1 Corinthians 16 - Part C

Here's one of the dangers of a large church is that sometimes shy people come to large churches because they believe they're going to blend into the woodwork and not be noticed that's that's a danger notice see them look for them. Don't let them get away.

Every believer is valuable to the Lord today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip shears treasure older brothers and sisters in the body of Christ at the end of today's program Skip and his wife, one share practical insight on how you can ponder the people and ministry around.

Paul said that God encouraged that downcast with becoming tight and that I have been a person and so you when you say that ministry at present.

You don't realize how much their present can have an impact on somebody who's just going through a hard time. Thanks, Linda. If you want to hear more. Please stay tuned after today's teacher know we want to tell you about a resource that will help you grow stronger in your faith. Our lives are punctuated by defining moments points that shape who we are now and will become such as choice of marriage partner which is to work.

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So much so that Paul said when he wrote to the Philippian church. He said before I have no man like minded who will naturally care for your estate is Timothy and it's a very rare word that he used like-minded. The only time used in the New Testament Aesop to costs means equal sold. He and I share the same soul. I'll just say this is a leader.

I have many acquaintances I've had many friends very rare when you find somebody wasn't equal soul and what what that is, a somebody who knows your heart knows your thoughts as a cook and will sorta live inside your head. You don't even have to give explanations. There are detractor when you get somebody like that hang on to them. Timothy was like that for Paul. He was Aesop Sue costs equal sold like minded very similar to that Old Testament do all Jonathan and David where it says the soul of Jonathan was knit together to the soul of David, and he loved him like he loved his own soul. And Jonathan said to David, I know that the Lord has chosen you to be the next King and me, Jonathan. The King's son who should be the king. I'm good to be next to you. He was like the Timothy to Paul equal soul like mine. So that is Timothy in the New Testament, but notice what he says in verse 10 of Timothy come see that he may be with you without fear. Why did he say that here's my belief. I believe the Timothy those equal sold love Paul loyal to Paul.

He lacked the confidence the ball he lacked the robust character of Paul and he was more naturally fearful and timid so I just want to kinda show you that since were wrapping up the book in first Timothy chapter 4 verse 12 Paul writes to Timothy, a personal letter and says listen to the language.

Let no one despise your youth would be an example to the believers, in word and conduct in love in spirit and faith in. Don't let anybody didn't look down on your despise you because you're young Timothy was in his 30s, when Paul wrote that Job was like a teenager wasn't in his 20s. Even he was in his 30s well in his 30s, but in those ancient cultures you really weren't respected as an elder until you are in your 40s and Timothy was in his 30s. Maybe he had a baby face, so maybe he looked like he was in his 20s, so he comes with all the authority of Paul the apostle and people took one look at him what whatever. So positivity don't let that happen.

Let no one despise your youth now for that to happen.

You need to be an example in these areas now over in second Timothy. He continues or I'm drawing your attention to this thread of thought second Timothy chapter 1 verse six. Therefore, I remind you stir up the gift of God which is in you to the laying on of my hands, for God is not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind I was writing to Timothy.

Timothy was the pastor at that time of emphasis were Paul was when he wrote first Corinthians, but I think by that time the persecution had increased and he was already naturally timid as we have seen and he's just experiencing a little bit of hesitancy among the Ephesians to receive Timothy alike they receive Paul so Paul has to say look, dude, stir up the gift that is in you and God has given us the spirit of fear, then finally in second Timothy chapter 2, he says, you therefore, my son, be strong in the faith.

But wait a minute of verse seven God is not given us the spirit of fear. Fear means timidity verse eight therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner seen that I was part of his hang-up is that no Paul is federal prisoner and I'm kind of ashamed that my boss is a jailbird and you know people I can respect that and and I don't want to go to jail and he all that stuff. He's dealing with. And then the chapter 2 second Timothy verse when you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses commit these two faithful men also will be able to teach others also. So he's experiencing fear.

He's ashamed of the ministry.

Perhaps his own. Certainly Paul the apostle and he's doubting his own giftedness so it makes sense that from Ephesus. He writes to the granted the selective Timothy comes see that he may be with you without fear he's got about timid, do fearful guy in a kind of tightly strong BZ on the boy verse 12 now concerning our brother.

Apollo's I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time. However, he will come when he has a convenient time. Apparently the Corinthians in part of their communicative Paul through Chloe and these others are about to meet before we close this epistle.

They had requested that Apollo's return to Corinth and share his ministry. And you remember that Apollo's was a Jewish convert to Christ from Alexandria. He went to Corinth met Paul first-team medical and Priscilla, who had been kicked out of Rome moved to Corinth: Priscilla listen to Apollo's. They saw that Apollo center incredible gift of oratory. He was a good preacher.

