Saturday 26 May 2018

The Ministry Part 4

25th May

1. We need ministers and people who are strong in faith like Abraham.

Romans 4:19-21
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He (GOD) had promised He was also able to perform.

Abraham was PURSUING THE PROPHESY that God had given him that he would have a son and be the father of many nations. Rather than look at the obvious impossible physical circumstances, he chose to focus on the prophesy and that made his faith stronger which led to him giving glory to God. This then strengthened his faith further to the point that there was no doubt that God could and would do what He said He would.

A. WE NEED FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD.

Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
In Jeremiah 5:21 and Ezekiel 12:2 it speaks about people being able to hear but not hearing and being able to see but not seeing. So there is another factor to consider and that is we must have our spiritual ears open and hear with our heart so that the word of God gets into the core of our being and takes our faith to another level.

B. WE NEED FAITH IN THE GOD OF THE WORD.

2 Timothy 1:!2
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 

Paul was in prison and possibly even with a death sentence over him when he wrote this encouragement to Timothy. However, he did not let his circumstances affect his faith. 
Instead he had complete confidence in who God is. 

  1. We need faith for salvation Acts 16:31
       Paul and Silas led the jailer to the Lord and they all trusted God for forgiveness of sin.

  2. We need faith that the Lord will take care of us. Psalm 37:23-24
       Our steps are ordered by the Lord and He is and will continue to be faithful in caring for us.

  3. We need faith that the Lord will provide  Philippians 4:19
       The Lord is our supply and He knows our every need. 
       He is interested in the big and small details of our lives.

  4. We need faith to serve the Lord no matter what happens  Joshua 24:15 
       Joshua made up his mind that regardless of what others did, he would serve the Lord.


      



The Ministry Part 3

18th May

MINISTER'S RESPONSIBILITY

3. The minister is responsible for feeding the flock. 

John 21:15 (NKJV)
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
The minister is responsible for having a good meal prepared for the flock when they come into God's house.

4. The minister is responsible for protecting the flock

Acts 20:29-30 (NKJV)
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Pastors and Ministers must be alert to the false doctrines and cults in the world today. Ministers protect the flock by preaching the TRUTH. Paul warned that false teachings will come from people outside the church and also from people in the church (members). Satan is trying to distort the truth and will send whoever it takes to spread his lies.

John 8:32
Jesus said that we will know the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set us free.

Ministers cannot allow anybody (stranger or member) to teach any false doctrines in the church.
If any false teaching does arise, the minister needs to stop it by rebuking it and removing it before it continues further in the Body of Christ.

5. The minister's responsibility is to be faithful

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Paul worked on keeping himself right and faithful to the Lord and to the Word of God. Ministers have a responsibility to those they have ministered to, so they must be absolutely faithful and not coming under anyone's criticism for dishonoring the Word of God.

Philippians 1:27 (NKJV)
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV)
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love in spirit, in faith, in purity.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Paul instructed Timothy to focus on being an example to the believers and not be put off if people thought he was too young to preach. He told Timothy to take responsibility for being faithful and for studying the Word so that he might show that he is approved by God. Being called by God is serious and we must take the calling seriously.

Ephesians 4:11-13 is a reminder again of the work of the ministry.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 reminds us to be on guard and be firm in the faith.








Tuesday 15 May 2018

The Ministry Part 2

May 11th

Titus 1:5-11 (NKJV)
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you -
6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children not accused of dissipation or
insubordination.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given
to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to
exhort and convict those who contradict.
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the
circumcision,
11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Paul and Titus had been working together on the island of Crete. However, Paul had to leave so Titus was given the job of appointing elders in every city. Paul knew this letter would be read out in the churches around Crete yet he did not lower the standard to make people happy. The standard for the Pastors and Church leaders is very high. Our holy God desires a holy church. In fact these qualities are good for all members of the church. Only by what Jesus has done for us, can we be living our life up to this standard. God is not only interested in the message but the journey of the messengers that God would be able to do a work in their lives and bring them to His desired standard. When the messengers are ready and go out with the Word then surely the harvest will come.

