2 CORINTHIANS Chpt. 4; (SEED THOUGHTS) A LIVING MINISTRY: Vl; A Living Ministry; A ministry of triumph in Christ in every place.

Preaching the pure gospel, making men disciples of Christ, transformation from glory to glory. It is a real and living vital exciting ministry that should inspire each one of us to show the community that we faint not but live daily as witnesses of Jesus Christ. ROMANS 4 v 20-21; He staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God., and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able to perform. V2. A REVEALING MINISTRY: It is a necessary part of the Christian way of life that we live according to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. The word of God reveals to us that which God desires us to give up in order that our lives may uphold that which we testify. So as God reveals to us these things, so our love for Him should be such that we seek to live a more Christlike life day by day that people may see that we have an honest inspiring and living ministry to preach. PSALM 119 v 11; Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee. V3; A COMFORTING MINISTRY : We go forward as Christ's disciples to reveal to the unsaved the good news that Jesus loves them but not their sin, and to show them that there is a way out of their darkness and into the.light of sins forgiven and everlasting life with Jesus. ROMANS 5 v 5; And hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us. V4; AN OPPOSING MINISTRY: Satan, the god of this world will oppose anything that a Christian tries to do to save a lost soul and bring that person to Jesus. But we as Christians must be prepared to press on against all odds strengthened by God through the Holy Spirit. The ministry of satan and Jesus will always be in opposition, but Christ won the battle at Calvary and satan is a defeated foe. 2 CORINTHIANS 6 v 17; Wherefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you. V 5; A HUMBLING MINISTRY: The Apostle Paul could boast of his genealogy, and education and position in life yet he was content to refer to himself as a servant of God. This great preacher was a servant of the churches. When we come as Christians to worship God we come as servants of the church and especially servants of His. Galatians 5 v 13; For brethren, you have been called unto liberty only use not liberty for an ocassion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. V6; A REVEALING MINISTRY: God has given to you and I the privilege of revealing to the unsaved around us, the truth of the gospel of Christ, and the reality of the Holy Spirit. Not just by talking about It, but by revealing to other people the love or apathy that we have for Jesus. 1 CORINTHIANS 12 v 7; But the manifestation of the Spirits given to every man to profit withal, 2 CORINTHIANS 4 v 11; For we which live are alway delivered unto death, For Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest In our body. V 7; A POSSESSING MINISTRY: Within this frail body of ours we hold the glorious power of the Holy Spirit, which should have complete possession of us. It Is not enough to say that. because Jesus is our Saviour we have the Holy Spirit within us. We can grieve or quench the power of the Holy Spirit by our lack of surrender to His teaching and guidance. JOHN 14 v 16; And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him . But you know Him for He dwells with you

and shall_be in you. V 8 ; A TRUSTING MINISTRY: These next four verses show something of the faith of the Apostle Paul, as he underwent much suffering and persecution as he witnessed for Christ. Through it all he trusted his God and Saviour. How long has it been since you trusted God for everything. The amount of love I have for Jesus can be seen and appraised by other people by my Christian standards and attitudes to them. PSALM 37 v 5; Commit your way unto the Lord, trust also In Him and He shall being it to pass. V 9; A SUFFERING MINISTRY: Many a missionary or dedicated worker can testify to the suffering and persecution they have had to contend with as they sought to bring the glorious gospel light into the darkened heart of a lost soul. But this is how God In His wisdom moulds the Christian character into maturity and gives us the experience that enables us to counsel and assist people with problems. We come out of these trials strengthened and gaining more wisdom and understanding of the ways of God. 1 PETER 1 v 7 ; That the trial of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried by fire , might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ V 10 ; A WITNESSING MINISTRY: Paul was a dedicated man for Jesus. Someone once said that if you have dedicated your life to Jesus, anything else that He asks of you will be readily surrendered. So having become born again believers with a sincere trust In the Godhead, let us go forth day by day to witness for Jesus when the Holy Spirit gives us the opportunity. Those who knew Paul would have seen the marks of his sufferings and persecution he underwent to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. People should see in us the change from our old way of life and see that we are truly new creatures in Christ. MATTHEW 5 v 16; Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is In heaven. V 11 ; A YIELDING MINISTRY: Just as Jesus Christ yielded His all for us, and just as Paul yielded everything for his Saviour, so must we day by day surrender to Jesus any bad habit or that which might stem the flow of the Holy Spirit into and out of our lives. As We die daily to self , Christ will be manifested in us and glorified in our weak bodies , Our lives speak louder than words in our daily ministry for Jesus . PROVERBS 16 v 3; Commit your works unto the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established. V 12; A LIFE GIVING MINISTRY: God has given us through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit the power and the message that can bring the unsaved into His kingdom, giving out a new life to those who were dead in their sins. So this daily ministry of ours is twofold, a giving of ourselves to Jesus and with the aid of the Holy Spirit introducing the unsaved to the One who can and will give them new life. MATTHEW 4 v 19-20; And He said unto them, Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men, and they straightway left their nets and followed Him. V 13 ; A BELIEVING MINISTRY: What a thrilling verse this is; Paul believed and then lived his life according to the strength of His belief. He certainly matured as he went along and gained much wisdom and-understanding. This is the challenge for you and I today, that first of all we really believe that Jesus Christ died on Calvary's Cross to redeem us from the power of satan, and as we trust in Jesus we are promised eternal life with Him PSALM 55 v22; Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. V 14 A SHARING MINISTRY: Firstly we have the glorious promise here that we are going to share in the life in Christ after the rapture of His church. A life with our loved ones In the presence of God,(if they

are born again believers ) We believe therefore we speak. We share our joy in Jesus with all who will listen and take notice. COLOSSIANS;V 14; In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins; V 15 ; A GOD HONOURING MINISTRY: If we strive in our own strength to work for the Lord with the wrong motives, then our efforts will only be,wood, hay and stubble, burned up in the fire. So long as we are committing each day to God, the Son and the-Holy Spirit, we have the ultimate guidance, protection and approval.As lost souls come to Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Redeemer then they will give God the honour and glory due to Him. Let us make sure that all we do each day is for His honour and glory, and not for any praise for us. 1 CORINTHIANS 10 v 31; Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. V 16; A STRENGTHENING MINISTRY: God will daily renew our strength as we offer ourselves for the task He selected for us. As we go on in obedience to His.guidance so we strengthen ourselves in wisdom and understanding. LUKE 22 v 32; But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not, and when you are converted strengthen the brethren. V 17 , A REWARDING MINISTRY , Our ministry is rewarding in so many ways . We have assurances from God of eternal life , sins forgiven and many blessings as we serve Him . . 1 CORINTHIANS 2 v 9; As it is written, eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. V 18; A CONTINUING AND FAITH DEMANDING MINISTRY : It demands a great deal of faith to believe in things we cannot see but as our faith increases so does God become more real to us. He speaks to us through His word and continues to teach and lead us by His Holy Spirit. This-ministry of ours is a daily way of life and leads on to eternity. MATTHEW 24 v 14; And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations. BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD. TELL IT BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IT. LIVE IT BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IT.