In the old days, traveling sale men would travel, first in covered wagons then in automobiles, far and near peddling their wares. Often, they were accused of shady dealings. In some cases, it would be correct to call them con-men, swindlers, cheats, and hucksters! I have heard my paw-paw talk about "BLUE-JOHN" that was sold by peddlers. "BLUE-JOHN" is milk so diluted with water that it has a blue hue; it was passed off as 100% perfect whole milk right from the cow containing all the finest qualities nature's goodness. The reality was it was not pure but it was diluted in order to have more product to sell there by making a greater profit! In Corinthians 2:17, Paul states that real ministers of the Gospel do not "peddle the Word". The work in the Greek means to adulterate the Word; a God called preacher does not water down the Word in order to manipulate the circumstances for his gain regardless if the gain is popularity, position, or prosperity! As you read verse 17, four characteristics mark a Preacher of the Word: authenticity - no hidden agenda, authority- the call of God, accountability- to God and anointing- by Spirit as result of union with Christ. No wonder Paul exclaimed who is sufficient for these things in verse 16 and later in Chapter 3:4-7. We are not sufficient in ourselves, but our sufficiency if found the Spirit's enabling; it is our availability and His ability! We preachers and teachers are to present the pure unadulterated Word because we have been commissioned to represent the Lord and preach His Word! We are not to have a "Sales Pitch" to manipulate the consumer. We don't have anything to sell! I promise you I don't try to sell "Peter and Paul" salt and pepper shakers to make a buck! Furthermore, the God called man can't be bought regardless of what form compromise masquerades in!!! Revival will come to the Church again when the preachers and teachers in the church begin to display a "Not For Sale" attitude in their approach to ministry! We are to be sold-out to Jesus!
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Doug MillerEvangelist Archives
May 2021
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