1.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we
have received mercy, we faint not;
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.
3.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them
that are lost:
4.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake
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.
7.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the
power may be of God, and not of us.
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ometimes, because of the greatness
of the work and ministry with which the Church has been invested, many would
attempt to take responsibility for it. Not so that the work can be supervised
and properly guided, but so that personal glory can be obtained for its
outcome. Not surprisingly, this is attempted all the time. Does it never occur
to the one who would "steal" such glory that success was a foregone
conclusion—whether or not he was involved? Why? Because whatever it is that God
ordains will come to pass, simply because He is God. You see, any power
exhibited or any excellency
attained in this world stems not from Man, but from God.
Why would God have given us this
"treasure in earthen vessels" when it seems as if the earthen aspect
is our biggest problem? Precisely because of this.
That is, when anyone sees us in our earthen vessel rise above our pitiful,
filthy circumstances, he will be quick to recognize that our help (or power) is
a result of the God in us. We, as Holy Ghost-filled believers, are an example
of the truth that it is not the vessel that bears importance, but what is
contained therein. No vessel can ever take credit for greatness.
The ultimate, final downfall of Man
is going to be caused by his inordinate desire for recognition. Though this
attitude of the flesh is not new to us, being first exhibited in Lucifer, it
seems as if the more the World is taught of Jesus the worse (the attitude and
the World) gets. It is a foolish people who refuses to
acknowledge that God alone is great. Man will continue his downward spiral into
death and destruction until we accept that we are insignificant to God's
running of the universe and every else's living of his life.
What will it take for God's people
to accept the fact of the pitiful, under-privileged, largely unsaved,
unblessed, unhealthy state into which they have allowed themselves to fall? We
are the answer for the world, yet we
exhibit the same problems. So, how are we going to help anyone?
Whether we are speaking of the
unsaved world or God's church, a man with a problem can be changed only by
coming to the knowledge of the truth. Just because someone is baptized and
filled does not automatically mean he either knows or operates in the truth.
We are going to have to start
reverencing the power of God. We see Him perform miracles daily, for ourselves
and others. Yet, for man, He is not truly a reality, and as long as He is
allowed no space in one's life, He will remain a mystical, mythical, powerless
figure. For you see, His power is a function of the recognition He is given.
All honor, all glory and all
recognition is rightfully His; for without Him, we have nothing, and without
Him, we are nothing. Fleshly men lust after many things—money, power, possessions.
Yes, there is money to be had in the world. Drug dealers make good money—but
they don't live long. Chief executives of large corporations make great
money—yet stress fells them at an early age. Howard Hughes was a man of great
possessions—yet not only could his possessions not keep him from death, they
could not go with Him into the grave.
The assurance we have of the excellency of God's power is this:
if we want power—if it is this after which we hunger and trust—we can have
it. We will manifest "power on top of power" if we will only give
all credit for all things to Him.