Words of The Day

House of Christ Ministries Inc (The Light of the Gospel)

(2 Corinthians 4)

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2But 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. 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In 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. 5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For 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.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Dearly beloved believers and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ praise are unto Him. True Ministry proceed from God’s underserved mercy, Paul encourages us to be strong despite the persecution that we will face. False teachers were threatening to take over the church at Corinth. Paul had no official position to defend his role in the church. He could only appeal to his personal integrity and reveal truth of the gospel. Resisting and clarifying the gospel was no problem for him. But defending his own honor was uncomfortable task causing those unaware of his motives to think that he sounded arrogant. Today we face some of the same problems in the churches, but we must not waiver. In spite of opposition and false teaching we must raise the bar and not allow ourselves to get caught up in the business as usual approach, but to stand and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ without any apologies, and pray for those who are spiritually blind so that the Holy Spirit will convicts and convince them of their sin and their need for salvation. In addition we must not lose heart, rather we must renounce the shameful ways; we must not use deception, nor distort the word of God. On the contrary by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

We must not preach of ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and ourselves as servants for Jesus Christ sake. For God who said, let the light shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts to give us light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We must be reminded that, we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all- surpassing power that we have comes from God and not from us.

Beloved we are hard pressed from every side, but not crushed; perplexed but, not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned: struck down, but not destroyed. Our sufferings should remind us and others of the ultimate suffering, Jesus death on the cross. Revealing His suffering should make it possible for us to reveal His life. Both life and death are evident in all believers, but death or suffering in one believer may be the occasion for life to be produced in others.

Paul reminds us that the one who raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and place us in His presence. All this is for our benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we must not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we must fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen, is temporary, and what is unseen is eternal.

God Bless You.