Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The Apostle Paul was a man given
a mission from which he would not be deterred as he told Timothy
that his preaching was according to the glorious gospel of the
blessed God which was committed to my trust. He recounted his
calling to the Galatians, but when it pleased God who separated
me from my mother's womb and called me by His grace to reveal
His Son in me that I might preach Him among the heathen. There
are many in the present day who believe that men can decide to
preach the gospel whenever they want to. They look at it as a
vocation which a man chooses, prepares for, and obtaining the
proper credentials then pursues it just like any other profession
which a man might undertake. This notion is foreign to any
example or instruction which is found in the scriptures. If
a man is to be a proclaimer of the gospel, he must be called
and equipped for it by him whose gifts and calling are without
repentance. Many are those who have mistaken
oratory for prophecy and charisma for calling. And there are multitudes
of teachers who have sought out a following and pursued their
ministry by selling themselves to the highest bidder. Paul had
no concern for payment for his services. His first priority
was preventing any hindrances to the accomplishment of his
purpose. Thus he instructed the Ephesian elders with tears, I
have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. This is the
exact teaching which Peter also set forth, saying, Feed the flock
of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being
examples to the flock. We could characterize Paul's
ministry among the saints as being done in true sincerity.
As Paul ministered to the saints, he expected that those who claimed
to be the followers of Christ would be those who love the Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity. For such are the true disciples
of Christ. Those who do not love him in
sincerity are in reality false brethren, or those who have a
name that they live but are dead. The manifestation of the Spirit
in the sons of God will be done in sincerity. There are no stillborn
sons of God and none who despise the work which he would perform
in them. The work of the Spirit in the sons of God produces a
love for the truth of God. To reject the truth and embrace
a lie concerning the person and work of Christ is to be without
a love of the truth and without the sincerity which Paul speaks
of here. The work of the Spirit causes
them to recognize the truth when they are unable to hear it. My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. The
work of the Spirit in the sons of God produces an unfeigned
love of their brethren in Christ. We know that we have passed from
death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth
not his brother abideth in death. The work of the Spirit in the
sons of God manifests a faith which is also unfeigned or not
corrupted. This unfeigned faith is discovered
in saints of every nation and calling in life and is the source
of much encouragement of one to the other as each esteems
the other better than themselves. This is why the saints are exhorted
to bear one another's burdens. And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting
one another in so much the more as ye see the day approaching.
This work of the Spirit in the sons of God produces in them
the fruit of the Spirit, just as Paul expresses his desire
for them. And this I pray, that your love
may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment,
that ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be
sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled
with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, unto
the glory and praise of God. Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue
and if there be any praise, think on these things. This is the
demonstration of a sincere love of Christ who gave us His example
that we should follow. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at 4the4 at windstream.net.