II Corinthians 1:23 “Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”
The Apostle Paul was vitally interested in Preaching, Teaching, and Writing the truth of God as God had given it to him. Concerning the Old Testament writers, Peter wrote, “but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21); it was the same for the New Testament writers, including Paul. Previously, Paul wrote, “I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you” (I Corinthians 11:23); that is, what he had “received of the Lord” is exactly what he “delivered unto” them and us. Preaching, Teaching, and Writing concerning the Word of God must be without personal opinion or interpretation and without fleshly embellishment; but, it must be fully and accurately delivered to the Lord’s people exactly as the Lord has delivered it to us in His Holy Word. Our Lord expressed it this way, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24); that is, truth (without alteration) is imperative in “worship”. In this case, in explaining why he had gone “not as yet unto Corinth”, he called “God for a record upon” his “soul”; that is, “God” that had spoken in his “soul” would affirm to their souls that he was writing the truth. It is much the same today, when preachers are led of the Spirit to Preach the Truth, the Truth harmonizes with what the same Spirit has impressed within the souls of those hearing it, resulting in great joy and peace for the hearers. As Paul previously wrote, “my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (I Corinthians 2:4). Let us earnestly pray that our merciful God will move His preachers in our day to “preach the word” (II Timothy 4:2) “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” and give His people the hunger to hear it and to live according to it!