OUTLINE:

Ministry
A minister's job is to minister. For example, Gal. 4:16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? or, 2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Your Response To Love
Should a minister of God's word, when he tells you the truth about your spiritual illnesses and prescribes what the Great Physician has instructed him to, be thanked or scorned?

C. H. Spurgeon on Ro 2:16
Is not this expression “my gospel” the voice of love? Does he not by this term embrace the gospel as the only love of his soul— for the sake of which he had “suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish” (Phil. 3: 8)

C. H. Spurgeon on Ro 2:16
Although each word might cost him a life, he was willing to die a thousand deaths for the holy cause.

C. H. Spurgeon on Ro 2:16
“My gospel.” Does this not show his courage? As much as to say, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” He says, “my gospel,” as a soldier speaks of “my colors,” or of “my king.”

C. H. Spurgeon on Ro 2:16
When he contemplated any alteration or adulteration of the gospel of Christ, he thundered and lightninged without measure. When he feared that something else might spring up among the philosophers, or among the Judaizers, that should hide a single beam of the glorious Sun of Righteousness, he used no measured language.

C. H. Spurgeon on Ro 2:16
He cried concerning the author of such a darkening influence, “Let him be accursed. . . . Let him be accursed” (Gal. 1: 8– 9).

You Are Blessed
Never get familiar with the true grace gifts in your life. I am one of them - more specifically, "not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Co 15:10).

“the wisdom of men”
This refers to worldly, human wisdom. This is the kind of wisdom that demands rationalizing instead of faith, the kind of wisdom that looks at the man not the gift, the kind of wisdom that justifies ungodliness as a result.

Sanctification takes power.
Faith is power.

Faith Is Power
Some of us lack the power to overcome much smaller obstacles in our lives (e.g. casting out demons); and it’s not because God’s power is insufficient somehow (He is omnipotent). The reason is simple: we lack faith the same way the Apostles did.

Ps 33:6
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

Heb 1:3
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…

Jas 1:18
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Faith Is Power
Some of us lack the power to overcome much smaller obstacles in our lives (e.g. casting out demons); and it’s not because God’s power is insufficient somehow (He is omnipotent). The reason is simple: we lack faith the same way the Apostles did.

Learn to live a life of gratitude.
1Th 5:16-24

Your Sanctification
The remedy to your problems is simple. It’s the Word. Learn to live a life of gratitude, knowing that God has the power to transform you (Ro 12:1-3; 1Th 2:13; 5:16-24).

“performs its work in you”
The Word of God is meant to sanctify you, make you holy, separated for God's good purposes in time (aka Experiential/Progressive Sanctification). If it's NOT working in you/your life, then you lack faith in it. Your faith's object must be the Word.

Conviction
You might ask yourself, "Well, how do I know for sure if I have faith in the Word?" Easy, you are obedient to it. (ref: Php 2:12-13)

“much more in my absence”
Integrity functions the exact same way whether the authority is present or not. It shouldn’t matter whether you’re in church or your Bible is opened before you, your actions ought to be the same.

Conviction
You might ask yourself, "Well, how do I know for sure if I have faith in the Word?" Easy, you are obedient to it. (ref: Php 2:12-13)