02/11/2013 - TAKE CARE OF THE MINISTRY

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We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

II Corinthians 6:3

The Word of God warns us that there will be hard times (II Timothy 3:1). When we hear that there is a lot of wrongdoings taking place among God’s people, then we must believe that the prophecy is being fulfilled. The devil has managed to convince many that not all prohibitions are meant for them and, as a result, we have seen God’s children taking each other to court, which Paul considered to be an utter failure (I Corinthians 6:6-7).

All this happens out of selfishness, greed, arrogance, blasphemy, disobedience to parents, ungratefulness, profanity and other deviations that lead people to obey the spirit of error. Since it was already expected to happen, those who are of God must stand firm and steadfast in their faith. We should not get impatient or want payback. The Lord is greater than any harm that might be inflicted on the righteous. In any situation, do not depart from the Word of the Lord.

Deep calls unto deep (Psalm 42:7), so it is not surprising to see people having no respect for their own life; foolish people spreading slanders wherever they go. Some have no self-control and are easily carried away by anything that will help them achieve their goals. In the midst of all this madness, he who used to preach the good news has now become its enemy because by resorting to ruses and lies, he ends up yielding to the spirit of evil.

Paul suffered much harm caused by Alexander the coppersmith (II Timothy 4:14). The Word warns us that all who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution, so today we can expect to come across lots of  “Alexander’s” who cause harm to people who do the work of God (II Timothy 3:12): they are unloving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal and despisers of good. The list is long and the number of evil doers is countless.

The children of darkness are known by the spirit of betrayal that overwhelms them. They are daring in error, infatuated in their waywardness and lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. Some have a form of godliness but they are actually devoid of God (II Timothy 3:1-5). They have been marked beforehand for eternal punishment. He who is wise should turn away from these people; otherwise, he will be causing our ministry to be blamed. May the Lord prevent us from promoting transgressions!

One of the sins most often committed is to use ruses to creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts; they are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They are resistant to God and to the truth, just as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses. They are corrupt of mind and disapproved concerning the faith (II Timothy 3:6-8).

In Christ with Love,

R. R. Soares