I Corinthians 16:5-12: "Giving Yourself to the Lord's Work"
As Paul wraps his letter up he gives us some insight into his sacrifice for ministry. We can see he is devoted to ministry, and more importantly devoted to obeying God.
He begins, "But I shall come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia". We can see here that Paul is constantly looking ahead to what needs to be done. He knows that the Lord will ultimately guide him where He needs to be, but Paul is always thinking of the next need he will meet. He continues, "And perhaps I shall stay with you, or even spend the winter, that you may send me on my way where I may go". Here we can see Paul understanding that God will lead Him where he wants Him to go. Although planned out his desired course he was always flexible to know God may need him elsewhere. MacArthur writes, "Though Paul had a good purpose in mind and a strong personal desire to visit Corinth after 'going through Macedonia' (v.5), he went on to say that perhaps he would stay with the believers there, or even spend the winter. Both perhaps and even, along with wherever and 'if the Lord permits' (v.7), express Paul's concern that his own plans and thinking not become presumptuous and inflexible, usurping the Lord's prerogative to change them as He saw fit". This showed Paul's realism. It was not that he was indecisive or wavering in his convictions. He just didn't want to give the Corinthians false hope, when he knew the Lord could call him in another direction. We must not always be so firm in our plans, but rather, as Paul was, be ready to change our plans when the Lord calls us to. His hope, however, was to stay with them and be sent off by them as he would be encouraged by them.
"For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. But I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost". Here Paul shows the Corinthians his heart's desire to be with them. He does not wish to just "stop by" to say hello. His desire is to remain with them for a time. He wants to be able to spend quality time ministering to them and being ministered to by them. However, he knows all of this is up to the Lord. As long as "the Lord permits" he will stay with them. This helped the Corinthians know that in his own heart he desired to stay with them for as long as possible, however, if the Lord had somewhere else for him to be he would go there. He was always thorough in his ministry desiring to make sure they understood the whole truth of the gospel. Knowing this was the case currently in Ephesus, he writes, "I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost". He would not leave Ephesus until at least Pentecost as he had more ministry to attend their. He tells us, "For a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries". Paul recognized an opportunity that God had given him to currently minister where he was at. He also recognized the opportunity for the enemy to come in and snatch away the work he had done, and therefore, knew he must remain in Ephesus. MacArthur writes, "To Paul great opposition presented great opportunity. When he arrived in Ephesus, he began his work by straightening out the theology of some new believers (Acts 19:1-7). Then he proceeded to preach in the synagogue for three months and in the school of Tyrannus for two years (vv. 8-10). He performed miracles, cast out evil spirits, and rebuked false exorcists (vv.11-19)".
Paul continues, "Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid; for he is doing the Lord's work, as I also am". Paul knew to be more effective in ministry he must raise up Godly men to further the work. Knowing this, Timothy was Paul's prized pupil who he would use to reach those Paul could not get to. MacArthur explains, "Paul had sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia (Acts 19:22), and Timothy was to go on down to Corinth, perhaps carrying this epistle, to remind the Corinthians of Paul's 'ways which are in Christ' (I Cor. 4:17). The apostle was concerned that Timothy might be ignored or mistreated. The Corinthians were proud, self-sufficient, and strong-willed. If they had so strongly resisted Paul's authority, they likely would pay much less attention to Timothy". Paul wanted to remind them that Timothy was there to help in the Lord's work, just as Paul was doing, and they were not to treat him poorly for doing so. Paul continues his exhortation, "let no one therefore despise him. But send him on his way in peace". Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that Timothy was merely being a faithful servant and they were not to despise him for any letter or exhortation he would come with. Instead they should greet him kindly and send him back "in peace" so he could return to Paul with the appointed brethren "so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren".
Lastly, Paul writes concerning Apollos, "But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity". MacArthur explains, "Paul had a strong feeling that Apollos (see Acts 18:24-28) should accompany the other brethren, Timothy and Erastus, to Corinth. In fact Paul encouraged him greatly. In his own mind the apostle was convinced that that was the right thing for Apollos to do. Apollos had leadership qualities that Timothy lacked, and seemed to be just the right person to complete the team. Paul, along with some of the Corinthians, thought that Apollos as just what Corinth needed. Apollos, however, was convinced that the Lord wanted him to stay in Ephesus for a while longer, just as Paul was convinced that he (Paul) should stay (v.8)". We can see here Paul's willingness to accept God's calling in other's lives as well. Just as Paul knew he must be open to where God had Him, he must also be open to where God would call others, even if it doesn't seem to fit best with your plan.
MacArthur concludes, "It is absolutely essential that God's workers work as a team. That is what unity is all about. If we are on in Christ, we are one in each other. And if all the true work of the church is the Lord's work, then we have to work together in Him because we are one in Him".
