Living To Be Spent

This summary and strategic rewrite draws upon excerpts from a sermon by Jentezen Franklin, focusing on the biblical principle that God uses the ultimate sacrifice of leaders to purchase and catalyze revival in new generations. Using the Apostle Paul’s declaration, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15), the message encourages believers to live with radical purpose and devotion, recognizing that their lives are measured by donation, not duration.

1. The Divine Exchange: Spending a Life to Buy Souls

The central theological concept presented is that God operates through a divine transaction: He spends a Christian leader (sometimes through martyrdom or ultimate sacrifice) to buy a new generation.

The Apostle Paul’s Example: Paul, recognizing the value of souls, proclaimed his willingness to be spent for the sake of others. He acknowledged that the more abundantly he loved people, the less he was sometimes loved in return, demonstrating a willingness to endure opposition and be despised for his beliefs.

The Ultimate Sacrifice: The model for this sacrifice is Jesus Christ. God so loved the world that He spent His only begotten Son, who was publicly executed in an open space, so that whosoever would believe could be bought and saved.

2. The Martyrdom of Stephen and the Purchase of Paul

The powerful example of this transactional principle is found in the story of Stephen, the first martyr of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as recounted in Acts chapters 6 and 7.

Stephen: A Leader Willing to be Spent

Stephen was not an apostle, prophet, or traditional preacher; he was a Christian leader appointed to handle the administrative and secular duties of the early church. He was chosen because he was full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit.

When Stephen engaged in debate with his accusers, they became angry but could not resist the wisdom by which he spoke. His wisdom was godly and accompanied by the Holy Spirit.

During his stoning, Stephen was being “spent”. His sacrifice was the necessary price for a monumental purchase:

• The Purchase: While Stephen was being stoned, the persecutors laid their coats at the feet of Saul of Tarsus. Saul was known for wasting, persecuting, and mocking the church.
• The Transformation: Saul later became the Apostle Paul, the man who would write 14 books of the New Testament.
• The Prayer of Forgiveness: Just as Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them,” Stephen prayed, “Don’t lay this to their charge, Lord,” even as the rocks came down. God spent Stephen, a “good man,” to buy Saul, a “bad man”.

The Voice of Blood

The sacrifice of a martyr, like Stephen, is not silent. The blood shed on earth cries out. While Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance, the blood of Jesus Christ speaks better things.

The contemporary example cited suggests that when a modern Christian leader is spent, their sacrifice cries out not for revenge or hatred, but for revival—for a move of God, souls by the millions, and an army of young people to march with the love of Jesus Christ.

3. Serving Your Generation and Embracing God’s Sovereignty

Every believer is called to serve their own generation in the will of God.

The Example of David: The Bible states that David served his generation by the will of God and then fell asleep (Acts 13:36). This is the desired description of a Christian leader: serving their generation and fulfilling God’s will until the appointed time of death.

God’s Control: We serve a God who is sovereign over all, even the doings of evil people. Although death is appointed unto man once, believers should recognize that when it is their time to die, they will die, whether through illness, accident, or other means. Trusting in God’s sovereignty is paramount.

4. The Power of People Over Financial Resources

Jesus, though the owner of all silver and gold (Haggai 2), never carried money. This highlights a crucial principle of Kingdom operation:

• Valuing People: Jesus carried people, not money.
• Feeding the Multitude: When Jesus needed to feed the 5,000, He did not use money; He used a person who had three loaves and some fish.
• Paying Taxes: When paying the Temple tax (a half-shekel required for those 20 years and older), Jesus miraculously used a fish to provide the one shekel needed for Himself and Simon Peter (the only married and oldest disciple, who would have been over 20).