2 CORINTHIANS 6:6-102005 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: 2 Corinthians 6:6-10

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 2005.

What is Paul talking about here in the book of 2 Corinthians as we pick it up in chapter 6 this morning? If I could remind you, the Apostle Paul was writing to the church of Corinth because he originally was planning to go back through Corinth to visit them a second time on his missionary journey and he had to change his plans and so the

there were some false apostles and false teachers that rose up within the church there at Corinth and began to accuse Paul of some pretty horrible things and began to question his authority as an apostle and really began to rise up against Paul. And so 2 Corinthians, he's writing to them to remind them of his...

that he is called to be an apostle and refuting the false apostles and their claims and also sharing with them about why he was not able to go back as he originally planned through the city of Corinth. And so for the past couple of chapters, for the past few weeks, we've been looking at Paul's explanation to them as well as in chapters 3 through 6, Paul has been explaining to us all about ministry and what ministry is and why he was not able to come back through and all of that.

In chapters 3-5, we learned about the heart of ministry. Paul shared his heart in ministry. And a few of the things that we looked at were things like sufficiency from God. Knowing that sufficiency from ministry, the heart of ministry is not finding sufficiency or what we need within ourselves, but finding it within ourselves.

He also explained to us that the heart of ministry is the ministry of the Spirit, not the ministry of the law or of the letter of legalism. He also shared with us that the heart of ministry was manifesting the truth as opposed to deceitfully handling the word for some sort of personal gain or profit.

The heart of ministry was dying the death of the Lord that the life of Jesus might be manifest. The heart of ministry was giving all glory to God and that God would be glorified. The heart of ministry is having the eternal perspective and seeing things in the eternal scope and placing the values and importance on the things that God says is valuable and important. And finally, he shared with us that the heart of ministry is the aim to be fulfilled.

to please God. The aim to please God, no matter what their desire, everything in their life, is to please God and to bring Him glory. He also shared with us some of His motives within His ministry, within this ministry that God had called Him to. In 2 Corinthians 5, verses 9-11, He talked about the first motive,

which was the fear of the Lord, knowing that one day we will stand before Him, stand before Him to give an account of all of the opportunities and abilities and all of the talents and things that He gave to us and what we did with them. We'll have to give an account for how we lived our life with what He gave us and His call within our lives.

The second motive that he gave to us was found in 2 Corinthians 5, verses 12-21, which was the love of Christ. He says the love of Christ compels or constrains us to continue on to share the gospel, to be a part of the ministry that God had called them to. The love that Christ had for them, their response to that was their service in this ministry, as well as their love for the lost, because they...

God loves those around them that were not believers. God loved all those around them and because of that love, Paul says, we're compelled to

to share the gospel. We're compelled to preach the good news. So this ministry, the heart of it, the motives behind it, Paul's been explaining. What is this ministry? Well, he also shared that with us all throughout the portion, but specifically in 2 Corinthians 5, the ministry of reconciliation. The ministry of bringing people into right relationship with God. This is the ministry that

that Paul has been called to. This also is the ministry, as we discussed at that time, that you and I have been called to. Every single one of us. None of us are excluded if we're here, if we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. You and I are called to this ministry. We're left here. Jesus leaves us here. He doesn't rapture us immediately so that we can share with people

The goodness, the love, the mercy, the grace, and the truth of Jesus Christ. That we can introduce people to God, draw them to God, that we can be participating in the work that God wants to do in drawing all men unto himself. That's why we're here. That's why God has left us here. He's placed us here. It's the whole purpose for our existence so that we can share with others the love of Jesus Christ. That's the ministry that we've been given, the ministry of reconciliation.

Well, three weeks ago we started chapter 6 and we looked at the marks of a minister. As Paul is countering these false apostles, he's sharing with them, look, here's how you can tell who's a true minister of God and who is not. And he gave some marks, some characteristics that you would be able to know personally.

Who is a true minister of God and who is not? We looked at ten marks or ten characteristics, and they were, very briefly, 2 Corinthians 6, verses 1-5 describe them for us. But the marks of a minister, number one is that they minister in much patience, enduring circumstances and tribulations and trials and things in their life, but yet continuing to minister the gospel.

The second mark of a minister he shared with us was in tribulations. In the midst of persecution and affliction and things coming against them, they continued to minister the gospel. The third thing was that they ministered in needs, that they had hungers and thirsts and they had needs that needed to be met, but they continued to minister the gospel.

to focus on others, and to minister the gospel. And then going on, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, and in fastings. In all of these areas, all of these things going on, yet still the focus for the Apostle Paul, the focus for a true minister, the way that you can tell if someone is a minister of God, is when those things are present, yet the heart is to continue in the ministry of reconciliation, continue focusing on sharing the love of God with those around us.

That is the ministry that you and I have been called to. That is the ministry that we're called to give ourselves wholeheartedly to and to live our lives for.

