WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.560 People make sacrifices for the things that they really want and love, right, and everyone does. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:13.880 People give up donuts, right, frappuccinos and chocolate chip cookies so that they could lose some pounds, right, and look better. 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:21.980 People give up their social life in order to work hard and get recognized and promoted in the workplace. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:27.900 Mothers give up their professions so that they could raise their children. 00:00:27.899 --> 00:00:35.100 And by the number and kinds of sacrifices that people are willing to make for a certain thing, 00:00:35.159 --> 00:00:38.960 we can discern how important that thing really is for that person. 00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:42.119 And how important is the gospel to you? 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:47.500 The gospel is the saving message of the person and work of Jesus Christ, 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:55.219 that he lived, died, and rose again to pay the penalty of our sins and give us new life and fellowship with God. 00:00:55.219 --> 00:01:02.759 Have you made any lifestyle changes for the sake of the gospel in order to make the gospel known to others? 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:06.780 Have you made any sacrifices for the sake of the gospel? 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.700 We as Christians can often be sinfully apathetic and lethargic. 00:01:13.659 --> 00:01:17.280 And so through exhortation and by offering himself as an example, 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:24.400 Paul teaches us in this passage that Christians should subject every aspect of their lives for the sake of the gospel. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.340 And I'll unpack that main point in three sections. 00:01:27.540 --> 00:01:30.960 First, is the support for the gospel in verses 1 to 14. 00:01:31.620 --> 00:01:35.520 And secondly, sacrifice for the gospel in verses 15 to 23. 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:40.939 And then lastly, self-control for the gospel in verses 24 to 27. 00:01:41.740 --> 00:01:48.800 In the last chapter, Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers not to eat meat sacrificed to idols at the pagan feasts 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:53.319 because they might make their fellow Christian brothers who have a weaker conscience stumble 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:57.759 by unwittingly encouraging them to partake in such meals 00:01:57.759 --> 00:02:01.879 and tempting them to back to their formal associations with idolatry. 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:07.140 So after that, he concluded that chapter with this personal resolution in chapter 8, verse 13. 00:02:07.140 --> 00:02:14.300 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat lest I make my brother stumble. 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:22.939 And it's that personal resolution that prompts Paul now to talk about yet another way in which he has been sacrificing his rights 00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:24.420 for the sake of other believers. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:26.080 And that brings us to chapter 9. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:32.020 And here, Paul talks about how he has every right as an apostle to receive financial support 00:02:32.020 --> 00:02:34.500 for his gospel ministry from the Corinthian church, 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:39.500 but that he has intentionally sacrificed that right for the sake of the gospel. 00:02:40.420 --> 00:02:45.400 But Paul is not merely offering himself as an example here in this passage to be emulated. 00:02:45.600 --> 00:02:47.760 There's another underlying issue that Paul is addressing 00:02:47.760 --> 00:02:51.520 because we know from 1 Corinthians chapter 4, 3 to 5, 00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:54.219 that some of the Corinthian believers were examining Paul, 00:02:54.580 --> 00:02:57.620 judging him, and challenging his apostleship. 00:02:57.620 --> 00:03:02.860 So Paul had to remind them that he is not accountable to them ultimately, but to God, 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:04.879 and that he has to serve him. 00:03:04.980 --> 00:03:06.939 So he said in chapter 4, verses 3 to 4, 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:12.420 With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. 00:03:12.480 --> 00:03:14.360 In fact, I do not even judge myself, 00:03:14.640 --> 00:03:18.159 for I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:20.580 It is the Lord who judges me. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:23.219 And then if you look at the verse 3 of this passage, 00:03:23.219 --> 00:03:24.159 he says, 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:28.199 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:32.699 The word examine there is the same word for a judge that was used early in chapter 4. 00:03:33.079 --> 00:03:37.199 So Paul is now directly addressing the people who are challenging his apostleship 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:39.120 and examining him and judging him. 00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:42.919 And this is his defense, and he begins this. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:45.219 So he's really killing two birds with one stone. 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:50.860 So on the one hand, he's teaching the principle of self-sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:53.880 On the other hand, he's defending his apostleship. 00:03:53.940 --> 00:03:55.740 So he's doing both of those things in this passage. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:00.340 Now, the Corinthian believers found several things objectionable about Paul. 00:04:00.600 --> 00:04:02.820 We know, for example, from chapters 1 and 2, 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:06.840 that the Corinthian believers dismissed Paul's message of Christ crucified 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:08.760 as this elementary teaching. 00:04:09.260 --> 00:04:14.760 And they despised Apostle Paul because they thought that he lacked worldly wisdom and eloquence. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:19.160 And here in this chapter, we find another one of their objections to Apostle Paul, 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:24.660 and that is that he refused to accept compensation from the Corinthian church. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:29.680 And so you would think that, I mean, that's kind of weird, right, to think, 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:33.540 if he's going to serve you for free, why shouldn't you be happy about it? 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:35.260 But they actually resented that fact. 00:04:35.260 --> 00:04:39.280 And Paul talks about that directly in his second letter to the Corinthians, 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:41.720 2 Corinthians 11, 7 to 12. 00:04:42.400 --> 00:04:44.400 And the reason for that is this. 00:04:44.460 --> 00:04:45.140 This is the situation. 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:48.919 In the Roman Empire, there were several kinds of philosophers 00:04:48.919 --> 00:04:53.079 who traveled from town to town to address audiences, 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:56.719 to gain followers, and to make money, right? 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:00.560 They were compensated in several different ways. 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:02.120 They made their living in several different ways. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.099 The first way for these itinerant philosophers 00:05:04.099 --> 00:05:06.759 was to rely on a wealthy patron 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:12.399 who used them as feature speakers at their lavish banquets and lectures. 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:16.300 And so they would get supported by these patrons. 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:17.000 That was one way. 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:20.740 The second way was to charge fees just for their teaching services. 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:22.339 Whenever they would teach, they would charge a fee. 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:27.399 The third way was to rely on public charity and beg, ask for donations. 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:32.739 And the fourth, and this was by far the most despised way in the ancient world, 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:37.919 was to work with one's own hands, to do manual labor, to supply oneself. 00:05:38.599 --> 00:05:42.120 Most of the itinerant philosophers saw that way of making a living 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:44.000 as beneath their social standing. 00:05:44.919 --> 00:05:48.799 And because of that, Paul, when the Apostle Paul, 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:53.620 the esteemed apostle, refused compensation from the Corinthians 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:55.980 when they wanted, even though they were willing to provide it, 00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:59.959 when he became a tent maker and worked with his hands to provide for himself, 00:06:00.340 --> 00:06:02.420 this irked the Corinthians to no small degree 00:06:02.420 --> 00:06:06.480 because it seemed to them that Paul was degrading himself before their eyes 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:08.160 and cheapening his message. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:15.019 And this may be related to what marketing experts nowadays call price-quality heuristic. 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:20.720 It's a phenomenon where consumers generally evaluate higher-priced items 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.860 with having higher quality, 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:24.980 even though that's not necessarily the case, right? 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:29.960 That's why Apple can't afford to sell a $1,000 phone, 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:32.180 even though it's not three times the value. 00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:33.879 It doesn't have its actual value. 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:35.300 It's not three times that of other smartphones. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:38.939 But its perceived value is higher because of the branding, right? 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:41.860 So in a similar way, conversely, 00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:45.560 when Paul preached the gospel to the Corinthians free of charge, 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:48.819 the Corinthians began to devalue Paul and his ministry. 00:06:49.020 --> 00:06:52.080 And soon they challenged Paul's apostleship itself, 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:55.740 saying that the reason why he did not take compensation 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:58.180 was because he was not a true apostle 00:06:58.180 --> 00:07:01.219 and therefore could not commend the price of an apostle. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.779 So that's where the Corinthians are and therefore accusing him. 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:08.500 So now Paul finds himself in this really awkward place, right, 00:07:08.539 --> 00:07:12.180 of having, on the one hand, to defend his own apostleship 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:14.399 and his right to their financial support. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:17.379 On the other hand, he has to also explain 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:21.179 why he voluntarily forfeited that right for their sake. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:23.560 So in verse 1 here, Paul's launching into that defense 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:25.500 his right to support for the gospel. 00:07:26.099 --> 00:07:27.859 He says, read with me verse 1, 00:07:28.219 --> 00:07:29.139 Am I not free? 00:07:29.479 --> 00:07:30.639 Am I not an apostle? 00:07:31.179 --> 00:07:33.339 Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:36.239 Paul's appealing to his apostolic freedom 00:07:36.239 --> 00:07:38.159 to behave as he has been doing. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:42.080 And the fact that he mentions having seen Jesus in verse 1 00:07:42.080 --> 00:07:45.960 shows that he sees himself as one of the capital A apostles, right? 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.640 The apostles who were directly appointed 00:07:48.640 --> 00:07:50.400 and commissioned by Christ 00:07:50.400 --> 00:07:54.600 with authority to lay the foundation for the church once and for all. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:59.040 And so even though Paul never saw the resurrected Christ in the flesh, 00:07:59.280 --> 00:08:01.240 he did have a vision of Christ. 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:05.240 He saw the ascended Christ who appeared to him on the Damascus road. 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:09.460 And because of that, Paul understood that encounter with Christ 00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:11.220 as his apostolic commissioning. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.819 And because of that, he was an apostle, 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:15.360 even though he didn't see the resurrected Christ. 00:08:15.460 --> 00:08:17.800 So because he didn't see the resurrected Christ in the flesh, 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:21.000 he referred to himself as an apostle untimely born, 00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:23.139 he says later in chapter 15 of this letter. 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:27.480 But nevertheless, he did see Jesus and he is an apostle. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:29.400 So he says, am I not an apostle? 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:31.139 Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:34.259 Then Paul continues his series of rhetorical questions 00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:35.360 in verses 1 to 2. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:38.500 Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:42.480 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you. 00:08:42.919 --> 00:08:46.220 For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:50.480 Because apostles were charged with pioneering ministries, 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:53.419 beginning churches where there were no churches. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:56.580 Because of that, churches that existed marked 00:08:56.580 --> 00:08:59.700 to serve as proof of someone's apostleship. 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:02.220 And so Paul says that the Corinthian church 00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:04.440 is his workmanship in the Lord. 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:08.200 And for that reason, even if other people disputed his apostleship, 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.440 surely they could not. 00:09:09.800 --> 00:09:13.020 For, Paul says, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:15.520 The very existence of the Corinthian church 00:09:15.520 --> 00:09:18.140 serves to prove that Paul was an apostle. 00:09:18.400 --> 00:09:20.200 They themselves were his seal, 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:21.840 the authenticating mark, 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:24.580 the signature of Paul's apostleship. 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:28.139 I mean, you could almost feel the pain of Paul 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:30.180 having to defend himself in this way 00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:33.320 to the very church that he planted and loved and cared for. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:35.780 It's like being questioned and judged 00:09:35.780 --> 00:09:38.020 by his own workmanship. 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:40.800 It's like losing the affection and esteem of your own children. 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:45.160 And then Paul begins his defense in earnest in verses 3 to 6. 00:09:45.159 --> 00:10:05.399 Paul expects the answer yes to all of these questions 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:08.139 because they all deal with the rights of the apostles 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:10.899 to have their needs furnished by the saints to whom they minister. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:15.079 Local churches should provide for their basic needs as apostles 00:10:15.079 --> 00:10:17.860 and not only for them, but also for their wives 00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:20.299 if they are married and traveling with them. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:22.179 And so that the ministers of the gospel 00:10:22.179 --> 00:10:25.220 do not have to provide for themselves with additional work. 00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:26.519 That's what Paul's talking about here. 00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:28.539 And then in verses 7 to 10, 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:32.159 he illustrates this with several examples. 