first Corinthians in a minute. Matthew chapter 10. In Matthew chapter 10, we find that Jesus had just appointed the the 12 apostles or 12 disciples at that time.

Jerry Simmons [00:23:15]:
He gave them power over unclean spirits and to be able to cure sicknesses and all kinds of disease, it says on verse 1. And then he sends them out. He sends them out to spread the good news, to pronounce that the kingdom of God is at hand. We find that in verses 5 through 15 of chapter 10. As he sends them out 2 by 2, we find in verse 9 and 10, he gives specific instructions into in what they're to bring into the provisions that they should have. In verse 9, he says, provide neither gold nor silver, nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor 2 tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs, for a worker is worthy of his food. So Paul says, I'm sending you guys out 2 by 2. You're gonna go out.

Jerry Simmons [00:24:04]:
You're gonna proclaim the gospel, the good news that the kingdom of God is at hand. But here's what I want you to do. Take some extra money because you're gonna need it, and you might wanna bring a change of clothes. He says exactly the opposite. Take no money, no gold, no silver, no copper. Don't take any means to provide for yourself financially. Take don't take 2 tunics, just take the one that you're wearing. Don't take extra sandals or extra staffs or extra provisions for yourself.

Jerry Simmons [00:24:31]:
Because he says the worker is worthy of his food. The worker is worthy of his food. And so Jesus here gives us the example, gives us the command that those who are preaching the gospel, those who are sharing the ministry, of of the gospel of Jesus Christ are worthy of their food. They're worthy to be provided for and taken care of by the ministry that God has them involved in. Just as Jesus commanded, Paul goes back in verse, 14 of 1st Corinthians 9. He says, even as the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. So the 5th thing that Paul uses is that it's Jesus' command. God commanded that those who are ministering in the gospel should be provided for and supported by the ministry.

Jerry Simmons [00:25:18]:
So Paul established now his rights. He had the right as an apostle. He had the right because of the examples of everyday living. He had the right as laid out within the law. He had the right, also from the example of the temple and the the priestly worship, and also he had the right because Jesus commanded it. He had the right to be able to be supported and not work, but to be provided for by the Corinthian church when he was there. However, in Acts chapter 18, we find that he didn't partake of this right. In fact, he provided for his own needs by being a tentmaker, as that was his trade.

Jerry Simmons [00:25:57]:
And so he would work day and night. And in his free time when he was, able to, you know, to stop working so that he could preach the gospel? He would. He would preach the gospel, but many times he would work all night, and then that would leave him free during the day to be able to minister to the gospel. He was a very hardworking, tireless man because he gave himself all out to the work that God had called him to. Now as we look at these five things and as Paul established this right of an apostle, the the right of those in ministry to be able to be provided for by the ministry, it's a principle that continues to go on to this day, and it's a principle that we often talk about because we often take steps of faith. We often step out and say, what does the lord wanna do? It's so amazing just to see all the work that god has done within this fellowship and those he has sent out and those that he has, sent out just to crazy places that you would never think of, like Okinawa, Japan, Watsonville. Whoever heard of Watsonville or Idaho? Who wants to go to Idaho? What what possesses people to do this? Well, God comes in and he does a work. He puts a call and a burden within people's life.

Jerry Simmons [00:27:16]:
And it's not always easy. It's not always like, okay. Well, God's called me to go on this missions trip, and I've got everything planned out, and I got all the finances here, so I'm gonna go. No. It's usually more like, I feel like God has called me to do this, but I I don't know. I don't got the money, and I'm not sure exactly how it's gonna work out, but I just feel like this is what the Lord saying is I've been spending time in the word. He's been speaking to me about this, and I'm really called to do this. And it's a step of faith.

Jerry Simmons [00:27:40]:
And so we often say where God guides, He provides. Where God guides, He provides. Or as one of the youth guys said in Samoa one time, hey, if it's God's will, He flips the bill, man. He takes care of it. It's it's God's bill. He provides for you if if He wants you to be there, to go there, to do that work, to participate in it. Where God guides, He provides. Now His call is different within each and every one of our lives, isn't it? We're not all called to be pastors and teachers.

