We Do Not Preach Ourselves
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 2 Corinthians 4:1-5
Truth doesn’t have to be defended but just proclaimed. And Jesus Christ the Lord, is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)! Hence true preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. They do not preach themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and themselves their bondservants for Jesus' sake. And what do we have in many false apostate churches today which are run more like a business than anything else? A C.E.O in charge of everything with a useless board of directors to rubberstamp his wishes! A C.E.O. who expects all the blind dumb sheep to be his servants!
The church of Jesus Christ is not supposed to be a business. Many unsaved people speaking about Christianity say “It’s all just a big business enterprise” especially with the preachers constant talk about and demand for money! The lost can see the hypocrisy so much more clearly than believers and many are kept away from the church because of her preoccupation with serving mammon. And it’s the Lord who appoints apostles, pastors, prophets in HIS house, not presumptuous flesh. When a ministry or church does not have the Spirit to follow, their only recourse is to make the decisions themselves that the Lord would have preferred to make. Then they wonder why God brings real judgment on them and they become a joke to society! God’s word is unchanging:
The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. Psalm 25:9
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant "Peace" While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths: "Therefore you shall have night without vision, And you shall have darkness without divination; The sun shall go down on the prophets, And the day shall be dark for them. So the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed; Indeed they shall all cover their lips; For there is no answer from God." But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin. Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity, Who build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity: Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us." Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest. Micah 3:5-12
Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. Isaiah 30:18-19
"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:7-18
Our God is a God of righteousness, justice and mercy. He will give His trusting ones praise and fame before the people who oppressed them. The Bible says that He will speedily do them justice because He is a righteous God. The Bible also says, “Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion” (Isaiah 61:7). So they can be of good cheer up for the Lord will exalt and honor them mightily and bless them for they understand that Jesus is the answer to every need.
Yes, we are chosen. Ephesians 1:4 tells us He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Our salvation is totally in Christ. God looks at us as if we never sinned. Ephesians 1:11 tells us in Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. We are His praise and glory when we trust in Him. John 15:9 tells us as the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. Jesus gave His life for us; He calls us friend and tells us everything. We can depend on Jesus in every way and everyday in everything. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 reminds us But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation (healing, deliverance, safety, liberty and prosperity) through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 reminds us for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. So we thank God that in all things we have victory.
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 2 Corinthians 4:1-5
Truth doesn’t have to be defended but just proclaimed. And Jesus Christ the Lord, is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)! Hence true preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. They do not preach themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and themselves their bondservants for Jesus' sake. And what do we have in many false apostate churches today which are run more like a business than anything else? A C.E.O in charge of everything with a useless board of directors to rubberstamp his wishes! A C.E.O. who expects all the blind dumb sheep to be his servants!
The church of Jesus Christ is not supposed to be a business. Many unsaved people speaking about Christianity say “It’s all just a big business enterprise” especially with the preachers constant talk about and demand for money! The lost can see the hypocrisy so much more clearly than believers and many are kept away from the church because of her preoccupation with serving mammon. And it’s the Lord who appoints apostles, pastors, prophets in HIS house, not presumptuous flesh. When a ministry or church does not have the Spirit to follow, their only recourse is to make the decisions themselves that the Lord would have preferred to make. Then they wonder why God brings real judgment on them and they become a joke to society! God’s word is unchanging:
The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. Psalm 25:9
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant "Peace" While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths: "Therefore you shall have night without vision, And you shall have darkness without divination; The sun shall go down on the prophets, And the day shall be dark for them. So the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed; Indeed they shall all cover their lips; For there is no answer from God." But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin. Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity, Who build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity: Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us." Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest. Micah 3:5-12
Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. Isaiah 30:18-19
"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:7-18
Our God is a God of righteousness, justice and mercy. He will give His trusting ones praise and fame before the people who oppressed them. The Bible says that He will speedily do them justice because He is a righteous God. The Bible also says, “Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion” (Isaiah 61:7). So they can be of good cheer up for the Lord will exalt and honor them mightily and bless them for they understand that Jesus is the answer to every need.
Yes, we are chosen. Ephesians 1:4 tells us He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Our salvation is totally in Christ. God looks at us as if we never sinned. Ephesians 1:11 tells us in Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. We are His praise and glory when we trust in Him. John 15:9 tells us as the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. Jesus gave His life for us; He calls us friend and tells us everything. We can depend on Jesus in every way and everyday in everything. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 reminds us But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation (healing, deliverance, safety, liberty and prosperity) through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 reminds us for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. So we thank God that in all things we have victory.
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