00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:34.240 He says in verse 7, 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:37.360 who serves as a soldier at his own expense, 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:40.919 who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit, 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:45.639 or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk. 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:50.639 We don't expect soldiers who put their lives in danger 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:53.779 to fight our wars to do so at their own expense. 00:10:54.560 --> 00:10:57.279 So why then would we expect gospel ministers 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:59.919 whom we thrust forward in our spiritual warfare 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.580 against the world, the flesh, and the devil 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.720 to fight at their own expense? 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:08.080 Likewise, we don't expect a vinedresser 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:10.779 who plants and harvests grapevines 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:12.980 to then afterward to have to go somewhere else 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:16.040 to purchase grapes to eat and buy wine to drink. 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:21.180 Nor do we expect a shepherd or a dairy farmer 00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:24.879 to not drink any of the milk that his own flock produces. 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:27.980 So why then would we expect gospel ministers 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:30.779 who shepherd God's flock to derive some provision 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.440 and benefit from them as well? 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:34.340 Why should we not expect that? 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:36.740 And Paul insists that these analogies 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:39.160 don't merely demonstrate a human principle 00:11:39.160 --> 00:11:40.920 of fair treatment and equity, 00:11:41.160 --> 00:11:43.260 but it demonstrates a divine law. 00:11:43.420 --> 00:11:45.100 So he writes in verses 8 to 10, 00:11:45.540 --> 00:11:48.300 Do I say these things on human authority? 00:11:48.900 --> 00:11:50.980 Does not the law say the same? 00:11:51.420 --> 00:11:53.320 For it is written in the law of Moses, 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:56.280 You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain. 00:11:57.280 --> 00:11:59.460 Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 00:11:59.760 --> 00:12:02.280 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:04.220 It was written for our sake, 00:12:04.300 --> 00:12:06.560 because the plowmen should plow in hope, 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:10.780 and the thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:14.020 The word law can represent the entire Old Testament, 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:16.180 but here, because it says law of Moses, 00:12:16.420 --> 00:12:18.400 specifically it's referring to the Pentateuch, 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:19.660 the first five books of the Bible. 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:21.120 And more specifically, 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:24.520 Paul's quoting directly from Deuteronomy 25.4, 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.100 which says, 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:28.300 You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain. 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:31.659 That's an interesting proof text to use, 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.680 because it doesn't deal with humans, right? 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:35.860 It deals with animals. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:39.220 It refers to the ancient agricultural practice 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:43.519 of using an ox to draw a threshing sledge over a grain field, 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:47.679 so that as the sledge goes over the field, 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:51.360 it separates the kernels from the stalk, 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:55.899 and so that they can later collect those for consumption and for selling, 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:56.720 or whatever it might be. 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.199 And some people, 00:12:58.439 --> 00:13:02.179 when they were using an ox to draw the threshing sledge, 00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:03.439 they muzzle the ox, 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:06.819 so that the ox could not consume any of the precious kernels that fall 00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:09.179 as he's working to feed the kernels. 00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:10.899 But the Israelites, however, 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.639 were forbidden from muzzling the ox 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.759 while they threshed out the grain, 00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:16.399 so that the ox can enjoy some of the fruit of its labor. 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:19.479 Now, what's interesting about it is, 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:22.779 if you actually go back to the original context of Deuteronomy 25, 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:26.339 it's surrounded both before and after 00:13:26.339 --> 00:13:28.620 by all these commands that deal with 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:30.899 how we're supposed to relate to one another, 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:32.719 how we're supposed to love our neighbors. 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:35.539 And this is the only command in that context 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:37.399 that deals with animals, right? 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:39.539 So if you look at that and you consider that, 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.799 it shows us that, 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:43.079 yes, sure, God intended that law 00:13:43.079 --> 00:13:46.019 to express his care for the oxen, 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.199 but it was more importantly 00:13:48.199 --> 00:13:50.360 intended to illustrate 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:52.079 a broader principle 00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:53.740 that's supposed to be applied to human beings. 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:56.100 That's what Paul is saying here, right? 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:58.959 Was it really for oxen that God put that there? 00:13:59.019 --> 00:13:59.159 No. 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:01.759 It's so that if the oxen deserve to get 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:02.779 some of the fruit of their labor, 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:06.399 how much more the plower who's actually driving the oxen, 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:09.319 should he not get paid for his labor as well? 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.039 So Paul adds in verses 9 to 10, 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.799 is it for oxen that God is concerned? 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.679 Does he not speak certainly for our sake? 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:16.100 It was written for our sake 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:18.240 because the plowmen should plow in hope 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.039 and the thresher, thresh in hope, 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.659 of sharing in the crop. 00:14:22.459 --> 00:14:24.259 Gospel ministers deserve to be supported 00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.279 for their gospel ministry. 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.360 Even though here Paul's specifically arguing 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.240 for the apostolic right, 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:32.179 this principle can be applied 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:33.720 to gospel ministers in general 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:36.100 because Paul uses this exact same argument 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:39.120 and citation in 1 Timothy 5, 17 to 18 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.620 to say that elders of the church should be paid. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:42.740 So he says there, 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:44.420 let the elders who rule well 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:46.139 be considered worthy of double honor, 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.139 especially those who labor in preaching and teaching, 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.519 for the scripture says, 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:52.360 you shall not muzzle an ox 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.500 when it treads out the grain, 00:14:53.660 --> 00:14:55.519 and the laborer deserves his wages. 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:57.139 So this is a broader principle 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.860 that we can apply to other ministers as well. 00:14:59.420 --> 00:15:01.720 So this is a very forceful and lengthy argument, 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:03.320 but Paul's not done, 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.000 and he says in verses 11 to 12, 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:07.759 if we have sown spiritual things among you, 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:11.340 is it too much if we reap material things from you? 00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:14.060 If others share this rightful claim on you, 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:15.700 do not we even more? 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.820 Some people might argue, 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:20.779 well, a farmer eats of what he produces 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:22.040 because he's producing, 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.660 but a minister, 00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:25.860 he's sowing spiritual seeds. 00:15:26.040 --> 00:15:27.820 So shouldn't they be satisfied 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.600 with spiritual fruit 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:31.040 that he gets to reap from that? 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.879 Why should we also compensate him 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.039 with physical fruit? 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:35.279 I mean, that's an objection 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:36.799 that someone could raise. 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.240 Paul anticipates that, 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:41.139 but instead of that argument, 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.679 he turns that argument, 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.199 that trajectory, 00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:44.120 on its own head. 00:15:44.599 --> 00:15:46.079 And so basically what he's saying here is, 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.599 it is true that the spiritual rewards 00:15:47.599 --> 00:15:48.939 are enough in and of itself, 00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:50.120 but the problem remains 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.439 that they still need to eat, right? 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.179 And so Paul says this, 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:53.480 he says, 00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:54.419 if the gospel ministers 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:56.219 are sowing spiritual things among you, 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:58.480 which are of eternal significance and value, 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.200 then why do you begrudge them material support, 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:03.620 which is comparably insignificant? 00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:07.060 If you yourselves derive eternal benefits 00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:08.700 from their service, 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.420 is it so hard to furnish them 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:12.840 with temporal benefits for their service? 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:15.600 When they willingly feed your soul, 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:16.899 do you do right 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:19.500 by refusing to feed their body? 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:22.600 Now, we would not think twice, right, 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:24.559 about paying our electrician 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:26.059 or a plumber for their labors. 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:29.600 Why do we then question 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.639 whether or not ministers 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.860 of the gospel should be paid or not? 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:35.679 Could it not be that we devalue their labor? 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.519 And the sowing of spiritual things. 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.279 I'm just preaching this 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.700 because it's here, guys. 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:48.200 It's really awkward for me to preach it. 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.539 And you guys don't have a problem with this. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.460 A lot of churches do. 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.460 And moreover, 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.480 you know, 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:58.299 scripture itself attests to this truth. 00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.039 And Paul, 00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.720 that's how Paul clinches his argument. 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:02.539 It says in verses 13 to 14, 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:03.480 Paul writes, 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:04.339 do you not know 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.559 that those who are employed 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.519 in the temple service 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.980 get their food from the temple 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.900 and those who serve at the altar 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:11.619 share in the sacrificial offerings? 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.839 In the same way, 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.740 the Lord commanded 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.279 that those who proclaim the gospel 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:17.039 should get their living by the gospel. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.680 So whether in Jewish temples 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.720 or in pagan temples, 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:20.039 right, 00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:21.360 those who serve in those, 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.440 in making sacrifices, 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:24.019 they get the food in the end. 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:25.480 That's how they make their living. 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.759 And so Paul uses that 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.860 to make this argument. 00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:31.160 And it is important to talk about this 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.200 because this is an issue 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.460 that a lot of ministers deal with. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.519 I personally know 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.519 several ministers 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.400 who are under 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:39.200 considerable financial duress 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.460 and face a lot of family pressures 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:43.220 because their churches 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.500 don't compensate them fairly. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.180 That's not you guys. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.119 I'm grateful for that. 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.319 I mean, it's just, 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.680 personally, I know this, 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:51.960 my dad is one of the pastors, right? 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:53.920 He serves a church 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.400 whose budget is significantly larger 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:56.720 than ours, right? 