R sbc
Date: Jan 22, 2006
Sunday Morning
Series: “Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 68
Subject: “Fellowlabourer In the Gospel Of Christ”
Text: “I Thess 3-2
Intro: It is difficult to preach through a book that is so loaded with Paul’s mind concerning the ministry. Last week we seen the contention of the gospel, the confidence of being trusted with the gospel, the confirmation of the gospel, the gospel was not a chargeable thing...
This passage opens up with where Paul thought it best for him to stay, in Athens Greece. That he would send Timothy own to see them. There was a reason for him sending him, if you look at:
(1.) They were in afflictions: vs 3
He says a number of things about it....
A. We were appointed to them:
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
B. He told them about it: vs 4
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. What he is saying is that associated with Christ and following him is a life of tribulation.
James the half brother of the LORD said: James 1-1 ¶ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
This introduces the fact stated in the subject, that because the ministry is difficult, because Christanity brings about certain trails of our faith, it is good to have fellowlabourer in the LORD’s gospel.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not work alone, he sent his men out two by two. In the gospel of Lu 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
I.. THOSE WHO LABOR TOGETHER MUST BE IN UNITY...
This church has sent Bro Charles and Bro Frank to the prison ministry and they labor together. Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians...
1 Cor 3-9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
David said:
Ps 133:1 <<A Song of degrees of David.>> Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
No ministry, no church, no missionary, no preacher can survive and do the work the LORD has called him to, unless there is unity in each of these. Not that we all agree on everything, that is not what I am saying that will never happen. But we must agree to disagree and respect each other.
David speaks next of the great benefit of it: Psa 133-2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Paul speaks of our need to endeavor Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The word endeavor means to make haste, to put forth great effort in a matter..
He also speaks of the great need: Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
II... IN LABORING TOGETHER WE PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST”
Often I have defined the truth of the little word “of” the source from which the information comes from... so it means out of, out from. So it is clear that the gospel is of Christ. If it is not of Christ it is a false gospel...it is used frequently in the bible...
That he was not ashamed of it: Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Why is it a gospel “of Christ”.. Good question let us answer..
(1.) It is the gospel of Christ because he is the essence of it...
He is the very heart of it, take him out of it and you have no gospel at all. It is not the churches, it not the preachers, it is not mine and yours it is Christ’s gospel because he is the heart of it.
Re 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
We all know that when the Lord Jesus Christ came, that he was introduced as the Lamb of God that would take away our sins. Lamb speaks of the essence of the sacrifice, he had to be without spot and blemish he had to be a male, it had to be the best they had. The Father gave us all this in JESUS CHRIST our Lord...
(2.) It is the gospel of Christ because he is the price of it:
The price was his all, his life, his substance, his blood, everything Jesus paid it all, all the debt I owed, sin has left a crimson stain his blood washed it white as stow.
Ro 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
(3.) It is the gospel of Christ because he satisfied the Father...
This is my beloved son in whom I am well please. This is a fact, because when he was raised from the dead he was raised by the Father...Ac 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
(4.) It is the gospel of Christ because it is the foundation of all that we believe...
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
If the gospel is of man, or through man, or though some other means of obtaining salvation we will be lost forever. Christ is the sum of it, Christ is the substance of it. Praise GOD from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below, praise him above ye heavenly host, praise Father Son and Holy Ghost..
III... IN LABORING TOGETHER AS A CHURCH AND A MINISTRY WE SHOULD ALWAYS THINK OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE DOING...VS 2
He mentions two things he wanted Timothy to do:
(1.) To establish...
The word “establish” mean to make someone stable, so that they can become firm in the faith of the Lord’s gospel and his church.
It is used like that in Hebrews by Paul... this saying of the Lord Jesus Christ and what he would do when he came..Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
(2.) Comfort you: vs 3
The word “comfort” means to encourage them. This is part of the fellow workers of the ministry. How may times do you receive comfort when you come into the house of God and here his. The Lord even says that he wants us to be comforted..
Isa 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. The Lord Jesus preached Mt 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Paul and Silas was comforted in the house of Lydia...Ac 16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
The promise he makes...2Co 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
Last week we seen this in his words also 1 Th 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
They were to comfort them concerning the faith, which is the revealed body of Truth, not their personal faith... This is why you here nothing new, nothing worn out, nothing outdated, it is the same gospel, the same church, the same kingdom, the same body of truth that Christ left the disciples with and the early churches...
(1.) It was the revealed body of truth that early, that was drifted away from:
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(2.) It was the revealed body of truth that they could not endure..
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
The great falling away Paul speaks of in the 2 Epistle of this book, is the departing from the revealed body of truth.... it is not knew they have been around forever...because men are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God and his truth...
Learn these lessons:
1. We must strive to work together for the glory of God and the advancement of his truth in this city...
2. We must strive together because it is the right thing to do...
3. We must strive together because it is what the Bible teaches us to do.
4. We must strive together because it is good for us...
5. We must strive together because it brings honor to Christ our blessed Lord.