2 Corinthians 4:1

2 Corinthians 4:1 says, Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  Paul said that because of Christ, Who brought salvation and purpose to people, that he was given a ministry.  Having been given this ministry by the mercy of God, Paul said they would not faint in carrying out their ministry.  We need to have that same attitude and determination today.  Paul said that nothing in this world could keep him from doing what he was called to do, and we cannot allow anything in the world to stop us today.  Verse two adds, 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.  Paul said they were not attempting to live deceitfully but were living by the truth of God.  Paul continued by affirming that the truth of God was manifested in their lives.  We cannot begin to change the gospel in any way and live with Christ being manifested in our lives.  Verse three continues, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  The truth of the gospel will only be hidden to those who refuse to accept it.  The gospel will always be available to all those who are willing to accept it, and until a person accepts the gospel by faith it will never mean anything to them.  Verse four declares, 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.  Paul said that the god of this world blinded the minds of people so that the light of the gospel could not shine on them.  Paul refers to the gospel as the glorious gospel of Christ.  There is nothing more glorious that we can share with others than the gospel of Christ.  Verse five adds, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.  Paul and those with him did not preach to bring glory to themselves, but only to bring glory to Christ.  Paul viewed himself simply as a servant to those he preached to for the sake of Jesus.  When we begin to view ourselves as anything other than servants of Christ for the reaching of the lost we are not being faithful to our calling.  We can never glorify ourselves nor let others glorify us.  Verse six continues, 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.  Paul said that God Who caused the physical light to shine out of darkness also caused the spiritual light to shine in the hearts of those who accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse seven states, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We have this treasure of the light of God in us, not to glorify this earthly vessel, our body, but to glorify God.  Verse eight adds, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Paul was not preaching a gospel of prosperity, but a gospel of sacrifice and persecution. Verse nine continues, Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  Paul said even though they were persecuted they were not forsaken by God, and though they were cast down they were not destroyed.  God will never forsake those who are His, nor will He allow them to be spiritually destroyed.  Paul did not see himself as suffering more than other Christians but saw them all as equals through the gospel of Christ.  Verse ten concludes, Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  I believe that Paul was saying that if we want to share in the glory of Christ then we must allow Him to live through us, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.