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:58.279 But he gets paid a fraction 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.119 of what I get paid 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.099 for the work. 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.559 And because of that, 00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:01.799 he, 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.559 when his teeth 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.660 are literally falling out, 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.440 he has to take a loan 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.359 to go to a dentist. 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:09.440 That's not compensating 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.240 a minister fairly. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.920 That's not godly. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.400 It's not idealistic. 00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:17.880 And he says, 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.940 in Luke 10, 7, 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.820 Jesus commends this. 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.140 He says, 00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:23.539 whenever you go out 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.400 on missionary journeys, 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.120 remain in the same house, 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:27.279 eating and drinking 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.120 what they provide, 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.360 for the laborer 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:31.039 deserves his wages. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.400 That's what Paul's alluding to 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.300 here in verse 14 00:18:33.300 --> 00:18:33.700 when he says, 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.900 the Lord commanded 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:36.360 that those who proclaim 00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:36.940 the gospel 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.360 should get their living 00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:39.440 by the gospel. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:42.140 And I agree wholeheartedly 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.799 that the ministers 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.120 should not enrich themselves 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:44.940 off the gospel. 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.519 But should we not let them 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.160 make a living 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:47.980 off the gospel? 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.860 But in spite 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:53.539 of the biblical right 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.880 that ministers have, 00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.860 so that's my first point, 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.799 support for the gospel, 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:00.279 Paul says that he himself 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.539 does not make use 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.160 of this right. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.400 That brings us 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.100 to the second point, 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.360 sacrifice for the gospel. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.779 Paul writes 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.539 in verse 15, 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:09.619 But I have made no use 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.879 of any of these rights, 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.159 nor am I writing 00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:12.720 these things 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.399 to secure 00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:14.460 any such provision, 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:16.139 for I would rather die 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:16.960 than have anyone 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.700 deprive me 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.559 of my ground 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.240 for boasting. 00:19:20.639 --> 00:19:22.220 Paul emphatically denies 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.960 that he ever 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.180 demanded 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.099 to be compensated 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.579 from them 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.819 and that he's 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.920 not writing this 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.899 to get such 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:30.200 provision for himself. 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.200 He's saying basically, 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.180 I never took your money 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.059 and I'm not asking 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.960 for your money now. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.000 And this issue 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.240 is so important for Paul, 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:36.639 he says, 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:38.300 for I would rather die 00:19:38.300 --> 00:19:39.240 than have anyone 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.060 deprive me 00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:40.880 of my ground 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.540 for boasting. 00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.360 On the surface, 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.360 that sounds a little bit 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.500 like an overreaction, 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:45.759 right? 00:19:47.020 --> 00:19:48.300 But there's a reason 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:49.200 why this is so important 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:49.759 for Paul 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.160 to not get paid 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:51.800 for his labors 00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.580 and let's look at that 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.300 in verse 16. 00:19:53.800 --> 00:19:54.040 He says, 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:55.020 For if I preach 00:19:55.020 --> 00:19:55.640 the gospel 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.920 that gives me 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:57.720 no ground 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.460 for boasting, 00:19:58.780 --> 00:19:59.759 for necessity 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:01.060 is laid upon me. 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:02.360 Woe to me 00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.000 if I do not 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.320 preach the gospel. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.460 For Paul, 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.559 preaching the gospel 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:09.740 is not this thing 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.319 that he chose 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.899 for himself, 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.179 it's a necessity 00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:13.879 laid upon him 00:20:13.879 --> 00:20:14.419 rather than 00:20:14.419 --> 00:20:15.359 a choice he made. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.379 And that's because 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:17.200 he says, 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.639 entrusted with 00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:19.500 a stewardship 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.079 as he says 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:20.799 in verse 17. 00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.059 Paul described 00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.779 himself earlier 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.799 in chapter 4, 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.240 verse 1, 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.039 as a steward 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.879 of the mysteries 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.399 of God. 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.519 And he refers 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.759 to that same stewardship. 00:20:28.919 --> 00:20:29.399 A steward 00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.659 in this context 00:20:30.659 --> 00:20:31.500 was usually 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.180 a slave 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:32.900 entrusted 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:34.220 with managing 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.900 a household, 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:35.819 taking care 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.519 of the property 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.319 that he doesn't 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:37.839 own himself 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.619 but that belongs 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:39.279 to his owner. 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:41.380 And he considers 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.539 himself this steward, 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.660 this slave of Christ, 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.819 charged with 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:45.839 safeguarding 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:47.099 and administering 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:47.920 the mysteries 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.420 of God, 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.299 which is a reference 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.059 to the salvation 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.819 plan of God, 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.700 which is the gospel 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.519 of Jesus Christ. 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.980 And for this reason, 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:55.319 Paul does not see 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.140 his gospel ministry 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:57.279 as a profession 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.220 that he chose, 00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.880 but as an obligation 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:01.220 incumbent upon him 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.460 as a steward. 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.480 And that's why 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.460 Paul calls his 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.440 apostolic ministry 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.220 a calling. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.600 He said in the 00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:08.220 opening greeting 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.860 of this letter 00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:09.580 in chapter 1, 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.000 verse 1, 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.120 Paul called 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:12.760 by the will of God 00:21:12.760 --> 00:21:13.780 to be an apostle 00:21:13.780 --> 00:21:15.660 of Christ Jesus. 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:18.020 I mentioned to you 00:21:18.020 --> 00:21:18.720 several weeks ago 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.760 that the word calling 00:21:19.760 --> 00:21:21.180 is not primarily 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.560 a vocational term 00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:24.220 but a relational term. 00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:26.660 Like 1 Corinthians 1, 9 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:26.840 says, 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.720 God is faithful 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.980 by whom you were 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:31.000 called into fellowship 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.799 with his son, 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.160 Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.059 Our Christian calling 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.839 is primarily relational 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.140 rather than vocational. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.099 It's about our fellowship 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:39.200 with the triune God. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.400 But because Paul calls, 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.120 but Paul calls 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:44.140 his ministry a calling 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.779 because his apostolic 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.680 vocation 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:48.400 was part and parcel 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.960 of his relationship 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:51.299 to God as a steward. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.740 Ministry is a calling 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:57.980 only because, 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.779 strictly speaking, 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.079 it's not a vocation 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.680 but an extension 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:03.220 of one's Christian call, 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.480 how you relate 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.579 to God and serve him. 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:07.059 So Paul saw himself 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.500 as called by God 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.339 to the ministry. 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.860 And when the king 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.559 calls you, 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.500 you don't vacillate 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:12.900 and say, 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.339 okay, give me a couple weeks 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.140 and I'll think it over. 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:17.740 When the king summons you, 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.220 it's an authoritative summons. 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.519 You must comply. 00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:23.500 And that's how Paul 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.480 thinks about his calling. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.140 So his ministry 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.180 is much more 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.319 than a job to him. 00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.779 It was a calling for him 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.920 as a steward of the gospel. 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.259 So he had no choice 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.920 but to preach. 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.740 So his preaching 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.279 of the gospel 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.079 was not something 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.860 that in his mind 00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:38.259 that deserved special reward 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.920 and recognition 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.980 because it was 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.279 a necessity for him 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.019 and that, 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.259 this should radically 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.240 challenge the attitude 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.500 that a lot of ministers 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:47.059 are tempted to have. 