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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

Once you take your Bible and turn to the book of 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians and chapter 5. We know that one of the greatest preachers, missionaries, evangelists, Christians of all time is the great apostle Paul. What is the secret to Paul’s success? I want to cover a few thoughts. It may take many side roads, but there is a theme to all of this. We know that the day is coming when we’re going to stand before the Lord. And it’s called the judgment seat of Christ.

Here in 2 Corinthians in chapter 5 verse 10 says, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he have done, whether it be good or bad. is not so much a judgment upon the believer, but upon the believer’s work. Not an issue about sins, they were taken care of by Christ. But we will have to give an account of ourselves to the Lord and the quality of our works, not the sin, but the quality of your work, what you did for the Lord.

And some of the things that we say we’re doing it for the Lord is, well, it could be haywood stubble. Some of it might be proven to be gold, silver, and precious stones. We’re so thankful that we don’t get to heaven by our works. God says not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us. So you were never saved because of how you live. How you live is not why you’re going to heaven and believe it or not how you live is not why you’re going to hell.

You see, you were born a sinner. You’re already separated from God. And the Bible says that Christ went to the cross, paid for the sins of the world, in order to give us as a free gift of everlasting life. So we go to heaven because of what Christ did for us. Now that we know we have eternal life and we know we’re going to heaven, God says we’re going to have to give an account. And so our works, what we’ve done for the Lord is going to be looked at through the eyes of the Lord, not through ours, because as I look at my life, all of it is gold, silver and precious stones.

And you may think the same thing about yours. But God’s going to be the one that judges, and He takes into consideration the motive And why you did what you did. A lot of people may do the right things, but they do it to be seen of men. They do it for the praise of men. So God wants to reward you because you did it for Him. And He’s the one that knows all the facts in every case concerning every individual.

Now, I want you to take your Bible and turn to 1 Corinthians in chapter six. 1 Corinthians and chapter 6. Now many of these verses are right there in your notes, but it’s good to see them in the Bible because you don’t know if I made these up or not. I could have just made all that up and said that was a verse. Have you ever seen Yankee 2 5? See there? 1 Corinthians and chapter 6, and notice what he says in verse 12, All things Paul says are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient.

In other words, not everything is helpful. He may be able to, yes, take his brother to court and it would be lawful. He could do that legally. You could eat. Whatever meat you want to eat. But he also says, if it offends my brother, then I won’t do that. In other words, things that you have the right to do, but it might not be necessary for you to do. And so Paul says, in verse 12, but I will not be brought under the power of any, the power of the law or the power of rights that I may have, but it might not benefit me.

or you. And he goes on and explains a little bit more about this. So take your Bible and turn to the book of 1 Corinthians in chapter 9. Just one page over, if you get an old school field reference Bible, your scriptures will be on the same page as mine. And occasionally, I remember that and tell you what page number, like page 1219. And you’ll notice in chapter 9, the Apostle Paul had been mocked, really killed, defamed, criticized. You see, there was people that didn’t believe that Paul was who he claimed to be, that he was really an apostle.

So Paul says, what do you mean? I’m the one that led you to the Lord. If you’re genuine, I must be genuine. And if I’m not genuine, are you? So he is defending his apostleship. I know that most times we don’t like to defend ourselves. Because sometimes you can’t defend yourself unless you expose somebody else’s air. And we don’t like to do that sometimes. I see smoke coming up, the incense, is rising up to heaven. But don’t let that bother you.

I’m not on fire. I probably should be. But here I want you to look in verse one. Am I not an apostle? Have I, am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord or not ye my work in the Lord? You’re my work in the Lord. He said, if I be not an apostle and the others yet Dallas I am to you for the seal of my impostorship, you’re you in the Lord. I want you to Christ.

I came to you. I came in fear and trembling, but I gave you the word of God. You believed it, you trusted Christ as Savior. Now as time goes on, when you ought to be able to know the word of God, teach the word of God and be spiritually minded and mature, he says, you’re carnal. He said, I cannot speak unto you as a spiritual, but unto carnal, fleshly minded. In other words, they’re saved, but they’re not serving the Lord.

They’re even going to church, but not serving the Lord. They’re even having communion service, but they’re not honoring God. They’re doing a lot of things, like he says in the book of Revelation in chapter two when he talks about, I see your works, but you’ve left your first love. In other words, you don’t love me anymore. So you can come to church and not love the Lord, right? You can even put money in the offering, but not love the Lord.

You can even read the Bible and not love the Lord. You see, one thing that God wants more than anything else is your love. 11, do you love him? This is so important. So he says this, in verse 3, my answer to them that do examine me is this, have we not power to eat or drink? Don’t we have the right? Do we not have the right to lead about our sister or wife as other apostles? He said, don’t I have the right to do that?

