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 Lord gave His Apostles considerable power and authority to carry out their duties in service to Him. But, their power and authority had its limits, they did not have “dominion over” the Children of God’s “faith”. The Apostles could not give them “faith”, could not remove their “faith”, and could not control the finishing of their “faith”; and neither do Preachers in our day have such power and authority. We are specifically told that our Lord “Jesus” Christ is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2); thus, He alone has “dominion over” our “faith”. But, the Apostles (and Preachers, albeit with less power and authority) “are helpers of” our “joy”. Preachers “are helpers of” our “joy” when they clearly and concisely declare the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, when they preach to encourage in times of distress, when they preach to exhort in times of weariness, and when they preach to admonish in times of error. Furthermore, the Lord calls and gives “pastors and teachers” to the Church to preach, teach, and lead the Church to learn, understand, and obey the truth of the Word of God (Ephesians 4:11); thus, helping our “joy”. Paul also calls this putting “on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” and “that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11-13). Let us earnestly pray for our Preachers, that they would be effective “helpers of” our “joy”.