Christian Faith and Allegiance in Leadership

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Extract

 

{Having the Ministry}

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:1-6). (ESV)
 

{Having the Promise}

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together” (2 Corinthians 7:1-3) (ESV)
 

Christian Fidelity and Wiliness to Service God Together

“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2  For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” 3  We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4  but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5  beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6  by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7  by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8  through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9  as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10  as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 11  We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.12  You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13  In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. 14  Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15  What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16  What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17  Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18  and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-18). (ESV)

 

God Prepared Us for Everything, Guaranteed

{The Ministry of Reconciliation}

 

1  For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2  For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3  if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4  For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5  He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6  So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7  for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11  Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12  We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14  For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15  and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16  From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:1-21) (ESV)

 

Power Belongs to God & To Us
{Don’t Lose Heart}

 

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10  always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11  For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12  So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13  Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14  knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15  For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (ESV)
 

 

QUESTIONS TO COMPLETE:

  1. How do Christian unveil and allow light to shine out of darkness?
  2. What is the light of the gospel?
  3. What is the ministry that all Christian should possess?
  4. How does the god of this world blind the mind of unbelievers, and do we know the god of this world? Explain these thoughts in depth.
  5. What are the promises that we as believers in Christ Jesus should behold in the earth, and what should we look forward too after we pass form this life to another? Explain in depth. Provide additional scriptures from other passages of the Bible to support your thoughts.
  6. What does the author mean by to die together and to live together?
  7. Don’t receive the grace of God just to throw it away nor to cast a stumbling block before others in ministry and simple believers. What makes these words from the author significant to our personal walk with Christ?
  8. Why are Christian persecuted and treated as imposters?
  9. Provide a short brief (essay) on Lawlessness. Explain the danger of lawlessness, the root of it, how it affect the Christian believer.
  10. Write a one-page essay on how the love of Jesus Christ controls us?
  11. What is the ministry of reconciliation? Explain in depth. Use other scripture to confirm your explanation.
  12. What is your faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ? Are you give over to death for Jesus’ sake?
  13. There are those who were revered as pastors and elders in their churches, but in their final moments on Earth, they were not ready to return with Jesus Christ. If you were to pass away right now, would you be prepared to join Jesus?
  14. Explain what it means “death is at work in us, but life in you”.
  15. How is your inner being renewed day by day?

 

 

 

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