Defending A Faithful Ministry | 2 Corinthians 11-13 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• 2 Corinthians 11

About this sermon

Introduction: The best defense for a faithful ministry is faithfulness. “Time and truth walk together.” But there are times, especially in moments of ministry crisis, when as painful as it might be, a faithful ministry needs to inform people, or remind people, OF THAT FAITHFULNESS. There may come a time when there is the need to point out from the Word of God what faithful ministry consists of — and then point out and remind how your ministry has conformed to the pattern of sounds words — and to do so with a motive and in a manner that represents MORE FAITHFULNESS. One of the best ways to understand any subject is to not only consider that subject propositionally, but to see it displayed practically. Not only KNOWING the truths that must be believed when ministry is defended but OBSERVING and REMEMBERING the examples of those who defended ministry in a godly fashion. We have those examples in church history, but the best examples are given to us in the Word of God. In 2 Corinthians chapters 11-13 we have such an example. I think it is true to say that you find ELEMENTS of this defense THROUGHOUT the two letters we have of Paul to the Corinthians, but in these three chapters it is CONCENTRATED. And so, it represents a section we can return to again and again for careful observation and self-examination whenever we think about defending a faithful ministry. What we meet with here is an EXTENDED defense of Paul’s apostolic ministry, engaged in SADLY but NECESSARILY. This was heart-wrenching for Paul. This was something Paul was reluctant to do — in many ways — but it was forced upon him. I SAY RELUCTANT IN MANY WAYS, BECAUSE HE ALSO UNDERSTANDS THE NECESSITY OF IT AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT. If the Corinthian church is to remain open to the needful ministry of the apostle. If the Corinthian church is to be delivered from a deception that is explained by their own sin and by the influence of others. If the Corinthian church is to be fruitful and healthy. THEN PAUL MUST DEFEND HIS MINISTRY — AND THAT’S WHAT HE DOES. What we do today is observational. We are examining a very large section of Scripture, and so our study is not granular and there is no way that it can be exhaustive, but I hope and pray that what we draw out of these three chapters IS instructive and encouraging. Today we look at seven elements of a faithful defense of faithful ministry. I. IT IS A DEFENSE FOR GOD IN CHRIST This is the overarching CONSTANT for Paul. What motivates a defense of his ministry is jealousy for the glory of God, for the truth of God, and for the people of God. This is on display in the very first verse. HE DECLARES A JEALOUSY FOR THEM THAT IS EXPLAINED BY A BETROTHAL. Paul serves people on behalf of Christ. He shepherds souls for a single-hearted devotion to Christ. This means that when his ministry must be defended, that defense is not driven by SELF-INTEREST or SELF-GLORY. His defense of the ministry is on behalf of the one who ENTRUSTED him with the ministry. HIS DEFENSE IS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. HIS DEFENSE IS FOR THE WORK OF GOD. ESV 1 Corinthians 3:5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. And this is where any defense of faithful ministry must begin, and this is the roadway that any GOD-GLORIFYING defense of ministry MUST REMAIN ON. Like anything else, we must fight to stay on the right path. A defense of ministry can begin in the realm of obedience and quickly swerve into the realm of disobedience. And so, if called upon to defend our ministry we must continue to check our hearts. Can I say that what drives me is not self-interest? Can I offer the defense of the ministry as an act of worship and loyalty to God? Can I say that it is driven by DIVINE LOVE?

Topics

• Faith
• Service & Ministry