The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Of course, it could be due to our own fault—in the way we communicated, our lack of humility and openness to others, the communication of a harsh, judgmental spirit or the lack of genuine love demonstrated in our sharing of the Gospel. More likely than these, however, is the presence of a very real enemy, one who masterfully interferes with the presentation of the Word of God to those who do not believe, and whose aim is to undermine all ministry done in the name of the Lord. Of whom do we speak? Paul speaks about the hiddenness of the Gospel. This is unusual language for an apostle, even while shackled himself in the Roman prison, to say confidently that the Word of God cannot itself be imprisoned (cf. 2 Tim. 2.9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!). This same apostle says that the Gospel is hidden due to the demoniacal work of the “god of this age,” the devil, who veils the Gospel to those who are perishing. He has blinded their minds to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. He impedes the work of those who proclaim the Word of God, interfering, lying, deceiving, and inhibiting them to fully comprehend the wonder and depth of God’s salvation offer in Jesus Christ. We need not, however, be either deterred or intimidated. We do not preach about ourselves; we are not the subject matter of our own ministries, but rather we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and we, like Paul, are servants on behalf of those who hear and respond to our message of Christ and his Kingdom. We are confident of our message, because Jesus of Nazareth is the God-bearer; the very glory of God himself shines forth in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ. This remarkable treasure, this astounding Gospel exists in us, mere jars of clay, in order that the surpassing power of the entire preaching event may belong to God and him alone, and never to us. Only God can reveal, only God can redeem, and therefore only God deserves the glory and praise for the work of the ministry. It may take us most of our ministry lives to grasp this basic yet essential point. Although we ought to in every way prepare ourselves to be the kind of vessels the Lord can use in ministry, we need never to forget that without the direct intervention of the illumination and convicting power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot in any way bring a person to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Apart from the drawing of God the Father of souls to the Lord Jesus (John 6.44), apart from the overcoming of the influence of the “strong man” in order that the Lord Jesus may despoil his goods (Matt. 12.29-30), and without the convicting power of the Holy

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