The Influence of the Service on the Servant and those whom he Serves 2 Corinthians

1. The Influence of the Service on the Servant and those whom he Serves2 Corinthians Servants Retreat 2009

2. Ways we are Influenced • Enlightenment • Life • Repentance and Renewal • Holiness • Richness • Holy Zeal • Edification • Eternity

3. Enlightenment • 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. • 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

4. Enlightenment • Matthew Henry: Christ by His gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the willful blindness and wickedness of the human heart…

5. Enlightenment • Through our service, preparing lesson, reading both the bible and spiritual books, listening to sermons, interacting with others, sacrificing our time, etc, we are constantly renewing our hearts and mind and the minds of our kids to the truth. • We are constantly in contact the Holy Spirit through our spiritual disciplines that keep all of the noise out of our hearts and mind that the world around us is pounding in. • The devil is succeeding in blinding man to the knowledge of truth. We can see this everywhere today in every subject: religion, homosexuality, marriage/divorce, government, crime, abortion, schools, purity, media-TV, movies, magazines, Internet, etc.

6. Enlightenment • As Christian servants today, we are faced with the huge task of combating what the world teaches verses what the Bible teaches as the Truth. Ourselves and our kids are being exposed to an overwhelming amount of contradictory teachings. • The kids are left to filter through all this noise. It’s so important that we know and focus on the Bible and teach our kids right from wrong, the importance of the Word of God, and how to develop a true relationship with Christ and be in tune with the Holy Spirit.

7. Life • 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. • Paul and the Apostles knew that Christ was raised, and that His resurrection was the assurance of theirs. The hope of this resurrection should encourage us the same way when trials and suffering appear, and set us above the fear of death. The promise of eternal life and happiness should be our support and comfort.

8. Life • Through our service, our faith enables us to make this right judgment of things, putting all things into an eternal perspective. • There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen. And there is this vast difference between them; unseen things are eternal, seen things temporary only. • We should look away from the things which are seen and cease to seek for worldly advantages, or to fear present distresses. But with diligence, make our future happiness sure.

9. Life • Matthew Henry: What sense was ready to pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith perceived to be light and short, and but for a moment. The weight of all temporal afflictions was lightness itself, while the glory to come was a substance, weighty, and lasting beyond description.

10. Repentance and Renewal • 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. • 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new..

11. Repentance and Renewal • Paul here is making a clear distinction in different types of sorrow, godly and earthly. He also makes a distinction between old creation and new creation. We are not sorrowful because we “lost” earthly enjoyments but truly because we feel our sins have separated from God. • John Calvin: Unless the sinner be dissatisfied with himself, detest his manner of life, and be thoroughly grieved from an apprehension of sin, he will never betake himself to the Lord. On the other hand, it is impossible for a man to experience a sorrow of this kind, without it giving birth to a new heart. Hence repentance takes its rise in grief.

12. Repentance and Renewal • Service constantly challenges our position and relationship with God. Through the working of the Holy Spirit we are driven inside to live what we teach. • Valuable time is spent reading and researching while preparing lessons. During this time the Holy Spirit is working within us, seeking to purify us, encouraging us to evaluate our sins and weaknesses. • It produces a fear of watchfulness, and a cautious fear of sin. A true desire to be reconciled with God. • Our service also brings us to deep humility before God, hatred of all sin, with faith in Christ, a new heart and a new life, drives us to repentance unto salvation.

13. Holiness • 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. • 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

14. Holiness • The promises of God are strong reasons for us to follow after holiness; we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. • Flesh and spirit here refer to both and outward and inward holiness. Not just what others see us as on the outside. • If we hope in God as our Father, we must seek to be holy as He is holy, and perfect as our Father in heaven. His grace, by the influences of His Spirit, alone can purify, but holiness should be the object of our constant prayers.

15. Holiness • If we as servants of the gospel are thought ungodly in our deeds and words, there is a great danger that others will doubt all that we teach. We have to strive for holiness at all times, fearing that we cause anyone to stumble and a greater judgment be upon us. • 6:14-15 Paul is referring to more than just a marriage relationship, but all interactions in general. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends and allow ourselves to casually partake of vain conversations, behaviors, jokes, impurities etc.

