02.21.2016 We are Called to a Ministry of Transformation

2-21-2016 We are Called to a Ministry of Transformation from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Thank You that You have brought us into Your family. Help us to understand our position of being unworthy, but having been given Your grace. Help us to understand how much You love us and who You are –and to know that there is a God who reigns supremely – who wants to be honored – help us to honor You with our lives and represent You to this world.
2 Cor. 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled [a]to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this [b]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God
Paul is defending Himself from accusations – False Apostles had been saying bad things about Paul – but Paul is demonstrating that he is above reproach – no stain – no one should be able to say, AHA! We know this about you – But Paul is honest and shows integrity – his behavior is correct and his proclamation of the gospel is true.
Paul takes this opportunity to describe true spiritual leadership. The Corinthians were enamored with power and influence. These super-apostles were guys coming in who were great communicators and leaders with charisma and they were awestruck by this – like Christian celebrities – with a quick following proclaiming them as spiritual leaders.
We have this picture in our mind of a great preacher/communicator/leader – maybe it is one who builds a great ministry – or a dynamic worship leader – or it could be a smart theologian – who knows the ins and outs of Christianity and languages. The Corinthians had a picture in their mind of what
Paul was the opposite.
If he were here – You keep talking about spiritual leadership – I do not think that means what you think it means, to quote The Princess Bride.
2 Cor. 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart – or become discouraged
Paul has been talking about the ministry of the spirit and ministry of transformation. The first qualification to engage in the ministry of the spirit or ministry of transformation – is to be a person who has received mercy from God. How many of us think about that when we think of the characteristics of leadership? We first think of strength, courage, wisdom, skills and gifts, resources, character – but before all of that – to be engaged in ministry of the spirit and transformation – we have to be people who have received mercy. Mercy means – to be pitied by God. This is an entirely different focus – but all of us need God’s mercy – so it opens up the ministry of the spirit and ministry of transformation to anybody. It is not exclusive to the super powered and the great. There was nothing like that in Paul. But there was something so much greater that was necessary.
It may be redundant – but this transformation is a foundation built on grace and mercy – those two words come up over and over again.
The super apostles were skilled, credentialed, and qualified, and the Corinthians were enamored with them - but our spiritual leadership must flow out of the foundation of having received mercy and grace.
We would prefer to not need those things – But God is making it clear – no matter your skill level, you are not qualified if you are not able to receive God’s pity – His mercy and grace. We need a deep internal understanding of our need – that we have and maintain. Then, as we do that – we will develop a true application of what we have received – grace and mercy - to the way we treat others and live our lives.
Jesus told the story of one who owned a vineyard – and it is harvest time – and he goes to Manpower – or Accountemps – and hires the people who are there to pick the grapes – but there still aren’t enough – and he goes each part of the day and keeps going back and getting more harvesters – and they come out to pay the hired hands – starting with the ones who were hired at 5 pm, paying the a full-days’ wage – and the early ones thought they were in for a big payday - and the ones who hired in at 7 am were angry when he paid them– because they got paid the same.
Matthew 20: 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye [a]envious because I am [b]generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”
We naturally think of ourselves as the early hires. But the reality is – we were all hired at the last minute – even those of us who served the Lord for 40 years – and we have been fortunate to receive God’s mercy – and until we get to that point, we will never learn to receive mercy and grace and allow our service to flow out of that.
We need to acknowledge that we don’t deserve to receive anything from God.
Someone who is unworthy needs mercy – God’s pity – Babies – and more so – Grandbabies – are loved because of who they are and whose image they bear. “He looks just like you!” How often do you hear that? Because of whose they are. Do babies do anything to deserve love? They just are.
In the same sense – God loves us because of the image we bear – because of Whom we belong to. Not only have we done nothing to deserve His love, we have done a lot to undeserved His love!
2 Cor. 4: 4 in whose case the god of this [b]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving [c]so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants [d]for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
True spiritual leadership must point people to Jesus. There are Christian celebrities today – and people being enamored with church, or the band, or the pastor, or the programs. And oftentimes, the church is trying to point people to Christ – but there is this culture today that can’t take its eyes off the performance. We watch and are critical of how perfectly they are done – and with the style that they are done that we lose the substance. I think church leaders attempt to do things to point people to God – but this culture does so much to do otherwise.
The appropriate word here – servant – is really – slave – for Jesus’ sake – we are owned by Jesus. Like a slave is owned. He is nothing like the Masters of history. In that sense, we are owned by you – the Corinthians – and that is a different picture of leadership.
When you lead, you are in charge – but as a slave to those you lead. You are in charge as a slave to those you lead.
He goes on in v. 7: 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
Jars of clay – common, cheap, and easily breakable. There is this great treasure. If someone has a great treasure – they put it in the protected vault – but Jesus chose to take the greatest treasure and stick it in the cheap, common, and fragile. In a shoe-box under the bed. We are those shoe boxes. He took the greatest treasure and put it in us. This is so amazing. SO often we feel like cracked pots – but that is all we are – and it changes our view of ourselves. I am a fragile clay pot with the most amazing treasure inside. He then explains what this extraordinary power looks like – what does it mean?
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
It’s like Rocky getting knocked down so many times – and then rallying in the last round and destroying the opponent. But Paul gives no indication of the rally – knocked down – but not destroyed.
This extraordinary power looks like real life – living by faith in reality.
We want Lebron to take over and come from behind and score 30 to win the game in the fourth quarter.
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body
We want it to be once/year – but Paul says he is always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus.
We die, and die, and die – and it is through death that we experience the life of Christ
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.
This is what DELIVERS transformation to others – death working in us, to bring life to YOU!
Our weakness is intermingled with the power of the cross – power and glory in the eyes of God. As we take up our cross, it looks shameful, stupid, dumb, weak, failure. Are you willing to look like that in the world’s eyes? You can’t have coolness and the power of God – they don’t work together.
Paul was constantly on the verge of being killed. Once he did, but was brought back to life! Paul dies daily – and so should we – setting aside our selfish concerns so that life may work in others.
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
We are looking for that ultimate victory in this world, but we won’t experience it.
15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is [e]spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
Begins with mercy – and ends with grace –
We go back to last week – the purpose of the ministry of the tablets of stone was to exclude – the purpose of grace and mercy is to include – many many people.
This is the ministry of transformation – the ministry of inclusion of all and transformation of all.
Mercy - We who are undeserving have received from God a radical acceptance and welcome – without judgment. We have been given a generous blessing and gift from God – and the ministry of Grace and Mercy has and will transform us and has filled us with an extraordinary power so that we can welcome and embrace without exclusion all who need God’s grace and mercy in order that they may grow in their relationship with Christ.