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.660 As ministers, 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.279 we don't deserve 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.500 to be put on a pedestal 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.400 and considered better 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.380 than everybody else 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.380 just because we're 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:53.940 serving the Lord 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.860 and preaching the gospel. 00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:57.320 If you're really called 00:22:57.320 --> 00:22:57.880 to be a minister, 00:22:58.040 --> 00:22:58.800 you're doing it 00:22:58.800 --> 00:22:59.740 as a steward of God. 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:00.880 Don't act like you deserve 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:02.060 special recognition for that. 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:02.940 You're only doing 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.880 what is your duty. 00:23:04.320 --> 00:23:04.900 You're only doing 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:06.160 what God's called you to do. 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:08.180 It's part of what it means 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.780 to be a Christian 00:23:08.780 --> 00:23:10.000 for you to belong to him. 00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.480 And because of that, 00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:12.880 Paul says, 00:23:13.040 --> 00:23:13.940 woe to me 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:15.800 if I do not preach the gospel. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.740 If you don't do it, 00:23:17.780 --> 00:23:18.900 it's not like you had the choice 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.940 and you could do it or not. 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:20.860 If you don't do it, 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:22.080 you will face God's judgment. 00:23:23.040 --> 00:23:23.760 Woe is you. 00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:30.340 If Paul had preached the gospel 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:32.240 and if he had been compensated 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.740 according to his right 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.860 as a minister of the gospel, 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.000 then he would have been 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.380 an unworthy servant 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:40.040 who had only done his duty. 00:23:41.540 --> 00:23:43.380 But Paul wants to go above 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:44.900 and beyond his call of duty. 00:23:46.280 --> 00:23:46.940 And so he says 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.340 in verses 17 to 18, 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:48.940 read with me, 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.940 for if I do this 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:52.320 of my own will, 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:54.259 I have a reward. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:56.420 But if not of my own will, 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.600 I am still entrusted 00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.360 with the stewardship. 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:00.299 What then is my reward? 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.680 That in my preaching 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.019 I may present the gospel 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.080 free of charge 00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:06.279 so as not to make full use 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.680 of my right in the gospel. 00:24:08.820 --> 00:24:11.000 Paul wants to not make full use 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.039 of his right in the gospel 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:13.440 so that he can do more 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.460 than his duty, 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:16.320 so that he can get a reward. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.339 And what is his reward? 00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:19.299 His reward is that he gets 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:20.259 to present the gospel 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.259 free of charge. 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.879 He gets to show people 00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:24.339 that he preached the gospel 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:26.899 not just because he had to 00:24:26.899 --> 00:24:29.039 but because he wanted to. 00:24:30.419 --> 00:24:31.819 He gets to show people 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.859 that he preached the gospel 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:34.240 not as a professional, 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:36.279 as a means of making a living, 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.859 but as a Christian 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.879 who loves God 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:40.079 and is living for him. 00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:42.460 That is his reward. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.679 That in his, 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.659 and that's his ground 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.180 for boasting. 00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.840 His reward or pay 00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:49.820 is to receive no pay 00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:51.860 and he would rather die 00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.960 than have anyone 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.920 deprive him 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:55.160 of his ground for boasting. 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.720 It would kill him 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:58.259 to think that some, 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.279 that people think 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.420 that he peddles the gospel 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.440 for money 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.900 because the gospel 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:03.880 is so much more precious 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.480 than that 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.700 because Christ 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.800 is so much more worthy 00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:07.340 than that. 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.500 So Paul's boasting 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:11.700 is not in how great he is 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:14.240 but on how great God is. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.079 He's boasting 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.779 in his weakness. 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.000 He's saying, 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:17.880 I have the right 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.480 to be paid 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.759 but I voluntarily 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.059 forego my right 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:22.120 and bring myself 00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:22.960 even lower 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:24.480 so that I can lift up 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.859 Christ and his gospel 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.700 even higher. 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.859 Christ must increase, 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.779 I must decrease. 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.620 That's his boasting. 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.559 Then in verse 19, 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.779 Paul gives the reason 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.920 why he took this approach 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.559 in this ministry. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:39.179 Though I am free from all, 00:25:39.419 --> 00:25:40.659 I have made myself 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:42.039 a servant to all 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:43.000 that I might win 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.859 more of them. 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.419 By winning them, 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.319 Paul doesn't mean 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.240 gaining their favor 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.879 or friendship. 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.119 He means winning them 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:49.700 to Christ. 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.339 That's why later 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:51.019 in verse 22, 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.700 he says that he did this 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.899 in order to save them. 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.899 That's what he's talking about. 00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:57.139 And this is Paul's sacrifice 00:25:57.139 --> 00:25:58.159 for the gospel. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.720 He did not make use 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.359 of his right 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:02.119 to win more in the gospel 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:04.279 even though he's free from all. 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.319 He subjected himself to all 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.339 so that he might save more 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:10.019 with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:12.420 And then in verses 20 to 22, 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.539 Paul offers three general examples 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:16.420 of how he accommodated 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.019 his behavior 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.539 to the various social settings 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.420 he found himself in 00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.220 for the sake of the gospel. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.539 And this is really 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.000 the principle 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.720 that's been governing 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.619 his teaching 00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:25.220 throughout this letter. 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.500 And even though 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.960 the Corinthians despised this, 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.079 they thought that he was 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.359 inconsistent. 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.119 They thought he was a flip-flop. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.000 They thought he didn't have 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.559 a backbone. 00:26:34.719 --> 00:26:36.059 You keep changing your stance 00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.479 depending on where you are. 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.219 Where do you really stand? 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:39.859 That was the way 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:41.739 Corinthians were assessing him. 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.859 But Paul insists 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:44.219 that he's not compromising 00:26:44.219 --> 00:26:44.719 the gospel 00:26:44.719 --> 00:26:46.339 but rather he's contextualizing 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:47.179 his behavior 00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:48.779 for the sake of the gospel. 00:26:48.959 --> 00:26:50.399 And this is what he says. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.579 Look at verse 20. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.599 To the Jews, 00:26:52.719 --> 00:26:54.039 I became as a Jew 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.439 in order to win Jews. 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.919 To those under the law, 00:26:56.979 --> 00:26:58.479 I became as one under the law 00:26:58.479 --> 00:26:59.719 though not being myself 00:26:59.719 --> 00:27:00.439 under the law 00:27:00.439 --> 00:27:01.619 that I might win 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.659 those under the law. 00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.639 Those under the law 00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:05.379 is another way 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.879 to refer to the Jews. 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.359 And Paul is saying 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:09.059 that even though 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.859 he is no longer 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:11.219 bound by the law 00:27:11.219 --> 00:27:12.639 and no longer subject 00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.619 to its penalties 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.719 because Christ 00:27:14.719 --> 00:27:15.599 has fulfilled 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.399 all the requirements 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:17.019 of the law 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:18.139 on his behalf 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.319 that he nevertheless 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:21.439 became as one 00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:22.099 under the law 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.299 when in the company 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.239 of other Jews. 00:27:24.739 --> 00:27:25.799 So we see an example 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.079 of this in Acts 16, 00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:27.799 1-5. 00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:29.059 So here Paul takes 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.839 Timothy 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:32.480 who has a Gentile father 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:34.439 to be circumcised 00:27:34.439 --> 00:27:35.779 because there were 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.359 some Jews 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:38.000 who were protesting 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.879 his presence 00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:39.539 in their midst. 00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:41.619 And he did this 00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.859 so that he could 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.980 win those Jews over. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.980 He contextualized 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.579 his behavior. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:49.139 He became like a Jew 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:50.099 in order to win Jews. 00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.519 And he applied this 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.980 consistently 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:54.039 when he was in the company 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.959 of Gentiles as well. 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.920 He says in verse 21, 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.660 to those outside the law 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.660 I became as one 00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.600 outside the law 00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:00.799 not being outside 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.759 the law of God 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.720 but under the law 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.460 of Christ 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.519 that I might win 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:06.019 those outside the law. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.400 We see an example 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.519 of this in Galatians 2, 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.100 1-5. 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.880 So when Paul was ministering, 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.559 when he was ministering 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.380 to the Gentiles, 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.279 he taught them 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.200 that they did not 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.340 need to get circumcised 00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:16.579 in order to be saved 00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.519 because Christ 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.180 has fulfilled 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.860 all the laws 00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:20.019 of the Old Testament. 