1 Corinthians 9:1-2 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely, I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

·       Jesus set us free so that we may become a freeway for the Gospel

1 Corinthians 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights [freedom] does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Corinthians 9:12 But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

·       To the believer:

·       Are you free? Yes- Romans 6:7

·       Are you a disciple? Yes- John 8:31

·       Do you know Jesus? Yes- Phil. 3:8-12

·       Do you have Gospel influence? Yes- Mark 16:15

1 Corinthians 9:3-6 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

·       Don’t just defend your rights- let the Gospel direct your decisions.  

·       Rights: Something you are allowed to do and have the authority to claim.

John 6:38 (ESV) For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

·       To give up rights or not to?

·       1. Will this decision help advance the Gospel?                                (Matt. 28:19)

·       2. Does this decision compromise or uphold biblical values?                 (2 Tim. 3:16)

·       3. Are my motives aligned with the Gospel?                                         (1 Cor. 10:31)

·       4. Will this decision draw me and others closer to Jesus?                (Heb. 10:24)

·       6. Will this choice cause me to be enslaved to anyone or thing?           (1 Cor. 6:12)

1 Corinthians 9:7-12 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 …We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.

Matthew 6:33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you as well. Kingdom seekers advance the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:13-18 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

·       Giving supports the Gospels advance and makes us partners in God’s work. 

Luke 8:1-3 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Deuteronomy 8:18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

·       The Gospel transforms us to become soul winners.

Galatians 5:1,13 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Proverbs 11:30 (NJKV) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

·       Don’t just enter the race- run with purpose, run with passion, run to win for the Gospel.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for- my joy and my crown.

·        “Being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

·       Call 321.574.6970 if you have chosen to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

 

All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted. NLT = New Living Translation.

Todas las referencias bíblicas son de la Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI) a menos que se indique lo contrario. NTV = Nueva Traduccion Viviente.

Todas as referências bíblicas são da Nova Versão Internacional (NVI-PT). Nova Versão Transformadora (NVT)