Jerry Simmons [00:28:08]:
We're not all called to to be missionaries, and to be in Okinawa or Idaho or anything like that. We're not all some are called and some of you might be called to to be missionaries and to participate in the work of the ministry. But we all have different callings. But even though we have different callings, the principle is the same. Where God guides you, He will provide for you. Where God takes you and where God wants you to go, He will take care of you. He will provide for you. You're in His service now.

Jerry Simmons [00:28:38]:
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you're in His service, and you're in His care. Now as Paul has laid out this kind of role or or, structure for for the ministry, these rights that the apostles and those partaking the ministry had, just in case you're wondering, many people often wonder, well, how does that work here at Living Water? Well, it works exactly that way that, we have 2 pastors here that are that are on staff. It's myself and pastor Cisco, and and, we don't get paid a lot, you know. We don't get a percentage. So, you know, if we encourage you to tithe more, it doesn't mean we get a raise or anything like that. It's not about money. But the the board decides, you know, and it's a fair amount. They just pray and seek the Lord, and whatever the Lord wants to do, we just do with that.

Jerry Simmons [00:29:22]:
If they give us a certain amount, and we say, oh, man. I don't know how I'm gonna live on that, but God has called me here. Praise the Lord because where God guides, he provides. It doesn't matter. It's not about money. Pastor Tom moving out to Okinawa. How is he gonna make ends meet? How is he gonna pay for his house? Where god guides, he provides. It's not all laid out.

Jerry Simmons [00:29:42]:
It's not all set in stone that okay. Well, it's all figured out and all the numbers match. No. It's a it's very much a step of faith. And so we want to remember, that God is big enough to take care of us, that we don't have to worry so much about the finances, worry about the the provision, because God has promised that he will give us food and clothing as we serve him and complete commit ourselves completely to him. So Sunday mornings when we take of the tithes and offerings, what does that go to? Well, it goes to the mortgage. It goes to the expenses, the electricity, and and, the things that just cost as you very well know that in your own household, there's many things that that cost. And so that's where it goes to, and then some of it goes to support those that are ministering here, myself and pastor Cisco specifically.

Jerry Simmons [00:30:31]:
And who knows who else the Lord will raise up and and continue to work in as the as the Lord moves. But then Wednesdays too, we have another offering. Right? And for those of you guys who don't know, we haven't really spoken about it, very much as of late, but the the Wednesday evening offering is completely dedicated to missions. And it doesn't go to the expenses here. It doesn't go to, you know, anything else here on this property, but it goes directly to those on the mission field, those who God has sent out from here. And I would like to use this opportunity to remind you and to encourage you, support those who God has sent out. Support pastor Tom and Joanna. Support Tim, and support Dylan and and, Dion over in Idaho.

Jerry Simmons [00:31:13]:
Support those that God has sent out from here by giving on Wednesdays because that that money goes to their support, goes to to be able to provide for them, their daily necessities. That they don't have to be a burden to the bodies that they're involved in there, but that we would provide for them just like the example that the Apostle Paul set. That he went out there not to be a burden to that area, but he was supported, by others, and we'll look at that in a minute. So where God guides, He provides. He takes care of us. He's in control. Well, going on in verse 15, Paul says, 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 anyone should make my boasting void.

Jerry Simmons [00:32:00]:
Paul says, hey. I have this right. He laid it out very carefully in the first 14 verses. I have the right, but then here in verse 15, he says, I haven't used any of these rights. In fact, Paul refused to use this right. He says, no way. I I'm not gonna let anybody support me and and have a claim to, you know, that I was trying to benefit somehow from my preaching of the gospel, that I was trying to benefit or or financially, gain from my preaching there. He says, I I refuse to take that gift.

Jerry Simmons [00:32:35]:
Now there were some that were within the church of Corinth, and we'll see them a lot more in second Corinthians. But there were some there who accused Paul of not being an authentic apostle at all. That he they say he wasn't a real apostle, you know, yadayadayada, so on and so forth. Now one of the things that they use in their arguments against Paul was his refusal to receive support from the Corinthian church. They said, well, look. Paul doesn't receive support from you. That proves he's not a true apostle. You say, well, what? How does it prove that? Well, they would say, well, by him refusing to receive support, by him not not being supported or not, you know, be take being taken care of by you, It was a kind of an admission by himself or a confession that his doctrine, the things that he teaches is really worth nothing.

