Part Iv The Trials Of Ministry

THE TRIALS OF MINISTRY

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 SO YOU WANT TO STAND UP HERE AND MINISTER TO PEOPLE. THE BIBLE SAYS IF YOU DESIRE THIS OFFICE, YOU DESIRE A GOOD THING. BUT YOU BETTER COUNT THE COST IF GOD HASN’T SPECIFICALLY CHOSEN YOU TO DO THIS. NOW LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT BEING A MINISTER OR PREACHER, IT’S ALSO TALKING ABOUT ANY POSITION IN WHICH YOU MINISTER THE WORD TO PEOPLE. IT EVEN INCLUDES WITNESSING, BUT AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY. PAUL HAD AUTHORITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS FOR HE WAS CHOSEN TO SUFFER ACCORDING TO Acts 9:15-16. (Acts 9:15-16) 15 But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for me." (NLT) SO HERE PAUL BEGINS TO REFLECT ON THE REALITY OF THE TRIALS OF MINISTRY, GODS PURPOSE IN THE TRIALS, AND THE HOPE THAT IS SUSTAINED IN THEM. 8 - We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; 9 - We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; THESE TWO VERSE’S ILLUSTRATE OUR WEAKNESS’ES IN CARRYING OUT OUR GOD GIVEN ASSIGNMENT, AND THE POWER OF GOD TO DELIVER US. 10 - Always bearing about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [[a]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. VINE’S EXPLAINS THE TERM BEARING ABOUT AS THE PHYSICAL SUFFERINGS ENDURED IN FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST, SO THAT THE SAME POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD CAN BE SHOWN TO BE WORKING IN YOU. DO YOU STILL WANT POWER? 12 - Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is in order that [our] life in Christ [may be actively at work] in you. A CHOSEN ONE OR AN APOSTLIC MINISTRY REALIZES ALTHOUGH SUFFERINGS HAVE BROUGHT THEM FACE-TO-FACE WITH PHYSICAL DEATH IT IS GODS

CHOSEN MEANS TO BRING LIFE TO THOSE WHO LIVE WITH THE STENCH (A STRONG, FOUL, ODOR) OF DEATH. 15 - For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and cause a flood of ] the glory of God. SO CHURCH PEOPLE, EXCUSE ME, KINGDOM PEOPLE, WHEN YOU FIND MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD THAT ARE WILLING TO SUFFER FOR YOUR BENEFIT, YOU HAVE FOUND A JEWEL. FOR THEY KNOW THAT THESE ARE INDEED LIGHT AFFLICTIONS THAT ARE JUST FOR AN APPOINTED TIME. THEY KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE CHOSEN GOD IS WORKING IN US A FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY THAT SURPASS’ES THE BEARING ABOUT OF PAIN 1. IT SURPASS’ES THE BEARING ABOUT OF SUFFERING, ASK JESUS 2. IT SURPASS’ES THE BEARING ABOUT OF SICKNESS, ASK THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD 3. IT SURPASS’ES THE BEARING ABOUT OF MENTAL ANGUISH AND MENTAL ILLNESS 4. IT SURPASS’ES THE BEARING ABOUT OF THE LOSS OF A CHILD, ASK MARY SO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE, BUT DON’T STOMP US OUT, USE YOUR TONGUE TO PRAY FOR US, DON’T USE IT TO KILL US WITH GOSSIP. WE ARE THE PEOPLE GOD HAS CHOSEN TO SUFFER MANY TRIALS TO ENABLE YOU TO UNDERSTAND HIS SON JESUS MORE CLEARLY. HONOR US WITH APPROPREIATE HONOR; DON’T MAKE US YOUR PERSONAL JESUS OR YOUR PERSONAL HOLY GHOST. Rom 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.