Monday | 27 July 2026
When we have renounced the hidden things of shame by walking in the light, it means that we do not need to walk in craftiness in relation to our ministry. When Paul said that he was not ‘walking in craftiness’, he was comparing his ministry to the carnal mode of ministry that was employed by many of the other messengers who had come to Corinth. Rather than walking in the light, they pretended to be messengers of light. Paul described their ministry by saying, ‘For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.’ 2Co 11:3,13-14. Gen 3:1.
The mode of Satan is trading. A person who is walking in craftiness will employ the same mode as Satan in their relationships and in relation to their ministry. Rather than laying down their life for people in offering, they will seek to ingratiate themselves in the eyes of other people for the purpose of gaining favour or receiving something in return. A person who is walking in craftiness may use persuasive words of wisdom to convince people to believe their message for the sake of a successful ministry outcome.
In contrast to this, Paul testified to the Corinthians in his first letter, ‘I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.’ 1Co 2:3-4. Paul was among the Corinthians ‘in weakness’ because he was joined to the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. He ministered to them ‘in fear’ because he feared God and wanted to please Christ who had sent him. He was not trying to please men, nor was he afraid of being rejected by men. The ministry of Paul revealed the power of the seven Spirits of God because he was poor in spirit and he trembled at the word of the Lord. Isa 66:2.
Further Study:
1 Corinthians 2
References:
2Co 11:3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:13-14
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Gen 3:1
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden”?’
1Co 2:3-4
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Isa 66:2
‘For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the LORD. ‘But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’