Well, if they can do, why can’t I do it? And then he tells why he does it. He has a reason. So he says in verse 6, where I only and part of us have not we power to for bear working. In other words, he was a tent maker. If people didn’t support him, he would just make tents, sell them, whatever he could do, but he had a responsibility. You see, God had given to him the dispensation of the gospel.

In other words, this is your stewardship to dispense. It’s a dispenser. To dispense. I gave you the gospel. Now share it, get it out. And so Paul was willing to pay the price or whatever it takes to get it done. But he depended upon the people that he reached to help him reach more people. But he says, concerning the church at Corinth, he said, I haven’t asked anything from you. He said, I have kept myself free from burdening you.

So that you couldn’t say he did it just because he just wanted the money. He just did it from money. That’s the only reason he did it. And you go to most churches the day all they wanted is your membership or your money. They don’t care about the soul. But I want you to understand what was his secret. What was this underlying power that kept driving Paul on in spite of everything. Why doesn’t all of God’s children want to serve the Lord?

With all their heart. There’s only one true in living God. You only get one chance through life. Most of God’s children are going to waste their life living for the world and will never sacrifice anything for God. Because they want to use all of their time, energy, time, treasures and talents to gain whatever they can from the world because this is the only time we’re going to live. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is just dress rehearsal for eternity.

Now get what else he says. In verse 7 he says, who go up a warfare any time at his own charge? Our servicemen, our people in the military, do they have to pay their own weight? No, that’s done for them. Why? Because the work they’re doing and the service they’re doing it for, well those are the people who have to pay for it. You see, we pay taxes so that we can support the people that are in the military.

That’s one of the functions of our government. There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s good and that’s right. It’s proper. It’s in constitution. It’s one of the things that we have in order to protect us so we can live a quiet and peaceful life. And we want that. We like that. It’s not the wrong with him. But they don’t have to pay for it. Now look at what else he says. Who planted the vineyard and he does not have fruit thereof?

Or who feeded the flock and he does not have the milk of the flock? In other words, a farmer should be able to eat the fruit of what he’s planted. Live off the land. Then he shouldn’t live off the land. So he’s using Old Testament principle to help you to see something. Paul says, look, I came to you and I sewed unto you spiritual things. Is it wrong for me to reap the material things? Is it wrong for me to have your financial support because of what I gave to you?

In other words, Paul won’t you understand. What I gave you is more valuable than anything you’ll ever give me. You see, when you give some people spiritual truth, for example, let’s say all of you in this room are lost. That means you are not going to heaven. You’re all lost, you’re all going to hell. Along comes a person and they tell you how to have eternal life. This is knowledge, the greatest knowledge in all the world, how to go to heaven and you wanna get it right.

And if he explains the gospel and you trust the Christ as your savior, Do you realize what He just gave you? Do you realize who you are now? You’re now a child of God. You have eternal life. You’re going to heaven when you die. You’re gonna get a brand new body. You’re gonna live in pleasures forever more. All of that. And I’m mansion on top of it. And you’re gonna walk on streets of gold and gates of pearl and walls of jazz.

All that you got just by you, trust and Christ. So somebody explained to you how to go to heaven. That knowledge and what you just received greater than all the finances that man could ever pay for the rest of his life. The day will come when you appreciate a lot more when you get close to death that you know you’re going to heaven when you die. And it won’t matter if you had a you know big bank account or you had two cars the three cars or ten cars or you had a million dollars none of that will matter.

You know you’re going to heaven. that knowledge is the greatest thing in all the world. And that’s why Christ is going to all the world preach the gospel. This is going to all the world and make everybody a millionaire. You’re still going to die. And when you die, where are you going to go? I’d rather have eternal life than be a billionaire. And anyway, he goes to and explains this. Then he says this. And verse 8, said, I not these things as a man Or say if not the law, the same also.

So now he goes through the Old Testament and he says this, where he is written in the law of Moses. That shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Does God take care of oxen? Isn’t it okay if the ox tread not the corn? He eat a little bit of the corn. And he’s referring back to himself because this church in Corinth was so carnal-minded. they couldn’t see spiritual things. And so therefore they were arguing and backbiting and bickering and the divisions and the envy and the jealousy and all those things that were going on because they were not on the same page.

So he makes the statement in verse 17, verse 11. He says, if we have sewn unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? is it wrong? He says, I have the right to do it. But He said, I will not abuse that right. He said not with you. He said, I won’t do it. And so He says this in verse 12, if others be partakers of this power or the right over you or not, we rather, nevertheless we have not used this power, but suffer all things lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ to others.

