17 June 2007
A Meaningful Ministry
Given by Doug Steytler

1 Cor 9:19-27

The platform for this message is Paul's letter to the Church at Corinth which was plagued with a multitude of problems and disputes. Sadly not unlike many present day churches.

Entitled A Meaningful Ministry this message could also be named Touched by the Master's Hand.

We well know Paul's conversion experience outside Damascus recorded in Acts 9. God declares to Annanias whom He used to minister to Paul after his conversion, "Paul, is a chosen vessel unto me...", vs15. God reaches down from heaven and spiritually touches Paul resulting in a dramatic transformation of one who was dedicated to persecuting those Jews who had believed in Jesus Christ.

The response of Paul to the intervention of God on that dusty road was a pure example of submission to the ultimate Authority. Firstly in vs 5, "who art thou Lord?" and then in response in vs 6, he cries out, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

Tragically, this is a cry that is missing in the lives of God's people in this present age. Self dictates and the cry is rather, "Lord, what wilt thou do for me?"

We have reversed the God ordained plan and procedure. We need to return to basics found in God's Word and not merely utter those well known words of John the Baptist but determine to live in our own lives the truth that he uttered. John 3;30, referring to Christ declares, "He must increase, but I must decrease." Self cries out in opposition to this, the flesh wars against the Spirit. Beware Jesus says, "...whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased," Mt 23:12.

For you and I to fulfil a meaningful ministry we need to experience the touch of the Master's hand. Paul touched by God, cries, "...what wilt thou have me to do?" John the Baptist, touched by God, admits, "I must decrease."

Is your ministry being hindered by the barrier that you have set up between yourself and God? If so, then you are hindering God from touching your life.
I have four points to consider in this message.

1. FREEDOM - THE CALLING TOUCH (vs 19)
Paul confesses in vs 19, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all." Can we be free but yet be a servant? The Believer's freedom is in Christ Jesus. Yet, when we study the life of Christ we realise that He became a servant. He came to serve mankind.

Paul in effect says that he owes no man anything and that he is not responsible to any man. In his acknowledgement of being a servant unto all, Paul is complying with the calling touch of God upon his life. Again I refer to Acts 9:15, the Lord says to Ananias concerning Paul, "...he is ...to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."
I think you will all agree that Paul was undoubtedly called with a very clear and a very specific event in his life. It was also a very unique event. There has never been another who has experienced such an eventful conversion and appointment by God.

Look at vs 1 of our subject chapter (1Cor 9:1). Paul, amongst other things, declares his freedom and then, with another question, declares his serving spirit, "Are not ye my work in the Lord?"

The Corinthians were Gentiles. We read earlier in Acts 9:15 that Paul was to bear the name of the Lord before the Gentiles. The calling touch on Paul directed him to fulfil his commission.

To conclude this point Freedom - The Calling Touch turn to 1 Cor 7:21,22. These two verses say it all. "Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant."

2. SUBMISSION - THE CONVICTING TOUCH (Vs 20,21)
Paul was very aware of the destiny of the lost soul. As he submitted himself to fulfilling the Great Commission he also experienced the convicting touch of God in a passion for souls.

Paul in his letter to the Romans opens with the righteousness of God, the need for salvation and then his own conviction to carry the Gospel. To get the full picture of this statement we need to read the first four chapters but time does not allow it. However, let's read vs's 14-16, Ch 1.
"I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Do you see that as Paul submits himself to the will of his Saviour, Jesus Christ, he is passionately convicted to bring the lost sinner under the message the Gospel of his Saviour.

Vs 14 reveals to us the submission under which Paul places himself as a Christian. He realises his responsibility as an ambassador for his Saviour. He confesses his responsibility to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to every human being. But please note the extent of his submissive responsibility, "I am a debtor." Paul says that he is responsible, he owes it to them to preach the Gospel to them. He is totally convicted that his actions should be as a debt that needs to be paid.

Do you notice the global extent of his submission to God's touch:
- to the Greeks, the intelligentsia of the day;
- to the barbarians, the uncivilised of the day;
- to the wise, those who had benefited from the institutes of learning;
- to the unwise, those who never had any form of education
and then he finally addresses the Romans, the politically powerful of the day.