This week, as we continue on in 2 Corinthians, we'll be looking at verses 6-10. And we see eight more marks of a minister. Eight more things that he'll share with us, characteristics that will be evident in the life of a true minister of God. Now, the first ten that we looked at in verses 1-5, those were external marks. They were characteristics and things we could see internally.

in people's lives as they went through situations and under what circumstances. It was external things that we could see. But these eight that he refers to here are internal marks, meaning that they're part of our personality and character, part of who we are. These are the marks of those things.

who are wholeheartedly given over to this ministry of reconciliation, who are true ministers of God. You and I, as we study these marks, need to understand that we are called to the same ministry that Paul is called to. We studied that and looked at that. You can get the CDs from the sound booth and learn it for yourself. Read 2 Corinthians 3-6. Paul outlines very clearly that we

We are a part of this. My life is to be lived to reconcile people. That's why I'm here. That should be the focus of everything that I do. And when that happens in my life, these will be my marks as well. These will be the things that are in my life, the characteristics of my life, of my personality, of my character.

Let's read together 2 Corinthians chapter 6, starting in verse 1 to put it back in context so we remember what Paul is saying. It says this in verse 1 of 2 Corinthians 6, We then, as workers together with him, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 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.

Verse 6.

Verse 1.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we want to wish you a happy Father's Day this morning, God. And we're so grateful that you allow us, that you include us in your children, God. That you've given us the ability to live

Lord, to become your children, that we might walk with you, that we might live with you. Lord, that you might lead us and guide us, that we might have a relationship with you and live for you for the rest of eternity. God, what a privilege that

that you would desire to know us and have a relationship with us, God. And so, Lord, we ask as our Heavenly Father, Lord, that you would speak to us now. As we open up your word and we study, Lord, what you have to say to us this morning, God, we ask that you would open our hearts, that you would reveal to us, Lord, the areas that you want to speak to us, the areas that you want to change us, God, the areas where we need, Lord, your touch and your power at work in our hearts.

Lord, we surrender ourselves to you. We ask that you would fill us with your Holy Spirit. It's in Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen. So we pick it up now. 2 Corinthians chapter 6. Now, he starts out in verse 1 and he reminds us

As workers together with him, he says, we plead you not to receive the grace of God in vain. And we talked about that three weeks ago. That he's not saying, well, what he's saying is that not to receive it and not accomplish anything with it, but to receive it and to move forward with it. To put the grace of God to work, to be productive, meaning to share the gospel with those around us. He says later in that, well, in verse 2, he says, behold, now is the accepted time for

Behold, now is the day of salvation. So for those who have not been born again, for those who have not received Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, today is the day of salvation. It's time to receive Him now. He's made today available to you that you might receive His love and grace and mercy.

And for those of us who have received his love and grace and mercy and received what he did for us on the cross, today is the day of salvation. So we need to be sharing and being active in this ministry of reconciliation. It's not tomorrow. It's not next week. It's not next month. It's not when the kids are grown. It's not when I retire. It's not when any of that takes place. It's today. Behold, now is the day of salvation. I need to be sharing with others now because they need to receive Jesus Christ.

So as Paul is sharing with us this ministry that we've been given, this ministry of reconciliation, the marks of a minister need to be in my life. Now they're not things that I can do on my own, but they're things that God does in me. What are these marks? Well, the first one, as he mentions,

in verse 6 is by purity. Now we looked at all the others two weeks ago or three weeks ago and so we won't continue on in that but starting in verse 6 what are the eight marks that God has for us today? The first one is by purity or blamelessness.

It's the idea that, look, I've been given over completely to the ministry of reconciliation, so I don't want anything in the way of this ministry. I don't want any unholiness, anything that would defile me, anything that would keep me from being able to minister in the way that God has called me to minister.

It reminds me of Daniel the prophet. You might remember in Daniel chapter 1 verse 8 when it says that Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. He purposed in his heart, I'm not going to participate in anything that would hinder my work, my call as a prophet.

This morning, I asked the question to you and me, have we done that? Purpose in our heart to be pure and able to minister. That I won't defile myself because I have more important things. I have this call of God, this ministry that he's given to me.

And so I cannot allow myself to be involved in the flesh or in the things of this world, in the things that are not pure, that defile, that would keep me from being involved in the ministry that he's given, that would keep me from sharing the message. You know, it's like the song we were singing earlier, Refiner's Fire. I choose to be

Holy, set apart for you, my master. That should be our choice. That song should be true in our hearts and in our lives. Lord, I choose to be holy. Whatever it is, Lord, that's not of you in my life, I want to be separate from that. That I would be set apart for you. That you could use me in whatever way you see fit. With purity comes power.