In other words, he says, we don’t want the gospel to be hindered. And it’s times when Satan hindered them. And there’s times when doors were closed. There were times when there were great opportunities. There were times when people would support the great apostle Paul and there were times when they wouldn’t support the apostle Paul. Paul says, I don’t say what I’m saying so that you will give to me. I’m saying it because it’s the right way. that we have that preached the gospel and what you should do, but what was Paul’s secret?

Why was he willing to do all of this with or without people? He says, I will not abuse my power the right that I have in the gospel. Though I have the right to do it, I will not do it. And so he says here in verse 13, do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? Now he’s referring to the law, referring to the temple, you had the tribe of Levi.

You had all the other tribes out there, but they had the ministry job. They’re the ones that were supposed to take the sacrifices and burn the sacrifices and prepare them and so on. They’re the ones that had to go into the holy of holies and offer the blood upon the mercy, oh, once a year, they had a particular ministry. And so when those people came to the temple, and they had those that were serviced. He said, and they lived off of the other 11 tribes that brought their stuff.

That’s Old Testament. So they would live off of what they did. Is that wrong for them to do? No. What he’s doing is he’s laying a foundation on what he’s doing and what they’re not doing. And he wants them to see it. I’m not making this up. This is right here in your Bible. It is the scriptures, but what does he say? And what does he mean by it all? I want you to see it because it’s so important.

So he made the same in verse 14, even so, likewise, as an example, have the Lord ordained that they which preached the gospel should what? Live of the gospel. In other words, here I am, I’m a preacher. Should I be ashamed that I live off of your offerings? So I’d be ashamed of that. I’m not a beggar. I’m not ashamed. I don’t have to come up to the guys and hold my hand out here backwards like I’m not deserving it.

I can look every person in the eye and say, whatever you give me, I honestly feel I’ve earned every last bit of it. And I’m not ashamed of the gospel, and I’m not ashamed of my work or my labor, because I put everything that I have into the ministry. I love the Lord’s work. But do you have the right to do that? This is where your missionaries come from. We have a missionary sitting right down here. Bruce Campbell, they’re going to be going back to Thailand.

place that made all those ties, they come from Thailand. So the other day in our board meeting we know they got extra expenses and getting back so we gave them an additional $2,000 because we want to have a part what they’re doing because he has to depend upon what we do to help them in other places. We were talking about Berbo-Boudrum and he’s trying to get something done down there because of the Bible Institute that he has and doing a tremendous job.

And he’s one of our missionaries, but because people have given so much more toward missions, we also sent a check to them for next to $2,000. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t that great? All because there’s people who like reaching mission work and reaching the loss. And so we want to have missionaries that we can have confidence in and try to support them. But we’ve got great people in this ministry that give sacrificially over and above. And we thank the Lord for that.

But now notice what he says in verse 15, but I have used none of these things, neither have I written these things that it should be so done unto me. For it were better for me to die than that any man should make my glory and void. In other words, because of what I’m having to brag about that I didn’t do it. He said I don’t want this to be misused. Anytime you mention the word money, most people say, there you go again.

Every time you go to church that’s all they harp about. You can come to this church for two years and you may hear me talk about money two or three times. If you came today, you just hit it lucky. I want you to hold your pleasure, but look there in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 11. 2 Corinthians and chapter 11, because he’s expressing this in such a wonderful way, I want you to look there in verse 7. Verse 7, he says this, Have I committed an offense in obeying myself?

In other words, humbling myself, humiliating myself, doing without suffering that you might be exalted because I have get this freely preached, preaching you the gospel of God free. In other words, without you having to do anything. Now the gospel of going to heaven, it is free because Christ paid the cost. But he says, for me to get to you, that cost. For me to go to another place, that cost. These people, when they go to Thailand, it’s gonna cost, they don’t have wings.

They can’t fly. And there’s a lot of water between there and there, they can’t walk. So it’s expenses. Water may be free, but it might cost to pipe it in. And so when it comes to how does God want his children to get the gospel spread. So when there’s individuals or missionaries or preachers, then God expects those who have trusted Christ the Savior. And if those people are ministering to you, and if you’re learning something from it, then support the person who is a blessing and getting that job accomplished.

This is why we wanna have a missions program. And I thank the Lord for that. Looking verse eight, he says, I robbed other churches taking wages of them of them to do you service. And why did he do that? Because they were so carnal, so fleshly minded. He would rather just do it with somebody else who knows the Lord and loves the Lord and will glee of and support the Lord. And he will do their work for them for free and not charge you anything.

He said, God, did I do you wrong? Did I do you wrong? And then in looking in verse 9. And when I was present with you and wanted, I was chargeable to no man. But that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied. They supplied it because the church at Corinth didn’t do it. She’s not all churches are the same way. And so he says this, he said, I didn’t want to be burdensome to you.

