The Ministry; Honest , not
deceitful
2 Cor 4:1 Therefore seeing we have
this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 Cor 4:2 But have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of
God.
"craftiness" -- unscrupulous
conduct
In these last days there will be many
drawn to preachers with smooth words, but who speak from their own thoughts,
twisting the word of God. It may be that preaching sound doctrine will not draw
crowds, but it is those who are spirit filled and who feed on the word of
truth, that will be triumphant in the last days. Times will be distressing, so
we need to stay connected to Jesus, even if our way of life is
interrupted. I renounce satan and his evil works and declare that the lord Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior. I serve Jesus.
1 Cor 4:20 For the kingdom of God is
not in word, but in power.
We do not want to be under some orator, with
his clever words, who casts a spell on an audience like the man in South America
who claims to be Jesus. He preaches that there is no sin, no devil, no hell.
People without spiritual discernment follow him, enriching him with money and
expensive possessions, but his power is not of God. Jesus paid the price so that we
would be delivered from sin's punishment and we are given power from God to be
his witnesses.
Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in
his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:48 And ye are
witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my
Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with
power from on high.
1 Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
Paul spoke the gospel, in truth by the
grace of God. If we are in the Lord's leading, we do not wear out. Remember that we
are yoked together with Christ, he being the greater. He is our good shepherd,
we follow him, not pulling in our own direction opposing him. His mercy comes in
obedience, his grace comes for salvation (by grace are we saved) and more is given to us as we serve him.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them
that are lost:
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not, lest the light of
"gospel" -- good news
2 Cor 11:3 But I fear, lest by any
means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
People believe foolish things to avoid
the voice of their conscience. They invent a chance evolution when the Bible
teaches that God is the creator of all. If all is by chance, then there is no accountability
to a righteous God; you're OK, I'm OK, we do what we want. No, no, no, God has a better
way, a way that we shall go in. Jesus is the way of forgiveness and a new life.
There is no other way. God is creator, we are not to be creating our own way
when God has provided his son, Jesus, to bring us to himself, free of sin and
guilt. (John 14:6)
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2 Cor 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
It is upsetting to me when a preacher holds up the
Bible and says, "this is what we believe, we believe the word of God, then he
proceeds to say things from his own mind and thoughts, maybe using a verse out
of context, to fit his own thoughts. Hundreds of words pour out of his mouth,
but rarely is it the word of God. The devil is pleased with this sort of
preaching. Do we want to please the devil and the sinful hearts of lost people?
Be as Paul who said from God, that we are not to preach ourselves, but Christ
Jesus the Lord. We are to be His faithful servants.
The gospel from Jesus:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
The gospel witness of
Peter
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of
all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom
they slew and hanged on a tree:
Acts 10:40 Him God raised up the
third day, and showed him openly;
Acts 10:41 Not to all the people, but
unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him
after he rose from the dead.
Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to
preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God
to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins.
The gospel spoken by
Paul
1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I
declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have
received, and wherein ye stand;
1 Cor 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye
keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1
Cor 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Cor 15:4 And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:
1 Cor 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the
twelve:
1 Cor 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at
once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen
asleep.
1 Cor 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the
apostles.
1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born
out of due time.
2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out
of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this
treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and
not of us.
Let the light of God shine through you.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city
that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.
We are to continue to shine
Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his
angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and
them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of
fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then shall
the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath
ears to hear, let him hear.
We are to be in close fellowship with Jesus, face
to face. We are to know him, hear from him, pray to him and to do what he has
given to us to do. Anything of value that we do is because it is his power and
grace working through us.
1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1 Cor 1:28 And
base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1 Cor 1:29 That
no flesh should glory in his presence.