According to the list in Titus 1:5-11
We must be ....
1. blameless - upright at all times
2. the husband of one wife (wife of one husband) - being absolutely faithful stops trouble
3. managing the family well - bringing up our children in the Lord
4. self controlled / self disciplined
5. not self-willed - not stubborn as this is of the devil
6. not quick-tempered - avoid hurting others with a temper
7. not given to wine - Proverbs 20:1
8. not violent but gentle
9. free from the love of money - don't go after the things of this world
10. hospitable - welcome others into our homes and serve them well
11. love what is good
12. just
13. holy - God calls us to live holy lives as He is a holy God
14. holding fast to the faithful word which we have been taught and able to instruct others

Philippians 1:27 
Only let your  conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

God is calling us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of the Lord. Our conduct shouldn't depend on whether the pastors are present or not, but we should be Christ like and Godly in all situations.

MINISTER'S RESPONSIBILITY

1. The minister is responsible for leading the flock. 
     Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit 
     has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 

      Christ is the Chief and the Great Shepherd. (Christ is the head of the body of Christ)
     The pastor is the under-shepherd and head of the flock (the believers)

      John 10:23 The sheep will and are to follow their shepherd. John 10:25 It is the shepherd to 
      lead the flock

2. The minister is responsible for correcting and comforting.
     2 Timothy 4: 1-5  talks about preaching the Word in season and out of season, correcting when needed and bringing the whole counsel of God because a time is coming when people will not want to listen to the whole Word but only the parts that are pleasing to them. The minister can not just preach Grace every week but must bring the whole counsel including judgement, curses or other parts which maybe people don't want to hear about.
     Hebrews 12:11-13 Rebuking must always be done in love so that people can be comforted and continue on for the Lord. Ephesians 4:11-13 where this unit started reminds us that equipping God's people, edifying the body of Christ and bringing everyone into unity of faith is what the ministers are responsible for so that the believers can measure up to the full and complete standard of Christ.






Sunday 13 May 2018

The Ministry Part 1

May 4th

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
This topic connects to the previous topic on The Church. Again we see The Church is the body of Christ and Christ is the head. We can also see that every

message and word spoken by the pastor, evangelist, prophet or apostle is important for equipping us to do the work of the Lord.

Mark 16:15-18
God has commissioned us to go out and preach the gospel so that people believe and are baptized. And there will be signs that follow like casting out demons and speaking in new tongues. God's protection will be around us. If any harm comes (like snakes), they won't be able to hurt us ( Acts 28:5 Paul shook the poisonous snake off into the fire and people were amazed) but this is not an invitation to test God by taking up dangerous things. 


1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (NKJV)

v22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. v23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker of it with you. 


We can see Paul's total focus was to win the lost to Christ. He even tried to find common ground in order to share the gospel. 

In Ephesians 4:11-16 the Lord explain to us that different giftings have been given out in the church. 
1. Apostles: (greek word apostolos - strongs 652 
    = ambassador of the gospel, one who is sent forth by 
   the Lord. Usually leaving home to go to another place.
2. Prophet: (greek word prophetes - strongs 4396)
    = one speaking forth a divine message from God
    They need to be in continuous communication with God to 
    get the message from God. In the church those who spend  
    time with the Lord will have a word from God even though 
    they may not be prophets.
3. Evangalists: (greek word euaggelistes - strongs 2099)
    = heralds of salvation who are not apostles. Basically all 
    of  us are evangalists as we take the message of salvation        into our families, workplaces and anywhere else we go.
4. Pastors: (greek word poiman - strongs 4166)
    = A shepherd who tends and guides the Lord's flock. 
5. Teacher: One who explains or brings God's truth.

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul gives Timothy a warning about the last days: (NKJV)
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Difficult times will come in the last days. There will be a fake godliness and behind the fake godliness will be lots of ungodliness that will grieve God. These people will miss out on the power that could bring them to true godliness. Satan is doing all he can to destroy and tear down the Church.