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2012 WORKERS’ RETREAT THEME MESSAGE: SPIRIT-FILLED SERVICE I. INTRO Read 1Cor 2:1- 5 .

2012 WORKERS’ RETREAT THEME MESSAGE: SPIRIT-FILLED SERVICE I. INTRO Read 1Cor 2:1- 5 . In 1Cor 2:1-5, we have four principles for a Spirit-empowered service. II . THE SPIRIT-FILLED SERVANT DOES NOT RELY ON HIS OWN ABILITIES Read 1Cor 2:1 .

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2012 WORKERS’ RETREAT THEME MESSAGE: SPIRIT-FILLED SERVICE I. INTRO Read 1Cor 2:1- 5 .

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  1. 2012 WORKERS’ RETREAT THEME MESSAGE: SPIRIT-FILLED SERVICE I. INTRO Read 1Cor 2:1-5. In 1Cor 2:1-5, we have four principles for a Spirit-empowered service. II. THE SPIRIT-FILLED SERVANT DOES NOT RELY ON HIS OWN ABILITIES Read 1Cor 2:1.

  2. III. THE SPIRIT-FILLED SERVANT IS FOCUSED AND CENTERED ON THE GOSPEL Read 1Cor 2:2. IV. THE SPIRIT-FILLED SERVANT MINISTERS IN HUMILITY Read 1Cor 2:3-4. Though he was an apostle, Paulcame to the Corinthians as a humble servant. ~ 2Cor 10:1-12

  3. By “fear and...trembling”he could not have referred to mental timidity or to physical shaking. ~ Acts 13:46; 19:8; Eph 3:12; 6:19 ~ 2Cor 7:15; Eph 6:5; Phil 2:12 ~ Acts 16:22-24; 17:10, 13-14, 32 ~ Though having every human reason to be discouraged and no doubt every temptation from Satan to compromise, Paul would not change his message.

  4. He was not fearful for his own life or safety. ~ Acts 20:24 ~ In this Acts passage we see his humility in having considered his life as nothing. Nor did he fear the gospel’s having lost its power. ~ Rom 1:16

  5. So what did he mean by, “in fear and in much trembling?” ~ He was fearful only of its being rejected, and of the terrible consequences of that rejection. ~ Surely he also feared his own inadequacy and sin which could weaken his ministry. ~ 1Cor 9:16, 27 ~ 2Cor 2:16 ~ Again we see humility of heart and perspective in Paul.

  6. When Paul said, “I was with you in weakness....”, it was not said in nor referred to a spirit of defeat and dejection. ~ In fact, I believe this was said in a tone of quiet and humble confidence not in himself but in the Lord! ~ Paul’s confidence was not in his keen intellect or debating ability but in his knowledge that the Holy Spirit was helping and guiding him.

  7. In 2Cor 12, we read that Paul had learned that when he was weak, then God made him strong. ~ Paul depended on the power of the Holy Spirit. ~ It was not his experience or ability that gave his ministry its power; it was the work of the Spirit of God. ~ His preaching was a “demonstration” not a “performance” – it was “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

  8. ~ 1Cor 6:9-11 The changing of people’s hearts is only by the work of the Holy Spirit among them. ~1Cor 1:18-25 ~ 1Cor 1:26-31 ~ 1Cor 2:1-5

  9. THOSE WHO SERVE THE LORD MUST PREPARE AND USE EVERY GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM – BUT THEY MUST NOT PUT THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES (see 2Cor 3:5). ~ This confidence is rooted in the willingness to humble oneself in considering nothing as coming from oneself but from God.

  10. V. THE SPIRIT-FILLED SERVANT DESIRES TO GLORIFY GOD Read 1Cor 2:5. Paul brought a simple message that depended upon the Holy Spirit’s power for its effectiveness. ~ Paul wanted them to put their “faith” in the simple message and so trust“the power of God”for their salvation.

  11. He wanted them to trust in God and not in the messenger God sent. ~ If the Corinthians had come to have faith in“the wisdom of men,” even in Paul’s wisdom, they might have changed intellectually but they would not have changed spiritually. ~ He had not come with his own message but had come simply as a channel of God’s message.

  12. The Gospel is still God’s power to change men’s lives (Rom 1:16). ~ Only the message of God brings with it“the power of God.” ~ Effectiveness in evangelism does not depend on our arguments or persuasive gimmicks, but on the power of the Spirit of God at work in our lives and through the Word that we share.

  13. 2Cor 4:7 ~ 1Cor 2:5 ~ Paul wanted all the glory, all the credit to go to God; he wanted none for himself. ~ No wonder he had a ministry that was Spirit-filled. In all our service and ministry, this, too, must be the overwhelming desire of our hearts: “whatever [we] do, [we] do all to the glory of God” (1Cor 10:31).

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