Tuesday | 28 July 2026
The apostle Paul continued to describe the ministry of the Spirit by saying that we are not ‘handling the word of God deceitfully’. 2Co 4:2. A person will handle the word deceitfully if they cleave with deceit to the messengers of Christ who proclaim the word of present truth to them. Rather than receiving the word of God with meekness, and meeting the messengers of Christ in a fellowship, they will view the word as a resource that will empower their own ministry projection. Even though a person may communicate the content of the word to others in an accurate manner, their ministry projection is the expression of a lie. This is the case when there is a discrepancy between a person’s ministry profile and the culture of their own house.
Paul explained that the opposite of handling the word of God deceitfully is that our ministry is the ‘manifestation of the truth’. 2Co 4:2. This means that the word of God that we proclaim is the expression of our own testimony. The mode of Paul’s ministry was to explain and to demonstrate his message. Act 17:3. He proclaimed and portrayed Christ as crucified. 1Co 2:2. Gal 3:1. He was the exemplar of his message as a living epistle of Christ. Our ministry is the expression of our testimony when the truth of our message is demonstrated in our own life, in our own marriage, and in our own family. When we minister in this way, the word that we proclaim is an invitation for our hearers to join a fellowship with us, which is a fellowship with the Father and the Son. 1Jn 1:3.
Further Study:
3 John
References:
2Co 4:2
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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.
Act 17:3
Explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’
1Co 2:2
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Gal 3:1
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
1Jn 1:3
That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.