With purity comes power. You might remember the story of Lot back there in the book of Genesis as he was living there in Sodom and Gomorrah. Well, he didn't start out there. He pitched his tent kind of towards Sodom and got closer and closer. And next thing we know, we find him in the city gates and all of this sin was going on. We find Lot in a compromising situation. And when the message was given to him, hey, go share with whoever you can that judgment is coming. As he shared with people, they just laughed. They scoffed because

He had lost his power. If he had remained pure, if he had remained set apart, you can be sure that his message would have been heard. With purity comes power. 1 Peter 3, verses 15 and 16 tells us this.

Verse 16 says, Peter tells us there, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Set Him apart. Set Him up as Lord. Set Him up as God.

Honor Him that you may be ready to answer everyone who asks you a question. Why do you have such joy? Why do you have such hope? And that's what we're called to be. As Christians, we're called to be ministers of reconciliation, sharing with them about God. And so we need to be ready. We need to sanctify Him as Lord, to set ourselves apart for Him, to be pure and to be holy. And that's why in verse 16, He says, having a good conscience, that nothing would defile us, that nothing would keep us or hinder us, hold us back.

from delivering the message. You know, Paul shared there in verse 3 of chapter 6 that we give no offense in anything that our ministry may not be blamed. And we talked about that a couple weeks ago as we pictured ourselves there standing before the throne of God and

And none of us. We don't want people to be able to point to us, and this is what Paul was saying, I don't want people to be able to point to me and say, well, I didn't receive the message because he was involved in this, or he was doing that, or they said this, or they said that, they lived this way, even though it was contrary to what you... I didn't want any part of it because of that person, because of that ministry, because of what they were doing. Paul says, I don't want that in my life. I want to do everything I can

to present the gospel and not have anything against me, to be pure, to be blameless, that I might participate in this ministry that God has given to me. So, the first mark is by purity. Ministers of God will minister by purity. Are you willing to give yourself wholeheartedly to minister by purity? The second mark that he gives us is

Continuing on there in verse 6 is by knowledge. Knowledge. Now, this word knowledge is the idea, it's the word of knowledge gained by experience. It's not book knowledge, it's not knowledge I looked up in the dictionary and found the encyclopedia and found out the definition or information about it, but it's knowledge gained from experience, actually tasting, actually experiencing and going through the things that are known.

If you're going to reconcile people to God, since that's our mission, that's our call, you need to know Him. You need to know Him in a way, more than just, I read a book or someone told me about this, but I've experienced the presence of God. I know Him. I have a relationship with Him. That's what He offers to us. That's why He died, that we could have that relationship. And the ministry that we're called to is invite others into that relationship, but we cannot do so alone.

If we do not know Him, if we do not have that relationship with Him. Can you imagine sharing with someone, hey, God loves you. And they ask you, well, who is this God? What's He like? I don't know. Someone told me one time that God loves you and I'm supposed to tell you.

No, you need to know God. You need to have a relationship with Him and knowledge. That's why 1 Peter 3.15 says, sanctify as Lord, as God in your hearts that you might be able to give a defense. You might be able to share with people the love that He has within you. The second area of that though, the first is to know Him and to have a relationship with Him. The second area of knowledge is

ministering by knowledge is that we need to study. As 2 Timothy 2.15 says, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, knowing what the Bible teaches.

experiencing what the Bible teaches, living it out, having it played out in our lives. Because not only are we called to reconcile people to God, but as we're sharing with them, there will be questions. What does God have to say about this? What does God have to say about that? What does the Bible teach about this or that?

We need to have experienced God in a way that the Word of God becomes real to us, that we know, we've studied, we've shown ourselves a proof to God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, that we might be able to share with them what God truly has to say. It's our call, the ministry of reconciliation.

The true minister who serves out of a love relationship with God, knowing Him and experiencing Him. Are you willing to give yourself wholeheartedly to minister by knowledge, to knowing Him and to studying His Word?

The third mark that he goes on to tell us in verse 6 is by long-suffering. By long-suffering. That's a word we really enjoy. It's a word that just really excites us when we think about it, right? Long-suffering. It's a great word. No, we don't really particularly like this word. It's not a word we use very often. Long-suffering. What is it? Well, it's a word that we use

It's the idea of self-restraint. Self-restraint of the mind before it gives room for action. It's the idea of self-control. It's used of a person who has the power to avenge himself yet refrains from the exercise of this power. Someone who has the power, the ability to

Maybe even the right to avenge himself or themself. And yet they refrain from doing so. That's long-suffering. Now, in verse 4, a couple weeks ago, we talked about patience. And patience is very similar to long-suffering. It was endurance through circumstances.

Endurance through trials and tribulations and things in life. But this long-suffering, this idea, this aspect of patience that Paul is talking about here is endurance towards people. Being long-suffering. Being irritated and aggravated and poked and pricked and all the things you can think about, but not striking back. Not avenging self. Not biting back. Not saying all the things, you know, the great one-liners that we have and all of those things. Not...

Not avenging ourselves. Long-suffering. Jesus modeled this for us. In Matthew 26, 53, he reminded the disciples, as Peter is desiring to be active and chopping off people's head, but he wasn't a good shot. He only got an ear. But Jesus said, look, don't you know that if I wanted to, I could call 12 legions of angels and they could just wipe everybody out in an instant?

