Second Corinthians reflects God’s care and love for the church and the sanctity of the apostolic ministry
“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the Word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
II Corinthians 6:3-10 NKJV
I love the canon of Scripture; it is the Living Word of God; the canon of Scripture today is exactly what God wanted it to be, and it will stay that way until Christ returns! God’s Word is authoritative; it tells us what to do and how to live our lives. Sadly, too many people reject it and call it irrelevant for today’s culture and the times in which we live; sadly, people choose to pick what they want from the scriptures and throw out what they do not want to believe or what doesn’t fit with their lifestyle.
I love Paul’s courageous faith and boldness, and his love for the Lord is compelling. He is a hero of the faith, and I can learn from him and his ministry because Paul followed the Lord wholeheartedly. His Zeal for the Lord was astounding; he prayed fervently and passionately. Paul preached the pure Gospel; he honored God’s message and ministry, and his ministry was of purity and God’s power. Paul answered the call. He knew what it meant when Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Every ministry should abide in Christ and in the doctrine of Christ. Sharing the Gospel and making disciples by sharing the Word of Truth; the Word of God; the scriptures, and testifying who Jesus is, God in the flesh, His death, burial, and resurrection. Fully God and fully human.
• Would you still follow Jesus if it meant losing your closest friends?
• Would you still follow Jesus if it meant alienation from your family?
• Would you still follow Jesus if it meant the loss of your reputation?
• Would you still follow Jesus if it meant losing your job?
• Would you still follow Jesus if it meant losing your life?
Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-18
Marks Of a True Ministry
- patience
- tribulations
- needs
- distresses
- stripes and imprisonments
- tumults
- labors
- sleeplessness
- fasting
- purity
- knowledge
- longsuffering
- kindness
- Holy Spirit
- sincere love
- Word of Truth
- power of God
- armor of righteousness
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart," I Peter 1:22 NKJV
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—" Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV Read 2 Corinthians, it is rich with Christian Doctrine and gives us knowledge to apply to our lives and ministry. The Christian life is truly suffering for Christ's sake. Remember, 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." I love how Paul always calls out false teachers and those with faulty doctrine. Paul addressed some leaders who were peddling and occupying themselves with erroneous lies, and it was a message of pain avoidance and glorification of human prosperity. I once read this in a commentary: There is no other way to follow Christ than to bear up with faith under the difficulties God's call brings into believers' lives. This epistle strongly affirms it is often in situations of human inadequacy that divine favor is most powerful: "For the sake of Christ, then, l am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:10) In such times believers experience the mystery and beauty of God's promise: "My grace is sufficient for you" (II Corinthians 12:9). Another theme is the sanctity of the apostolic ministry. Watered-down and distorted versions of the Christian message circulated at Corinth, as Paul speaks of "false apostles" in their midst (II Corinthians 11:13). Satan's servants can sometimes be found in the church, and they "disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (II Corinthians 11:15). God's Word is a treasure chest of truth. May we align our lives to every Word that God speaks through the scriptures.
