TABLE OF CONTENTS

VITA

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PUBLICATIONS

Bailey, William. The Ministry of Helps: Its Scriptural and Functional Position in the Local Church. Browns Summit, North Carolina: Information Conservation, 1996.

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CHAPTER 1 -- INTRODUCTION

It is the intent of the author that this document will demonstrate the relationship between the move of the Spirit of God in these "last of the last days" and the Biblical term, "the Spirit of Faith." It is my contention that the Spirit of Faith is the key element to the Last Day Revival that so many are preaching and teaching about at this point in time.

We will define the Spirit of Faith and demonstrate that it is also a reference to the Glory of God, and the operation of God’s Spirit, in these closing days of the "Church Age" with regard to the doctrine of Dispensational Truth. Toward this end, we will also examine the historical perspective of the moves, or "waves of revival" of the Holy Spirit in this century.

We will also explore the means by which the believer can, and should, participate in this move of God and what is incumbent on the individual believer in this participation. We will delve into methods of conforming and yielding to the Holy Spirit in the current revival, and actions and intentions that would restrain one’s active participation. We will demonstrate that this "Spirit of Faith revival," or wave of the Holy Spirit, is the last great outpouring of God’s power and blessing on the planet before the triumphant return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the close of this age.

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CHAPTER 2 -- WHAT IS "THE SPIRIT OF FAITH?"

The scripture states in 2 Corinthians 4:13, 14:

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. (Italics added for emphasis).

The term "Spirit of Faith," as used in the verse above, can be viewed and understood in many ways, and, in fact, much has been taught about this phrase by many ministers of the Gospel. Brother Kenneth Copeland has referred to this "Spirit of Faith" as an "overcoming, winning attitude."

Now the thing that I want to talk to you about is the Spirit of Faith. Now this is not talking about the Holy Spirit, it’s not talking about your spirit, its not talking about a spirit ‘personality’ here. It’s using the phrase ‘the Spirit of Faith’ the same way you would use the phrase ‘espirit de corps;’ the ‘spirit of the corps;’ the ‘spirit of the team;’ the ‘team spirit;’ the ‘school spirit;’ you know what I’m talking about? (Copeland: The Spirit of Faith: The Spirit of Faith Teaching Tape Series)

Brother Copeland points out that the "Spirit of Faith" he is describing is not a "spirit" in the sense of being a specific spirit personality, but can be viewed as an attitude:

I want you to see part of this Spirit of Faith, this attitude of faith...the attitude of faith is so, so important to the life of the believer. The Bible says that you need the spirit of your mind renewed in the Book of Ephesians, it tells us to renew the spirit of our mind. What’s the spirit of your mind? That’s your attitude! Renew your attitude! How do you do that? You do it with God’s Word! You need a winning attitude, you need a faith attitude. Your attitude about things ought to be like Jesus’ attitude. (Copeland: A Winning Attitude of Faith: The Spirit of Faith Teaching Tape Series)

Brother Copeland further explains his view on the Spirit of Faith as a "winning attitude" by comparing the spiritual activity and lifestyle of a believer to the manifestation of "satanic activity" in the lifestyle of a sinner:

"I believe therefore have I spoken." Now there are a lot of people, that a lot of places and a lot of times say, "Well, those guys talk about that confession stuff, and that speaking stuff all the time, that’s just all they talk about!" Well that’s because we’re involved with the Spirit of Faith. We’re in the spirit of the thing. I mean, I’m caught up with the spirit of it. Of course, the Spirit that’s Lord over it, is the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Faith! And when you get around Him you just act and talk that way. You can go into any nation of the world, and I don’t care what language they speak, they all act just alike. And did you know that they all (also) act just like the devil...just alike? Wherever you go, you can spot the devil. He acts the same way when he’s drunk. He acts the same way when he’s on drugs...a human being, whether he speaks English, German, French, Swahili, or "Gabi-Gabi," or anything else that you can find. Or one that just stands around and grunts and moans...will act the same way when he’s drunk. He’ll act the same way when he’s on drugs. He’ll act the same way when he’s overcome by some kind of an emotion. He’ll act the same way when he’s mad. He’ll act the same way under any influence of satan. The spirit of that thing is all the same, all over the world. And by the same token, they act the same way when they get born again. They act the same way when they go to praising God in other tongues. They act the same way when the Spirit of God comes on the scene. And you teach them how to operate in faith and go to talking about faith and they’ll go just as nutty somewhere else as they do here… its the same Spirit of Faith! It’s the same Spirit, led by the same one! Thank God! (Copeland: The Spirit of Faith: The Spirit of Faith Teaching Tape Series)

While this view no doubt has instructional value and is an important aspect of this scripture reference, it is not the actual, literal translation of this verse. We can infer that the Spirit of Faith is simply an attitude, but we can not concretely say that it can, and should, only be viewed as an attitude of the heart. In the quotation above, Brother Copeland says that the "Spirit" that is Lord over this attitude is the Holy Spirit of God. We need to dig deeper into the actual meaning of this verse in the original language.