Jesus had the power to avenge himself, but he held back. He was long-suffering.

He modeled it for us. Unlike his disciples, you remember James and John. It was sometime earlier than when Jesus was going to be crucified. He's out there preaching the gospel. He goes to a particular city and they don't really receive him. They don't receive what he has to say. They don't let him stay there. And so they continue to move on. But James and John go to Jesus and say, hey, Lord, they didn't receive you, man. And we're kind of mad about that. So can we call down fire from heaven just like Elijah did and just wipe them out?

And Jesus said, no, you don't know what kind of spirit you're of. That's not the spirit of God. That's not what God would have us to do.

Long-suffering. To endure. The power to fight back, but you do not. The great one-liner comebacks, but you hold them back. The ability to inflict pain or cause trouble, but you do not. Long-suffering. You know, it's the idea of if you ever had a couple pets, and I remember watching, I don't remember if it was my mother-in-law's or what, but there's a big dog and a little dog, right? And the little dog's just bugging like crazy and snarling.

nipping at the big dog and bugging and jumping all around it. And the big dog just kind of sits there. It has the power to just crush it, you know. But it just kind of sits there and just lets its long suffering. That's how we're to be. When people irritate and pick and poke us, prick and poke us and irritate us and jab at us and say evil, wicked, vile things about us. But to be long suffering, to have the power to fight back, but to not.

The fourth mark, the fourth characteristic is by kindness. By kindness. What is kindness? Well, kindness, this word carries with it, well, what it means is having the harmlessness of a dove.

The harmlessness of a dove. It's the removal of anything harsh. You ever seen an attack dove? You know, it's got the gear on and everything. It's, argh! No, there's no attack dove. Harmlessness as a dove. We're to be kind in that way. To be harmless. To remove the harsh things from our life. That we might be able to share the gospel. That we might be able to

to minister in this ministry of reconciliation. Kindness to our friends, kindness to our enemies, kindness towards those who persecute us, kindness towards those who hate us, kindness to our families, which sometimes can be more difficult than all of the above. Kindness, the removal of anything harsh that we might be able to participate in this ministry. Are you willing this morning to give yourself wholeheartedly to minister by kindness, to minister by long-suffering, to minister...

by knowledge, to minister by purity. Are you willing this morning to give yourself wholeheartedly to this ministry that we've been called to? The fifth characteristic, continuing on there in verse 6,

He says, by the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit. Now this is an interesting one. You might remember back in Acts chapter 6, there was a situation within the church that some of the widows were complaining because they weren't getting a fair share of the distribution of food and goods and things that they needed. And so they came to the apostles and they made their complaint known. And so they said, okay, well, here's what we'll do. You guys, pick out seven men

who are full of wisdom and full of the Holy Spirit. And they'll manage and distribute and take care of these things. The criteria that they had, one of them was that they be full of the Holy Spirit. Paul says here, a true minister, a minister of God, is going to minister by the Holy Spirit. But I find this interesting because

According to the scriptures, anybody who has received Jesus Christ, anybody who has been born again, has the Holy Spirit. And anybody who does not have the Holy Spirit...

is not born again, is not saved, is not a Christian. Romans chapter 8 verse 9, But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. So for every person who is a believer, every person who has been born again, the Holy Spirit is there. So why was that a criteria in Acts chapter 6? Why is that a mark of a minister here in 2 Corinthians 6? Well,

Remember the disciples. Let's look back for a moment. Matthew 28, where Jesus is saying, Go. I have all authority and power in heaven and earth. Go. Go minister. Giving you this ministry of reconciliation, the same ministry that you and I have been given. He sends them out. He says, Go. Over and over again, he tells them to go. Make disciples. Do the work. Share with them about me. But in Acts chapter 1,

After he's told them to go, after he's told them all these things and encouraged them, look, you need to go, and you need to go, and you need to go. He says, you need to wait, in Acts chapter 1, verses 4 and 5. To wait for what? For the baptism of the Holy Spirit. See, it's not just receiving Jesus Christ and having the Holy Spirit indwell within us that Paul is talking about here in 2 Corinthians 6.

but it's the mark of someone who's been baptized in the Holy Spirit, of someone who has the power of the Holy Spirit upon their lives. That's what Jesus told the disciples to wait for because they could not complete their commission, they could not fulfill the ministry of reconciliation unless they had been filled with, baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit.

He gave them the commission, but he told them to wait until they've been baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was that important. Jesus told them to go. That's God's priority. That's his passion. But he told them to wait. You need to be empowered with the Holy Spirit. Every true minister of God will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Will have given their lives over to the Holy Spirit. That he might have full reign in their heart. The Spirit's leading, teaching, speaking, changing, empowering people.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And we need to be submissive to what He speaks to our hearts.