In vs 16 he unashamedly submits himself in totality to Jesus Christ and His Gospel. With convicting touch Paul declares the power of salvation. Paul was not ashamed to align himself with those of differing views relating to law and grace but with the sole purpose of "gaining them that are under the law" and "gaining them that are without law" for the glory of Christ, vs 20 & 22. Thus Paul became involved in -

3. PARTICIPATION - THE COMPELLING TOUCH (vs 22,23)
To whom was the Great Commission addressed? To all believers in Christ as Saviour. Paul was not singled out as an individual evangelist but was compelled to participate in evangelism. Such is the power of the Gospel that Paul, as a fine example of a dedicated Christian, was fully aware of the compelling touch of God upon his life and upon his ministry.

Such is the plight of the lost sinner that Paul was not only willing to become weak but was compelled to be "all things to all men." The term "weak" in this context is not that of physical weakness of the body but it is spiritual weakness. It is the difficulty that so many experience in responding to the gift of salvation, it is the difficulty that so many experience in accepting the faith that is instilled by a Holy, loving God. It is the weakness to reject and forsake sin.

Paul, because of his obedience to God, was compelled to participate in the sinners condition, but not their sin. Because of that participation he acquired not only an understanding but a personal relationship. Paul was willing to become like that individual.

Why would Paul do such a thing? Firstly, v 23 "for the Gospel's sake" and secondly "that I might be partaker of it with you." Paul is simply saying, if I am in your shoes, I can understand your situation and I can lead you out of it by God's sufficient grace through Christ Jesus. Compelled to participate, "all things to all men." This is what we call empathy, it is far more than mere sympathy, it is entering into that persons predicament.
But how is this participation accomplished?

4. SUBJECTION - THE CONVINCING TOUCH (vs 24, 27)
Paul here uses the sporting example of the athlete. How are we convinced that a particular athlete is a winner? Firstly, he wins the race. Secondly, he receives the prize. How has he won the race? He has brought himself into subjection of effective training.

The convincing touch upon Paul's life and ministry was that there is only one winner, it meant being Christ-like and that demanded that he made himself subject to Christ.

Paul fully understood that subjection meant just as we read in Rom 8:29, "...be conformed to the image of God's Son..."

Paul also determined to be effective in his ministry. He was bold in his stand for the Gospel and bold in his presentation. Acts 18:28 declares, "For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

Paul was fully convinced that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour. So humble was his subjection to God which, as we said earlier, compelled him to proclaim the message of salvation that he was able to convince sinners of their need of salvation.

Just how powerful is this action of Paul? We find the answer in the word "convinced," it means "to refute, to disprove with rivalry and effort."
The Greek word is el-eg-cho is also translated as "fault, convicted, reproved," it also means to tell a fault.

Because of the servant's subjection to his Master and Saviour, the convincing touch of God on Paul's life gave him the desire to convince sinners of their sin.

Let's draw these four points together now and gain some application in developing a meaningful ministry for our own personal life. Almost everything that I have said has focussed around the apostle Paul. That immediately can create a condition of excuse. That was Paul's calling, that was Paul's ministry, that was Paul's ability. No! Not so, far from it in fact.
Paul was not some mythological menace to the heathen. Paul was a mere human sinner saved by grace. Listen to his confession:

1 Tim 1:15 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

He knew the extent of sin yet claimed to be chief. You and I are mere human sinners, most I trust, saved by the grace of God through Christ. God's Word presents us with the servant Paul and his example of the Christian life and it's ministry. God does this because Paul was an example for Christ and through this we can learn from Paul.

You see Paul in his life experienced Freedom, Submission, Participation and Subjection as we have seen and because of his willing surrender to the Holy will of God Almighty, he then knew God's touch upon his ministry. The Calling, Convicting, Compelling and Convincing touch of God. These gave Paul a meaningful ministry.

What have you done with your salvation? Is it a mere date written in your Bible? Is it a signed card somewhere in some drawer?

Where are you going today in your walk with Christ? Is it only the literal steps you take to get to church on Sunday? Is it the few moments you take to read your Bible because that's what a Christian is supposed to do?
You can have an exiting and worthwhile Christian life. You can have a meaningful ministry. You can have the experience of being touched by the master's hand. Submit yourself in total to God as did Paul and then you too can proclaim his words with joy.

Remember, Phil 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ," Pauls clearly addresses the matter of the responsibility of being a believer in 2 Cor 5:20 "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ." We are representatives of Jesus Christ to this world.

May God bless this word to your life. May each of us learn of the touch of the Master's Hand upon our lives as He desires to lead along the road of this life, that we may learn from His servant Paul to be Christlike in every fashion and dedicated to a meaningful ministry in fulfilling the Great Commission.