The Greek Definition

In fact, the phrase "Spirit of Faith" used in 2 Corinthians 3:14 is translated as follows from the original Greek:

Spirit

4151 pneuma (pnyoo'-mah);

from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:

KJV-- ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare 5590.

of

3588 ho (ho);

including the feminine he (hay); and the neuter to (to); in all their inflections; the def. article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):

KJV-- the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc..

Faith

4102 pistis (pis'-tis);

from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:

KJV-- assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. (Biblesoft: PC Study Bible: Strong’s Concordance)

In other words, the term " Spirit of Faith" begins with a word that is actually translated directly as a personality such as the spirit of a man, or the Spirit of God. This word simply means "spirit," and, if we examine the context, it must be a "spirit" that we can all share as believers. That is, we are each individually unique spirits in the concrete sense. Each of us is a separate and unique human spirit, we each have a soul, and we each live in a separate physical body.

Tripartite Man

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

This scripture indicates that the "whole" man is composed of the spirit, the soul and the body. E.W. Kenyon refers to this fact in his book, The Hidden Man of the Heart: An Unveiling of the Subconcious Mind:

Here are some spirit facts: man is a spirit, he has a soul. The soul is composed of his reasoning faculties. He lives in a physical body. The physical body possesses the five senses, they are the educators and teachers of the brain. (Kenyon: The Hidden Man of the Heart: 8)

Kenyon explains that this totality of the "tripartite man" can be recognized in the training and growth of the human being from birth through life.

In the babe we see purely the physical. Then as the child’s mind begins to reach out and becomes inquisitive, the child becomes simply mind and body to us.

We are careful to feed its body, to build it up, to train the mind and make it efficient, but who has ever taught or trained the spirit?

We heard much in psychological discussions about the subconscious mind. At first we were thrilled with it. Then we discovered that it was nothing but our own spirit.

We found that the conscience is the voice of the spirit, reason is the voice of our mind, and feelings are the voice of our body. (Kenyon: The Hidden Man of the Heart: 25, 26)

To support this truth further, John Osteen relates in his book, How to Flow in the Super Supernatural, "You are a spirit. You have a soul. You live in a body." So, we see, that the "real you" is a unique spirit man. The "real you" has, or possesses, a soul, which can be referred to as "the mind, will and emotions," and lives in a physical body.

Yet, no one can know another man’s spirit in the natural. That is, it is impossible to "read the mind" (or the spirit) of another outside of supernatural activity beyond the operation of the five natural senses. The following scripture makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

The "heart" and the "spirit" are synonymous. Quoting Brother E.W. Kenyon again:

Psychology has to do with the mind, and the New Birth has to do with the "hidden man of the heart," or the spirit of man. (Kenyon: The Hidden Man of the Heart: 7)

His reference to "hidden man of the heart" is from this scripture reference:

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1 Peter 3:3, 4, emphasis added.)

As we see, the reference to the term "heart" is, indeed, synonymous with the word "spirit" in the same verse.

No one can "know" the things that are in another man’s spirit, but we can know the things that are freely given to us of the Spirit of God. Why is this? Because God has placed His Own Spirit within each of us that are born again! We are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God, which is the earnest of our inheritance.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13, 14)

That is why the scripture can assert that we have access to the things that are in God’s Spirit. As we noted in 1 Corinthians 2:12:

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

We have each, as believers, received the Holy Spirit of God, therefore, when we review the context and translation of 2 Corinthians 4:13, we must conclude that if Paul asserts that we (implying all the believers that he was addressing) have the same Spirit of Faith, then this Spirit must, in fact, be the Holy Spirit. There is no other common spirit personality that we can all share.

Given this fact, what conclusion can we draw? We must realize that the attitude that Brother Copeland refers to as a "winning, overcoming attitude" must be the result of the Spirit of God operating in the believer. The "Spirit of Faith" is an outward manifestation of the inward operation and manifestation of the Spirit of God.

The Operation of the Spirit of Faith

Now, let’s examine what the results of the "Spirit of Faith’s" operation is in this scripture:

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak...

(2 Corinthians 4:13).

"I believed, and therefore have I spoken..." Apparently, the Holy Spirit’s operation in the believer’s life, producing this winning attitude, also produces an unction to speak out words of faith. Let us remember our definition of the word "pistis," or "faith," from Strong’s Concordance:

from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:

KJV-- assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. (Biblesoft: PC Study Bible: Strong’s Concordance)

Note the fact that "pistis" is a "persuasion", and it also implies "constancy in such profession." It would seem that confession, or speaking one’s faith, or beliefs, is a key part of what it means to be a believer, and certainly one that operates in this "Spirit of Faith."

The first and most fundamental fact these verses (2 Corinthians 4:13-18) reveal about the spirit of faith is that it believes.

What does it believe? The Word of God. What’s more, faith believes God’s Word just because God said it -- whether natural circumstances seem to agree or not.

That means if you want to maintain a spirit of faith in the area of healing, for example, you must start by getting your Bible and finding out what God has said about healing. (Gloria Copeland: The Unbeatable Spirit of Faith: 6, 7)

The Spirit of Faith believes the Word of God in spite of what the circumstances say, then it speaks what God’s Word says about the circumstance or situation.