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:21.340 And because 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.759 that is no longer 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.720 binding on Christians, 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.319 that's no longer 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.879 the way in which 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:26.759 you become a Christian, 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.240 a part of the people of God. 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.899 As Paul said earlier 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:31.039 in chapter 7, 00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:31.539 verse 19, 00:28:31.639 --> 00:28:32.439 neither circumcision 00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:33.460 counts for anything 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.679 nor uncircumcision. 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.339 So even though 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.939 he taught this 00:28:36.939 --> 00:28:37.539 to Gentiles, 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.519 so when the Jews 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.740 who were watching him 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.179 do this, 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.859 ministering this way 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:41.539 to Gentiles, 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:43.019 falsely claimed 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.899 that the Gentiles 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:45.480 needed to be circumcised 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.980 in order to be saved 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.500 and they pressured Paul 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.679 to act in that, 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.839 consistent with that manner, 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:52.579 he wrote about it 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.339 in this way. 00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:53.599 He says, 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:55.379 we did not yield 00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.099 in submission 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:57.799 even for a moment 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:59.679 so that the truth 00:28:59.679 --> 00:29:00.339 of the gospel 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.119 might be preserved 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.899 for you. 00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:04.379 Paul refused 00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.839 to circumcise Titus 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.539 who was a Greek 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:08.019 for that reason 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.879 in that context 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:09.879 because the Jews 00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:10.779 were trying to add 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.299 to the gospel 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.919 by saying that 00:29:11.919 --> 00:29:13.099 if you don't circumcise 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.779 him, 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:15.219 then he will not be saved. 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:16.779 So, 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.699 exactly the same issue 00:29:18.699 --> 00:29:19.339 of circumcision, 00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:21.059 but in one context, 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.139 he circumcised Timothy 00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:22.779 for the sake 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.659 of winning the Jews, 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.440 but in the other context, 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:27.339 he refused to circumcise Titus 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.139 for the sake 00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:29.339 of preserving the gospel 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.960 and saving the Gentiles. 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:31.980 Do you see 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.220 the two different responses? 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.899 All for the exact 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:36.079 same reason, 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.619 for the sake 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.279 of the gospel. 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.139 Of course, 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.779 this doesn't mean 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.419 that Paul ever 00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:42.740 participates in sin 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.659 in order to minister 00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:44.960 to those outside the law, 00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:45.960 but to make sure 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.619 that that's clear, 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.139 Paul adds 00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:48.100 a parenthetical remark, 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.640 not being outside 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.400 the law of God, 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.440 but under the law 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.120 of Christ. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.940 Christ fulfilled the law, 00:29:54.040 --> 00:29:54.800 so he's kind of, 00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.640 you could think of it 00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:55.980 as this, 00:29:56.040 --> 00:29:57.200 he is like a legend 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.840 of the map, 00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.100 right, 00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.800 that helps you 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:01.340 to make sense of 00:30:01.340 --> 00:30:02.340 and to read rightly 00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:03.720 all the different symbols 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.800 and signs on the map, 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.080 right? 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:05.960 So, 00:30:06.060 --> 00:30:07.100 all the institutions 00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:08.020 and offices 00:30:08.020 --> 00:30:08.800 and rituals 00:30:08.800 --> 00:30:09.540 and commandments 00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:11.100 of the Old Testament 00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.960 find their true meaning 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.740 and fulfillment 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:15.200 in Jesus Christ, 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.720 so that only by 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.620 seeing them 00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.319 through the lens 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:18.740 of Christ, 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.400 you can really 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.380 make sense of them 00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:21.519 and obey them 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.519 truly and rightly. 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.259 And because Christ 00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:24.960 has fulfilled it 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.360 in this way, 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:27.340 the law that we are under 00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:27.920 is no longer 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:29.460 that law of the Jews, 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:31.140 it's the law of Christ. 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.319 And the law of Christ 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.759 is not externally 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.740 imposed on us 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.059 like the Jewish laws were, 00:30:36.340 --> 00:30:37.279 it's internally 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.840 impelled 00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:39.180 by the Holy Spirit 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.640 and it's written 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.500 on our hearts, 00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.340 as it says 00:30:41.340 --> 00:30:42.680 in Jeremiah 31. 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:45.240 So, 00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:45.960 because of that, 00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:46.920 when he was with Jews, 00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:47.779 Paul was kosher. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:49.259 When he was with Gentiles, 00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:50.080 he was not kosher, 00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:50.519 right? 00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:51.060 That's basically 00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:51.740 what he's talking about. 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:52.960 And then lastly, 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:54.100 Paul adds in verse 22, 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:54.940 to the weak, 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.720 I became weak 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.000 that I might win the weak. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.640 I become all things 00:30:58.640 --> 00:30:59.460 to all people 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.680 that by all means 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:01.740 I might save some. 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.460 To those who have 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.440 weak consciences, 00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:05.519 Paul didn't flaunt 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.259 his freedom 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.940 or to abuse his rights 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:08.600 in their presence, 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.220 but instead, 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.560 he became weak 00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.420 like them 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.340 in order to guard 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.159 their consciences. 00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:14.819 And all of this 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.919 he did for what reason? 00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.759 Verse 23, 00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:18.059 for the sake 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.879 of the gospel 00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:20.619 that I may share 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.279 with them 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.319 in its blessings. 00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.419 So far from being 00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:25.480 a people pleaser, 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:26.980 Paul accommodated 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.939 himself to others 00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.959 out of the love 00:31:28.959 --> 00:31:30.079 for Christ 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.720 and out of the fear 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.139 of God. 00:31:32.679 --> 00:31:39.519 There are two ways 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.159 you can misapply 00:31:40.159 --> 00:31:40.639 that obviously. 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.439 This is one way 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.960 I was going to go 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.600 at length 00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.400 to explain that, 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.299 but I'm going to let you 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:45.860 discuss that 00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.580 in your community groups 00:31:46.580 --> 00:31:47.480 because my sermon's 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.420 long. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.620 But you can misapply 00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.180 that obviously 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.480 by not being 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.360 too inflexible 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:56.080 and by adding stuff 00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.580 to the gospel 00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:58.320 and that's not 00:31:58.320 --> 00:31:58.759 a gospel, 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.680 or you could be 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.380 too flexible 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.180 and you could compromise 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:01.680 the gospel. 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:02.700 So you could think 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.340 about the ways 00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:03.960 in which that might 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.140 apply in your lives. 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.580 And it was for 00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:07.980 the same reason. 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.220 So in verse 12, 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:10.299 and that's the same 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.120 reason why Paul 00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:11.680 also refused 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:13.059 compensation from 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.500 the Corinthians. 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.339 It was for the sake 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:14.819 of the gospel. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:16.059 So he says in verse 12, 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:16.819 nevertheless, 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:18.299 we have not made 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.380 use of this right, 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:21.440 but we endure anything 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.360 rather than put an 00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.440 obstacle in the way 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.880 of the gospel of Christ. 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.519 If you translate that 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.200 more literally, 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.339 verse 12 says, 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:30.579 we endure everything 00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:31.900 rather than put 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.980 any obstacle 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.059 in the way 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:35.440 of the gospel of Christ. 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.920 So what Paul is saying 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:37.299 is this, 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:38.660 I would rather endure 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:40.259 the greatest hardship 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:41.160 myself 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:43.140 than to put 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:44.759 a slightest obstacle 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.680 in the way 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:46.240 of the gospel. 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.519 Paul was a man 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.539 of single-minded 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.920 zeal and passion. 00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.240 He was living 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.000 for Christ 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.820 and that was 00:32:53.820 --> 00:32:56.140 his only drive, 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.019 only thing that 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.740 counted for him. 00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.600 But in what ways 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.180 could receiving 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.080 compensation from 00:33:01.080 --> 00:33:01.600 the Corinthians 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.580 prove to be an 00:33:02.580 --> 00:33:03.680 obstacle in the way 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:04.640 of the gospel of Christ? 