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.
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all know how difficult it is to get a spiritual message across to one who has
only natural understanding because we know how difficult it was for us to
understand—this before and sometimes, after, salvation. We know, too, from
experience that one can hear words said, but not receive the intended
"spiritual" message due to making a "natural" application.
If we are to be effective, what we must remember is that those without the Holy
Spirit do not have the capability of understanding spiritual things.
In
that the Bible was written by the direction of the Holy Spirit, it only stands
to reason that one would need the selfsame Spirit to understand its meaning.
Yes, mortal man physically wrote the books, but the Lord, Himself,
invested in it its content and it is He would unlocks its mysteries.
In
the
Our
human conditioning leads us to believe and expect that if we can read words on
a page, understanding of those words automatically follows. Of course, we have
already established that this is simply not a reality when dealing with
spiritual issues. We are further mislead into
believing that one's knowledge is actually represented by one's
"title." No so. When man gains a title, he may do so for any number
of reasons, not necessarily because of what or how much that person knows.
Now,
in our scripture text today, it is presented that our presentation of the word
of God is not done in "craftiness" (deceit). One who is sincere and
called of God wants the unadulterated Word delivered that man might be
completely free to serve Him. It is a pity, but is true that many who enjoy the
moving of God and all of His benefits can sit in church all of their saved
lives and never understand His "point."
One
thing is certain: if we never appeal to the Holy Ghost for understanding, we
will never know what is right and wrong. This is the reason He comes and
indwells us—that he might lead and guide us.
Particularly
today, man is "running scared." The devil has made sure that the
charlatans masquerading as men (and women) of God have received ample
publicity. This leads any potential follower of anyone or anything confused and
doubting all that he hears. But, you see, "believers" have an advantage
in that the Spirit within them will confirm through private study any truth
heard. Yet another reason to become a believer, don't you think?
The
"changes" that Man is looking to make through social programs,
individual counseling, reading and by other means, will be made only by Man
coming to the knowledge of the truth. This is can change the World because only
in this way are all questions answered.
Those
already counting themselves believers need to understand that the truth of God
that we have received is absolute and immutable. It does not change, from
church-to-church, city-to-city, country-to-country or person-to-person. Neither
can we nor should we desire it to change, for we need all the stability that
God has provided us to be able to withstand the devil. You see, he never has
"played fair" and so we must, at all times, maintain the advantage.
The
acceptance of the truth in the life of the saint is part of his responsibility.
Essential to that truth, of course, is the fact that all that God allows to
come to us is to lead to our growth and learning. If it does not because of not
being accepted this way, the "fault" does not lie with God, but
rather, with us.
Another
incontrovertible truth for the people of God is that nothing bypasses God—There is nothing that gets by Him. Once we understand this,
we can relax and live our lives wholly for the Lord—there is no fear of
anything that might come our way.
Perhaps the most important thing that believers must come to understand is that even if a particular personal situation seems to us like the worst thing that could ever happen, if we love God, it will work to our good. As long as we come out with a praise to God, it already has. For you see, the secret to this life is abundant, abiding praise. Once we have achieved this, we will be forever free to serve the Lord. This is the truth that the believer must see and accept.