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.
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hose
who feel that they have already found the truth get offended when those who
have accepted God's plan of salvation show too great an interest in them. This
is a fact of the life of a saint and as such, must be contended with. It will
not necessarily get easier to win souls because the devil is on his job,
sending us a preponderance of false prophets and teaching which deceives the
unsaved as well as some who have tasted the truth.
If
we will be effective ministers of God, we must learn that reactions to us are
based chiefly on ignorance, rather than malevolence. It is a fact, that
"the gospel is hid from the lost." So we must learn not to take
personal offense at anything. For, how can one accept that of which he has not
heard?
The
Lord is fully aware that we must be able to reach others, somehow. He is also
aware that we are frequently opposed because the lifestyle He requires of us
will condemn all others who do not live it. So we often wonder how we are ever
to be successful when we realize that it is what we stand for; how we live that
is opposed. It would not matter how nice we would say what we have to say, we
are "handicapped" in that we live for Jesus.
Because
of all this, we are used to hearing that "you just think you are better
than me. It is ridiculous for you to think that everybody would really have to
do the same thing. Do you really believe that?" Usually, the next thing to
do is to defend their unsaved position by trying to show that the Holy Ghost is
not necessary. All of this should make it clear to us that the appropriate
response is not to get upset with those we try to win now that we know how they
think. Our "strategy" can now be that we are offering something that
we realize they are not able to understand, for they are without that which is
necessary for understanding.
By
this time, we ought to be able to recognize the truth that man looks for that
which will give him the most "worldly" freedom. Recently, it seems
all the more clear that man really does not desire to do the right thing
tin-and-of himself or even because it is the right thing to do. Even with the
Holy Ghost, getting people to do "right" is a constant struggle. It
is sad, but true, that many apostolic churches have members with the name,
rather than the practice of salvation. Too many are concerned with nothing but
being "in Church." The reality of serving God, what is required and
all that is entailed is not their reality.
Whether
we accept it or not, we have been given the responsibility or ministering with
our lives. This obligates us to continue to work with others to accept the
truth of the word of God.
As
quiet as it is kept, we are too often less than integrates and this in itself, "blows" a witness and prompts others not
to trust us. Perhaps more than anything else, the saint of God must be able to
gain the confidence of others. We will find, it
easiest to do this by living a triumphant—filled life possible only by adhering
to the spiritual principles instilled in us.
Saints are too easily intimidated by those who would challenge
what we say or laugh at what we believe. Do you not understand that this is
simply a tactic of Satan to render us ineffective? If he can get us to keep
our mouths shut, we may as well just go curl-up in a corner, somewhere. Isn't
another's soul worth a little discomfort? Ours was to someone.