What do we do to receive this power? How do we get this mark? Well, Luke chapter 11, Jesus tells us all we need to do is ask. Just simply ask. It's not something that we have to arrive at, but we just simply ask. We give our lives to God and we ask. Ask God to fill us with the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to give yourself wholeheartedly to minister by the Holy Spirit, allowing God's power to flow through you, God to direct you, lead you, and guide you?

Mark number 6, there at the end of verse 6, he says, by sincere love. Sincere love. Now, the word sincere means to be genuine. Literally, it's a great word because it means to be unskilled at acting. In other words, it's a love that's real because even if you tried to fake it, it wouldn't be good. You're not skilled at acting and so the love that you demonstrate, the love that you show is genuine.

And of course, this love that he's talking about is not just any old plain old love that we talk about all the time, but it's agape love. It's God love. It's unconditional love. Perfect love. This love is a result of the Spirit at work in our lives. Galatians 5.22 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love. The fruit of the Spirit is love. So,

It's the result of the Holy Spirit at work like we've just been talking about. But it's also a choice and a commitment just like within a marriage. It's a choice that I'm going to love you no matter what, unconditionally till death do us part. That is the choice. That is the commitment that we must make as ministers of reconciliation that no matter what happens, no matter what you do to me, no matter what my co-workers and family and friends and whatever they say, whatever they do, however they come against me, no matter what, unconditionally, I'm going to love you

I'm going to love them that I might be able to share the gospel with them. I don't care if they rip me off. I don't care. Whatever they do, I'm going to love them unconditionally so that I can share the gospel because eternity is at stake for them.

Paul said that love was one of the motives of ministry there in 2 Corinthians 5. So of course it's going to be a mark, a characteristic of the minister of God. We share the message of reconciliation out of true love for people, wanting what's best for them, wanting them to spend eternity with God, wanting them to receive Jesus Christ and all that he has to offer. And there's no room within this love to kind of pick and choose who we want to love and who we would prefer to love. No, it's an

unconditional, all-inclusive, if I'm going to love, that I'm going to love. It doesn't matter who, it doesn't matter when, it doesn't matter where, I'm going to love unconditionally. That is the mark of a true minister of God. The mark of one who desires to be part of the ministry of reconciliation, that people might know God no matter what.

Are you willing to give yourself wholeheartedly to minister by sincere, unconditional love for those around you? In verse 7, he gives us the seventh mark, and that is by the word of truth. God's word will be the focus for every true minister. Every true minister of God will have at his heart the word of truth. It will be...

The center of his life. Now, false prophets, as there were there in 2 Corinthians, there are many around today, they're very good at tickling ears and telling us what we want to hear and telling us what makes us feel good. And that's the new thrive in the church world today. The seeker-friendly, you know, just make people feel good and that's what we need to do.

That's the false apostles, false prophets' ideas. They tickle ears, tell people what they want to hear. It sounds good. Oh, when I think about it, yeah, it makes sense, you know. I like to hear it. But if it's not true to the Word of God, if it's not the whole counsel, if it's not what God has to say, then there is a problem. It's not the Word of truth.

Now it's the word of man, the philosophies of man. The true minister of God ministers through and in the word of truth. The message that they deliver is from the word. It's from what the Bible says. It's from what God has to say. And their life is governed by the word. They live it out. It's not just something that they teach or preach or read on a daily basis or once a week, but it's something that's acted out. It's something that's put into practice. The truth.

The word of truth needs to be in our lives as ministers of reconciliation. Are you willing to give yourself wholeheartedly to minister by the word of truth? The eighth and final mark of a minister of God. He says, they minister by the power of God.

By the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 18, Paul tells the Corinthian church earlier in their previous letter that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

The message of the cross. It's what we've been given. It's the message, the ministry of reconciliation, delivering this message that Jesus Christ died. He shed his blood that your sins might be forgiven, that you might come into right relationship with God, that you might live for eternity with him. All you must do is receive and believe. Believe in him and receive what he has to offer.

That's the message of the cross. It's foolishness to those who are perishing. If you're here and you say, foolishness, that's because you're perishing. But if you're here and you say, that's the power of God, it's because you're being saved.

You understand that that is what our life is all about. Jesus died for us. That's why we can live. That's why we can walk. That's why we have hope. That's why we have something to look forward to. It's the power of God. Romans 1.16, Paul said something very similar. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

because it's the power of God unto salvation. I'm not ashamed of it, Paul says. It is how people are saved. It's how you get to heaven. Jesus Christ died. You must believe. You must be born again. There's no other way. It's the message of the cross. It's foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God. And the mark of a true minister is that they will minister by the power of God, the gospel message.

Remember in Matthew 28, 18, Jesus said, All authority or all power in heaven and earth has been given to me. All power, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. So go. We need to understand that God's passion, God's desire, God's purpose is that people might know him. That's his primary concern. That's what he desires. And so when we...

