The Lord of mercy will do it.

February 24, 2013 Evening:

Title: “The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ”

Old Testament Passage: Exodus 34:29-35 – The shining face of Moses

Gospel Passage: John 1:14-18 – The only God has made Him known

Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 – Reflections on Resurrection Ministry

Sermon Point: We do not need to lose heart in ministry since Jesus Christ is Lord.

[4:1] Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

Paul's ministry that he wrote about to the Corinthian church was an apostolic ministry of the Word. He spoke as an authoritative ambassador for Christ with a Word from the King. To be permitted to give and receive that Word is a mercy of God from first to last. Since everything that we have comes from Him and is according to His great purpose, we do not lose heart.

[2] 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.

One other thing: we don't need to trick people into receiving the best news ever. Our method is the plain speaking of the truth. We make an honest appeal to the souls of all who will hear. We do not operate in the shadows, but in the plain sight of God.

[3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] 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.

We want the veil to come off the hearts of those who will hear. But there is an enemy who would rather keep people in darkness and convince them that it is light.

[5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

This is the key: We preach Jesus the Messiah as Lord. We serve others by ministering the Word to them for the sake of our Savior and King. There is no power in proclaiming ourselves. Our message is simple: Jesus, the real Jesus of the Scriptures, the full Jesus of the Scriptures, from the first creation all the way to the second, is Lord.

[6] 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.

In that first creation, God said, “Let there be light.” Jesus was that powerful Word of creation. But now, the One who died for us and rose again from the dead has made us alive again. We who were dead in our sins, have been made alive by Christ.

We have seen the light. That light comes in knowledge. That knowledge pertains to the glory of the God who reigns in a place of glory. That glory is secured for us in no other name but the name of Jesus Christ.

This passage is about the ministry of the Word. That ministry is explained by using the language of the eyes rather than the ears. The way that people see the light is through the hearing of the voice of God through the ministry of His servants. The eyes of people's hearts are enlightened by the Word. Jesus' mercy will do it! Do not lose heart. He is Lord.