2 Corinthians 4:5–6 (NKJV)
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For the new generation of people born into this world I have a hard thought for you. It is not all about you.
This is what Paul was writing about. He says the minister does not preach to build himself up in the eyes of people. He does not preach his own ideas or thoughts. He has an opinion and may express it but if it does not agree with God then his opinion is worthless. Many times, vain philosophies come from the pulpit, that is why I encourage people to compare what I say with what the Bible says. Know the Word of God!
The pulpit is a sacred place to stand. The one to be glorified is Jesus, not the preacher. In the Christian church Jesus is the central focus of our worship.
The ministry of the church demands we preach Christ as Lord of the church. We are to worship Christ and Christ alone. When we put Christ first then all other things fall in place.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:5–6 “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Paul writes to Timothy “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1 Timothy 2:5–8).
Life is all about Jesus. Without Him there is no life. Yes, we do go through the motions of life, but it is an empty form of life.
John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Joshua 24:14–15
14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!
15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”