Peace in Christ.
We are to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty….the walking in craftiness….the handling of the Word of God deceitfully. We must immediately leave off the mending of our “nets” that we are dishonestly catching people for gain with.
We "commend ourselves to every man's conscience" as the outside world shall then not have an opportunity to blaspheme the name of God nor the gospel.
2Co 4:1-3 KJV
(1) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
(2) 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.
The gospel is hid to those who are “lost”….that is, perishing in their mortal bodies…as they “serve” only to feed their bellies (minding earthly things: what to eat, what to drink, what to wear). Their “god” is their belly that they are serving for only as they “preach themselves”.
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
MANY are currently “corrupting”…that is, merchandising/retailing the Word of God….and without knowledge as it is not given to them for doing such a thing.
2Co 2:17
(17) For we are not as many, which corrupt (RETAIL) the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Again, Jesus calls us….and we are to hear and immediately leave the “ship” where the “hired servants” are preaching for “gifts” (“Zebedee” = “giving, gifts”). We are to renounce these things and go after Him.
Mar 1:19-20 KJV
(19) And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
(20) And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
We must IMMEDIATELY forsake our “nets”….renouncing the fishing for these things…and come after Him. This is the message that we get from the calling of His disciples.
Mar 1:16-18 KJV
(16) Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
(17) And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
(18) And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
We shall lack nothing if we work with our own hands to support our own earthly necessities as COMMANDED of us. He will take care of us.
1Th 4:11-12 KJV
(11) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
By doing so, we then shall be seen by the outside world as walking honestly . They will not then have opportunity to blaspheme His name.
(12) That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
By laboring with our own hands to support our own earthly necessities, then the people of the outside world cannot speak evil of us and the gospel.
We then “support the weak”…the weak consciences of those on the outside who will not see an opportunity to blaspheme the name of God nor the gospel.
Act 20:33-35 KJV
(33) I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
(34) Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
(35) I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Those who follow after Judas do not care for what is put in the “bag”.
The Greek word for “bag” is “glōssokomon”. “Glosso” = tongue and “komon” comes from “komos” which means “world.”
They do not care what the spiritually poor of the outside world speaks of them for they are thieves and they “bare” what is put therein. They put up with what the world speaks about them and the gospel and the name of God as they just don’t care. He had the bag and bare what was put therein = they put up with the blasphemy of the name of God by the world and they don't care what they say as they are thieves.
Joh 12:4-6 KJV
(4) Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
(5) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
(6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
The name of God is being blasphemed among the nations of the outside world because of the “stealing” that they see going on inside the churches of earthly-minded men.
Rom 2:21-24
(21) Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Committing “sacrilege” = Greek: hierosuleō = temple robbing. The name of God is blasphemed THROUGH them that do so.
(22) Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege (robbing temples)?
(23) Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
(24) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
We must renounce these things.
He sends us out (apostle= sent) without things to receive money in: without purse and scrip. He sends us out without “shoes” to sell the poor with.
Luk 22:35 KJV
(35) And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
“Provide” = Greek: ktaomai =get or acquire. We are NOT to acquire gold nor silver nor brass for ourselves for preaching.
We are not to have 2 coats…preaching using flattering words to cover up covetousness hidden within the heart. ….having a cloke of covetousness.
The workman is worthy of his meat….that is, worthy of his own meat that is acquired by working with his own hands. he must labor with his own hands and eat his own bread....and not the bread of others for nothing.
Mat 10:9-10 KJV
(9) Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
(10) Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
The apostles (sent) of Christ do none of these things and so it is allowed of God to be put in trust of such with the true gospel. They did not seek "glory" from others. They did not seek money in their preaching so as to not be burdensome to any. They instead worked day and night for their own necessities so as not to be burdensome to any. We must follow after their example.
1Th 2:3-6 KJV
(3) For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
(4) But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
(5) For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
(6) Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
The truly sent (apostle = sent) “salutes no man by the way”…that is, they do not flatter with words.
