Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 44 - Predestination - Liberty of God's glory.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 44 - Predestination - Liberty of God's glory.  

Announcementsopening prayer:  

1Co 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

1Co 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily [chose my ministry], I have a reward; but if against my will [God chose it for me], I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

1Co 9:18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Paul's reward is to offer the gospel without charge. His motivation is the love of God for mankind and his love of the gospel itself since it is Christ saving mankind through His unfathomable sacrifice. He is also rewarded by the fact that he is not one bit conflicted in his own heart. He hasn’t the slightest question as to why he is performing his ministry. He is not after anything other than to offer the gospel and due to this no one can accuse him of any other motive.

The ministry of the free gospel is the right of every believer and he is to make full use of it.

1Co 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more.

The slave of Christ is free from all men, but he voluntarily enslaves himself to man so as to not hinder the gospel.

If he is a slave of Christ then he is a slave of the gospel. So when he serves all men it is not an involuntary slavery but a willing one since the gospel is his Master and the Master cannot be diminished for any reason. For this reason he gains all the more, but never for himself. His gain is being the bearer of life to another.

Isa 52:7

How lovely on the mountains

Are the feet of him who brings good news,

Who announces peace

And brings good news of happiness,

Who announces salvation,

And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

The steward only gains for the Master. Whatever he is in charge of is done well and efficiently for the Master and never for himself.

The steward's gain is always for the master.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Christian is free from the bondage of sin. Worse than physical slavery is the bondage of a convinced sinner when he is brought to feel the burden of his guilt like a crushing weight.