Jerry Simmons [00:33:25]:
That it's not, you know, really true or not really of God. He's just kind of doing his own thing, and that's why he doesn't receive anything. Of course, we we know that to be true, but Paul talks against him specifically and gives us the reason why he would not receive anything in second Corinthians chapter 11. So turn with me real quick. 2nd Corinthians chapter 11. 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verses 5 through 15, Paul deals with these false apostles and explains why he operated the way that he did. Starting in verse 5, it says this. For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.

Jerry Simmons [00:34:11]:
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge, but we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you and in need, I was a burden to no one. For what I lacked, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied, and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows. But what I do, I will also continue to do that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as We are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

Jerry Simmons [00:35:16]:
Paul here is he's dealing with these false apostles. He gives them two reasons why he refused to receive, their support, why he didn't take from them financially. The first one he says is I refuse to be a burden to you. I refuse to be a burden to you. Verse 9, he says, and everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. I'm gonna continue that that same pattern. I didn't wanna be burdensome to you. I didn't wanna weigh you down.

Jerry Simmons [00:35:45]:
I didn't wanna, have a a toll on you and and have you be discouraged in the ministry that God was doing there in Corinth. And then the second thing He says is I also didn't receive it because I knew that there was going to be false apostles. Those who would come after me who would try to take advantage of you. Try to fleece the flock is, the phrase that we often use today. Try to take advantage of your hunger for spiritual things, your hunger and your desire to know more about God, and that they would take it advantage of you that they might gain financially. Paul calls it an opportunity that those who desire opportunity to be regarded just as they were. That they would take advantage of them financially and take advantage of them. And unfortunately, we do see this very often within the the church today.

Jerry Simmons [00:36:33]:
We do see this around the world, especially, you know, in different specific areas. And it's very unfortunate because people are being ripped off. People are being, taken advantage of because of their longing to know God. Their longing to to please God and to serve God. And there's always going to be those false apostles, but Paul said, I didn't do that so that you would know who they were. That those who came in and said, hey, I'm just like the apostle Paul, and you need to support me, and I'm not gonna do anything. I'm just gonna, you know, share with you the the hidden wisdom, the deep things of God that that you're unaware of. Now Paul would say, hey, we set the example.

Jerry Simmons [00:37:10]:
We already said it, and so you it's very easy to tell that they're not true apostles because they're just there to take advantage of you. That's why they were attacking Paul's claim to apostleship and instead promoting their own apostleship, instead of the apostle Paul's. So back in first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 15, Paul said, I I haven't used any of those things. I haven't used any of those rights that I had. Even though I did have the right, I didn't use it because I wanted to make sure that I didn't hinder, that I didn't take away from the gospel of Christ. I didn't take away from the calling that God had given me. In verse 16, he says, for if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me. Yes.

Jerry Simmons [00:37:53]:
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 will have been entrusted with the stewardship. Paul says, I I preach the gospel, but I don't have anything to boast of. I can't say, hey, what a noble person, what a good person I am because I preach the gospel. He says, no. The reason why I preach is because necessity is laid upon me. I have this burden that's been laid upon me, the Apostle Paul says. It's not an option for me.

Jerry Simmons [00:38:25]:
I must preach the gospel. It's a burden. It's a burning passion that if I try to hold it in, I I can't. I must preach the gospel. It's what god has called me to do. God had called the apostle Paul to be an apostle, to be sent out, to share the gospel, the good news with the Gentiles, and that's what he did. He gave himself wholeheartedly to it. Now my question to you and I is what is God called us to do? What is God called you to do and me to do? Every believer, every person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord has a calling.

