Ministry/Service
For many young men and women accepting the Lord’s calling to preach, a wonderful purpose in God awaits. Their hearts and minds are filled with anticipating of preaching and teaching across a pulpit to share God’s truths to His people. And week after week and year after year, many eagerly wait for their chance to preach. Some will have opportunities at Sunday evening service, Saturday service, or maybe Sunday school, but nothing would compare to Sunday morning service. However, there is more to being a minister of the Lord than speaking on Sunday.
Long before you preach a sermon across the Lord’s pulpit, you speak and interact with people. The life of a minister (on any scale) is:
There are times when we wish we had a million-dollar budget, had direct access to the President’s private line, and could harness any talent imaginable. Yet, in reality, we seem to have a very limited budget, little access to anyone, and hardly the skills necessary to get the job done the way you desire.
Do the best you can with what you have.
Serving the Lord isn’t about having the best, most expensive, or some technologically savvy ministry. Serving the Lord is about giving Him and others the absolute best of your ability. The Lord will honor your service before Him as you do it unto Him for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). You don’t need these things to be effective and reach people for Jesus Christ.
You may not have the most talent or the best resources, but you have access to the ONE that has all power in His hands.
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Matthew 20:25-28 – But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 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.
In reading Matthew 20, after Jesus explains how the last will be first and the first last (in comparison to servanthood), the mother of Zebedee’s children comes to Him and asks a question. She asks for her sons to be given the right to sit on the left and right of Jesus in His kingdom. He tells her that those places will be given to those whom the Father has already prepared. (This is a paraphrase.) Now, based upon Jesus’ response to James’ and John’s mother (Mark 1:19), her reasoning for placing them to the right and left of Him was for them to be in positions of authority over people in His kingdom. Jesus then brought His disciples together and told them that they were not to exercise dominion over people. He gave the example of the princes of the Gentiles and those over them (the great)…and how they exercise authority over the people and one another. The disciples were not to live over people in such a manner. The great and chief among the people must be a minister and servant among them.
Exodus 17:8-16 – Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
When Amalek came against Israel, Moses sent Joshua to go out to fight against Amalek. Moses would stand over the fighting with the rod of God in his hand. Aaron and Hur also accompanied him.
It came to pass that as Moses’ hands were lifted up, the Israelites prevailed, but when his hands fell, Amalek prevailed. What an interesting sight to see the fighting between the two as Moses’ hands lifted and fell. Aaron and Hur found a stone and placed it under Moses and they kept his hands up until the sun set until Joshua discomfited (vanquished, weakened) Amalek.
Though the circumstances surrounding Israel’s battle with Amalek may not be applicable to every situation in our lives, there are some lasting principles that can be drawn from it for those that follow any leader:
Many times we cannot see how God will use something we do for Him today in the future. However, it should never discourage us from moving out in faith. Many of us may never see our seeds sprout, but we must not weary in well doing because it seems the storms of life will not let up (Ecclesiastes 11:4; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; Galatians 6:9-10).
Step out into the areas of ministry the Lord is calling you to perform. He knows what He’s doing (even if you’re not sure of what He’s up to). He wants to be glorified and is entrusting you with His precious Word and gifts. Use His precious gifts well and treat them honorably and with integrity. Allow His name to be lifted up. Give Him praise! Write. Dance. Sing. Travel. Speak. Do what He’s calling you to do!
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When tragic situations occur near and far away, we often want to help, but we’re unsure how. Caring for the less fortunate is in line with living as a child of God (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; and James 1:19-27), and we wonder how we can provide the greatest assistance.
1. Pray. There’s never a waking moment that someone in the world is without the need of prayer. Pray without ceasing throughout the day and as often as the situation or person(s) are brought to your remembrance (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
2. Connect with local organizations. Check the local newspaper, television, or radio stations for support and relief opportunities already taking place. Oftentimes, it’s easier to support organizations with ties already in the affected area than trying to make your own. However, you may discover that new ‘connections’ are needed as you pray and seek the Lord’s guidance.
There may come a time in your life or ministry when things are going well. Everything is in its proper place and life is on ‘auto pilot.’ Then one day, a feeling comes over you that you should be doing something…anything. Where you are in your life is no longer OK. You need to change. You need to move…
There may come a time in ministry when you feel you’re not growing, expanding, and stretching. In the natural (or worldly) order of life…
- you are ‘supposed’ to grow
- you are ‘supposed’ to get bigger and have more numbers
- you are ‘supposed’ to adjust and add new things
…but because you are not, you somehow feel like you are stuck…
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The corporate church worldwide would agree that the commission Jesus gave the 11 disciples has been transferred throughout the ages. Sadly, not many believers and churches take Jesus’ full commission to heart. However, there are two levels of responsibility that rest upon those who come unto the Lord.
1. Personal responsibility. Within this commission, there is not only a corporate responsibility, but also a personal one. With the advent of the bible in mass production, we have great access to the teachings and commands of Jesus. As individual disciples of Christ, we must each take up the charge (and decision) to learn of Him as pupils that we may become like Him in our behavior and actions. It is not enough for any of us to wait for the preacher to speak on Sundays or Wednesdays. We must take to the Gospels ourselves.
As the Gospels are readily available, we can choose to read a chapter a day. We can use audio tapes within our vehicles or even on our personal media players. There are many ways to study Jesus’ commands, but the important thing for us is to begin today.
2. Corporate responsibility. As the corporate church, our focus should be the teachings of Jesus. There are so many subjects that span Christian culture, but Jesus’ teachings should be first, often, and always. We should have a steady flow of Jesus’ teachings. As Lord, Savior, and King, Jesus has provided guidance on how we are to live before Him and among His people.
Jesus’ teachings must be our most important message before and after salvation. In reading Acts 2:41-42, after the 3,000 souls were added unto them, the apostles continued steadfastly (1) in the apostles’ doctrine and (2) fellowship, and (3) in breaking of bread, and (4) in prayers. The apostles’ doctrine was the doctrine of Christ. They were teaching what they had received from the Lord Jesus. (Four areas encompassed the business of the apostles, and it should be ours (corporately) as well.)
Jesus’ commission is a command – not a suggestion or something we should take into consideration!
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Within our current churches, ministries are used as extensions of the church’s reach and service. Many churches want to help their members grow as God desires. However, in the process of meeting the needs of the people through various church ministries, the church must not forget the people that run them.
The well-being of ministry leaders should not be forsaken in order to allow a ministry to continue. Sadly, there are many pastors that overlook their well-being to ensure the ‘show’ goes on. One of the main reasons for this occurrence is the pressure of being a successful, thriving church. Many pastors want to have a growing ministry that people rave about and long to attend. They want to have ministries that meet the needs of its people. However, in the process of building a ‘successful’ church, they use the ministry leaders as a means to an end – the successful church.
If you are a pastor, take a few moments this week pray about these statements and speak with your church leaders. You may discover church leaders that are burned out; ‘knee-deep’ in sin; and are struggling personally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. If you find leaders struggling with various issues (i.e. sin, marital problems), will you be courageous enough to allow the leader(s) to be restored, refreshed, and renewed? Will you allow it to continue…or will you address it?!
It is just as important for your leaders to find freedom and joy in Christ as the rest of your congregation. Even if you have to stop a ministry service or two…or three, allow your church ministry to be a place of healing, peace, and rest for all.
For additional information on this topic, please review our book, STAR Power: Four Ways to Transform Your Volunteer Ministry.
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