TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:16-23
No matter what we do, if the people are not saved, all efforts are lost.
Luke 9:6,23,59-62. Coming after Christ, you must follow His footsteps, you must deny self, just like Him. You must not allow any little inconvenience or displeasure to affect your consecration. Jesus told the man who took permission to go and bury his father to let the dead bury their dead while he followed Him.
No ‘but’ must be put on your consecration, you must go all the way. No putting of self before doing the will of, or obeying the Lord. Christ did not allow the man to go and bid his family goodbye. He said, anyone who lays his hands on the plough and looks back is not acceptable or suitable for the kingdom of God. I’d those who look back are not acceptable, how much more those who go back? Necessity is laid on every believer, and woe betides anyone who allows himself to be distracted from the task of preaching the gospel.
- THE PURPOSEFUL CONVINCING CONSECRATION IN PURSUING HIS GOAL (1 Corinthians 9:19; Luke 22:27; Philippians 2:4-8; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Corinthians 9:20; Acts 9:15; 22:17-21; 26:16-20; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Romans 1:14-17; 11:13-14; 10:1,9-10,13,17)
If you are a child of God, Christ lives in you and you live in Him, hence His goals, passion, pursuits, and interests become yours and nothing else (going into business, acquiring this or that) will matter to you. You following the Lord, and pursuing His goals is known to all around you, it is practical and clear for all to see. Every believer must take the Great Commission seriously. Nothing else must supersede the goal to preach the gospel. Everyone must be totally dedicated to it, not to fulfill all righteousness but to do what is compulsory and needful.
Some people take lectures on different projects and goals and they are told to ensure that meeting their goals and targets be their first priorities. They are told not to waste their time on the things of God. Anyone who listens to that counsel will be a loser here on earth and in eternity. No one compelled or put pressure on Paul, he personally made up his mind so that he will gain all: Jews, Gentiles, philosophers, etc. He made himself poor so that others might be rich in the knowledge of the Lord.
Philippians 2:4-8. Don’t say, “my project, my goals, my achievements”, etc. rather, look at how others will be saved, established, and well discipled in the kingdom of God. Don’t think about what you will lose when you commit yourself to the kingdom work, think more of what you must do for Christ. Don’t think about your reputation, honour, glory, self respect, self esteem, or how the people of the world look at, or view you. Jesus made Himself of no reputation that humanity can be saved. He became obedient even to the death on the Cross.
Paul followed Christ’s example by enduring all things. What have you endured for the sake of the gospel? If you are always thinking about your reputation, stature, and position in the church or in the world, you might end up losing out completely both here and in eternity.
- In becoming ‘as a Jew’, Paul went into the synagogues, took up and spoke to them on their writings which they could identify with. He would not annoy or judge them. His heart’s desires was that they would be saved.
- In becoming ‘as those under the law’, He asked about their laws so that He could have the opportunity to talk to them in a way they will understand.
- ‘As those without the law’, he did not quote the law in their hearings because they won’t understand, rather he appealed to them with what they could identify with. He spoke to the Gentiles as an apostle to the Gentiles. He conditioned his heart and tailored his teaching to suit their understanding.
ch 10:1,9-10. The way to become saved for the Jews and Gentiles is the same: they are to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that He died and rose up again to save humanity. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, don’t do or say anything that will make the people block their ears to the gospel.
- THE PROPER CONSUMING CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD (1 Corinthians 9:22-23; John 3:17; Romans 15:2-4; 1 Corinthians 10:32-33; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:16-17; 2 Thessalonian 2:9-10; Hebrews 2:3; Acts 13:26,47; 2 Peter 3:9; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 6:2-3)
After preaching and winning souls, there is the need to follow them up so that they will be discipled and not remain new converts and babies all their spiritual life. You must have consuming passion and concern for them.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23. At times, some care and concern might not be as effective as they ought to be, but yours must be consuming in order to be effective. Some people are lonely and the only way to get to them is to solve the problem of their loneliness. Some are suffering and afflicted, and no longer trust anyone, some are poor and have no way to take care of themselves. Some are so dead and buried in their religion and you need to go about things in a way to enlighten them gently so that they will know the futility of their religion.
The educated ones just want to be happy and fulfilled. You might ask them how they think money and success are enough for them.
Let them know that those things they seek are not enough to save them. Some are very much in a hurry, you must find a way to get the gospel across to them. You can send it to them as messages.