Jerry Simmons [00:39:05]:
We have a purpose. That's why God has us here. He doesn't just save us and then we're raptured and that's it. No. He he saves us, but he leaves us here. Why does he leave us here? Well, because there's a a specific role, a specific part that we play within the body of Christ. Every one of us, we have our calling from God, something that we are called to be, to do within the body of Christ. We see this in Ephesians chapter 4, which we looked, at last time at the home study on Thursday evening, that you and I have a specific role, specific part to play within the body of Christ, and it's when we participate together, when we fulfill our role, when we do what God has called us to do that the body of Christ grows, that the body of Christ is edified and is drawn closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jerry Simmons [00:39:56]:
We all have our peace to play. I think of it like a big football play. Right? As Jesus Christ calls us in and huddles us up and says, okay, here's what I want you to do. Mel, I need you to go to this area. You're gonna be a powerful witness and example to me in the in this area, in that realm, and in this district. I want you, George, over here, you're gonna go to SBC, and you're gonna be the the Christian SBC worker, man, and you're gonna be an example. And one day, I'm gonna have you start a bible study, and you're gonna lead people to the lord. I'm gonna have you raise up your kids in godly ways, teach them how to fall in love with me, teach them how to walk with Jesus.

Jerry Simmons [00:40:33]:
Tim, Wunder, Eddie, I have these missions for you. I want you to go this way. Go around the corner there, cut left. You're gonna meet a guy, man. Tell him about Jesus. Tell him how much I love him. He's gonna smack you around, but it's okay. Just tell him I love him.

Jerry Simmons [00:40:46]:
God has it all orchestrated. He has it all laid out. Each and every one of us has our part to play, has our calling in this life that God has set us aside for something specific that we might bring glory to Him and play a part in the kingdom of God. Many times, and it's unfortunate, but I I think we have the attitude, at least I know I do, that I just add Jesus Christ into my life. Right? Oh, I got saved. Oh, praise the Lord. I just add Jesus, add church into my life, and I'm still going along doing, you know, what I already had in mind, already I already planned, and, you know, now it's just Jesus is a part of it. Where the opposite really needs to take place.

Jerry Simmons [00:41:21]:
I need to make Jesus my life. Jesus Christ is my life. I'm living to fulfill His calling for my life, and He has me go to this job. He has me go to this school. He has me go, and he's put me within this family that I might be his ambassador, that I might be a witness for him, that I might bring people and lead people into a closer walk with Jesus Christ. This was Paul's burden. This was his passion, and it should be yours and mine. Yeah.

Jerry Simmons [00:41:49]:
We're not all called to move to Okinawa or to Idaho or to Watsonville, but we're all called to make Jesus Christ our life here and now, and allow him to use us powerfully. What is your calling? What has God called you to do? And are you running for it? Are you pushing forward like the apostle Paul is here? So Paul says, I have nothing to boast of if I preach the gospel because it's my burden. It's my calling. It's what God has asked me to do. In verse 17, he goes on explain, hey. Whether I like it or not, whether I get some kind of reward or not, this is my calling. This is what I do, and and I'm gonna go for it because this is what God has asked me to do. This is what God has put in my life.

Jerry Simmons [00:42:30]:
This is the burden that he's given me. In verse 18, he says, 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 says, what's my reward? Well, hey, that I preach the gospel free of charge, that I don't charge anybody, it doesn't cost them anything because I don't wanna abuse my authority, my rights, the things that I have, the liberties that I have within Jesus Christ, within my apostleship, within my calling. Paul says, I preach the gospel for free so that I don't abuse my authority in Jesus Christ. Here in the first 18 verses of chapter 9, we see the apostle Paul first lay the foundation. Yes. I have these rights. But then he says, I don't take advantage of them.

Jerry Simmons [00:43:19]:
I don't exploit them because I'm completely solely dedicated and focused on god's calling in my life. And I don't wanna do anything to distract, to take away from that. I don't wanna do anything that would hinder those I'm preaching to from coming to know Jesus Christ. I don't wanna do anything that would stumble them or lead them away or distract them from Jesus Christ. Now as we close, there's 3 things I I'd like to share with you from the example of the apostle Paul that we would challenge ourselves with, that we would seek the Lord about. Number 1, do we need to surrender some of our rights? Paul was very clear in laying his foundation that, yes, he had the right to do certain things, but he laid aside those rights. He surrendered them so that the gospel of Jesus Christ would not be hindered, so that people would not be stumbled. In your life, in my life, are there rights that need to be surrendered? Are there things and liberties that we're doing or taking advantage of, activities we're participating in, places we're going that we need to get rid of? Because we need to remember, guys, you're the priest of the home.