And so he says in verse 11 is it because I don’t love you? He says, God knows. So Paul labored with support without support, he would go. And when that didn’t work and people wouldn’t help him, then he’d do work on the side. I was telling him in college class the other day. I said, I’ve already graduated from Florida Bible College. I’ve been out in Colorado and I was going to build a church and Ray Stanford asked me, he says, why don’t you come down here and speak at the missions conference and see if you can get some support.

I says, Ray, I can’t do that. He says, why not? I says, because you’ve got a pie down there, and it’s only so big. And if I take a slice, that means it’s less for somebody else. I said, I don’t mind working. So I got myself a job throwing newspapers at 3.30 in the morning, seven days a week. And I repaired pallets at King Zoopers Warehouse so that I could do and build a work. But I didn’t want to take money out of somebody’s pocket.

Now, I’m not saying it to Brad, like Paul was talking about, it’s because what I had and what I was getting to do, serving the Lord so much fun, I couldn’t, I can’t stop. It’s just, it’s what’s in me. It’s what I want. And if I get support, find it, if you don’t find, I’m still gonna do the job, but you’ll be hindered. You won’t be able to accomplish as much as you’d like to accomplish. Go back there to the book of Corinthians, 1 Corinthians in chapter nine.

Now, there is a scripture that’s talking about it, and it’s in the bowl, we won’t take the time to look at it right now. But it’s Philippians chapter two, verse 17, 18, and also verse 25 to 30. These verses simply talking about a man named Epaphroodius who was sick, nigh unto death. And Paul says that he labored, while sick, nigh unto death because of your lack of labor, because of your lack of service. He says he was filling in for you.

He was doing what he was doing. Half dead. He says, because you didn’t do what you’re supposed to do. You see, not all of God’s people keep this in mind. Aren’t you glad salvation is free? You don’t have to love God. You don’t have to serve God and you’ll go to heaven because he loved you that much. But now that you know Christ is your Savior. What is your service like for the Lord? What is your sacrifice? What is your involvement?

What do you do for him, for Christ’s sake, for the gospel’s sake, for the lost man’s sake? How involved are you? How much does it mean to you? If you know you have eternal life and you’re glad you’re going to heaven, don’t you know somebody else will be just as happy and glad if they knew it? We’re living in America. There’s people that suffer in other countries when they try to explain the gospel to somebody. And this is why all this is so important.

So I want you to look here and look what he says here in verse 16, for though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me. Yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. In other words, I am responsible. If I do it willingly, I’ll get a reward. If against my will, I’m still responsible. I still have an accountability. But this is why God used the apostle Paul because Paul took this thing seriously.

And that’s why when he says all of us are going to have to appear at the jimings in Christ, and God says your works are going to be judged. Now you, your works. What you’ve already done here. And what you have done for the Lord, God says he’s going to reward you. eternal rewards. So the opportunities that we have here are valuable. Sometimes you have opportunities that will avail themselves and come right up to you like that one. There’s other times when you may have to make an open door, but do it we should.

Now look what he says in verse 18, for what is my reward then? See we’re not talking about salvation. Salvation going to heaven is a gift That’s free. I’m going to heaven because of what Christ did for me. Rewards are earned. That’s what you do for the Lord. Nobody can make you trust the Lord. Nobody can make you serve Him after you’ve trusted Christ the Savior. It’s a choice that you can make. I just decided I would rather have God’s blessings than His chastening.

That makes sense to me. As Spock would say that’s logical and that is very logical. Makes so much sense. Now noted, he said, I don’t want to abuse my power in the gospel. That’s part of verse 18. Now notice something else goes a little bit deeper, very quickly. Verse 19, for though I be free from all men, these men that are here in Corinth, and he did not charge them, he was free from them, he owed them nothing, he had already done paid the debt, he paid it himself, he said, but I made myself a servant to all, it doesn’t matter who they are, with or without.

He’s free to serve. Real freedom is the liberty that God’s given to serve the Lord. And some people will abuse that freedom and they let that liberty become a license or a cloak of militia, the cloak or license to give them permission the sin. Well, I’m going to heaven and it doesn’t matter. Everything matters. You see, you can live as you place and still go to heaven. But there’s consequences to your decision, to your choices. Great price to pay.

This is your invitation to join us for our third Sunday dinner held in the Florida Bible College of Tampa building on the Calvary Community Church Campus. The dinner is a family-style We’ll cover dish dinner and a great way to showcase your favorite dish and pick up new recipes. Each month you have the opportunity to invite your family and friends to join us for our Sunday morning service at 1030 and then stay for our third Sunday dinner immediately following noon.

Third Sundays at Calvary Community Church where you’ll be fed spiritually and physically. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. And now, a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound. And we will be changed. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believing that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.