Lesson 17. The Gospel: the Message that Addicts Us to Ministry
Day 2
After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. 10 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers
1 Corinthians 16:5-11 NIV
Question 1. Why did Paul want to remain at Ephesus until Pentecost?
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While Paul longed to spend time with the Corinthians, his gospel ministry was always foremost in his mind. He wanted to spend time with the Corinthians but wanted to remain in Ephesus "because a great door for effective work" had opened to him.
It is essential to understand that when God opens a great door for effective ministry, there is much opposition. Fruitful ministry and strong opposition always come hand in hand. We can see this truth illustrated in the Book of Nehemiah when the people of God were rebuilding the temple and the walls of the city. This effective work was greatly hindered, both from without and within. "But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it." Nehemiah 4:7-8. Prayer and perseverance are necessary to enable the work of the gospel to continue.
The two thoughts of "effective ministry" and "strong opposition" are illustrated best at the cross, where God opened the widest door for the most effective ministry, that of saving the world. And the Jewish leaders, the Gentile governors, the Roman soldiers, and the angry mob were all opposed to Jesus. The cross illustrates that the work of opposing effective ministry is used by God to actually complete the ministry itself.
Question 2. According to 1 Corinthians 16:10-11, what was Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians about Timothy?
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Paul intercedes on behalf of Timothy, telling the Corinthians to respect his work, to make sure he has nothing to fear, and that he should be sent on his way in peace. This kind of intercession by Paul for Timothy reminds us of the intercessory work of Jesus, who pleads to the Father on our behalf. Contemplating the intercessory work of Jesus on our behalf, Charles Wesley penned these lyrics in the hymn Arise, My Soul, Arise:
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all-redeeming love, His precious blood to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!
https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Arise_My_Soul_Arise/
In the first 11 verses of 1 Corinthians 16, we see how Paul lived out the gospel: first, he wanted to give a gift to the needy people of Jerusalem, just as God, the Father, gave His Son to a world in need. Then Paul interceded on behalf of Timothy, just as Jesus rose from the dead and always lives to intercede for us who believe in Him.
Question 3. How does Paul evidence that he is living and growing in the gospel in 1 Corinthians 16?
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