THE PREACHER/MINISTER/PASTOR
(What Does The Bible Teach About
Preachers?)
Part 99: You Cannot Speak For Satan
And Work For God (II Corinthians 11: 15)
Greetings Brethren,
Peace be unto you. We
come praising and giving thanks to Almighty God our Father and to His Son our
Savior Christ Jesus and for the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Brethren be not
misled by the culture of the world. Seek out righteousness for confirming to
God is longevity however the world will end.
Peace and Love, Carl
A. Patton a willing servant of Almighty God in service to Christ writing for
the Freedom Journal April 23, 2007.
In the name of God, Master of the universe, Ruler of the earth
The bracket of
scriptures in II Corinthians 11 where Paul teaches about false Apostles ends
with verse 15. This verse gives us an understanding about Satan and how he
influences the weak and irresponsible so-called believers. Let it be written
the most tragic example of Satan’s influence is among those who claim to speak
for God.
II Corinthians 11:
15: “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Minister used here is
at some places refers to deacon. However in this passage it has the general
reference to those that are ministers then and now. A servant, attendant a
minister the one who executes the commands of another. Thus Paul accuses the
false teachers of fulfilling the orders of Satan. But they claim to be
righteous workers. (See Galatians 6: 8).
In the Book of Romans
in the 2nd Chapter the Apostle Paul writes about God’s judgment of
sin in verses 1-16. Follow us to verse 6.
Romans 2: 6: “Who
will render to every man according to his deeds.”
This is not a
statement as to the degree are measure of punishment. But it does mean if they
are good or evil. (Also see II Corinthians 5: 10 and Romans 3: 8).
As we turn to another
cross-reference we look to Philippians. Here our primary verse is Philippians 3:
19, however we will box in this verse with verses 18 and 20.
Philippians 3: 18-20:
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,
that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
“Whose end is
destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly things.)
“For our conversation
is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
In verse 18 Paul
writes that not all of the Christians he ministered to were walking after the
righteous example he set before them. Many of these people were so evil that it
caused Paul to weep when he tried to talk with them. He did not weep because of
any personal fault but because the people were the enemies of the cross of Christ.
So as we now take up
our primary verse (19) we see that there is an end and it is eternal
destruction. God here refers to an incorrect object of devotion in the belly.
The belly refers to fleshly desires. These people as many people today are more
devoted to the flesh than the true God. However God wants to be first in our
lives.
“Pardon me as I
reflect a little. Often we see someone getting an award and those that often
stand to testify in the church saying first giving honor to God who is the head
and first in my life.”
Brethren we declare
that many make the declaration of God as first. But these are just empty words
because they don’t realize that keeping God first takes responsibility. How can
God be first in your life when you have accepted an award for being in a
degenerative movie and singing an ungodly song?
Therefore God wants
our personal matters to be secondary to Him. Meanwhile Paul writes that these
people glory in their shame. Those that take glory in shame are people that
care more for earthly things than God. Therefore these people embrace and work
for Satan who is the champion of sinful earthly desires.
Our next and final
verse reveals that this place the earth is not our home. Thus our stay here
should be one of preparation for our eternal residence in our true home. If we
can understand this we will keep God first. However the false teachers have
convinced many that they can embrace the world and fleshly desires and still go
home. (Also see Hebrews 11: 13-16, 13: 14; I Peter 2: 11).
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