Unafraid Witness
Going Vertical Series
Preaching Portion: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
Subject: Triumph In Christ
Theme: Unashamed Witness for Christ
INTRO: Clear, direct witness to others about my own
relationship with Jesus Christ brings the glory down.
·
One of the treatments strategies for ending the
“Black Plague” in the 1600’s in which 100 million people died was to give them
ashes to induce coughing in hopes of spewing the secret source of the disease
out of the person.
·
A lasting relic from this time of terror is the
macabre children’s rhyme detailing the remedies that did not work: “Ring around the roses, a pocket full of
posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down.”
·
This sermon series has dealt with the longing
for eternity in the hearts of men and women. This experience that is longed for
is outside the normal boundaries of life’s experiences and knowledge. What we
have attempted is not working and it has utterly failed to satisfy.
·
The aroma of human experiences will not satisfy
the intensity of this hunger. Spoonful’s of status quo or acquiring stuff to
satiate the hunger will ultimately lead us to vomit up what we have ingested in
search for fulfillment.
·
All around us people are searching but their
inability to find it and the spewing that follows every failed attempt until
one day “we all fall down!”
Explanation
·
I believe the single word that best describes
the way that God wants His gospel given to searching men and women is
“BOLDNESS!”
·
The idea of boldness is implicit in our text
scriptures – “…leads us in triumphal procession…” implies that we walk tall and
proud as conquerors returning from the battlefield with the spoils of war.
·
Boldness is not being obnoxious! It is not rude
and demanding. It is not in your face, “You are going to hell” confrontational
evangelism. Rather boldness is clear,
direct communication in the face of potential opposition.
·
Specifically, our text discusses the idea of
becoming fragrant/aromatic! Unless you
and I are willing to become the aroma of death to those who are perishing, you
will never become the aroma of life to those who are being saved!
·
How much of our evangelism has been programed to
avoid what cannot be avoided?
PROP: Every believer is to boldly, clearly articulate the
message of Christ to a perishing world.
T.S: Every believer can articulate the message of Christ
boldly and clearly by gleaning the insights of 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.
1.
The Fragrance of the Gospel Message– vv.14-16
a.
“But
thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through
us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the
aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are
perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance of
life to life. Who is sufficient for all things? For we are not like so many peddlers
of God’s word, but as men of sincerity as commissioned by God in the sight of
God we speak in Christ.”
b.
To the saved our aroma is the aroma of life! How
are we to apply this to ministry, to the work of Church?
i. First
let us say regarding those who are genuinely looking for lasting answers to
life’s difficulties, the Holy Spirit is working in those lives preparing the
gospel message to come.
ii. Secondly,
as proclaimers and places of worship let understand our commission clearly – we
need to boldly and with clarity proclaim the way of Christ.
iii. Thirdly
lest us understand the Holy Spirit’s work of taking a hungry heart and a clear
presentation of the gospel and draws men and women into that moment as a breath
of life that is sweet to inhale.
c.
To the lost and perishing our presentation of
the gospel has the smell of death to that individual. Why? These individuals
are frustrated that their self-autonomy is not leading them to the place they
hoped for and your presentation of the gospel is the last thing they want to
hear and believe.
i. Let
us understand that our gospel will be offensive to some. We will be ridiculed
and rejected.
ii. We
stink to these people. They are perishing and yet our clear message of hope
stinks to them.
d.
Simply because we will stink to some and become
offensive to them, we are not excused from becoming an “Unafraid Witness” for
Christ.
i. We
are not place fear of rejection over an authentic passion for Christ burning in
our hearts.
ii. This
burning passion for Christ is what will bring the glory of God into our midst.
iii. Unless
we are willing to become the aroma of death we will never become the aroma of
life to those who are being saved.
2.
The Faithfulness of The Gospel Messenger – v.17
a.
“For we are
not like so many, peddler’s of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as
commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”
b.
The term “peddler” in context of this verse
indicates an individual who manipulates the gospel story for personal gain.
i. Paul
just admitted to us that in the first century there were hucksters of the
gospel that was preying in the emotions of people to manipulate them for
personal gain.
ii. Paul
declares that he and other disciples were not like that. They were in contrast
men of sincerity realizing their commission is from God they preach Christ.
c.
As a church, let us be reminded of some key
thoughts we cannot afford to overlook:
i. We
are under commission by God. “GO” is presumed as an appropriate activity
resulting from a salvation experience.
ii. In
the going we are to become witnesses – telling the message of Christ until the
trumpet sounds.
iii. God
is observing our effort – “…in the sight of God we speak Christ” should cause
us to become motivated. Passivity is unacceptable!
Conclusion
Each One – Reach One has never been more urgent than now!
