The Ups and the Downs of Ministry
September 8, 2008
II Corinthians 6:1-10 (8)
II Cor. 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
The last group Paul mentions are self imposed things:
7. Labors-work to the point of exhaustion.
8. Watchings-it means sleeplessness. Paul sometimes did not sleep? Why? The care of all the churches. He was a servant.
9. Fastings- the word simply means a lack of food. Sometimes he just did not have enough to eat! There were no restaurants or inns. Paul was constantly traveling. He imposed upon himself for the cause of Christ, a rigorous, self denying way of life.
That’s pretty good proof of genuine ministry. Then he mentions the positive qualities of endurance. He has shown endurance or patience in:
1. His purity of life
2. By his knowledge of the Word of God
3. By longsuffering which has to do with people. People that are tough to deal with, Paul has shown patience.
4. By Kindness- it is so easy to get hard and calloused. Ministry must not become hard nor professional.
5. By the Holy Ghost- only the Holy Spirit can give what is needed.
6. By love unfeigned-which means unhypocritical love. Love that is given without expecting anything in return.
7. By the word of truth- he speaks of the gospel here. Just patiently giving the gospel out wherever he went.
8. By the power of God- not his ingenuity or cleverness. No, Paul depended on God’s power.
9. The armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left- he simply means using everything God had given him to fight wrongdoing and to get this message across.
Do you want the genuine proof of ministry, of being a servant of Christ; it is using God’s methods, in all the gentleness and meekness of Christ, and keeping at it through everything!
Dr. Bobby Roberson has been pastor of Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown for over 40 years. He stood in front of a number of us pastors giving us some advice a few years ago, answering questions. He said, “Let me give you some advice fellows. Go somewhere to stay. Just outlast and outlive your enemies. Don’t get discouraged and quit. Don’t let them chase you off. Just outlast them.”
Patience, you see, much patience Paul said.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
You see, God is not building ministries. God is building men and men build ministries.
I have often quoted Robert M. McCheyne, the greatly used Scottish preacher. In writing to a ministerial friend, who was traveling and about to embark on learning the German language, he wrote: “I know you will apply hard to German, but do not forget the culture of the inner man-I mean of the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest of care. Remember you are God’s sword, His instrument- I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.” What great and challenging words!