That’s what the spirit of faith does. It stands in the midst of the most impossible circumstances and believes God anyway! Then it begins to speak. (Gloria Copeland: The Unbeatable Spirit of Faith: 11)

The Spirit of Faith, then, can be viewed as operating in a prevailing attitude of victory that arises from the fact that the Holy Spirit of God within us is at work bringing the Word of God in our lives to pass. You must live by faith, walk by faith and talk by faith. Then you will be living in the Spirit of Faith.

Right now you may be thinking, I really want to walk and talk by faith. The problem is, every time I look at the mess I’m in, I get discouraged.

Then stop looking at the mess! Instead, focus your attention on the promise of God. Keep His Word in front of your eyes and in your ears until you see it coming to pass with the eyes of your spirit.

That’s what the spirit of faith does. It looks "not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Of course, I’m not saying you should ignore your problems or close you eyes to them as if they aren’t real. They are real. But according to the Word they are temporal. That means subject to change. And you can be assured that if you keep looking at the Word, they will change! (Gloria Copeland: The Unbeatable Spirit of Faith: 15, 16)

The Importance of Speaking

Our key scripture in our study of the Spirit of Faith in 2 Corinthians 4:13 says that:

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak...

From what we have learned from the Word during the recent "Word of Faith," or "Teaching Revival;" what we say is what comes to pass in our lives. This principle is at the heart of "faith teaching." We are to believe in our heart and confess with our mouth.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:8, 9)

This is the very essence of "the Word of Faith," which we preach! Now the Spirit of Faith compels us to speak our faith!

He said here that faith has a spirit about it. Well to find out what the spirit of something is, you just listen to it speak for a little bit and you’ll find out what the spirit is that prevails over it. How does it speak, how does it act? How does it walk, how does it conduct itself? What does it do? What prevails when more than one faith person comes together, what is the spirit that prevails in that place? How do they all act? They’ll all act the same way if its all the same faith. If they all have faith in the same thing then they are all going to act the same way when they come together. (Copeland: The Spirit of Faith: The Spirit of Faith Teaching Tape Series)

People who act in faith, speak the Word, and live the "faith life" are the one’s that overcome in life!

We will see further confirmation of these truths with regard to the Spirit of Faith as we explore the scriptures verse by verse in 2 Corinthians Chapters Three through Five to see the meaning of this term within context in the writings of Paul in Chapter Four of this dissertation. Before we move on to that examination, we need to establish a correlation between the Spirit of God and the Glory of God. We will take up this discussion in the next chapter.

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CHAPTER 3 -- THE SPIRIT OF GLORY

In this chapter, we will substantiate the truth that the Glory of God and the Spirit of God are synonymous. This will be important in our later discussion of the "moves," or revivals of the Holy Spirit and the manifestations of the Glory of God that are present during these moves of the Spirit.

Early in the 1990s, I heard Brother Kenneth Copeland ministering on his television broadcast, The Believer’s Voice of Victory. He said, "The Holy Ghost is the Glory of God!" This statement intrigued me! Can we further substantiate this assertion?

In his book, The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit, Dr. R. A. Torrey makes this observation:

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Glory in 1 Peter 4:14: "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." This name does not merely teach that the Holy Spirit is infinitely glorious Himself, but it rather teaches that He imparts the Glory of God to us, just as the Spirit of Truth imparts truth to us. As the Spirit of Life imparts life to us; as the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and of Counsel and Might and Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord imparts to us wisdom and understanding and counsel and might and knowledge and counsel and the fear of the lord; and as the Spirit of Grace applies and administers to us the manifold grace of God; so the Spirit of Glory is the administrator to us of God’s glory. (Torrey: The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit: 71)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Glory. The outward manifestation of what is called the "Glory of God" is a manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit. We can see this in Acts Chapter Two when the Holy Spirit was poured out in the Upper Room:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it set upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

The outward manifestation of "fire" above the heads of the believers there in Acts Chapter Two is an outward manifestation of the Glory of God.

...lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:4). The light of what? The light of the glorious Gospel. The Gospel is the word of God. Romans 1:16 tells us the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. God’s power is in the Gospel. The Gospel is the power.

Religious tradition has taught us that gold rings, or halos, around someone’s head represented holiness. When you are talking about God’s glory, you are talking about a manifestation of the life, the light, and the love of God. That glory describes all three forces as well as being the physical manifestation of all three. God Himself is covered with it from head to foot. Moses saw it from His backside.

In these last days we are going to learn about the knowledge of the glory of God. When that glory is manifested in our midst, crippled bodies won’t stay crippled, blind eyes won’t stay blind, deaf ears won’t stay deaf. We have experienced the manifestation of God’s glory to a degree, but the time is now that we will experience greater manifestations of that glory. The law of sin and death cannot stand in its presence. Praise God!

William Branham, a great prophet of God in the 1950’s and 1960’s, experienced the light of God shining around him. When he would begin to minister, he would be enveloped in that light. Several times it was photographed. In the Believer’s Convention we conducted in Anaheim, California in 1979, Brother Kenneth E. Hagin was ministering in a service. One of the professional photographers taking photographs of the meetings took a picture of him as he preached the Word of God. The picture that was developed showed Brother Hagin completely surrounded by the light of God. Looking at the picture very closely, I could see tongues of fire upon him. He was completely engulfed in that glory.

I was preaching a meeting in San Francisco several years ago. During one of those services, fire wrapped around the outside of the hotel where the meeting was. It was one of the most powerful services I’ve ever seen. Someone photographed it wrapped around the top floors of the building. (Copeland: Walking in the Realm of the Miraculous: 93, 94)

These external manifestations of the Spirit are referred to as "the Glory." The light that was upon Moses’ face in 2 Corinthians Chapter 3 is another example of the Glory of God in manifestation.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? (2 Corinthians 3:7, 8)

This is a reference to what happened in Exodus 34:29, 30:

And it came to pass, when Moses came down from the mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Mose’s hand, when he came sown from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

The reference in 2 Corinthians Chapter Three referred to this manifestation specifically as "the Glory of God." There are many other examples of this type of manifestation of the Glory in the Bible.

It came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, "For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;

So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:13, 14)

The Glory of the Lord in manifestation made it impossible for the priests to continue to minister! This overwhelming presence of God’s Spirit in manifestation has also been described as a "light." We saw this in the quote from Brother Copeland earlier, in which he described a "glow" surrounding the head of William Branham and Kenneth E. Hagin. We also see reference to the "light that shined" being the Glory of God in the scripture, in 2 Corinthians Chapter Four, verse six:

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We see this same reference to light, or "fire," being a manifestation of God’s Glory in Ezekiel 8:1-4:

And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.

Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

And, behold, the glory of God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

This figure was "clothed," as it were, by fire, and had the "appearance of brightness." He says that, "the Glory of the God of Israel was there." The Glory of the Lord will be all the light that we need in the new heavens and new earth.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Revelation 21:23)

Not only does the Glory of God produce light as an outward manifestation, God is also described as the God of Glory; notice the reference in Acts 7:2, 3:

And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

When the Glory of God is in manifestation, He can be seen as light, or as "smoke," or haze.

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (Revelation 15:8)

I have seen this manifestation of "haze" myself, at a meeting at Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was attending the annual convention of the International Convention of Faith Ministries in 1981, which was held at Rhema. On a Thursday night service, October 29, 1981, Brother Kenneth E. Hagin was ministering on the subject of the Prophet’s ministry. As he began to close his message he stopped and looked up. Reflexively, I looked up as well, and saw the Glory of God as a haze drifting near the ceiling of the auditorium that began to descend. As I marveled at this, Brother Hagin said, "If you look up, you will see the Glory of God!" Everyone broke into spontaneous praise and magnified God! It was an amazing experience! We all were "drunk" in the Holy Ghost and simply enjoyed God’s presence for what seemed like both a long while, and conversely, a short while! There is never a long enough time in which to fully appreciate God’s miraculous presence and power!

Answering a Question

Now to further demonstrate the truth that God’s Spirit and the Glory of God are one, let’s answer this question, "Who raised Jesus from the dead?" The scripture plainly says:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

The simple answer is that the Holy Spirit of God is the one that raised Jesus from the dead and now makes alive our mortal bodies as well! But, consider this verse from the same book of Romans:

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

So, we see that Jesus was raised from the dead by the Glory of the Father. This illustrates that the Glory of God is the Spirit of God in manifestation!

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CHAPTER 4 -- VERSE BY VERSE

In order to facilitate our study of the Spirit of Faith, we need to view it in context. In order to allow for our discussion, and to preclude confusion over other Bible references, I will italicize and bold the scriptures quoted in this chapter that come from 2 Corinthians Chapters Three, Four and Five. We will begin in with Chapter Three, verse one.

2 Corinthians Chapter Three

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? (2 Corinthians 3:1)

Paul asks the question, "Do we need letters of recommendation?," facetiously, knowing that they are aware of who he is, and where his authority comes from. The church at Corinth was fruit of he and his ministry team's labor. He goes on to say:

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: (2 Corinthians 3:2-4)

He suggests that they are actually living "epistles" or "letters" demonstrating his ministry, because they are fruit of his ministry. They are living examples of his ministry efforts.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

Paul does not say these things to boast of himself, but to remind them of his authority. Indeed, he says that his sufficiency is of God, and it is God that has placed him in the ministry, and empowered him to minister the Word to them, not simply of "the letter of the law," but of the "spirit." Here, using a turn of phrase, he says that the "Spirit of the Word" is the Spirit that gives life. He said this, referring to the Holy Spirit of God. He is the "Spirit that gives life," being, in fact, the one that raised Jesus from the dead:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

So, then, the Spirit of God is the one responsible directly for raising Jesus from the dead, and now works in us to make our mortal bodies alive in Him.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? (2 Corinthians 3:7-8)

Paul begins to demonstrate that the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit" that he is talking about, is a "glorious" ministry, or, a ministry of Glory. He refers back to the Old Testament, saying that if the old covenant was ministered in demonstrations of Glory, such that there was a manifestation of visible Glory on Moses' face, as was mentioned in the previous chapter of this dissertation, then should not the ministry of the new covenant, through the Holy Spirit, be even more glorious? He even makes the case that since the glory of the old covenant was to be "done away," the new and eternal covenant through the Spirit of God should result in even greater Glory, and demonstrations of Glory.

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. (2 Corinthians 3:9-11)

Again, he refers to the old covenant, which he indicates is a ministration of condemnation, was established with signs of glory, how much more the new covenant, the covenant of righteousness, that remains forever? This echoes his discussion of the old and new covenants from Galatians:

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:17-26)

After "faith came" there was no longer a need for the "schoolmaster" of the law. The ministry of the new covenant is a ministry of faith, and by that faith, righteousness:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

The law of the Spirit of Life (the Holy Spirit,) has made us free of the law of sin and death. The "righteousness of the law" is fulfilled in a born again believer. That is, one who believes by faith in the completed work of Jesus.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:5-11)

Again, he refers to the "righteousness which is of the law" and indicates that the "righteousness which is of faith" is different. He is drawing a distinction between "the law" (the old covenant) and "faith" (the new covenant.) The Spirit of God, who, we have seen, is the "Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2) that frees us from the law, is the One whose ministry of the new covenant is "more glorious."

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (2 Corinthians 3:12-15)

Here Paul refers to the "vail upon the hearts" of the Jews, because they cling to the old covenant, which was fulfilled in the new. He draws a parallel to their being unable, and unwilling, to look upon Moses' face, which glowed with the manifestation of the Glory, such that they asked him to cover his face in their presence; and the fact that when they read the prophetic scriptures about Jesus today, they do not "see" that it speaks of Jesus. They have chosen not to "see" the truth of the scriptures, so the vail is still in place, metaphorically speaking.

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:16)

However, he assures us, when they turn to the Lord, and are born again, the vail shall be taken away and they will "see into" the scriptures and see that it spoke of Jesus all along.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

He confirms that "the Lord is that Spirit." The Lord, in the person of the Holy Spirit, is the one that ministers the Glory, that was manifested, in this example, as supernatural light that shone on the face of Moses, and that we are seeing move and manifest today!

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

We, who are born again, with and "open face;" with no vail over our eyes, "see" the Glory of the Lord. And notice that we, as believers, are to be changed "from glory, to glory" by means of the ministry of the Spirit of the Lord. We have seen from the previous chapter of this dissertation, that the Holy Spirit is the Glory of God. This further substantiates this fact by stating that we are changed "from glory, to glory" by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians Chapter Four

Now, as we proceed to Chapter Four, notice that the "ministry of the Spirit" as opposed to the "ministry of death" (the distinction that Paul drew in Chapter Three verses seven and eight,) is the ministry that excels in glory, and it is the ministry that Paul continues to speak of:

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; (2 Corinthians 4:1)

Paul knew that he was called to an anointed ministry position, and that it was a mercy of God to be so called. He was determined not to "faint," or fail, in this ministry. As we have seen, Brother Kenneth Copeland has referred to an aspect of the Spirit of Faith as an "overcoming, winning attitude of faith." We see this in action in Paul's words.

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, 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. (2 Corinthians 4:2)

It is with bold confidence that Paul asserts his position that he is not dishonestly ministering the things of God. He is ministering the truth of God's Word which any believer can attest to by the "witness" of the Spirit in the inner man, that which we sometimes call the "conscience."

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (Titus 1:15)

Unto the believer, who is washed in the Blood of Jesus, and therefore pure, all things are pure, their conscience (the inward voice of the human spirit) is pure and undefiled. A believer can trust the voice of his inward witness.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

The Good News of the Gospel is hidden only to those that satan has blinded, but it is a light that can not be covered, it will shine forth! Notice that he speaks of the fact that the "light of the glorious Gospel of Christ" should shine. As we have seen in our prior study, the manifestation of the Glory of God is expressed as great light! When God's visage is described, it is always as a great, burning light! The "glorious Gospel" can be said to be the Gospel of Glory! It is also described as the image of God. It is the manifestation of the Image of God, Jesus, in the form of a message that pierces the darkness of satan!

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)

Again, note that the Gospel preached is light in the darkness, which shines in the hearts of believers, specifically to "give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" which is seen in the face of Jesus Christ! This "light of the knowledge of the Glory" is key to my assertion that we are seeing a merging of the Word and Teaching revival (the knowledge) with the miraculous outpouring of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit (the fire of God, or the Glory of God, itself.) The Baptism that John the Baptist spoke of, that is, the Baptism that Jesus would bring, is a "Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and of fire!" The "fire" is the manifestation of the Glory of God! This is the same fire that was seen as a pillar of fire in the desert by the children of Israel (Exodus 13:21!) We are truly entering into a day of the fulfillment of John's witness, that is, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

This treasure of this combination of knowledge of the Glory and the actual manifestation of the Glory is held in simple human, earthly vessels. A miracle of God in itself!

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Therefore, Paul can boldly, confidently, say that though he is troubled by persecution, he is not distressed. He has the Spirit of Faith at work within him, inside his earthen vessel of a body. Though he might experience a feeling of being perplexed, he does not despair, knowing the excellency of the power within him! He is never forsaken, because he is "God inside minded!" He knows that he can never be destroyed even if he is cast down, because of the faithfulness of the power of God to deliver him!

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

So then death worketh in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)

He speaks of "bearing in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus," in essence reminding us that it is through Jesus' suffering and death that this manifestation of the Glory of God has access into our spirit man. In this way, the Glory that raised Jesus from the dead, the life of Jesus, is made manifest in our bodies. We do not glory in death per se, in fact, death itself is the last enemy to be conquered (1 Corinthians 15:26) but we do glory in the death of Jesus, the point at which God's purpose and plan to redeem us began to come into reality. The resurrection that assured our salvation is the eternal life of Jesus, which is made manifest in our mortal flesh! This "resurrection life" quickens our mortal bodies and renews us daily! Paul reminds them that death worketh in he and his fellow ministers, that is, the persecutions that he spoke of earlier in the passage; that he might have the opportunity to share the knowledge of the Glory of God with the people there at Corinth, that it might work "resurrection life" in them. But note that he does not "wallow" in the fact that "death" works in he and his compatriots! He goes on to say:

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. (2 Corinthians 4:13-14)

He says that they have that overcoming, winning Spirit of Faith! It is the operation of the Holy Spirit manifesting the Glory of God in them by which they can say that they also believe and speak. Paul is quoting a verse from an Old Testament psalm here, to support his statement, just as we would quote scripture to back up a point if we were preaching or teaching today. It is Psalms 116:10. It is instructive to look at the entire Psalm in context:

I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

I said in my haste, All men are liars.

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 116, emphasis added)

Note that in this Psalm, the psalmist says that he is in trouble, yet he calls upon God, who hears and delivers him. The message is, as verse six says, "...I was brought low, and He helped me." Even in times of trial, God is gracious and merciful; He is our Helper and Sustainer! This is the scripture that Paul had in mind as he was sharing about his deliverance from troubles as he preached the Gospel. Note that he centered up on the fact that he too, believed, and therefore he spoke. Speaking the Word of God is exercising the power of God! (Mark 11:22-24)

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)

All the things that Paul endured and overcame by the Glory and Power of God, he endured to preach the Truth of the Gospel! And this manifestation of Grace "redounds" to the Glory of God. The King James Version's use of the term "redound" is not as meaningful to us. The Greek word here is "perisseuo," of which Strong's Concordance says:

from 4053; to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transitively) to cause to superabound or excel: (Biblesoft: PC Study Bible: Strong’s Concordance)

It "superabounds" to the Glory of God! It is excessive, or excelling! Isn’t that just like our God? He is "El-Shaddai," the God that is more than enough!

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

The outward persecution that they were facing was what we would consider a massive attack of the enemy, requiring superhuman efforts to overcome. Look at the list of Paul's sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, as an example of what he endured:

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

But, note what Paul says about all these afflictions that we would consider extreme hardships!

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17)

He considers these "light afflictions!" Why? Because he is not considering his own body, or his natural ability, but rather the power of God, as it is said of Abraham in Romans 4:18-21:

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

In other words, because Paul was operating in faith, because he was fully persuaded that the Glory of God, the Spirit of Faith, in him was greater than the operation of satan sent to destroy him; he gloried in his "weakness." Paul’s reliance on God’s grace in his natural weakness was stronger than satan's best attempts to stop him (2 Corinthians 12:9!) He says that these "light afflictions" work a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory! When the afflictions come, the Glory of God is weightier, more powerful, and overcomes them!

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Note that this happens only while Paul looks not at the current circumstance, but at the eternal truths of God's Word! God spoke to me supernaturally as I was teaching on these scriptures many years ago and said, "Son, temporal things always change!" Note what verse 18 says. The things which are seen are temporal. The Greek word is "proskairos," of which Strong says, "from 4314 and 2540; for the occasion only, i.e. temporary." (Biblesoft: PC Study Bible: Strong’s Concordance)

In other words, the things that are seen are temporary, or subject to change. Now let's consider what the Lord shared with me about this verse. "Son," He said, "temporal things always change." He went on to say, "Things in the natural are always changing from either good circumstances to bad, or bad to good. Why is it so difficult to believe that I can cause your circumstances to change for the better?" This is the key! If we look not at, that is, don't fix our attention, on the things that are in the present natural realm, which are constantly in flux, but rather look at the unchanging, eternally settled Word of God, we can keep ourselves in a "winning position" as Paul did! Notice his confidence! Notice his zeal and boldness! Notice his spirit of overcoming and winning every time! This is the Spirit of Faith! This is the operation of the Glory of God in a believer's life! That is why we are told in Proverbs 4:20-24:

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Attend to, or put God's Word, first place! Incline your ear to His Word, not to natural circumstances. Don't let the Word depart from before your eyes, don't look around at your temporary condition! God's Words are life unto those that find them and health (and healing) to all their flesh. This is how you keep, or protect, your heart, or spirit man. It is the process of not looking, by choice, at the circumstance, but looking at the Word! This protects your spirit and keeps you in a position to operate supernaturally! Out of your heart, or human spirit, are the issues, or forces, of life! Note too, that God says that we are to "put away from thee a froward (disobedient) mouth." Again, we return to the importance of words! We must use our mouth to speak only God's Word over our circumstances, for as 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, " (we walk by faith, not by sight.)" We do not look at the circumstances, we "look" as it were, at the Word of God, and keep our confession in line with it! This is the essence of the message of the Word of Faith:

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:8-11, emphasis added.)

Believing in the heart, in the human spirit, what God's Word says, then speaking it out of your mouth; this is the classic teaching of the Word of Faith Teaching Revival. We see this message, not diminishing, but rather expanding into a new understanding of the knowledge of the Glory of God! This is how the two revivals: one of the Word, and one of the Spirit, come together!

2 Corinthians Chapter Five

We know that there are really no verse numbers or chapter designations in the original texts of the Bible. The chapter and verse conventions were added as study aids by the translators. Therefore, the divisions of chapters and verses were entirely at their discretion. Let’s keep that in mind as we go into Chapter Five. Paul has made the point that temporal things always change, and now he says:

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

He draws the comparison of an earthly dwelling, a house, and our physical bodies. He indicates that if our physical bodies were destroyed (dissolved), then we have an eternal body in the heavens. Not a natural body, but a spiritual body. We see reference to this in 1 Corinthians 15:35-58:

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Verse 44 says that "it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." For the promise of this transformation, we have the "earnest of the Spirit."

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (2 Corinthians 5:6-9)

Again, he speaks of "confidence;" this is derived from that overcoming Spirit of Faith at work within him! Why? Because, as we pointed out before, we "walk by faith, not by sight!" We do not look at the temporal circumstances around us. We look, rather, at the eternal truths of God’s Word, the things of the spiritual realm. Paul speaks of the fact that whether we are present (in the natural body,) or absent (in the spiritual body,) we labor in the Gospel. He saw his ministry as a labor of love with a desire to be "accepted" of his Lord!

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5:10, 11)

Paul reminds us that everything that we do while in our physical body, we will render an account before the Lord on the day of His Judgment. He reminds us that we will be judged by what we have done, both good and bad. Judgment need not imply punishment. If one has ministered faithfully, one will receive a faithful servant’s reward!

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord thou deliverest unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:19-21)

However, by the same token, we also know the "terror of the Lord" that evil works will receive stern judgment as well.

Then he which received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

And I was afraid, and went and hid they talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:24-30)

It is, however, interesting to note the definition of the "terror of the Lord" as used in 2 Corinthians 5:11. Thayer gives us two definitions:

5401 phobos-

1) fear, dread, terror; what strikes terror

2) reverence (respect) for one's husband (Biblesoft: PC Study Bible: Thayer’s Lexicon)

The "terror of the Lord" is the "fear of God," or reverence for God that is the "beginning of wisdom" according to Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." W.E. Vine expands the definition of "phobos" as follows:

A. Nouns.

1. phobos ^5401^ first had the meaning of "flight," that which is caused by being scared; then, "that which may cause flight," (a) "fear, dread, terror," always with this significance in the four Gospels; also e. g., in <Acts 2:43; 19:17; 1 Cor. 2:3; 1 Tim. 5:20> (lit., "may have fear"); <Heb. 2:15; 1 John 4:18; Rev. 11:11; 18:10,15>; by metonymy, that which causes "fear," <Rom. 13:3; 1 Pet. 3:14>, RV, "(their) fear," KJV "(their) terror," an adaptation of the Sept. of <Isa. 8:12>, "fear not their fear"; hence some take it to mean, as there, "what they fear," but in view of <Matt. 10:28>, e. g., it seems best to understand it as that which is caused by the intimidation of adversaries; (b) "reverential fear," (1) of God, as a controlling motive of the life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere "fear" of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him, a "fear" which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence, <Rom. 8:15>, and which influences the disposition and attitude of one whose circumstances are guided by trust in God, through the indwelling Spirit of God, <Acts 9:31; Rom. 3:18; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:21> (RV, "the fear of Christ"); <Phil. 2:12; 1 Pet. 1:17> (a comprehensive phrase: the reverential "fear" of God will inspire a constant carefulness in dealing with others in His "fear"); <3:2,15>; the association of "fear and trembling," as, e. g., in <Phil. 2:12>, has in the Sept. a much sterner import, e. g., <Gen. 9:2; Exod. 15:16; Deut. 2:25; 11:25; Ps. 55:5; Isa. 19:16>; (2) of superiors, e. g., <Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:18>. See TERROR. (Biblesoft: PC Study Bible: W.E. Vine, emphasis added)

The "terror of the Lord" as used here is, therefore, a "reverential fear" not, as Vine says, "a mere ‘fear’ of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him." We know this reverence of the Lord, and that leads us to persuade men to receive the free gift of salvation.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. (2 Corinthians 5:12, 13)

Notice that Paul returns to his previous mention of the fact that he has no need to commend himself to them, however, he reminds them of his ministry so that they will have "somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart." He is saying that he knows his heart, that he is serving God, and does not need to speak of outward manifestation of appearance to justify his ministry.

However, he makes the point that "whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God." This is fascinating to me in the light of the current revival’s manifestations! To be "beside oneself" is another way of saying "drunk!" Indeed, Thayer defines the word as follows:

1839 existemi-

to throw out of position, to displace

a) to amaze, to astonish, throw into wonderment

b) to be amazed, to be astounded

c) to be out of one's mind, to be beside oneself, to be insane (Biblesoft: PC Study Bible: Thayer’s Lexicon)

Paul is saying that if he and his compatriots appear "beside themselves," or "drunk," it is unto God during ministry. After speaking of the lack of a need for outward demonstration of a "validation" of his ministry, he draws a picture of an outward manifestation. The outward manifestation of being so caught up in the Spirit during ministry that he appears "beside himself!" This state, he ascribes to being "toward God," or due to his being "caught up in the Spirit." He completes the thought by saying that if he and his ministry team appear "sober" (as opposed to appearing "drunk") it is "for your cause." That is, the clear, lucid teaching of the Word of God, which will enhance their understanding of the Word. This then, is another reference that brings together the manifestation of the actions of the Holy Spirit (drunkenness) with the clear teaching of the Word (sobriety!) We can demonstrate this comparison of "drunkenness" to the effects of the Holy Spirit by turning to Acts 2:14-18:

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

The crowd thought that the disciplines were drunk, even though in was just nine o’clock in the morning! But Peter explains that they were not drunk in the way that the crowd thought they were drunk...in other words, not with wine! They were drunk in the Holy Spirit! They were full of "new wine" of the kind Jesus spoke of in Matthew 9:17!

We see manifestations of being "drunk in the Spirit" in today’s revival as well:

At all of the meetings associated with this fresh outpouring, there have been many emotional and physical healings. Many people have encountered God anew or afresh, and have been brought to a place of repentance and brokenness. People have often fallen down under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, become "drunk" in the Spirit, and become filled with the joy of the Lord, laughing almost uncontrollably, or weeping or shaking. Large numbers of children have been affected, many of whom have reported seeing visions of heavenly things. Phenomena of this kind characterized a revival that began in 1992 in Buenos Aires, Argentina under Claudio Freidzon. According to a publication of the Assemblies of God, MOUNTAIN MOVERS (October 1993, p. 6), at Freidzon's meetings, "as people entered into adoration and worship, some became 'drunk' on the Spirit and could not stand up. Others laughed in the Spirit or fell under the power of God. Each service lasted six or seven hours. Outside, hundreds waited in lines that stretched around the block to get into the church." (Riss: A History of the Worldwide Awakening of 1992-1995: WWW)

The laughing and "drunkenness" in the Spirit, is "unto God," however, the soberness of teaching is for the believer’s edification, in the same way that the supernatural manifestation of speaking in tongues may be a sign to an unbeliever, but the clarity of teaching in a known language is a benefit to all.

In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:21-26)

We see, therefore, a need for both the supernatural move of the Spirit of God, and the clear teaching of the Word.

The move of the Holy Ghost is not some wild, emotional kind of move. It is God putting forth His Word and then confirming that Word with signs following. Whatever Word we preach, God will confirm with signs following. It’s not that we don’t have to have preaching and teaching anymore. No, we need a combination of the Word and the Spirit.

The way God is going to move is to send forth His Word along with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the latter rain, that will confirm everything that has been preached for the last 2000 years. We are right on the edge of this great outpouring. We are at the final hour! It is going to take a move of the Holy Ghost for God’s plan to be fulfilled. But we have to be careful not to miss what God is doing. (Brazee: Blood, Fire, and Vapor of Smoke: 21)

Indeed, this is the crux of my dissertation, the combination of the Spirit of God, with the message of faith, i.e. the "Spirit of Faith!"

Let’s return to our verse by verse commentary of 2 Corinthians 5 now, keeping in mind what we have seen to this point.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:14-17)

Notice that he says that since One (Jesus) died for all, then they which live should not live unto themselves, but unto Him that died for them, and rose again. He indicates that we should not live to ourselves. It is interesting to note that those that are not participating in the current move of the Holy Spirit often do not become involved in the move of God’s Spirit due to a feeling of "self-consciousness" (as opposed to God consciousness!) They are "living to themselves."

Did you ever notice that there is this amazing progression in the Bible? To get to Acts 3, you have to go through Acts 2. It’s a progression. We want all the blessings in the rest of the Book of Acts, but we must first experience Acts 1 and 2. In Acts 1, they prayed for an outpouring; in Acts 2, they stepped into it; and in Acts 3, they experienced the benefits of it. But first we must go through the door. Acts 2 is the door to the rest of the rain!

In other words, the rest of the Book of Acts is filled with signs, wonders, and miracles, but to get into the flow of the Holy Ghost, they had to get their tanks topped off with the Holy Ghost. To flow with the Spirit of God, they first had to get full of the Spirit of God. God wanted to reach the world, but He had to get the Church charged up first.

How could they step out and flow in special faith if they were too reserved to get full of the Holy Ghost and act a little strange? If they were too concerned about what people were going to think when they do when God told them to go and pray for someone? They would still be thinking, What will people say? (Brazee: Blood, Fire, and Vapor of Smoke: 49)

This feeling of "what will people say?" is the antithesis of the notion of being "God inside minded," of being "God conscience" instead of "self conscience." Instead, if "any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17.) Being "in Christ" should remove any attitude of "self conscience" in favor of "Christ consciousness." All the old things of our life, including reservations and false "dignity" are passed away, in favor of a boldness and zeal for the new things that are ours in God!

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are