Winning Through Surrendereaglechristianchurch.com/sermon_files/2017-02-19/sermon.pdf · 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Winning Through Surrender

1 Corinthians 9:15-27

1 Corinthians 9:15-17“But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For …”

1 Corinthians 9:17-18“if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” (ESV)

Acts 9:1-6But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’” (ESV)

Winning Through Sacrifice & Voluntary Service

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

1 Corinthians 9:19-21“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one …”

1 Corinthians 9:21-23“outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (ESV)

(emautou douloō)

• Two strong words: Paul became a slave of his own doing.– “Whoever would be great among you must

be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

(Mk 10:44, ESV)

Three Examples• “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order

to win Jews” (20).– He would willingly abide by their

ceremonies, rituals, dietary laws, and traditions if it opened a door to witness to them.

Romans 10:1-4“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (ESV)

Romans 9:3“For I wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (ESV)

Three Examples• “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to

win Jews” (20).

• “To those outside the law I became as one outside the law” (21).– Paul was willing to live like a Gentile when

he worked among the Gentiles.

Three Examples• “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win

Jews” (20).• “To those outside the law I became as one

outside the law” (21).

• “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak” (22).– For those who did not have the power of

understanding to grasp the gospel, Paul stooped to the level of their comprehension.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified ... and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 9:22“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” (ESV)

Winning Through SELF-cONTROL& Purposed Discipline

1 Corinthians 9:24-26

1 Corinthians 9:24-26“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (ESV)

2 Timothy 4:7-8“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (ESV)

1 Peter 1:3-4“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (ESV)

Winning Through Surrender

I will fight the good fight, I will finish the race, I will keep the faith.