GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXIssue50
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble
knees;And make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame
be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
MINISTRY//
//
/But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among
you, let him be your minister; /
/And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:26-28/
//
In order to discuss the subject of “ministry” among the saints of
GOD, it is necessary to begin with an in depth look at the greatest
MINISTER who has ever lived. JESUS CHRIST came into the world for
the purpose of “ministering” to HIS church whose names are written
in Heaven. (see Heb.12:23)Any “ministry” which does not follow HIS
example, is woefully short of that to which the saints of GOD are
called.
The Greek word that is most often used in the NT for the English
words “minister”, “ministry”, or “ministers” is the root word for
the term “deacon”.We understand that those who are called to be
“deacons” in the church are “servants”.Yet a man does not have to
occupy the “office” of a “deacon” to be a “servant” of his brethren
in the LORD.The LORD JESUS did not wait for HIS brethren to serve
HIM, but rather HE moved to serve them.HE illustrated this quite
clearly when HE girded HIMSELF with a towel and washed the feet of
HIS disciples.HIS humility was on display in those actions.Some have
thought that by going through that activity is, itself, an act of
service, yet quite often it is but a religious deed which is done
more for tradition’s sake rather than as a demonstration of true
humility.That humility which CHRIST displayed, did not end when the
last foot was washed, but was merely an expression of HIS continual
attitude towards those that HE loved.
HE manifested HIS servitude when HE healed those that were sick,
raised the dead to life, and gave sight to the blind.HE was under no
obligation to do any of those things, yet for the great love that HE
had for sinners, HE used HIS power to do good.We know of none who
have that same power to heal men of physical ailments, yet all of
GOD’s children are called to use the “power” that they do have for
the benefit of their brothers and sisters in CHRIST./“Now ye are the
body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1Cor 12:27) “Bear ye
one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2/)
HIS “ministry” to HIS people in no wise depended upon the display of
their gratitude.In point of fact, HE demonstrated HIS servitude to
those who were unthankful, ignorant of HIS message, and had little
respect to HIS goodness to them.Our sinful flesh often recoils when
we have made overtures of kindness to someone who then has no regard
to it.HE went about doing good because HE is good./“But I say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you.” (Mat 5:44/) /“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not
again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to
him that judgeth righteously.” (1Pet 2:23/) The sons of GOD are
surely not our “enemies” but sometimes the actions (or non-actions)
of their flesh might stir us up to be less than kind and helpful.Oh
to be like HIM who did good for those whom HE loved because they are
HIS brethren!
HE ministered the WORD which was given to HIM by HIS FATHER, without
any thought of HIS own benefit or the reception of it by those to
whom HE declared it.HIS purpose was the benefit of those to whom HE
gave the WORD.Thus HE “fed’ the multitudes at HIS own expense,
praying for those to whom HE gave it.HE made no demands upon them
but clearly stated the truth without apology knowing that HIS FATHER
would reveal the word to HIS children and hide if from those who
were not.
While HIS servitude was on display in every action which HE
undertook, the greatest manifestation of HIS “/ministry/” was seen
as HE laid down HIS life for HIS brethren’s sake as HE gave HIS
“/life a ransom for many/.” HE came into the world to fulfill the
purpose of HIS FATHER to redeem that bride which was chosen in HIM
and given to HIM from the foundation of the world.For them HE
prayed.For them HE suffered.For them HE died a shameful death, all
for the great love which HE had for them.They could add nothing to
HIM nor in any wise deserve this most unspeakable gift, yet /“for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb
12:2/) Such selflessness could have never been demonstrated by any
tainted with sin.Yet HE who had no sin and thought it not robbery to
be equal with GOD gladly paid a price which only HE could pay to
redeem that which was HIS.
We could never imitate HIM in this, but we can learn a great deal
about the nature of the “ministry” to which the saints are called as
we are reminded that HE loved not HIS life even unto death for the
sake of HIS brethren.This is at the very root of that exhortation
which Paul makes when he says; /“Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better
than themselves.” (Php 2:3/) “/Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” (Rom
12:10/)John sums up the basis of the “ministry” of the saints to one
another when he writes, /“In this was manifested the love of God
toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought
also to love one another.” (1John 4:9-11/) True New Testament
“ministry” is thus set forth.
Sadly, some have co-opted the term “ministry” to be encapsulated in
the speaking gifts given to some of the saints.We often hear men
speak about being “in the ministry”, or being “ministers” because
they have been gifted to teach or preach the Word.It goes without
saying that the exercise of such gifts can and should be a
“ministry”, for the LORD has given such gifts for the edification of
HIS body, the church.Yet as we read what Paul taught the Ephesians,
we can see that these gifts are given to the church, not as the
exclusive “ministry”, but rather for the building up of the saints,
that each one might perform the “/_work of the ministry_/” to the
whole body.“/And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the
perfecting of the saints, for _(_/_i.e.; unto_/_) the work of the
ministry,_//for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-12/)
His instruction of the Church at Corinth bears this out.“/But the
_manifestation _(/i.e.; various gifts)/of the Spirit is given to
_every man_ (/i.e,; each individual/) to _profit withal_ (/i.e.;the
whole body/).” (1Cor 12:7/)
Now all men are not given the gift of preaching or teaching, but
they are no less called as the saints of GOD to the “/_work of the
ministry_/”.Having said that, I find no prohibition against any man
speaking in the assembly as the LORD may lead him.There are no
“requirements” that qualifies a man to set forth the word of
GOD.Paul does give some guidelines to the Corinthians about this
matter but there is certainly no reason that any need ask permission
of another to declare what the LORD may have taught him or what
burden may be upon his heart and mind.Yet we must remember that the
“/_work of the ministry_/” is more than “speaking” in the meeting.
Speaking in the assembly is not a time or place to exalt any but the
LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The “/_work of the ministry_/” is one of _encouragement_./“Wherefore
comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye
do.” (1Thes 5:11/) It seems well-nigh impossible to carry out such
ministry if one should disregard the regular assembling of the
saints. (see Heb.10:25) Are not the saints encouraged as they behold
the mutual faith of their brethren and fellowship together.
The “/_work of the ministry_/” is one of _bearing one another’s
burdens_. “/We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of
the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (Rom 15:1/) Where better can
such be carried out than in gathering together to pray, making our
requests known unto the LORD and worshipping HIM in one accord.
The “/_work of the ministry_/” is one of _exhortation_. “/Now we
exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the
feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” (1Thes
5:14/) We are in constant need of being reminded who we are in
CHRIST and that we are bought with HIS blood.
The “/_work of the ministry_/” is one of _service_. /“For, brethren,
ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but _by love serve one another_. For all the
law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.” (Gal 5:13-14/) Are you a minister?mam