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.400 In the second letter 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:07.240 to the Corinthian church 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:07.960 that Paul writes 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.140 in chapter 11, 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.880 7 to 15, 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.960 Paul gives two 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.799 specific reasons 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.559 why he refused 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.140 compensation. 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.100 And the first reason 00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:15.860 was, quote, 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.940 to refrain from 00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:18.880 burdening them 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:19.539 in any way. 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.140 He didn't want 00:33:21.140 --> 00:33:22.860 to be a financial 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.620 burden on them 00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.840 lest the Corinthian church 00:33:24.840 --> 00:33:26.600 be hesitant 00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.799 to host him 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.620 and to invite him 00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:29.620 to minister to them. 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.180 Second reason 00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:33.200 was, quote, 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.620 in order to undermine 00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.579 the claim of those 00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.159 who would like 00:33:36.159 --> 00:33:36.599 to claim 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.259 that in their 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.000 boasted mission 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.599 they work on 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.399 the same terms 00:33:39.399 --> 00:33:40.019 as we do. 00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.259 End quote. 00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:42.379 By the time 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:42.939 Paul wrote 00:33:42.939 --> 00:33:43.599 his second letter 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:44.719 to the Corinthian church, 00:33:44.899 --> 00:33:45.699 there were false 00:33:45.699 --> 00:33:47.239 apostles who were 00:33:47.239 --> 00:33:48.359 posing as apostles 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:48.779 and they were 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.639 leading the Corinthian 00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:50.379 church astray. 00:33:50.979 --> 00:33:51.979 And they became 00:33:51.979 --> 00:33:52.559 apostles, 00:33:52.959 --> 00:33:53.859 so-called apostles, 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:54.799 because they were 00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.879 motivated by greed 00:33:55.879 --> 00:33:57.139 and the prestige 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.679 that came with 00:33:57.679 --> 00:33:58.339 being an apostle. 00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.679 And because 00:33:59.679 --> 00:34:00.659 they were enriching 00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:01.259 themselves from 00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:01.779 the gospel, 00:34:02.239 --> 00:34:03.019 Paul says that 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.779 he, in order 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.379 to distinguish 00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:05.399 himself from 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:05.819 them, 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.660 he refused to 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.220 receive any 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.019 compensation for 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.920 his gospel labors. 00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:11.340 Now, at this point, 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.039 some of you 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.759 are wondering 00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:15.679 why I, 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.820 along with 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.900 most of the pastors 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.300 nowadays, 00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.039 take a salary, 00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:20.139 if this is the case. 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.320 Should not we 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.300 also be concerned 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.480 for these things? 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.500 Honestly, 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:28.539 it is a little bit 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:28.980 embarrassing 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.820 for me to preach 00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:30.420 this to you, 00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:33.139 because I believe 00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.840 this passage 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:35.579 and because it 00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:37.119 makes me look bad. 00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:40.180 And I wish 00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:40.860 I could forgo 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.539 my salary, 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:42.500 as Paul did, 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.180 in order not 00:34:44.180 --> 00:34:44.700 to be a burden 00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:45.480 to you in any way. 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.220 I do. 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.059 I really wish that. 00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:49.180 I wish, 00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:49.960 you know, 00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:51.079 that I could 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.980 forgo my salary 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:52.639 so that people 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:54.079 don't think 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:54.619 that I'm one 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.200 of those false 00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:55.820 ministers who 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.559 peddle the gospel 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.239 for money. 00:35:02.299 --> 00:35:03.039 I'm not in this 00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.480 for the money. 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.480 I would do it 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:05.799 for free 00:35:05.799 --> 00:35:06.279 if I could. 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.880 But I would have 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:15.539 to dramatically 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.380 scale back 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:17.420 my ministry 00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.699 if I were 00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.199 to not take 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:19.679 a salary, 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.320 and I don't think 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:20.739 that serves 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.380 the best interests 00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:22.039 of our church. 00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:24.139 And not only that, 00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:24.759 I will add that 00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.259 I don't have 00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:26.199 the gift of celibacy 00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:26.980 like Paul did. 00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:27.579 And honestly, 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.500 I think that helped him. 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.559 He wasn't married. 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:31.460 I mean, 00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:33.279 I can live 00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:34.460 on a very 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.500 tight budget 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.439 by myself. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.519 It's not the same 00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.099 when you're married. 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:41.299 I have a God-given 00:35:41.299 --> 00:35:41.939 responsibility 00:35:41.939 --> 00:35:42.539 to not just 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.159 care for myself, 00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:43.619 but to care 00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:44.359 for my family, 00:35:44.699 --> 00:35:45.419 provide for them, 00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:46.500 to care for them, 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.199 and spend time 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.699 with them. 00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:49.859 Apostle Paul 00:35:49.859 --> 00:35:50.599 didn't have to worry 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:50.879 about that. 00:35:50.919 --> 00:35:51.699 He wrote earlier 00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.379 in chapter 7, 00:35:52.439 --> 00:35:53.119 32-34, 00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.579 the unmarried man 00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.179 is anxious 00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:55.839 about the things 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.300 of the Lord, 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.140 how to please 00:35:57.140 --> 00:35:57.559 the Lord, 00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:58.740 but the married man 00:35:58.740 --> 00:35:59.240 is anxious 00:35:59.240 --> 00:36:00.300 about worldly things, 00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:00.880 how to please 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.320 his wife, 00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:01.980 and his interests 00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:02.640 are divided. 00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:03.960 I'm a man 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:05.240 of divided interests, 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:06.440 and I have 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.360 to attend 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:08.019 to those things. 00:36:10.100 --> 00:36:11.100 For this reason, 00:36:11.100 --> 00:36:12.220 I need to make use 00:36:12.220 --> 00:36:12.880 of my right 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.880 to be compensated 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:14.519 for my ministry. 00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.880 But with that in mind, 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.079 then, 00:36:16.160 --> 00:36:16.860 in what ways 00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.440 can ministers 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.140 like myself 00:36:18.140 --> 00:36:19.200 apply this principle? 00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:21.079 For one, 00:36:21.140 --> 00:36:21.980 I try to cultivate 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.880 the same attitude 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:23.900 as that of Paul. 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:24.500 For example, 00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:25.960 I don't see pastoring 00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.960 as a mere job, 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:28.180 as a profession, 00:36:28.760 --> 00:36:29.880 where everything 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.940 is contractual 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.000 and transactional. 00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.599 I don't put 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.240 all my church 00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:34.840 relationships 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:36.039 and conversations 00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:36.720 on the clock 00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:37.360 so that I can be 00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:37.900 compensated 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.440 for all the 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.619 so-called overtime hours. 00:36:39.619 --> 00:36:42.440 I keep track 00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:43.099 of my hours 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.799 to make sure 00:36:43.799 --> 00:36:44.699 that I don't work 00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:46.099 less than the 50 hours 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:47.259 that I set for myself. 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.839 But I never stop working 00:36:48.839 --> 00:36:49.400 just because, 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:49.799 oh, okay, 00:36:49.859 --> 00:36:50.599 I filled my hours 00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.059 for this week, 00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:52.039 so all done. 00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:53.039 Don't have to work anymore. 00:36:56.759 --> 00:36:57.920 Because I don't do this 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.639 out of obligation, 00:36:58.799 --> 00:36:59.579 but out of joy 00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:01.339 because I love Christ 00:37:01.339 --> 00:37:02.239 and I love his church. 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:09.299 I also apply 00:37:09.299 --> 00:37:10.139 this principle 00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:10.939 in smaller, 00:37:11.279 --> 00:37:11.959 practical ways. 00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:12.339 For example, 00:37:12.439 --> 00:37:13.539 when I put my mind 00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:14.500 to starting our church 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.199 here in East Cambridge, 00:37:15.319 --> 00:37:15.879 our denomination 00:37:15.879 --> 00:37:16.939 offered me a grant 00:37:16.939 --> 00:37:18.199 for a one year 00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:19.379 of church planting internship 00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:20.139 and one year 00:37:20.139 --> 00:37:21.459 of church planting residency. 00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:23.699 But I knew, 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:24.779 starting out, 00:37:24.859 --> 00:37:26.019 that a fledgling church plant 00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.179 can't sustain 00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:28.919 a full-time pastor's salary. 00:37:29.479 --> 00:37:30.559 So for those two years, 00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.659 I also fundraised 00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:33.759 so that I could stretch 00:37:33.759 --> 00:37:34.799 those two-year grants 00:37:34.799 --> 00:37:35.940 to last four years. 00:37:38.359 --> 00:37:39.539 I begged other people 00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:39.980 for money 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:40.679 so that I don't have 00:37:40.679 --> 00:37:41.480 to be a burden to you. 00:37:44.279 --> 00:37:44.839 And then now, 00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:45.420 even now, 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:45.759 actually, 00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:47.039 so my salary, 00:37:47.359 --> 00:37:48.679 we're small enough still 00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:50.099 now that most of our money 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:51.379 goes out into the operational 00:37:51.379 --> 00:37:52.239 cost of the church. 00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:53.639 Not a single penny 00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:54.299 from my salary 00:37:54.299 --> 00:37:55.379 comes from our offerings. 00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:59.699 It comes from the fundraising. 00:37:59.899 --> 00:38:00.179 Of course, 00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:01.119 that will run out eventually. 00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:05.219 And even in taking a salary, 00:38:05.379 --> 00:38:06.000 my intention, 00:38:06.259 --> 00:38:06.819 I assure you, 00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:07.839 is not to get rich 00:38:07.839 --> 00:38:08.500 off the gospel. 