16. Richness • 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. • 9:10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

17. Richness • St. Paul here is teaching us a very valuable lesson. If we think about all the trials he and the other disciples were experiencing, they had every right to stop preaching, complain, and seek out revenge. They had no earthly valuables, were beaten, imprisoned, slandered, etc, yet they were rich inside with peace, joy, contentment, gratitude towards Christ. • Feeling as though we’ve been dishonored, falsely accused, or talked bad about is hard for anyone to accept and our reaction usually focuses on revenge. But being well established in virtue, we should not allow trials to sway us from our peace. This is a very high level of virtue, but without it we as servants cannot show our richness in Jesus Christ.

18. Richness • Our goal as servants is to be unmoved by the reports of people, whether good or bad. This applies not just within the church service, but also out in the world. • Our true richness lies in the fact that God Himself is supplying us with all that we need. He supplies the seed, bread for food, the increase in the fruits of our righteousness. Our job as servants is to simply to sow, take what we have, however limited we may think it is, and spread it to others.

19. Holy Zeal • 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. • 11: 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

20. Holy Zeal • Holy zeal is a fire burning in the heart of a believer which impels him, with great enthusiasm, to strive his hardest for the purpose of saving others and building the Kingdom. • There are many things which motivate holy zeal, some of which are concerned with God, and some with man, while others are concerned with the activity itself and with the individual's soul. • Love of God And His Kingdom: Whoever loves God, wants everyone to love Him. Our hearts becomes kindled with zeal when we find people far away from God and those who love him.

21. Holy Zeal • Love Of People And Compassion For Them: Our deep concern for people springs from our love for them, and our desire for their salvation. • So we should let those we serve feel our love. • For it is your spirituality which attracts them to you and which will attract them to God. Trust that love will have a strong and great effect.

22. Holy Zeal • Out of his love and concern for others, Paul said: "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?" (2Cor.11:29) by which he meant that if anyone was ill, it was as if he himself were ill too, in sympathy with that person. And if somebody stumbled and fell in his spiritual life, Paul would be deeply concerned for him, so that such person, for whom Christ died, might be saved.

23. Holy Zeal • As a consequence of your love for others, you will feel concerned about their eternal fate. • There are certain verses in the Holy Bible which can only strike terror into a man who is trying to serve God, because his love for his brothers makes him fear for them, lest they should come to a grievous end on the last day, as our Lord said: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels". (Matt. 25:41). • So the question is not just that of zeal for the Kingdom of God, this zeal also carries within it love of God, love for people and deep concern for their eternal fate.

24. Edification • 10:8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed • 12:19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

25. Edification • The importance of the ministry comes from its strength, depth, love and giving, the way it affects and changes people, not in rank, responsibly, tile, or authority. • Edification here refers to teaching, growth of character, renewing of one’s mind and heart… This is one of the core functions of the service, first and foremost to ourselves and secondly to the kids. • St. Paul is reminding us that everything we do in our service should serve the purpose of godly edification and not personal gratification. This requires servants to remain humble, willing to accept whatever is asked of them in order to meet the needs of the service.

26. Preparing for Eternity • 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. • 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

27. Preparing for Eternity • Our eternity is the conclusion and goal of everything we do. Service helps keep us on the narrow path. • Our service is a vehicle that promotes spiritual disciplines that all work together with the Holy Spirit to prepare us for Judgment Day. Without being involved in some level of service, we leave the door open to the devil to lead us astray.

28. Preparing for Eternity • Spiritually our service allows our faith to remain a living faith. • Time spent in the service keeps us alert by regularly reading form our Bibles, spiritual books, and listening to sermons. • Preparing lessons give us a means of self-evaluation, applying what we are teaching to ourselves. • Keeps us in communion with those around us and the Church. • Wakes us up on Sunday mornings

29. Most importantly of all service help reveal our weaknesses and sins calling us to repentance which leads us to salvation.

30. Glory be to God forever Amen.