He was very persuasive. He knew the word of the Lord, but only up until the point of the baptism of John, so we hadn't heard the rest of the gospel story. They filled him in on the rest and he became a force to be reckoned with Apollo's was in Corinth. Apollo's went to Ephesus to help all the apostle Paul probably said look up Wallace. They want you back in Corinth and Apollo said I want to go go later but I want to go right now so there's just for whatever reason, the honest truth. What I like about this is Paul didn't go so he didn't want to go please come in anyway because I am the apostle after all. And I gave them a commandment and use my apostolic authority is that you don't want to come next so he didn't force the issue. That's the heart of a good leader.

He let Apollo's go according to the leading he had in the gifts that he felt he had. So now we close the letter with final exhortation seizes watch which could be translated. Be on guard watch young guard wake up.

The Corinthians of fallen asleep on the job they were letting weird things into their church they were being split apart by divisions. They were sexually immoral. They were goofy when it came to spiritual gifts. On and on and on covered on the whole book. So it's fitting that he says, watch out. Be on guard don't fall asleep. Wake up.

The devil is never too busy to rock the cradle of a sleeping St. he wants to loathe you to sleep. Paul says, wake up, watch be on guard. Stand fast in the faith, be brave, the strong. Let all that you do be done with love. I urge you, brethren, you know, the household of Stefon S that it is the firstfruits of a Kia.

That's the area where Corinth was that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints. You remember Stefon's do you not in chapter 1 of this book, when the apostle said I thank God that I baptized none of you except for Christmas and Gaius Christ did not send me to baptize but preach the gospel. All I almost forgot. Also, this household of Stefon S. I baptized that's it. I can remember that I baptized no one else. Anyone else because Jesus didn't send me to baptize people but preach the gospel so he mentioned Stefon as he mentions him again and in verse 15 he says, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints anybody here tonight have an old King James version in the house gate okay. If you have an old King James, what is it safer devoted addicted to listen to, for they have addicted themselves to the ministry.

I suppose if you're going to have an addiction have that one. I struggle with addiction really what he addicted to serving people struggle with that addiction be addicted to that. That's a going to have their addicted to the ministry men. They love serving people there, always looking for opportunities or addict there devoted and that you submit to such and everyone who works in labors with us. I am glad about the coming of Stefon S. Fortunato's and a Kia because those are the three that I mentioned I would introduce you to for what was lacking on your part.

They have supplied they came they have filled me in on what's going on. I have a full knowledge of that I am apprised of the situation and also this where they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men churches in Asia greet you a call and Priscilla greet you.

Those were the tentmakers and Corinth that Paul hung out with. They were converted through Paul's ministry right ministry team husband-and-wife: Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord with the house. That is, or the church that is in their house.

So apparently: Priscilla Hoover and Corinth followed Paul to Ephesus got a home. They were well enough to do with their tent making business that they could afford a large enough home to house whatever believers in that city in Ephesus. They supplied the house and they were just there to support Paul I in his ministry. All the brethren greet you greet one another with a holy kiss.

We couldn't do that during covert. I was frowned upon. You can even shake hands during covert.

You couldn't even get 6 feet in front of people or less than 6 feet for those were trying to figure things out. But all that aside, a holy kiss is mentioned five times in the New Testament. It was always the customary greeting.

There is not no romantic overtones were that it is purely like the Middle Eastern kissing of the cheek and welcoming people into the household of God, and so greet one another with a holy kiss make people feel at home, we would say greet one another with a holy handshake. Greet one another with a holy hug or fist bump or whatever but make people feel like they're part of the family.

Here's one of the dangers of a large church is that sometimes shy people come to large churches because they believe they're going to blend into the woodwork and not be noticed that's that's a danger notice that see them look for them. Don't let them get away.

If there shy find them.

Don't embarrass him.

But love on them, welcome them, greet them with a holy kiss holy handshake holy hug make them feel part of the family. Don't let them blend in, because they ought not to blend and they should be noticed there valuable to God they're important for the work of the ministry. They may be the next servant par excellence. When we first started this church we had a brother who became a pastor on the staff's name is Mark McAllister. He was my right-hand man.

He was a Timothy to me. At first he served alongside of me was very powerful in worldwide missions did a lot for the church in China and overseas. But I remember what he said to me when I met him he said I'm the guy who wants to blend in all make coffee all clean off the stuff at the end of the meeting.