He begins, "But I shall come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia". We can see here that Paul is constantly looking ahead to what needs to be done. He knows that the Lord will ultimately guide him where He needs to be, but Paul is always thinking of the next need he will meet. He continues, "And perhaps I shall stay with you, or even spend the winter, that you may send me on my way where I may go". Here we can see Paul understanding that God will lead Him where he wants Him to go. Although planned out his desired course he was always flexible to know God may need him elsewhere. MacArthur writes, "Though Paul had a good purpose in mind and a strong personal desire to visit Corinth after 'going through Macedonia' (v.5), he went on to say that perhaps he would stay with the believers there, or even spend the winter. Both perhaps and even, along with wherever and 'if the Lord permits' (v.7), express Paul's concern that his own plans and thinking not become presumptuous and inflexible, usurping the Lord's prerogative to change them as He saw fit". This showed Paul's realism. It was not that he was indecisive or wavering in his convictions. He just didn't want to give the Corinthians false hope, when he knew the Lord could call him in another direction. We must not always be so firm in our plans, but rather, as Paul was, be ready to change our plans when the Lord calls us to. His hope, however, was to stay with them and be sent off by them as he would be encouraged by them.
"For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. But I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost". Here Paul shows the Corinthians his heart's desire to be with them. He does not wish to just "stop by" to say hello. His desire is to remain with them for a time. He wants to be able to spend quality time ministering to them and being ministered to by them. However, he knows all of this is up to the Lord. As long as "the Lord permits" he will stay with them. This helped the Corinthians know that in his own heart he desired to stay with them for as long as possible, however, if the Lord had somewhere else for him to be he would go there. He was always thorough in his ministry desiring to make sure they understood the whole truth of the gospel. Knowing this was the case currently in Ephesus, he writes, "I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost". He would not leave Ephesus until at least Pentecost as he had more ministry to attend their. He tells us, "For a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries". Paul recognized an opportunity that God had given him to currently minister where he was at. He also recognized the opportunity for the enemy to come in and snatch away the work he had done, and therefore, knew he must remain in Ephesus. MacArthur writes, "To Paul great opposition presented great opportunity. When he arrived in Ephesus, he began his work by straightening out the theology of some new believers (Acts 19:1-7). Then he proceeded to preach in the synagogue for three months and in the school of Tyrannus for two years (vv. 8-10). He performed miracles, cast out evil spirits, and rebuked false exorcists (vv.11-19)".
Paul continues, "Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid; for he is doing the Lord's work, as I also am". Paul knew to be more effective in ministry he must raise up Godly men to further the work. Knowing this, Timothy was Paul's prized pupil who he would use to reach those Paul could not get to. MacArthur explains, "Paul had sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia (Acts 19:22), and Timothy was to go on down to Corinth, perhaps carrying this epistle, to remind the Corinthians of Paul's 'ways which are in Christ' (I Cor. 4:17). The apostle was concerned that Timothy might be ignored or mistreated. The Corinthians were proud, self-sufficient, and strong-willed. If they had so strongly resisted Paul's authority, they likely would pay much less attention to Timothy". Paul wanted to remind them that Timothy was there to help in the Lord's work, just as Paul was doing, and they were not to treat him poorly for doing so. Paul continues his exhortation, "let no one therefore despise him. But send him on his way in peace". Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that Timothy was merely being a faithful servant and they were not to despise him for any letter or exhortation he would come with. Instead they should greet him kindly and send him back "in peace" so he could return to Paul with the appointed brethren "so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren".
Lastly, Paul writes concerning Apollos, "But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity". MacArthur explains, "Paul had a strong feeling that Apollos (see Acts 18:24-28) should accompany the other brethren, Timothy and Erastus, to Corinth. In fact Paul encouraged him greatly. In his own mind the apostle was convinced that that was the right thing for Apollos to do. Apollos had leadership qualities that Timothy lacked, and seemed to be just the right person to complete the team. Paul, along with some of the Corinthians, thought that Apollos as just what Corinth needed. Apollos, however, was convinced that the Lord wanted him to stay in Ephesus for a while longer, just as Paul was convinced that he (Paul) should stay (v.8)". We can see here Paul's willingness to accept God's calling in other's lives as well. Just as Paul knew he must be open to where God had Him, he must also be open to where God would call others, even if it doesn't seem to fit best with your plan.
MacArthur concludes, "It is absolutely essential that God's workers work as a team. That is what unity is all about. If we are on in Christ, we are one in each other. And if all the true work of the church is the Lord's work, then we have to work together in Him because we are one in Him".
posted by amesfam | 11:31 AM
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