00:38:09.699 --> 00:38:11.219 I just want to make a living 00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:12.139 for my family. 00:38:13.699 --> 00:38:15.059 That's why when our eldership 00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.079 set the annual salary, 00:38:16.319 --> 00:38:17.799 we set it to be below 00:38:17.799 --> 00:38:19.019 the median household income 00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:19.699 for Cambridge. 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:21.239 I don't say that 00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:22.319 to earn your pity. 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.480 I know that I'm wealthy 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.639 compared to most people 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.059 in the world. 00:38:25.299 --> 00:38:26.440 And we are well supplied. 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.299 We are not needy. 00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:31.220 I've never asked for a raise 00:38:31.220 --> 00:38:32.380 and I never intend to. 00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:37.480 These are admittedly 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:38.860 far smaller sacrifices 00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:39.400 to make 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:40.660 than Apostle Paul did. 00:38:41.120 --> 00:38:42.400 And I sincerely regret 00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:43.260 that I can't make 00:38:43.260 --> 00:38:44.519 the gospel look as glorious 00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:45.720 as Apostle Paul did. 00:38:48.560 --> 00:38:49.640 But I do want you to know 00:38:49.640 --> 00:38:50.340 that this is something 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:51.519 that I'm seeking to apply 00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:52.100 as a pastor 00:38:52.100 --> 00:38:53.560 because it applies to me 00:38:53.560 --> 00:38:54.680 because it's the word of God. 00:38:54.679 --> 00:39:04.159 That's my second point. 00:39:04.659 --> 00:39:05.679 Sacrifice for the gospel. 00:39:06.899 --> 00:39:08.000 Making sacrifices 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.639 for the gospel 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.599 is no easy task 00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:10.839 and it requires discipline 00:39:10.839 --> 00:39:11.719 and self-control. 00:39:12.279 --> 00:39:13.139 So knowing this, 00:39:13.399 --> 00:39:14.839 in the final section 00:39:14.839 --> 00:39:15.679 of this passage, 00:39:15.819 --> 00:39:16.980 Paul motivates us 00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.759 with an analogy 00:39:17.759 --> 00:39:19.099 of an athletic competition. 00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:20.919 This is the third point. 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:23.379 Self-control for the gospel. 00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:26.379 In verses 24 to 25, 00:39:26.519 --> 00:39:26.980 Paul writes, 00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:27.599 read with me. 00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:29.639 Do you not know 00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:30.559 that in a race 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.899 all the runners run 00:39:31.899 --> 00:39:34.539 but only one receives the prize? 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:37.379 So run that you may obtain it. 00:39:37.839 --> 00:39:39.319 Every athlete exercises 00:39:39.319 --> 00:39:41.199 self-control in all things. 00:39:41.919 --> 00:39:43.279 Paul's not suggesting here 00:39:43.279 --> 00:39:44.279 that the Christian life 00:39:44.279 --> 00:39:45.919 is a competition 00:39:45.919 --> 00:39:47.940 and that only one Christian 00:39:47.940 --> 00:39:49.440 will receive the prize in the end. 00:39:49.779 --> 00:39:50.839 That'd be terrible, wouldn't it? 00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:52.620 The point of this analogy 00:39:52.620 --> 00:39:54.539 is not to make us fearful 00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:56.019 for our fate in the end 00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:57.440 but to make each of us 00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:59.039 recognize that there's a prize 00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:00.420 that awaits us 00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.820 at the end of our lives 00:40:01.820 --> 00:40:03.539 and we should exert ourselves 00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:04.980 and run with focus 00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.840 and vigor 00:40:05.840 --> 00:40:07.440 in order to obtain it. 00:40:08.200 --> 00:40:09.500 This is what Paul has in mind 00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:10.940 when he says in verse 23, 00:40:11.240 --> 00:40:12.260 I do it all for the sake 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:12.680 of the gospel 00:40:12.680 --> 00:40:14.240 that I may share with them 00:40:14.240 --> 00:40:15.260 in its blessings. 00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:17.680 Paul never took it for granted 00:40:17.680 --> 00:40:18.900 that he would obtain 00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:20.300 the salvation stored up 00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:21.079 for him in the gospel. 00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:22.700 He didn't take it for granted. 00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:24.400 He knew that he had to 00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:25.780 persevere to the end 00:40:25.780 --> 00:40:27.820 in order to attain it. 00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.539 Passages of scripture 00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:31.740 such as Mark 4, 16-17, 00:40:32.300 --> 00:40:33.760 Hebrews 6, 5-6, 00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:35.680 2 Peter 2, 20-22 00:40:35.680 --> 00:40:37.760 teach us that it is possible 00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:39.500 for a professing Christian 00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:41.420 who checks all the boxes 00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:43.119 and gives all the evidence 00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:44.440 of the outward appearance 00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:45.500 of being saved 00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.440 and having faith 00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:47.519 could nevertheless 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:49.119 fall away from Christ. 00:40:51.320 --> 00:40:52.960 This is why perseverance 00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:54.059 is necessary. 00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:55.699 The doctrine of perseverance 00:40:55.699 --> 00:40:56.519 of the saints 00:40:56.519 --> 00:40:58.219 states that all those 00:40:58.219 --> 00:40:59.719 who are truly in Christ 00:40:59.719 --> 00:41:01.480 will be kept by Christ 00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:03.099 and be saved in the end. 00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:04.579 That is a true doctrine 00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:06.119 and we find it in passages 00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:07.860 like John 6, 37-44. 00:41:08.300 --> 00:41:10.019 However, that does not mean 00:41:10.019 --> 00:41:11.719 that you will be saved 00:41:11.719 --> 00:41:12.699 regardless of whether 00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.820 you persevere or not. 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:16.340 It means that all true believers 00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:18.500 will assuredly persevere. 00:41:21.500 --> 00:41:23.880 So our assurance of salvation 00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:26.400 is inseparably tied 00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:28.140 to our perseverance 00:41:28.140 --> 00:41:28.880 in the faith. 00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:30.640 The more you persevere, 00:41:31.079 --> 00:41:32.760 the more you will be assured. 00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:35.420 And the more you are assured 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:36.680 in God's grace for you, 00:41:36.780 --> 00:41:38.640 the more you will persevere 00:41:38.640 --> 00:41:40.360 in faith and good works. 00:41:41.200 --> 00:41:43.079 There's a prize waiting for us 00:41:43.079 --> 00:41:43.539 in the end. 00:41:43.539 --> 00:41:44.300 Eternal life, 00:41:44.500 --> 00:41:45.460 eternal joy, 00:41:45.820 --> 00:41:47.059 eternal and perfect 00:41:47.059 --> 00:41:48.900 communion with God. 00:41:49.099 --> 00:41:50.360 And we must exercise 00:41:50.360 --> 00:41:51.159 self-control 00:41:51.159 --> 00:41:52.559 and persevere 00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:53.659 in order to attain it. 00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:56.719 As Jerry Bridges 00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:57.519 writes in his book 00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:58.659 The Discipline of Grace, 00:41:59.079 --> 00:42:00.420 we sometimes view 00:42:00.420 --> 00:42:01.380 the Christian life 00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:02.420 through the lens of 00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:02.699 quote, 00:42:02.820 --> 00:42:04.440 cruise control obedience. 00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:07.220 He writes this way, 00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:08.800 we quote, 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:10.500 we press the accelerator 00:42:10.500 --> 00:42:11.880 pedal of obedience 00:42:11.880 --> 00:42:13.380 until we have brought 00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:14.420 our behavior up to a certain 00:42:14.420 --> 00:42:15.500 level or speed. 00:42:15.500 --> 00:42:16.800 The level of obedience 00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:18.400 is most often determined 00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:19.480 by the behavior standard 00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:20.380 of other Christians 00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:21.059 around us. 00:42:21.659 --> 00:42:22.559 Once we have arrived 00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:23.780 at this comfortable level 00:42:23.780 --> 00:42:24.280 of obedience, 00:42:24.619 --> 00:42:26.340 we push the cruise control 00:42:26.340 --> 00:42:27.720 button in our hearts. 00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:30.079 Ease back and relax. 00:42:31.220 --> 00:42:32.880 Our particular Christian culture 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:33.740 then takes over 00:42:33.740 --> 00:42:34.940 and keeps us going 00:42:34.940 --> 00:42:35.860 at the accepted level 00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:36.440 of conduct. 00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:38.360 By contrast, 00:42:38.519 --> 00:42:39.900 consider race car drivers. 00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:41.220 They wouldn't think 00:42:41.220 --> 00:42:42.680 of using cruise control. 00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:43.940 They are not interested 00:42:43.940 --> 00:42:44.700 in blending in 00:42:44.700 --> 00:42:45.200 with the speed 00:42:45.200 --> 00:42:46.099 of those around them. 00:42:46.340 --> 00:42:47.220 They are not out 00:42:47.220 --> 00:42:48.559 for a Sunday afternoon drive. 00:42:48.640 --> 00:42:50.400 They want to win the race. 00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:51.980 Race car drivers 00:42:51.980 --> 00:42:53.180 are totally focused 00:42:53.180 --> 00:42:53.840 on their driving. 00:42:54.440 --> 00:42:55.519 Their foot is always 00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:56.559 on the accelerator 00:42:56.559 --> 00:42:57.960 as they try to push 00:42:57.960 --> 00:42:58.519 their car 00:42:58.519 --> 00:42:59.700 to the outer limits 00:42:59.699 --> 00:43:01.259 of its mechanical ability 00:43:01.259 --> 00:43:02.339 and endurance. 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:05.919 Christians are not called 00:43:05.919 --> 00:43:07.579 to cruise for the gospel 00:43:07.579 --> 00:43:09.099 but to race for the gospel. 00:43:10.799 --> 00:43:11.899 We are not called 00:43:11.899 --> 00:43:13.159 to a leisurely jog 00:43:13.159 --> 00:43:13.839 for the gospel. 00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:14.599 We are called 00:43:14.599 --> 00:43:15.919 to a race for the gospel. 00:43:18.719 --> 00:43:20.259 Verse 25 tells us, 00:43:20.619 --> 00:43:22.339 every athlete exercises 00:43:22.339 --> 00:43:24.159 self-control in all things. 00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:25.539 They do it to receive 00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:26.859 a perishable wreath, 00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:27.759 but we, 00:43:27.760 --> 00:43:29.140 and imperishable. 00:43:30.020 --> 00:43:31.120 The wreath is a reference 00:43:31.120 --> 00:43:31.800 to the prize 00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:32.880 of the Olympic Games, 00:43:33.700 --> 00:43:34.620 which of course 00:43:34.620 --> 00:43:35.880 were invented by the Greeks 00:43:35.880 --> 00:43:37.400 to whom Paul is writing. 00:43:38.100 --> 00:43:40.240 In addition to the Olympic Games, 00:43:40.360 --> 00:43:41.020 actually there were 00:43:41.020 --> 00:43:42.700 three other games, 00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:43.940 pan-Hellenic games 00:43:43.940 --> 00:43:44.480 that included 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:45.800 all the Greek city-states. 00:43:46.380 --> 00:43:47.000 And one of them 00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:48.300 was actually held in Corinth. 00:43:48.580 --> 00:43:49.280 So he's probably 00:43:49.280 --> 00:43:50.080 referring to that. 00:43:50.440 --> 00:43:51.620 It's called the Isthmian Games. 00:43:52.060 --> 00:43:53.200 And in the Isthmian Games, 00:43:53.340 --> 00:43:54.720 the reward for the champion 00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:56.460 was a pine wreath, 00:43:56.940 --> 00:43:57.740 which of course 00:43:57.739 --> 00:43:58.500 because it's made 00:43:58.500 --> 00:43:59.519 of organic matter, 00:43:59.899 --> 00:44:00.299 rots. 00:44:01.079 --> 00:44:02.219 And Paul's comparing 00:44:02.219 --> 00:44:03.719 that kind of reward 00:44:03.719 --> 00:44:05.259 that people strive for 00:44:05.259 --> 00:44:06.579 with the eternal reward 00:44:06.579 --> 00:44:08.659 that we have in Christ. 00:44:10.019 --> 00:44:11.239 We just had the Olympics, 00:44:11.799 --> 00:44:12.759 the Winter Olympics, right? 00:44:13.339 --> 00:44:14.179 Lindsay Vaughn, 00:44:14.339 --> 00:44:15.079 you guys know who she is? 00:44:15.399 --> 00:44:15.899 Yeah. 00:44:16.139 --> 00:44:16.879 I'm a fan. 00:44:17.279 --> 00:44:18.239 And she just won 00:44:18.239 --> 00:44:18.879 a bronze medal 00:44:18.879 --> 00:44:19.839 at Women's Downhill 00:44:19.839 --> 00:44:21.239 at the 2018 00:44:21.239 --> 00:44:22.379 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. 00:44:22.619 --> 00:44:23.879 And she's widely considered 00:44:23.879 --> 00:44:25.699 to be the best race skier, 00:44:25.839 --> 00:44:26.819 female ski racer 00:44:26.820 --> 00:44:27.480 of all time. 00:44:28.080 --> 00:44:29.480 She has 20 titles, 00:44:29.640 --> 00:44:30.559 81 race victories, 00:44:30.760 --> 00:44:32.340 135 podium appearances 00:44:32.340 --> 00:44:33.600 in skiing World Cups. 00:44:34.140 --> 00:44:34.860 In addition to that, 00:44:34.920 --> 00:44:35.500 she has seven 00:44:35.500 --> 00:44:37.080 world championships medals 00:44:37.080 --> 00:44:38.559 and three Olympic medals. 00:44:39.200 --> 00:44:40.420 And she opted to retire 00:44:40.420 --> 00:44:41.640 after this last Winter Olympics 00:44:41.640 --> 00:44:42.600 saying that her body, 00:44:42.599 --> 00:44:42.940 quote, 00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:44.019 probably can't take 00:44:44.019 --> 00:44:44.799 another four years. 00:44:45.619 --> 00:44:46.639 And her sister, 00:44:46.819 --> 00:44:47.679 Karen Wildo, 00:44:48.019 --> 00:44:48.500 Kildo, 00:44:48.759 --> 00:44:49.739 said this about her 00:44:49.739 --> 00:44:50.519 in an interview 00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:51.799 with the Washington Post. 00:44:52.579 --> 00:44:53.960 Every single meal 00:44:53.960 --> 00:44:54.779 she's eaten 00:44:54.779 --> 00:44:56.099 for the last two years 00:44:56.099 --> 00:44:57.239 is to build up 00:44:57.239 --> 00:44:57.920 to this moment. 00:44:58.480 --> 00:44:59.960 Every single gym workout, 00:45:00.420 --> 00:45:01.460 every single thing 00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:02.960 she's done every day 00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:04.880 for the last eight years 00:45:04.880 --> 00:45:06.739 has been for this day 00:45:06.739 --> 00:45:09.099 and those two minutes. 00:45:09.099 --> 00:45:14.440 The intensity of focus 00:45:14.440 --> 00:45:15.319 and dedication 00:45:15.319 --> 00:45:16.000 that is required 00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:16.539 to compete 00:45:16.539 --> 00:45:17.219 as an athlete 00:45:17.219 --> 00:45:18.059 at the highest level 00:45:18.059 --> 00:45:18.719 is remarkable, 00:45:19.199 --> 00:45:19.880 which is why 00:45:19.880 --> 00:45:20.960 Olympic athletes 00:45:20.960 --> 00:45:22.339 often break down 00:45:22.339 --> 00:45:22.920 in tears 00:45:22.920 --> 00:45:23.860 after a victory 00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:25.079 as the realization 00:45:25.079 --> 00:45:26.599 that all the sacrifices 00:45:26.599 --> 00:45:27.219 they've made 00:45:27.219 --> 00:45:28.199 day after day, 00:45:28.319 --> 00:45:29.059 week after week, 00:45:29.279 --> 00:45:30.179 year after year 00:45:30.179 --> 00:45:31.559 has finally come 00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:32.279 into fruition. 