When we step out in the ministry of reconciliation, when we go, and our desire is that people might know God. Accompanied with us, we're not alone, is the power of God. He says, I'll give you all authority, everything that you need to fulfill the ministry that I've called you to do. I'm going to give it to you. You're going to see doors open that you never thought would open. You're going to see power at work that you never thought could be possible because you're doing what I'm passionate about, because you're ministering

that people might know me, that people might receive me. Mark chapter 16, Jesus told his disciples as he sends them out, he says, and these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. There will be miracles as you step out to do the work that God has called us to do because that's what he's passionate about.

And he gives you all authority and all power to do the things that he's called you to do. And he says, go. Go, be a part of this ministry of reconciliation. The mark of a minister, if you're really seeking God, if you're really ministering in this ministry that he's given to us, if you're really sharing the gospel, his power is with you. His power is with you. All authority on heaven and earth has been given to him to give to you that you might tell people how much he loves them, that you might share the gospel.

Are you willing to give yourself wholeheartedly to minister by the power of God, to share the gospel message to those around you? These eight characteristics, Paul says, these are the marks of a minister of God. This is how you can tell a true minister and a false minister, a true prophet and a false prophet, a true apostle and a false apostle. The false apostles there in 2 Corinthians, they wouldn't measure up.

Three weeks ago, we looked at the first ten things. They wouldn't measure up. In those trials, in those circumstances, they wouldn't measure up. In these characteristics of personality and integrity and character, they wouldn't measure up. The question is, do we measure up? Now, he goes on as he gives these eight characteristics to us. Now, he goes on there in verse 7. He says, "...by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left."

And I don't include this in the eight characteristics because he uses a different word than what he's been using all along. As he started out saying in verse 4, in much patience and tribulations and needs and distresses, that word in, in the Greek is the word en, it's e-n, but it means to be...

in a fixed position. It's a constant thing. And so, those who are ministers of God are constantly in this position, which is much patience, which is tribulation, which is, as we go on, starting in verse 6, by purity, that word by, it's the same word. It's the word end. So, a minister of God is always in a fixed position of purity.

of knowledge, and so on and so forth. But the word that he uses here for by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left is a different word. And it's a word that denotes through or like a channel. So it's a different word. It's not a fixed position, but it's more like a channel. He says, listen, we minister and these marks are the proof that we're ministers of God.

And we minister through all types of circumstances. Here he says, we minister through doing what's right on all sides. The armor of righteousness on the right hand, the right hand, and on the left. Doing what's right on all sides. It's your protection as well as your weapon. It's your armor, but that word armor could be offensive and defensive. The way that you accomplish God's work as a minister is by his righteousness, by doing what's right.

uprightly. In verse 8, he goes on, by, it's the same word, through this channel, through,

Through honor and dishonor. That word honor is recognition that's belonging to a person. And there is recognition that belongs to people. There is honor that is due. In 1 Timothy 5.17, Paul tells Timothy, hey, make sure elders are counted worthy of double honor. That they receive the honor that is due them. But what Paul is saying here is that, look, it doesn't matter if we receive that honor or not. Through honor or dishonor, we're going to continue to minister honorably.

With this calling that God has given to us, the ministry of reconciliation. Whether you receive the proper recognition or not, do the things that God has asked you to do and called you to do. Those who only serve and only minister when they receive the proper recognition that they feel they deserve, they're not true ministers. They're selfish. They're seeking their own glory. They're seeking their own satisfaction. They're not seeking the glory of God. That's not a true minister of God.

But a true minister, Paul says, they serve honor, dishonor, it doesn't matter whether they receive the recognition or not. True ministers are concerned only with the glory of God and not their own. Continuing on, he says, by evil report and by good report. Same word, it's through this channel. Hey, even through evil reports and even through good reports, we continue to minister and these marks will be evident. Whether it's an evil report or a bad, it doesn't matter what people say.

Who are you trying to please? If you're trying to please God, then it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what people say. If you're trying to please men, then of course it matters what they say. But Paul says in Galatians 1.10, look, if I still wanted to please men, if I was trying to please men, I wouldn't be a servant of God. I wouldn't be a minister of God because I can't be a minister of God and please all men.

But I can be a minister of God and please God. And so that's what I seek to do. So if it's an evil report that they give about me, it doesn't matter. What does God say about what I've done and what I'm doing? That's what matters. Someone shared with me a while back, or I read it in a book somewhere, I forget, but they said that it's a good idea not to worry about what people say, whether good or bad.

But just simply worry about what God says and try to please Him. That's what we need to do. Ministers, true ministers, evil report, good report, doesn't matter. But they continue on in what God has called them to do. It doesn't matter what people say. I'm going to do what God has asked me to do. Hey, even if it means ministering to those who are giving the evil report about me, I'm going to do what God has called me to do.