All turn out the lights all lock the doors don't asked me to speak in public, so soon as he said that my mind went to work and I thought how can I get that guy to share something and the only reason wasn't too embarrassing because not, but I knew we had such depth yet so many gifts that needed to be appreciated by the body of Christ. So I did look for ways for that to happen, but finally I just said, look, I'm in a be gone next week, and arm in our Bible. So the only unity to know I told you don't let me do that I I'm not back Isaac I want you to do it. It was okay, I'll submit the good and it was powerful and and and he went on to be used powerfully for years to come to churches around the United States and around the world and started mission organizations and that legacy continues to this day. So don't let them blend in chasing down men greeted him with a holy kiss the salutation with my own hand.

Paul is what that means. Up till now Paul has dictated everything to a colleague who has written it down for him is called an amanuensis or scribe and that scriber amanuensis wrote everything down until now to authenticate that it was indeed from Paul the apostle, he wrote the last few lines and signed which would give authentication to salutation with my own hand Paulos Paul if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed you go, that's mean that's wrong that's not Christian at actually, it is Christian comes from the Gospels Gospel of John. He who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the son of God, you does believe will not be condemned so probably thinking of that he says he who does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.

Oh Lord, come now in the original Greek. If you could read Greek. It says he does not love the Lord anathema and then Mayor enough anathema was a very strong Greek word to pronounce a curse upon the word Maranatha is Aramaic, though, understood in Greek culture and mirror, not the means come, Lord, and it had become a buzzword by this time to become a greeting. By this time the early church would say to each other, usually because they didn't want the unbelievers to know that it was a kind of a code word Maranatha with his outward units of Aramaic so, oh Lord, or the Lord is coming, and when we lived in the 60s and 70s during the Jesus movement. We said that to each other every week we had bumper stickers that said mirror. Not that there were songs that we used to sing that said Mayor enough and I think we should bring that stuff back right more Marilyn office songs.

We even started the music company out of Calvary Chapel called Maren off the music which which comes from that idea. So, oh Lord, come Maren off of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you my love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. We finished amen.

Like you said amen. In verse 22. He said if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus, that is the simplest description of a Christian someone who loves Jesus when people say oh you're a Christian, but what kind what denomination you belong to just tell them why I'm the kind that just loves Jesus, I love the Lord Jesus.

He's my friend just just tell them that and and watch the look on their face. I love Jesus because you it's really you. You take it personally.

There wanting kind of a professional.

Denominational loans are horribly belong to this group as lefties simplest description summary of love that the conclusion of the series expound first Karen, let's head into the studio with Skip as they share practical insight on how you can honor the people in ministry around the apostle valued all the people in his life eventually those who came alongside him, skip, how can we honor those with whom we serve in ministry. How can we encourage those who serve us in their ministry. What I love the idea of this. I love the Politburo spends a whole chapter talking about the people that he served with and that he loved to do ministry with and that's what this message is been based on, and you know I think of Paul the apostle is one who did that but you gotta keep mine.

Paul had a pretty good start himself. He was given a platform by some to call the son of encouragement.

Barnabas is the one who really pushed him out into ministry so firsthand he saw what an encourager can do and I think that's stuck with him and he became bad for other people. This I think would be hard to minister with Paul on the good be easy thing you know he had his run-ins with people who he thought weren't up to snuff, and there was division. Eventually with Barnabas himself over his nephew, but all of that to say, given the fact that Paul was driven so much. He still the same time appreciated the calling of God in other people's lives and exonerated that and I think honor is very important. Encouragement is hugely important and I love you know the ministry of presence. I love walk around in different people's office and sitting and chatting with them just so they see me in a different role than in the pulpit.

I like to kid with people and then encourage people and thank them for what they're doing. Simple little things like that go along way something that stuck out to me lately was Paul said that God encourage that downcast with the coming of Titus and them. I have been a person who suffered with depression and so you when you say the ministry of presence. You don't realize how much your presence can have an impact on somebody who's just going through a hard time so practicing the presence of God is great that we want to be in God's presence, but that we can bring God's presence to someone else and even Paul you Nike said be hard to work with him.

He he's like the ever I need to mean I would be exhausted with Paul but clearly he was downcast and when Titus came and encouraged him so good. Yeah I just think you know anytime we can do that in another person's life and get them going a little further down the road by a kind word, a smile, a hug, a prayer if that's all it takes. It's not much to invest Yankee escape in my conversation with fresh tea spiritually and strengthened her encouraged. Please consider helping to check online to fresh others. With God's truth.com/donate to give share that connectwithskip.com/donate or call 800-9200 92 for changing lives tomorrow. Skip hike to share with conform to the world