The Applied Word Of God - Part 19

2 Corinthians 4. 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 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. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
 
Paul got this ministry by God’s mercy. He was implying that there were people who were distorting and manipulating the gospel for their needs. The one working behind such manipulations is seen in Genesis 3. 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?

God’s instruction to Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil was given before Eve was created.
 
In Genesis 2.15-17, 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Satan however cunningly asks and creates a doubt in Eve who had received the second handed instruction from Adam. Satan creates a doubt and confusion in the Word of God.
 
Eve’s reply to Satan was “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” (Genesis 3.2).

God had not told Adam not to touch it but Eve adds something extra to the God given instruction. We see a tendency to distort the Word in the life of the first family. This is a serious offence. Right from the beginning, Satan’s trick has been to distort God’s Word and trap God’s people into falling into temptation which results in sin. This is happening even now. Satan comes in a cunning way. He did not attack Eve with power and might and forcefully make her eat the fruit. Instead, he brings doubt and confusion by adding or diluting the Word, thereby entrapping people through deceit and leading them to sin. And this is what Paul was explaining in 2 Corinthians 4.1-4.

No one is allowed to add or delete even a full stop or comma from the Word.
Paul says in Galatians 1. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

Satan will try his best to prevent us from reading the Word in the right way and applying it into our lives. We must be careful of the way the Word is interpreted by different people through various Youtube channels.  

2 Corinthians 4. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
 
In Acts 9, Saul who was well versed in the Word, not recognising the Messiah as he was blinded by the god of this age persecuted the children of God. It was only when the scales fell off his eyes that he could see the light of the gospel. Suddenly, he was enlightened and could understand whatever he had studied earlier. When the blinders were removed by Christ, Paul could understand  Isaiah 53 , 40, Psalms etc through the Holy Spirit.

The same is true of everyone  who reads the Word in a religious way. Unless the blinders put on our eyes by Satan is removed, we will not be able to understand the Word in the right way.

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