Then he goes on there in the rest of verse 8 and verses 9 and 10, and he shares some of those reports, the reports that have been said about them and what people have to say about them. He says, as deceivers, yet true. They're reported as deceivers, Paul and his disciples and those who are with him sharing the gospel. The word on the street is that they're deceivers.

that there are people there to deceive and to lead astray. It happened often to Jesus and to Paul, but they still ministered. Even through those evil reports, they still ministered the gospel. Remember in Matthew 12, verse 24, when the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, by Satan, by the Lord of the Flies.

Yet Jesus still continued. It was a false message. It wasn't true what they said. They said that he was deceiving everybody, but what he was and what he said was true. What he did was right. And he continued to minister. He was reported as a deceiver, yet he was true.

In Matthew 27, 63, the scribes and Pharisees came to Pilate after Jesus had been put in the tomb and they said, hey, we remember this deceiver, what he said was that he would rise in three days. So let's put a guard there so that we can't be deceived or people cannot be deceived. But what Jesus said, he wasn't a deceiver. He was saying and telling the truth. He did rise three days later.

Verse 9 goes on to say, as unknown and yet well-known. They're reported as unknown, reported as nobodies. Remember in Matthew chapter 13 when Jesus was there ministering and they said, hey, isn't this the carpenter's son? Why should we listen to him? Why should we hear what he has to say? Aren't his sisters here with us? He's a nobody. He's reported as unknown, yet he was known by God. He still ministered. He still ministered, even though

They would say those things. Even though those evil reports were going on, he still ministered. As dying, going on there in verse 9, and behold, we live. Guess what? Jesus was reported as dying because he did die. But behold, he lives. He's alive. He rose again three days later. It doesn't matter what's reported. Remember Paul too? He was stoned.

Not on drugs or anything, but he was drug out of the city and they threw rocks at him. So they thought he was dead. They left him out there dead. But he got up again. And guess where he went? He went back into the city because his heart was there to minister. He was reported as dead, but he lived and he still ministered in that ministry of reconciliation, reported as dead. People will try to kill you. People will try to kill the work that you're doing, but continue to minister, still minister, minister.

Going on in verse 9, as chastened and yet not killed. Again, beating, being beaten, being broken, persecuted, yet not killed. Still ministering, doesn't matter. Hey, you hit me with a rod, that's okay. I love you. Jesus loves you.

He wants to spend eternity with you. Sharing the good news of the gospel, that's the mark of a true minister. Verse 10, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing. They're reported as sorrowful, as sad, pathetic. Reported as having a ministry of doom and gloom. Paul says, look, we're always rejoicing and we're still ministering. We're still ministering. This is a bad report, but we're still ministering through this. It doesn't matter. God's name is being known. God's word is being shared.

As poor, yet making many rich. Reported as poor, they don't have anything valuable, they would say. They don't have anything worthwhile, nothing you should really waste your time on. But they were making many rich because true riches are found in Christ, not in the things of this world. The things that will last for eternity. Talk about long-term investment. The things of God, they last forever. So Paul says, hey, we're reported as poor, we don't have anything, but we make many rich.

As having nothing, he goes on to say, and yet possessing all things. They're reported as having nothing. Yet, ministers of the gospel have everything they need. That's God's promise because all authority has been given to him on heaven and earth that we might accomplish this ministry, bringing people to God, reconciling them with God, introducing them to God. And in this ministry, he will provide for us everything that we need.

as we step out and fulfill it. Everything that we need will be taken care of. Our food, our clothing, our shelter, everything we need, God will provide. Philippians 4.19, Paul tells the Philippians in their gift to him, that was a sacrificial gift, they couldn't afford it, but they gave because they wanted to be a part of the ministry of reconciliation that God was doing through Paul. He says, listen, my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God will supply every need and

As you step out to do the things that He's called you to do, He's passionate about lost souls. He's passionate about people getting to know Him. And as you and I do that, we might be reported as having nothing, but behold, we have all things. All things. He gives us everything that we need. That's why Paul said earlier in Philippians 4, I've learned to be content. God provides my every need. He meets everything I need. My goal, my focus should not be on all of my needs, but my focus should be on all of those who need.

And let God take care of me. He'll take care of me. He provides for me. He promises He does and He always will. So where do you stand this morning? Where do I stand? These are the marks of a minister. And we've been called to the ministry of reconciliation. You and I have been commissioned by God. Tell people about me, He says. Every single one of us. There's none of us excluded. These are the marks of a true minister. Are these marks real?

Are these characteristics in your life? Are they in my life? Do we have these marks? Do we have these characteristics? Are we truly fulfilling the calling that he's placed within us? Do we live our lives, the whole purpose of everything that we do, whether we're at work or at home or with friends or at the supermarket, wherever, to bring people to the knowledge of God, to reconcile people? It's the ministry. It's why we exist. Are you fulfilling your calling?

Now, I'm sure, like me, you can find many of these areas where you don't measure up, where these don't describe you. So what do you do? Do you wait for these marks? Well, I'm waiting to be pure, and then I'll be able to serve the Lord. I'm waiting to be long-suffering. It's very difficult for me, so I'm working on that. I'm taking some counseling classes and doing some things so I can be long-suffering. No, listen, that's an excuse.