Luk 10:3-4 KJV
(3) Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
(4) Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
We are to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty….the walking in craftiness….the handling of the Word of God deceitfully. We must immediately leave off the mending of our “nets” that we are dishonestly catching people for gain with.
We "commend ourselves to every man's conscience" as the outside world shall then not have an opportunity to blaspheme the name of God nor the gospel.
2Co 4:1-3 KJV
(1) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
(2) 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.
The gospel is hid to those who are “lost”….that is, perishing in their mortal bodies…as they “serve” only to feed their bellies (minding earthly things: what to eat, what to drink, what to wear). Their “god” is their belly that they are serving for only as they “preach themselves”.
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
MANY are currently “corrupting”…that is, merchandising/retailing the Word of God….and without knowledge as it is not given to them for doing such a thing.
2Co 2:17
(17) For we are not as many, which corrupt (RETAIL) the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Again, Jesus calls us….and we are to hear and immediately leave the “ship” where the “hired servants” are preaching for “gifts” (“Zebedee” = “giving, gifts”). We are to renounce these things and go after Him.
Mar 1:19-20 KJV
(19) And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
(20) And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
We must IMMEDIATELY forsake our “nets”….renouncing the fishing for these things…and come after Him. This is the message that we get from the calling of His disciples.
Mar 1:16-18 KJV
(16) Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
(17) And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
(18) And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
We shall lack nothing if we work with our own hands to support our own earthly necessities as COMMANDED of us. He will take care of us.
1Th 4:11-12 KJV
(11) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
By doing so, we then shall be seen by the outside world as walking honestly . They will not then have opportunity to blaspheme His name.
(12) That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
By laboring with our own hands to support our own earthly necessities, then the people of the outside world cannot speak evil of us and the gospel.
We then “support the weak”…the weak consciences of those on the outside who will not see an opportunity to blaspheme the name of God nor the gospel.
Act 20:33-35 KJV
(33) I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
(34) Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
(35) I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Those who follow after Judas do not care for what is put in the “bag”.
The Greek word for “bag” is “glōssokomon”. “Glosso” = tongue and “komon” comes from “komos” which means “world.”
They do not care what the spiritually poor of the outside world speaks of them for they are thieves and they “bare” what is put therein. They put up with what the world speaks about them and the gospel and the name of God as they just don’t care. He had the bag and bare what was put therein = they put up with the blasphemy of the name of God by the world and they don't care what they say as they are thieves.
Joh 12:4-6 KJV
(4) Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
(5) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
(6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
The name of God is being blasphemed among the nations of the outside world because of the “stealing” that they see going on inside the churches of earthly-minded men.
Rom 2:21-24
(21) Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Committing “sacrilege” = Greek: hierosuleō = temple robbing. The name of God is blasphemed THROUGH them that do so.
(22) Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege (robbing temples)?
(23) Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
(24) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
We must renounce these things.
He sends us out (apostle= sent) without things to receive money in: without purse and scrip. He sends us out without “shoes” to sell the poor with.
Luk 22:35 KJV
(35) And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
“Provide” = Greek: ktaomai =get or acquire. We are NOT to acquire gold nor silver nor brass for ourselves for preaching.
We are not to have 2 coats…preaching using flattering words to cover up covetousness hidden within the heart. ….having a cloke of covetousness.
The workman is worthy of his meat….that is, worthy of his own meat that is acquired by working with his own hands. he must labor with his own hands and eat his own bread....and not the bread of others for nothing.
Mat 10:9-10 KJV
(9) Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
(10) Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
The apostles (sent) of Christ do none of these things and so it is allowed of God to be put in trust of such with the true gospel. They did not seek "glory" from others. They did not seek money in their preaching so as to not be burdensome to any. They instead worked day and night for their own necessities so as not to be burdensome to any. We must follow after their example.
1Th 2:3-6 KJV
(3) For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
(4) But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
(5) For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
(6) Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
The truly sent (apostle = sent) “salutes no man by the way”…that is, they do not flatter with words.
Luk 10:3-4 KJV
(3) Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
(4) Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