Jerry Simmons [00:44:36]:
You are the priest of the home. You are responsible for teaching your children, your wife how to walk with Jesus Christ, how to stay close to Him. We were at a study on Tuesday morning at, Raul Rees' church, and the guy sharing was saying, hey, think about this. One day, you're gonna have to present your bride to Jesus Christ, and say, Lord, here's what you gave me charge of. Here's here she is. I've taken care of her. And it's a heavy responsibility when you think about I have to present her to Jesus Christ. Well, yes.

Jerry Simmons [00:45:12]:
It's my responsibility to make sure she's walking with the Lord, to help her, to encourage her, to lift her up, to edify her. Those of you with children, it's your responsibility to make sure that they're brought up and that they know what a relationship with Jesus Christ is, what it means to walk with the Lord. You can't force them. You can't make them make a decision, but you can show them. You can explain to them. You can lead them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. And so that's your responsibility. Now is there any rights that you need to surrender? Is there anything within your life, within my life that would take away from that? That would take away from my responsibility as a husband? That would take away from my responsibility as a laborer at paychecks where I work? I'm an example there.

Jerry Simmons [00:46:01]:
I'm an ambassador. I have been sent there by Jesus Christ. And am I participating? Am I doing anything that would distract, that would take away, that would discourage people from getting to know Jesus Christ? Does the use of my freedoms affect their view, their relationship with Jesus Christ? And it could be a a whole lot of things. It could be the conversations or jokes that you have. It could be the movies that you watch. It could be the places that you go. It could be a lot of things. The Lord will speak to you, and I'm sure He is speaking to you.

Jerry Simmons [00:46:33]:
What is it, if anything? And if nothing, well, praise the Lord. Continue to walk forward with Jesus Christ. But if there's things within our life, if there's liberties that we're taking advantage of, then that are distracting, that are taking people away from the Lord, we need to surrender those rights, surrender those liberties, and commit ourselves completely to the work of the Lord. That's the first thing. Number 2, it's a short one. Support our missionaries. Just as the apostle Paul was supported by those from Macedonia as he was in the church of Corinth, man, support pastor Tom and Joanna. Support Tim.

Jerry Simmons [00:47:08]:
Support Dion and Dylan and all those that God has sent out from here. Support him, number 1, in your prayers. Support him, number 2, by going and visiting them if the Lord allows or provides, but also support them financially. Give on Wednesday nights. If you can't if you're not here on Wednesday nights, you still wanna give to them, just write it on your envelope, whatever. This is for missions, this is for, you know, the Rees family, or or if, you know, there's particular people that the Lord has laid upon your heart. Because God uses us as the body of Christ to provide for each other. And so if the Lord lays someone specifically on your heart, if the Lord lays an area specifically on your heart, write it on there and we'll make sure as they not we including me, but they'll make sure that it gets to the right place.

Jerry Simmons [00:47:52]:
They'll make sure that it goes to the work that God has set it out to go towards. Because God is going to provide for them, and I believe He wants to use us. He's they're sent out from here. He raised them up here and sent them out from here that we might continue to support them. They're just not gone and, you know, out of our minds, but we need to support them. We need to provide for them. 3rd and last, we need to fulfill our calling. We need to fulfill our calling.

Jerry Simmons [00:48:20]:
Paul said, hey, if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of because necessity is laid upon me. This is my burden. This is what God has called me to do. What has God called you to do? What part do you play in the body of Christ? Fulfill it. Make that the priority of your life. Make that your life focus. Your life dream, your life goal is to do what God has called me to do, and that's it. No more and no less.