You do not wait. When is the accepted time? When is the day of salvation? It's right now. It's today. Don't wait. Today is the day of salvation. You need to share with people the goodness of God, the love of God, that He loves them. You need to share with them the gospel message, the message of the cross. No more excuses. No need to wait. Our purpose, our focus should not be our own selves.

but should be the glory of God in those around us. Start ministering now and ask God to do the work. He will. It's a work only God can do anyways. If you worked at it for a million years, you still wouldn't be long-suffering. You still wouldn't be pure. You still wouldn't have knowledge of God if you did it on your own. It's got to be a work of God. You can't just determine to change. You can't do it on your own.

God calls us to focus on others, to minister to others, to reach out to others, to teach them about him, to lead them to him, to serve others, to be more concerned about others than ourselves. And he will do the work in us. He will be faithful to complete it. He's promised. So the challenge to you and I this morning is not to accomplish these things in our lives, but the challenge to you and I is to allow God to change our heart because we're so calloused and so cold.

When there's so many people around us who need to hear the gospel message, who don't know about the love of Jesus Christ, who have never been shared with about what he's done for them, we need our hearts changed.

that we might go full blast, full speed ahead. Everything in my life, Lord, take it and use it for your glory that people might come to know you. That's why I want to live my life. If it requires a change of occupation, so what? My goal, my purpose is not here in this world, but it's for your kingdom. And so, Lord, whatever you want me to do,

You don't want me to live in California? That's okay. I'm not rooted here. I'm just passing through. Lord, wherever you want me to go, whatever you want me to do. Lord, you want me to step out of my comfort zone and actually talk to people? Hey, whatever you want. You've given me this ministry, God. I want to give myself wholeheartedly to you that I will live it out, that I will bring people to you, that I will share with people about your love, the message of the cross. It's why you've left me here. So let it be my purpose for my life.

Because we get distracted so easily by the things of this world. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we do get distracted so easily. Lord, we get caught up in the things of this world. Lord, we ask that you would forgive us, God. Lord, your primary passion, what you're concerned about is those around us who are dying without you.

Lord, I pray that you would help us, Lord, impress upon our hearts the knowledge, the understanding, Lord, that today is the day of salvation and today is the day that I need to share with those around me how much God loves them. I need to share with them the message of the cross, Lord, because if I don't, then I've failed. Lord, I want to be a true minister.

I want to participate in the ministry of reconciliation. I want to live my life for you, God, that you would be glorified, that people would come to know you through my life. Lord Jesus, that I would come before you one day when I stand before your throne and that nobody would be able to point to me and say, I didn't receive Jesus because of this guy, this ministry, what he did or how he lived. Lord, I pray that you would give me a heart, a heart like yours.

that I would live wholeheartedly for you, to draw people to you, Lord, that they might spend eternity with you, they might receive you. And God, I pray for anybody here in this place right now who has never received you or maybe is in a backslidden state. God, you're drawing them to yourself. They're here this morning because you want to speak to them. Lord, you want them to know how much you love them and how you died for them.

to forgive them of their sins. Lord, you died to cleanse us, to free us from guilt, and to invite us into a relationship with you, which is so amazing. Lord, you're God. And what is man that you are mindful of us? Lord, we thank you that you sent your son to die. And so, Lord, for those who have never received you and those who are in a backslidden state have walked away from you, God, I pray that you would draw them to yourself this morning.

Speak to them and remind them, Lord. Show them how much you love them, what you've done for them. God, I pray for the rest of us, Lord, that we would give ourselves wholeheartedly to this ministry that you've called us to, that we wouldn't hold back. We wouldn't be ashamed of the message and the ministry that you've given to us because it's the power of God. It's what you desire and you'll be with us. You'll enable us. You'll empower us by your spirit and it will last for eternity.

So Lord, fill us, baptize us with your Holy Spirit now, we pray. Send us out. Lord, I pray that today you would give us opportunities to share with people. Lord, to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation. This week, Lord, give us opportunities to tell people about you, to represent you. Lord, we desire to live our lives to glorify you. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen. Amen. This morning, we're going to worship the Lord right now. And after we're done, you're dismissed. Make sure you partake in the barbecue and bless the fathers. But I want to share with you guys, I want you to know, we've been given the ministry of reconciliation. And if you desire to know God, if you desire to be born again, if you want to secure your place in eternity with God, we'd love to share with you. We'd love to reconcile you to God and pray with you.

and to share with you what God's word has to say. Because we know him. We've experienced him. It's not just a book knowledge, but we have a relationship with God. And we would love to share that with you. So make sure you come forward. If you need prayer, something's on your heart, God's speaking to you about something, please come forward. We'd love to pray with you. God bless you. Let's worship the Lord and you're dismissed.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.