“Preaching
Christ Jesus The Lord”
II Corinthians 4:1-5
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.
Preface
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he
preaching of Jesus and His Word involves more than just “recitation.” Though
the scripture has promised that God’s Word is never “void,” apart from its
application to our lives, it is unprofitable for us.
Just
as the children of
Main Thought
It
is for Jesus’ sake that we preach the Word of the Lord. Since the Gospel
involved Jesus, then the preaching of the Word needs to involve the gospel. If
it does not, or “preaching” is being done for any other reason than to promote
the gospel, then what is being done is not “preaching,” at all.
The
word “Lord” comes from a word meaning “absolute ruler.” In that He is
“absolute,” no one rules along with Him. There have been few absolute rulers in
history, but one of the most notable was King Nebuchadnezzer.
In most other instances, rulership was shared.
Generally,
humans do not handle absolute rulership well. Because
of a proclivity to abuse power, most instances turn into “dictatorship.” One
can be said to be a “dictator” only when he abuses the rights of another. Now,
in order for this to happen, one would have to possess rights to abuse. Despite
our accusations, the Lord does not abuse our “rights” because we have none.
You
see, the mistake that Man makes is forgetting that we have existence solely
because of the Lord. This being the ease, one must remember that whoever is
responsible for the existence of the creature will be due the allegiance of the
creature. This then gives all rights to the Creator.
It
is vital to our success that we understand that God will rule with no one else.
If we declare that He is the ruler of our lives, we cannot then rule along with
Him. He never has and never will accept a “co-partnership.”
We
already know that when we come to salvation and give our lives to Jesus, He is
to be “in control.” Though this is, perhaps, what we fight the most, there is
no salvation apart from being led by Jesus. Since this is the way that heaven
is “run,” it only stands to reason that if we cannot “master” this here, we
will be extremely unhappy in heaven.
The
route to pleasing the Lord is not, necessarily, paved with reading as many of
the latest and most popular books as one can. For too long, Man has been
deceived concerning what it is that “moves” the Lord. Though we can and often
do, “fool” each other, it is not possible to fool the Lord. What we mean by
this is that God’s “yardstick” differs greatly from Man’s and rather than using
one’s “knowledge,” He judges through obedience and “authority.” In assessing
any man, He is looking for that man’s obedience to Him and the amount of
authority that he exercises (that authority being directly proportional to his
obedience.
The
fact that Jesus sets rules and deals with us according to whether or not we
follow those rules does not necessarily set too good
with many. All too often, we have been led to believe that He is such a “good”
Lord that He will allow us to do whatever we want—while allowing us to have
whatever we want. In that the “plan” is His and was paid for by Him, is it any
wonder that it is we who must meet the standard?
The
issue of obedience cannot be taken too lightly for it was this that sealed
Man’s fate in the Garden of Eden. Rather than the type of fruit eaten or anything
else, the importance of the events in the Garden was that Adam and Eve were
being tested. What was being tested was their obedience. All tests are allowed
to come to us to test our obedience for this is the only way that Man can be
shown where he really “stands” in his relationship with the Lord.
The
“state” of unredeemed Man with God is as it is because Adam and Eve failed
their test and broke fellowship with God. This necessitated that they die, both
literally and figuratively. Through this was established the attitude of Man
toward that from which he is prohibited: whatever that “thing” is, that he is
determined to do.
Much
of the problem that the people of God feel that they face comes from their
perception that they are being prohibited from something that others are
“allowed” those in this “category,” whatever God requires of you, is what He
requires of you. Now, He requires “sinlessness” and
“holiness” from all, but your “job description” might take you further. And
only you and He can know this.
As
the time for His return draws ever nearer, the “preaching (of) Christ Jesus”
has become increasingly less about any truth about Him and more about the
pleasing of the flesh. This requires the raising up of those who will be bold
in preaching the truth. We, then, must be diligent in seeking the truth, for it
will be impossible for us to be in the proper position for Him without this.
One
who would “preach Jesus” cannot afford to leave out anything necessary to one’s
“success in salvation.” With the current proliferation of “prosperity
teachers,” the truth of financial success with God must be told. Number one, no
one will he able to be pleasing to God without giving Him.
He does not exist that we might be blessed, but rather, we exist that we might
bless Him. Once we learn the “principle of giving we will find that we will
never have want.
Part
of the principle of giving involves the planting of seed. In order to “get
back,” one must first plant something. In today’s world, we are led to believe that
having jobs is how one assures himself of money, when in actuality, it is the
planting of seed that assures one’s blessing. And one must always remember that
what he plants, is what he will reap. Therefore, one must be discriminating in
what he plants.
The
“preaching (of) Christ Jesus” must be done honestly. At no time can the word of
God be handled deceitfully. With so little reverence for the Lord present in
the World, today, many preach what man wants to hear and what they feel will
best advance them, rather than the Lord.
In
that we are saved to be soulwinners, the question
that must be uppermost in the mind of man is “What does God want?” This must
outweigh any other considerations and all other concerns. Though many today are
preaching, once this “qualification” is applied, how many can really be said to
be “preaching Christ Jesus the Lord?” n