Jerry Simmons [00:48:47]:
I wanna do what God has asked me, what God has called me to do. And you might say, well, I don't know what God's called me to do. I don't know God's plan for my life, and and, you know, what role I play in the body of Christ, and chances are, we're not gonna know entirely anyways. He's not gonna tell us, you know, this is what you're gonna do for the next 65 years, less for some of you guys. But this is what you're gonna do. That was a joke. It's okay. Sorry.

Jerry Simmons [00:49:11]:
This is what you're gonna do and lay it all out. No. No. No. But he gives us right now, right here, what we should be doing, what our calling is, what he wants us to do, and the role that we play. Your role primarily is not the provider of your family. Your role is to love and serve Jesus Christ. And do in that, he will provide for your family, because he'll probably want you to be working.

Jerry Simmons [00:49:31]:
He'll probably want you to be involved in some type of labor, but it's not your choice. It's his choice. And so we need to fulfill our calling and ask Jesus, Lord, what do you want me to do? Because I wanna fulfill my calling. I want the focus of my life, the priority of my life to be to follow you and to serve you. You You might say, well, God has just called me to be a a husband and a father. Well, hey. That is a wonderful calling. Fulfill it.

Jerry Simmons [00:50:02]:
Man, raise them up in the ways of the Lord. Teach them how to fall in love with Jesus. Really fulfill your calling, not just provide for them and turn on the TV, but provide for them by showing them what it means to walk with Jesus Christ. Teach them how to fall in love with him. Teach them how to read the word, how to pray, how to spend time with the Lord, how to serve at church. Teach them, show them, be an example to them. We all have our calling, we all have our role to fulfill. And like I said, we don't just add Jesus into our life, and, you know, we do everything else like normal.

Jerry Simmons [00:50:32]:
We just go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, but Jesus becomes our life. That's the ideal. That's what it's supposed to be like. Jesus becomes our life. We live for Him, and we do whatever it is that He wants us to do. So number 1, pray about if the Lord shows you surrender your rights. Surrender those liberties that you're using if they take away from the ministry of the gospel. Number 2, support the missionaries that God has sent out from here.

Jerry Simmons [00:50:58]:
And number 3, fulfill the calling that God has placed in your life. That's the example that we see of the apostle Paul, and that's the example that we need to follow. Let's pray. Heavenly father, we thank you for the apostle Paul, Lord, and just the example that he gave us, Lord. I pray that you would help us in these three areas, Lord, to be diligent, to be faithful in all that you speak to us, God. If there's areas that we need to surrender our rights, lord, areas and activities that we're involved in that, lord, your word doesn't speak directly against, lord, but they're just not good examples of you. They don't lead people to you, and lord, it's causing others around us to stumble. Lord, I pray that you would help us to see those things.

Jerry Simmons [00:51:38]:
Lord, that we would deal with them and take care of them, God, because we don't wanna do anything to distract or take away from you, from your work, the worship of you, people's walks with you. Lord, we wanna do everything that we do to glorify you, Jesus. So help us, Lord, to surrender those things to you. Lord, I also ask that you would help us to remember and to keep in mind and keep in our prayers those that you've sent out from this fellowship, Lord, and the awesome work that you're doing, not just here in corona, Lord, but around the world. God, I pray that you would help us to be faithful to support them in prayer, that we'd be able to support them, lord, by visiting them, by encouraging them, lord, but we'd also support them financially, lord, by providing for their needs that they might continue on in the work that you've called them to do over there. And, Lord, lastly, I pray that you would help us to fulfill our calling. Lord, I pray that you would make it clear to us what you want us to do, where you want us to go, the calling and the gifts that you've placed within our life. Lord, make it clear, Lord, and if it's not clear, Lord, help us just to seek you.

Jerry Simmons [00:52:40]:
Lord, that you would be our priority, that you would be everything that we want, everything that we desire, everything that we need, oh, God, because we know that as we do that in your time, you will reveal to us your calling, your gifts within our life. So, Lord, help us to seek you. Help us to love you. Lord, we ask that you'd bless the women on their way down this afternoon. Keep them safe, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.

FerventWord Narrator [00:53:06]:
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