00:45:32.280 --> 00:45:36.420 If Olympic athletes 00:45:36.420 --> 00:45:37.720 can dedicate themselves 00:45:37.720 --> 00:45:39.300 in this way 00:45:39.300 --> 00:45:41.019 for an earthly medal 00:45:41.019 --> 00:45:42.760 and temporal honor, 00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:43.980 should we not 00:45:43.980 --> 00:45:45.120 dedicate ourselves 00:45:45.120 --> 00:45:46.900 for that heavenly reward 00:45:46.900 --> 00:45:48.620 and eternal honor 00:45:48.620 --> 00:45:49.840 in store for us? 00:45:52.340 --> 00:45:54.140 So, Paul continues 00:45:54.140 --> 00:45:55.540 in verses 26 to 27, 00:45:55.680 --> 00:45:57.800 I do not run aimlessly, 00:45:58.360 --> 00:45:59.600 I do not box 00:45:59.600 --> 00:46:00.940 as one beating the air, 00:46:00.940 --> 00:46:02.679 but I discipline my body, 00:46:02.940 --> 00:46:04.320 control, 00:46:04.840 --> 00:46:06.000 lest after preaching 00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:06.820 to others, 00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:09.300 I myself should be disqualified. 00:46:10.119 --> 00:46:11.360 What kind of a runner 00:46:11.360 --> 00:46:12.800 enters a race 00:46:12.800 --> 00:46:14.280 only to wander off course 00:46:14.280 --> 00:46:15.460 to explore the surroundings? 00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:19.200 That's funny, right? 00:46:19.920 --> 00:46:21.240 What kind of a boxer 00:46:21.240 --> 00:46:22.099 enters the ring 00:46:22.099 --> 00:46:23.420 only to beat the air? 00:46:25.240 --> 00:46:26.019 He'll get pummeled 00:46:26.019 --> 00:46:26.579 in seconds 00:46:26.579 --> 00:46:27.220 and knocked out. 00:46:27.219 --> 00:46:30.439 We too have 00:46:30.439 --> 00:46:31.279 an enemy in the ring. 00:46:32.099 --> 00:46:33.119 The enemies of the soul 00:46:33.119 --> 00:46:34.019 were all the flesh 00:46:34.019 --> 00:46:34.500 and the devil 00:46:34.500 --> 00:46:36.139 and unless we are disciplined 00:46:36.139 --> 00:46:37.559 and self-controlled, 00:46:37.739 --> 00:46:38.879 we will get pummeled 00:46:38.879 --> 00:46:39.559 and knocked out. 00:46:39.980 --> 00:46:40.619 Are you living 00:46:40.619 --> 00:46:42.539 with this gospel urgency? 00:46:44.619 --> 00:46:45.379 One time, 00:46:45.719 --> 00:46:47.819 this is very rare, 00:46:47.939 --> 00:46:48.500 but I was running 00:46:48.500 --> 00:46:49.000 on the treadmill 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:49.500 at a gym 00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:51.959 and I got too immersed 00:46:51.959 --> 00:46:52.419 in the book 00:46:52.419 --> 00:46:53.179 that I was reading 00:46:53.179 --> 00:46:54.739 and didn't notice 00:46:54.739 --> 00:46:55.839 that I was slowing down 00:46:55.839 --> 00:46:56.419 in my run. 00:46:56.420 --> 00:46:57.740 I don't even need 00:46:57.740 --> 00:46:58.119 to tell you 00:46:58.119 --> 00:46:58.880 what happens next. 00:46:59.400 --> 00:46:59.760 Of course, 00:46:59.840 --> 00:47:00.880 I fell off the treadmill 00:47:00.880 --> 00:47:01.900 and face-planted 00:47:01.900 --> 00:47:04.159 and our lives 00:47:04.159 --> 00:47:05.159 are like that, right? 00:47:05.940 --> 00:47:08.159 There is no neutral ground 00:47:08.159 --> 00:47:10.260 or still platform. 00:47:12.159 --> 00:47:14.039 At every given moment, 00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:15.880 every decision we make 00:47:15.880 --> 00:47:17.320 is either bringing us 00:47:17.320 --> 00:47:19.039 closer to that finish line 00:47:19.039 --> 00:47:20.320 or driving us 00:47:20.320 --> 00:47:21.099 further back. 00:47:21.099 --> 00:47:29.420 The worldly influence, 00:47:29.500 --> 00:47:30.339 our sinful flesh, 00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:31.400 and Satan and his minions 00:47:31.400 --> 00:47:32.420 are always trying 00:47:32.420 --> 00:47:33.400 to drive us back. 00:47:34.119 --> 00:47:35.460 And if you are idle, 00:47:36.819 --> 00:47:37.559 lackadaisical, 00:47:38.039 --> 00:47:39.799 you will be carried back 00:47:39.799 --> 00:47:41.880 and you will not persevere 00:47:41.880 --> 00:47:42.619 until the end. 00:47:42.619 --> 00:47:45.199 So Paul says 00:47:45.199 --> 00:47:46.619 he disciplines his body 00:47:46.619 --> 00:47:47.699 and keeps it under control. 00:47:47.779 --> 00:47:48.639 The word discipline 00:47:48.639 --> 00:47:49.759 literally means 00:47:49.759 --> 00:47:50.619 to beat up, 00:47:50.980 --> 00:47:52.299 to bruise his body. 00:47:52.920 --> 00:47:53.799 So he's continuing 00:47:53.799 --> 00:47:55.039 that athletic metaphor. 00:47:55.159 --> 00:47:56.079 He's not saying literally 00:47:56.079 --> 00:47:57.179 we should punish our bodies 00:47:57.179 --> 00:47:57.839 like ascetics 00:47:57.839 --> 00:47:58.619 that, you know, 00:47:59.079 --> 00:48:00.079 flagellate themselves. 00:48:00.239 --> 00:48:01.099 That's not what he's saying. 00:48:01.299 --> 00:48:02.279 He's using the metaphor. 00:48:02.739 --> 00:48:03.599 Discipline yourself. 00:48:03.599 --> 00:48:09.860 So let me ask you, 00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:11.019 what sacrifices 00:48:11.019 --> 00:48:12.460 can you make? 00:48:13.940 --> 00:48:15.039 In what ways 00:48:15.039 --> 00:48:15.799 can you exercise 00:48:15.799 --> 00:48:17.059 greater self-control 00:48:17.059 --> 00:48:18.339 so you can finish 00:48:18.339 --> 00:48:19.139 this race? 00:48:22.880 --> 00:48:23.819 Maybe you spend 00:48:23.819 --> 00:48:24.900 an inordinate amount 00:48:24.900 --> 00:48:25.679 of time, you know, 00:48:25.719 --> 00:48:26.659 playing video games 00:48:26.659 --> 00:48:27.799 or watching TV shows. 00:48:29.099 --> 00:48:30.179 Sure, there may be 00:48:30.179 --> 00:48:31.900 nothing sinful about that, 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:32.980 but maybe that's not 00:48:32.980 --> 00:48:33.500 the best thing 00:48:33.500 --> 00:48:33.880 you can do 00:48:33.880 --> 00:48:34.360 with your time. 00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:39.199 Maybe that's not 00:48:39.199 --> 00:48:40.240 what an Olympic athlete 00:48:40.240 --> 00:48:40.639 would do. 00:48:44.199 --> 00:48:45.400 Maybe you're not 00:48:45.400 --> 00:48:46.480 feeding your soul well. 00:48:48.019 --> 00:48:48.900 Apart from 00:48:48.900 --> 00:48:52.019 Sunday morning worship, 00:48:52.240 --> 00:48:53.119 you hardly spend 00:48:53.119 --> 00:48:54.039 any time with the Lord. 00:48:54.920 --> 00:48:55.800 A cursory reading 00:48:55.800 --> 00:48:56.460 of the Bible 00:48:56.460 --> 00:48:57.099 here and there 00:48:57.099 --> 00:48:59.360 and a few fleeting 00:48:59.360 --> 00:49:00.139 moments of prayer 00:49:00.139 --> 00:49:00.760 here and there. 00:49:00.760 --> 00:49:03.140 Do you have a diet 00:49:03.140 --> 00:49:05.080 that will nourish 00:49:05.080 --> 00:49:05.580 your soul? 00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:07.240 Do you have a 00:49:07.240 --> 00:49:08.500 regiment that can 00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:09.540 sustain you, 00:49:10.020 --> 00:49:10.940 prepare you 00:49:10.940 --> 00:49:12.760 for that race? 00:49:15.140 --> 00:49:16.300 Will people who 00:49:16.300 --> 00:49:17.360 observe your Christian 00:49:17.360 --> 00:49:18.120 life see 00:49:18.120 --> 00:49:19.080 relentlessness, 00:49:19.660 --> 00:49:20.100 determination, 00:49:20.700 --> 00:49:21.180 focus, 00:49:21.600 --> 00:49:22.040 zeal, 00:49:23.060 --> 00:49:23.760 sacrifice, 00:49:24.160 --> 00:49:24.780 self-control? 00:49:24.780 --> 00:49:26.820 or will they see 00:49:26.820 --> 00:49:28.000 listlessness, 00:49:28.800 --> 00:49:29.340 laziness, 00:49:29.600 --> 00:49:30.600 distractedness, 00:49:31.360 --> 00:49:32.200 and lack 00:49:32.200 --> 00:49:32.820 of self-control? 00:49:34.740 --> 00:49:35.560 But motivating 00:49:35.560 --> 00:49:36.500 ourselves with guilt 00:49:36.500 --> 00:49:37.580 will only go so far. 00:49:37.680 --> 00:49:38.680 It will eventually fail. 00:49:39.519 --> 00:49:40.180 In order for you 00:49:40.180 --> 00:49:41.240 to run this race well, 00:49:41.280 --> 00:49:41.940 you need to see 00:49:41.940 --> 00:49:42.900 the finish line 00:49:42.900 --> 00:49:43.680 and what's waiting 00:49:43.680 --> 00:49:44.019 for you. 00:49:44.080 --> 00:49:44.840 You need to believe 00:49:44.840 --> 00:49:45.980 that it's going to be 00:49:45.980 --> 00:49:47.440 worth all the sacrifices 00:49:47.440 --> 00:49:48.140 that you make. 00:49:48.760 --> 00:49:49.380 And to that end, 00:49:49.420 --> 00:49:50.180 let me share with you 00:49:50.180 --> 00:49:50.920 the words of 00:49:50.920 --> 00:49:52.500 missionary David Livingstone, 00:49:52.500 --> 00:49:54.260 the famous explorer 00:49:54.260 --> 00:49:54.699 and missionary 00:49:54.699 --> 00:49:55.760 who gave his life 00:49:55.760 --> 00:49:56.940 to reach Africans 00:49:56.940 --> 00:49:57.639 with the gospel. 00:49:58.980 --> 00:50:00.079 When he was interviewed 00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:01.139 about all the great 00:50:01.139 --> 00:50:02.059 sacrifices he made 00:50:02.059 --> 00:50:02.559 for Christ, 00:50:02.639 --> 00:50:03.679 this is how he replied. 00:50:03.780 --> 00:50:04.079 He said, 00:50:04.659 --> 00:50:04.880 quote, 00:50:04.960 --> 00:50:05.920 people talk of the 00:50:05.920 --> 00:50:07.219 sacrifice I made, 00:50:07.739 --> 00:50:08.980 I have made in spending 00:50:08.980 --> 00:50:09.820 so much of my life 00:50:09.820 --> 00:50:10.280 in Africa. 00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:12.059 Can that be called 00:50:12.059 --> 00:50:12.840 a sacrifice, 00:50:13.079 --> 00:50:13.860 which is simply 00:50:13.860 --> 00:50:15.599 acknowledging a great 00:50:15.599 --> 00:50:16.440 debt we owe 00:50:16.440 --> 00:50:17.099 to the God 00:50:17.099 --> 00:50:18.500 which we can never 00:50:18.500 --> 00:50:18.840 repay? 00:50:19.659 --> 00:50:20.900 Is that a sacrifice 00:50:20.900 --> 00:50:21.719 which brings 00:50:21.719 --> 00:50:22.679 its own reward 00:50:22.679 --> 00:50:23.699 and healthful activity, 00:50:24.139 --> 00:50:24.719 the consciousness 00:50:24.719 --> 00:50:25.699 of doing good, 00:50:26.079 --> 00:50:26.739 peace of mind, 00:50:26.799 --> 00:50:27.500 and a bright hope 00:50:27.500 --> 00:50:28.500 of glorious destiny? 00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:30.339 It is emphatically 00:50:30.339 --> 00:50:31.759 no sacrifice. 00:50:32.459 --> 00:50:32.759 Rather, 00:50:32.879 --> 00:50:33.619 it is a privilege. 00:50:34.599 --> 00:50:35.119 Anxiety, 00:50:35.339 --> 00:50:35.639 sickness, 00:50:35.899 --> 00:50:36.239 suffering, 00:50:36.459 --> 00:50:36.879 danger, 00:50:37.339 --> 00:50:38.259 forgoing the common 00:50:38.259 --> 00:50:38.899 conveniences 00:50:38.899 --> 00:50:39.879 of this life. 00:50:40.159 --> 00:50:41.179 These may make us 00:50:41.179 --> 00:50:42.379 pause and cause 00:50:42.379 --> 00:50:43.419 the spirit to waver 00:50:43.419 --> 00:50:44.539 and the soul to sink, 00:50:44.759 --> 00:50:46.099 but let this only be 00:50:46.099 --> 00:50:47.219 for a moment. 00:50:47.639 --> 00:50:48.719 All these are 00:50:48.719 --> 00:50:50.199 nothing compared 00:50:50.199 --> 00:50:51.179 with the glory 00:50:51.179 --> 00:50:52.239 which shall 00:50:52.239 --> 00:50:53.679 later be revealed 00:50:53.679 --> 00:50:55.059 in and through us. 00:50:55.779 --> 00:50:56.619 I never made 00:50:56.619 --> 00:50:57.239 a sacrifice. 00:50:58.859 --> 00:50:59.679 Of this we are 00:50:59.679 --> 00:51:00.480 not to talk 00:51:00.480 --> 00:51:02.259 when we remember 00:51:02.259 --> 00:51:03.460 the great sacrifice 00:51:03.460 --> 00:51:04.619 which he made 00:51:04.619 --> 00:51:05.500 who left 00:51:05.500 --> 00:51:06.179 his father's 00:51:06.859 --> 00:51:07.899 throne on high 00:51:07.899 --> 00:51:08.699 to give 00:51:08.699 --> 00:51:09.599 himself 00:51:09.599 --> 00:51:10.980 for us. 00:51:10.980 --> 00:51:18.980 Jesus made 00:51:18.980 --> 00:51:19.880 that sacrifice 00:51:19.880 --> 00:51:21.199 to run 00:51:21.199 --> 00:51:21.820 his race 00:51:21.820 --> 00:51:22.480 for us. 00:51:23.980 --> 00:51:25.219 In Hebrews 2, 00:51:25.360 --> 00:51:26.159 14 to 18, 00:51:26.240 --> 00:51:26.860 it teaches that 00:51:26.860 --> 00:51:27.679 because we are 00:51:27.679 --> 00:51:28.500 flesh and blood 00:51:28.500 --> 00:51:29.820 that Jesus 00:51:29.820 --> 00:51:30.860 had to take 00:51:30.860 --> 00:51:31.679 on flesh and blood 00:51:31.679 --> 00:51:32.519 in order to destroy 00:51:32.519 --> 00:51:33.000 the devil 00:51:33.000 --> 00:51:33.860 and to free us 00:51:33.860 --> 00:51:34.360 from slavery 00:51:34.360 --> 00:51:35.219 to sin and death. 00:51:35.940 --> 00:51:36.460 It says, 00:51:36.460 --> 00:51:37.659 therefore he had 00:51:37.659 --> 00:51:38.320 to be made 00:51:38.320 --> 00:51:39.280 like his brothers 00:51:39.280 --> 00:51:40.300 in every respect 00:51:40.300 --> 00:51:41.519 so that he might 00:51:41.519 --> 00:51:43.619 become a merciful 00:51:43.619 --> 00:51:44.820 and faithful high priest 00:51:44.820 --> 00:51:45.740 in the service of God 00:51:45.740 --> 00:51:47.139 to make propitiation 00:51:47.139 --> 00:51:48.360 for the sins 00:51:48.360 --> 00:51:49.119 of the people 00:51:49.119 --> 00:51:50.619 for because he himself 00:51:50.619 --> 00:51:51.320 has suffered 00:51:51.320 --> 00:51:51.940 when tempted, 00:51:52.139 --> 00:51:53.320 he is able to help 00:51:53.320 --> 00:51:54.099 those who are 00:51:54.099 --> 00:51:54.900 being tempted. 00:51:56.099 --> 00:51:57.300 Christ became 00:51:57.300 --> 00:51:58.119 like us 00:51:58.119 --> 00:51:58.940 in our weakness. 00:51:59.920 --> 00:52:01.559 The eternal spirit 00:52:01.559 --> 00:52:02.659 took on flesh 00:52:02.659 --> 00:52:03.059 and blood 00:52:03.059 --> 00:52:03.820 to save us. 00:52:03.820 --> 00:52:05.519 the God 00:52:05.519 --> 00:52:06.019 who cannot 00:52:06.019 --> 00:52:06.700 be tempted 00:52:06.700 --> 00:52:07.480 with evil 00:52:07.480 --> 00:52:08.940 became a man 00:52:08.940 --> 00:52:09.920 to suffer 00:52:09.920 --> 00:52:11.100 and be tempted 00:52:11.100 --> 00:52:12.200 so that he could 00:52:12.200 --> 00:52:13.220 identify with us, 00:52:13.340 --> 00:52:14.380 empathize with us 00:52:14.380 --> 00:52:15.519 and save us. 00:52:18.059 --> 00:52:18.960 And the author 00:52:18.960 --> 00:52:19.380 of Hebrews 00:52:19.380 --> 00:52:20.100 motivates us 00:52:20.100 --> 00:52:20.680 with the example 00:52:20.680 --> 00:52:21.140 of Christ 00:52:21.140 --> 00:52:22.080 in Hebrews 12 00:52:22.080 --> 00:52:23.160 verses 1 to 2. 00:52:23.660 --> 00:52:24.120 Therefore, 00:52:24.700 --> 00:52:25.500 since we are 00:52:25.500 --> 00:52:26.940 surrounded by so great 00:52:26.940 --> 00:52:27.980 a cloud of witnesses, 00:52:28.380 --> 00:52:29.100 let us also 00:52:29.100 --> 00:52:29.820 lay aside 00:52:29.820 --> 00:52:30.660 every weight 00:52:30.660 --> 00:52:31.500 and sin 00:52:31.500 --> 00:52:32.100 which clings 00:52:32.100 --> 00:52:33.039 so closely 00:52:33.039 --> 00:52:33.980 and let us 00:52:33.980 --> 00:52:34.460 run 00:52:34.460 --> 00:52:35.759 with endurance 00:52:35.759 --> 00:52:36.719 the race 00:52:36.719 --> 00:52:37.400 that is set 00:52:37.400 --> 00:52:38.019 before us. 00:52:38.380 --> 00:52:39.279 Looking to Jesus, 00:52:39.860 --> 00:52:40.480 the founder 00:52:40.480 --> 00:52:41.599 and perfecter 00:52:41.599 --> 00:52:42.199 of our faith 00:52:42.199 --> 00:52:43.599 who for the joy 00:52:43.599 --> 00:52:44.360 that was set 00:52:44.360 --> 00:52:45.340 before him 00:52:45.340 --> 00:52:46.179 endured 00:52:46.179 --> 00:52:47.360 the cross. 00:52:48.099 --> 00:52:48.840 Christ ran 00:52:48.840 --> 00:52:49.759 his race 00:52:49.759 --> 00:52:51.099 and finished it 00:52:51.099 --> 00:52:52.119 and the prize 00:52:52.119 --> 00:52:52.800 waiting for him 00:52:52.800 --> 00:52:53.300 at the end 00:52:53.300 --> 00:52:53.880 was his 00:52:53.880 --> 00:52:56.159 union with the Father 00:52:56.159 --> 00:52:57.360 pleasing him 00:52:57.360 --> 00:52:58.300 and doing his will 00:52:58.300 --> 00:52:59.440 and redeeming 00:52:59.440 --> 00:52:59.960 the church, 00:53:00.119 --> 00:53:00.480 us, 00:53:00.800 --> 00:53:01.519 as a bride 00:53:01.519 --> 00:53:02.179 for himself. 00:53:02.179 --> 00:53:03.460 That was the prize 00:53:03.460 --> 00:53:03.980 that was waiting 00:53:03.980 --> 00:53:04.500 for him 00:53:04.500 --> 00:53:05.039 at the end 00:53:05.039 --> 00:53:05.699 of his race 00:53:05.699 --> 00:53:06.359 as we endure 00:53:06.359 --> 00:53:06.779 the cross 00:53:06.779 --> 00:53:07.419 for our sake. 00:53:07.879 --> 00:53:08.859 And for that reason 00:53:08.859 --> 00:53:09.500 now we endure 00:53:09.500 --> 00:53:10.219 our race 00:53:10.219 --> 00:53:11.000 and the prize 00:53:11.000 --> 00:53:12.019 that waits for us 00:53:12.019 --> 00:53:12.519 at the end 00:53:12.519 --> 00:53:13.099 of our race 00:53:13.099 --> 00:53:13.819 is Christ. 00:53:14.500 --> 00:53:15.179 We get to be united 00:53:15.179 --> 00:53:15.739 with him. 00:53:17.239 --> 00:53:18.119 We get to love him 00:53:18.119 --> 00:53:18.919 and serve him. 00:53:18.919 --> 00:53:19.000 Amen. 00:53:26.000 --> 00:53:27.699 So let's subject 00:53:27.699 --> 00:53:29.119 every aspect 00:53:29.119 --> 00:53:29.899 of our lives 00:53:29.899 --> 00:53:32.619 and harness 00:53:32.619 --> 00:53:33.739 every fiber 00:53:33.739 --> 00:53:34.539 of our beings 00:53:34.539 --> 00:53:36.439 for the sake 00:53:36.439 --> 00:53:37.919 of the gospel. 00:53:40.859 --> 00:53:41.879 Please close your eyes 00:53:41.879 --> 00:53:42.619 with me for a moment. 00:53:45.119 --> 00:53:46.079 I'm going to take 00:53:46.079 --> 00:53:47.759 a moment 00:53:47.759 --> 00:53:48.699 just to be silent 00:53:48.699 --> 00:53:49.339 and reflect 00:53:49.339 --> 00:53:50.259 on this message 00:53:50.259 --> 00:53:51.659 before Dan comes up 00:53:51.659 --> 00:53:52.299 to lead us 00:53:52.299 --> 00:53:52.819 in prayer 00:53:52.819 --> 00:53:53.759 in response to this. 00:53:54.379 --> 00:53:55.359 So please take some time 00:53:55.360 --> 00:53:56.120 to think and reflect 00:53:56.120 --> 00:53:56.559 and pray. 00:53:57.360 --> 00:53:57.720 Amen. 00:53:57.720 --> 00:53:57.800 Amen. 00:53:57.800 --> 00:53:57.840 Amen.