July 13, 2008
Evening Service

I Cor. 9:1-14

 

We now come to one of the main reason this letter was written.  Let’s look at it.

THE AUTHORITY OF PAUL:

1Co 9:1-27  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 

• Paul starts all his letters like so;  Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.
• Many believe that in order to be an apostle, you must have seen the Lord when He was alive on the earth.  Paul, I believe confirms this thought with what he is saying here. 
• We must agree that the 12 original apostles, and the apostle Paul were unique in that they were the first, and endued with special gifts.   Listen to the following:
• Luk 9:1  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.  These twelve disciples were also called apostles.  Can’t we see the special gifts they received?
• The apostle Paul also received these special gifts;   
• The word, apostle, means one who has been sent.  There have been many sent to preach the gospel message.    
• And of course Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus in the form of a bright lite.
• Because of what is reality, and by trying the spirits, I agree that the apostles therefore could have had no successors. They are the only authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines. The office of an apostle ceased with its first holders. 
• We need no others, for we still have access to their teachings, and confirmation concerning the Lord Jesus.  If anything would ever happen to the Word, which it won’t, then God would provide for the needs of the church.

(2)  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. 

• This type of reasoning could be used by a lot of preachers.  And I believe rightly so.  Paul is saying this is what an apostle was to do, spread the gospel, and make disciples.  Matt. 28:19.

(3)  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,  (4)  Have we not power to eat and to drink? 

• The idea is that we have the right to expect people to supply our food and drink.

(5)  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 

• You can see Paul is saying we have the right to do this also.

(6)  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 

• Again we see the apostle teaching by asking questions.

(7)  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?  (8)  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?  (9)  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?  (10)  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.  (11)  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?  (12)  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?

• To make it short, Paul is saying we work among you, by teaching, and preaching the gospel, should not we be able to expect you to take care of our natural needs, such as food, lodging, clothing, and such.  You do this for the other apostles, why not us?

Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 

• We know Paul was a tent maker like Aquila, and Pricilla.  Paul had a trade, but none the less had a right to expect some comforts from the people he ministered too.

(13)  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

• This is found in chapter 18 of Numbers.
• Now it is this type of reasoning that the apostle speaks about when he tells us that the old testament writings were done for our examples, he takes and elaborates, explaining what they mean.
• This type of reasoning also is where many get the ideas of tithing, clothes to wear, food to eat, and the such.  Are they wrong?  Only if they try to connect these things to salvation. 
• There was nothing wrong with the law.  It was just, holy, and good, according to the apostle Paul.  It was just that people could not keep the law, so there had to be a Savior for mankind.  LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY;  Salvation is free, it’s a gift from God, but the level of dedication we show to the Lord, ( which is our giving, the way we dress, the foods we eat, the faithfulness to His assemblies, are prompted by our love to Him.   And Paul told us this morning that if any man loved God, it was known of him.

 

So we conclude with this scripture:

(14)  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 

• Jesus said, Mat 10:9  Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Mat 10:10  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
• The apostle Paul said, Gal 6:6  Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.

 

DO YOU SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BELIEVE?

 

IF THE CORINTHIANS DID NOT BELIEVE THAT PAUL WAS AN APOSTLE, AND HAD THE AUTHORITY TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS RIGHT, FROM WRONG, THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN TO HIM.

 

THE SAME IS TRUE TODAY.  IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE BIBLE, WE WILL NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO OBEY THE BIBLE, AND IT’S TEACHINGS.

 

WITHOUT FAITH, OR BELIEVING THE BIBLE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD.