Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

How can we discern the leading of the Holy Spirit? The warning in Jude 3 to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” was most pertinent for saints after Christ ascension at the founding of the first church (Acts 1:9-10), how much more pertinent it is today for Christians living in the last of the last days (1 Peter 1:20), two thousand years later, where the signs of the imminent return of Christ are manifested fully (Matthew 24), splashed in headline news daily to herald the His second coming, the greatest event in human history yet unfulfilled. Natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, famine and pestilences proliferating. Israel, God’s covenant nation is back in the Promised Land for the past 70 years and flourishing. The warning of false Christ and false prophets was sounded three times (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 23-24). Making a survey of Christendom today, a Bible-believing Christian cannot but agree that there is a falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:3) from the fundamentals of the faith, with the rise of the Pentecostalism, Charismatism and the Ecumenical movement. How do Bible-believing churches today engage in missions and church growth that is not Pentecostal, Charismatic and Ecumenical?

2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

“By the Holy Spirit” is the most profound words of what constitutes the transformed Christian life. The impact on society is tremendous! The cultivation begins with the reading of God’s written Word with prayer. We recall the Apostle Paul was an avid learner of the Old Testament before his conversion. Without the Holy Ghost, his study under Gamaliel seemed to be futile until his conversion. The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, began to indwell him and teach him the truth of God’s Word.

2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Kindness speaks of a gracious attitude undergirded by goodness. It is manifested by gentleness, of temper, and of spirit. By endeavouring to evince this spirit to all, whatever may be their treatment of us, and whatever may be our provocations. Paul felt that if a minister would do good, he must be kind and gentle to all. [Barnes]

Jesus taught His disciples “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This teaching of benevolence is the outworking of this character of kindness. How is it that when we give, we lose something that we have given away and yet we are more blessed? This truth has to be understood by faith. I believe this is true and therefore I do as instructed and experience God’s greater blessing. This is a perspective that is beyond the carnal mind. It can be understood only in the context of God’s supernatural love, as it were injected into our bloodstream, enabling us to give sacrificially and unconditionally. We are in our natural self, self-seeking and self-satisfying. This change is the power of the gospel experienced when the believer put to death the old man and put on the new man.

2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Longsuffering describes the state of emotional quietness in the face of unfavourable circumstances [Friberg Lexicon]. This word means forbearance, self-restraint before proceeding to action. The quality of a person who is able to avenge himself yet refrains from doing so. Here in this verse, it describes more wholesomeness constraint toward others, a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation. [Louw-Nida Lexicon]

2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

The Apostle Paul’s preaching and teaching were divinely endowed, enabling him to pen the larger part of the New Testament Scriptures. He shared the Source of his knowledge when he revealed in 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 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. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. What privilege it is to be endowed with the wisdom of God that enabled him to understand the eternal things of God!

2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

The Apostle Paul, in the work of the gospel, exemplifies a quality of behaviour that is morally clean – purity, sincerity, blamelessness. [Friberg Lexicon] He understood well our Lord Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. He sought to live a life of holiness understanding that he is a sinner saved by grace. He understood our Lord Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:3-4 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Without making right with God, he has no strength to stand before men.

2 Corinthians 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

Whether it was the abstinence of food to focus upon prayer or the Word or the case of the lack of the means for subsistence, the Apostle Paul shared the rigours of engagement in the gospel work.

Acts 14:21-23 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

2 Corinthians 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

“Watchings” literally means “sleeplessness”, that is, a keeping awake, having to maintain sleepless nights. It is a physical, mental challenge to keep awake when the body and mind are exhausted. William MacDonald observed well, “Sleeplessness describes his constant need for being on the alert against the wiles of the devil and the efforts of his enemies to harm him.” In the thick of mission work, he encountered much resistance. As such, he has to persist in prayer and on the lookout for the slightest sign of danger.