Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20010624.htm

2 CORINTHIANS: OVERCOMING WHEN GOD'S SERVANT FACES RESISTANCE
Part V: Taking Practical Spiritual Inventory Of Christian Ministries
(2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 3:1-3)
  1. Introduction
    1. A hot topic regarding ministry today is determining just what constitutes meaningful spiritual "success" in ministry: (1) on the one hand, (a) someone may think because he is well liked or is growing in fame and wealth that he enjoys God's blessing in his efforts (b) while another who faces constant trouble and lack and disrespect may think he is under divine discipline. (2) On the other hand, (a) one may charge the former with a false kind of spirituality and (b) think the latter is a godly party under persecution.
    2. Paul supplies informative insight in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 and 3:1-3 to answer this issue (as follows):
  2. Taking Practical Spiritual Inventory Of Christian Ministries, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 3:1-3.
    1. When Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers in 2 Corinthians, he had cause to second-guess if he was ministering with God's approval from man's perspective: his very negative ministration of exercising unwanted discipline in the Church (2 Cor. 2:1-2, 6), his sorrow in doing so (2 Cor. 2:4) and ministry altering concern at how the Corinthians had responded to his severe letter to them sent with Titus (cf. 2 Cor. 2:12-13 with Ryrie Study Bible: King James Version, p. 1645 as detailed in the last lesson) could have caused any Christian in ministry to be confused and second-guess his uprightness with God's will!
    2. However, Paul expressed confidence that his ministry was in God's will, and we examine his comments on that subject for instruction on taking proper spiritual inventory of Christian ministries (as follows):
      1. Paul noted that he always triumphed in achieving the desired effect of bearing his testimony of the truth to others as an apostle, and that meant God guided and equipped him en route, 2 Cor. 2:14a.
      2. He noted extremely opposite reactions to his efforts, a further signal of God's working in him:
        1. Paul alluded to a triumphal procession awarded a victorious Roman general who would bring his war captives in a long train behind him from the battle. Incense was burned along the causeway, and following this procession some prisoners would be executed while others left alive. Thus, the incense was a sign of "death" for some prisoners while signaling "life" to others, 2 Cor. 2:14b-16.
        2. Using this picture to illustrate ministry results, Paul taught some people to whom he gave the gospel would respond with faith resulting in their eternal life, and others would reject it to their eternal damnation. Thus, the incense of the gospel produced very opposite results depending on how people responded to it, 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.
      3. The reasons why this correct ministry of Paul's was always victorious in the midst of extremely positive or negative reactions to it are supplied as follows (2 Corinthians 2:17):
        1. Such a correct, godly ministry presents the Word of God in its purity, 2 Corinthians 2:17a.
        2. Such a correct, godly ministry presents the life of the one ministering as righteous: Paul did not sell the truth at a high price for personal gain, but lived above worldly greed, 2 Corinthians 2:17b.
      4. The correct, godly ministry is proved to be so by the results of changed lives in those who receive it:
        1. The correct, godly ministry produces a change of heart in those who respond to the Word, 2:1-2a.
        2. This ministry is able to be seen by witnesses who view these changed lives in terms of actions, 3:2b.
        3. The reason for such changes is found in the Holy Spirit's involvement: He has evidently worked in the lives of those who are changed to produce the change, 2 Cor. 3:3a with James 3:17-18.
        4. If the Holy Spirit has thus worked, then those who ministered must have ministered by the power, control and sanction of the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:1 with 3:2-3. If they have operated by the Spirit's control and sanction, they have to be godly themselves, Galatians 5:16-23!
Lesson: We can discern whether a ministry is truly successful or merely artificially so in God's eyes by the following criteria: (1) Lives should be changed for righteousness in this effort. (2) Its METHODS should be Biblical: (a) Namely, only what Scripture actually says should be taught. (b) Namely, the one ministering should serve selflessly for God rather than for personal gain. (3) There should be both very negative as well as very positive responses to this ministry effort from its recipients. (4) The one serving should experience God's help out of all sorts of troubles as a way of life, cf. Psalm 34:18-19.