Post by geoff on Oct 23, 2007 15:30:01 GMT -5
Howard Mooney THE PURPOSE OF THE MINISTRY
The Lord's ministers are His ambassadors to the world. His own life has been taken from the earth and, in His stead, He sends His servants forth to beseech men, 2 Corinthians 5:20. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Even while here on the earth, it was impossible for Jesus to reach every place He would have liked to; so He "sent His servants forth, two and two, into every city and place whither He himself would come," Luke 10:1. The attitude of the people towards these servants, determined what their true attitude toward the Lord would have been had He called on them in person, Matthew 10:40. "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." The ministry is also one of God's gifts to the church. It was given for the "perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," Ephesians 4:8-l2. The Lord has always used the ministry to deliver and, also, to preserve His people, Hosea 12:13. "And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved." It has been a constant source of prosperity to them, 2 Chronicles 20:20. "Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." Following are some of the ways in which the ministry serves:
AS SHEPHERDS OVER THE FLOCK: This was very real in the experience of the children of Israel, Psalm 77:20. "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." Jeremiah 23:4-6 is a prophecy of the same provision being made for God's people today. "And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD." We could never have found our way into the true fold had it not been for the shepherds who sought us out and led us there. Jesus assured Peter that love, in the heart of a true shepherd, would cause him to leave everything else in order to feed the lambs and sheep of God's flock, John 21:l5-l7. "Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
AS WATCHMEN UPON THE WALL: In the old days there were those who devoted all their time to watching on the wall, Isaiah 62:6,7. "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence." They watched for the safety of the ones within the city, to warn them of any approaching danger. This gave the people a special protection while they carried out their house-hold and business duties, The Lord's servants have been called today to watch for the safety of those within the City of God, which is His church. Ezekiel was reminded of his great responsibility along this line, Ezekiel 3:17-21. "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Paul had this same thought in mind, in connection with the ministry, when he wrote Hebrews 13:7 and verse 17: "for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account…"
AS RULERS OVER THE HOUSE: The ruler was not only responsible for keeping the house in order, he was also responsible for seeing that those in the household were given "meat in due season," Matthew 24:45-47. The Lord's people have always needed a balanced diet. The variety of food, given in the New Testament epistles, is a wonderful example of this. We also have some detailed accounts given in Ezra 7:10, "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." Psalm 78:70-72, "He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." Psalm 80:5, "Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure." Jeremiah 3:15, "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Ezekiel 34:14, "I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel." I Corinthians 3:1,2, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able." Hebrews 5:12-14, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." etc. The work of the Lord's servants, and that of His saints, is very closely knit together. Paul could speak of the church at Philippi as a "true yoke fellow," Philippians 4:3. He spoke of Philemon as a "partner," Philemon 17. It would be just as impossible for the servants to get along without the saints, as it would be for the saints to get along without the servants. We are workers together with God! Here are some of the ways in which the saints are a great help to the ministry: By their prayers, 2 Corinthians 1:11, "Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf." by their walk, 3 John 3,4, "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." by their fellowship, Philippians 1:4,5, "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." by their faithful witness, 1 Thess. 1:6-10, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven." by their honesty, 1 Peter 2:12, "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." etc.
The Lord's ministers are His ambassadors to the world. His own life has been taken from the earth and, in His stead, He sends His servants forth to beseech men, 2 Corinthians 5:20. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Even while here on the earth, it was impossible for Jesus to reach every place He would have liked to; so He "sent His servants forth, two and two, into every city and place whither He himself would come," Luke 10:1. The attitude of the people towards these servants, determined what their true attitude toward the Lord would have been had He called on them in person, Matthew 10:40. "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." The ministry is also one of God's gifts to the church. It was given for the "perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," Ephesians 4:8-l2. The Lord has always used the ministry to deliver and, also, to preserve His people, Hosea 12:13. "And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved." It has been a constant source of prosperity to them, 2 Chronicles 20:20. "Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." Following are some of the ways in which the ministry serves:
AS SHEPHERDS OVER THE FLOCK: This was very real in the experience of the children of Israel, Psalm 77:20. "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." Jeremiah 23:4-6 is a prophecy of the same provision being made for God's people today. "And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD." We could never have found our way into the true fold had it not been for the shepherds who sought us out and led us there. Jesus assured Peter that love, in the heart of a true shepherd, would cause him to leave everything else in order to feed the lambs and sheep of God's flock, John 21:l5-l7. "Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
AS WATCHMEN UPON THE WALL: In the old days there were those who devoted all their time to watching on the wall, Isaiah 62:6,7. "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence." They watched for the safety of the ones within the city, to warn them of any approaching danger. This gave the people a special protection while they carried out their house-hold and business duties, The Lord's servants have been called today to watch for the safety of those within the City of God, which is His church. Ezekiel was reminded of his great responsibility along this line, Ezekiel 3:17-21. "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Paul had this same thought in mind, in connection with the ministry, when he wrote Hebrews 13:7 and verse 17: "for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account…"
AS RULERS OVER THE HOUSE: The ruler was not only responsible for keeping the house in order, he was also responsible for seeing that those in the household were given "meat in due season," Matthew 24:45-47. The Lord's people have always needed a balanced diet. The variety of food, given in the New Testament epistles, is a wonderful example of this. We also have some detailed accounts given in Ezra 7:10, "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." Psalm 78:70-72, "He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." Psalm 80:5, "Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure." Jeremiah 3:15, "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Ezekiel 34:14, "I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel." I Corinthians 3:1,2, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able." Hebrews 5:12-14, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." etc. The work of the Lord's servants, and that of His saints, is very closely knit together. Paul could speak of the church at Philippi as a "true yoke fellow," Philippians 4:3. He spoke of Philemon as a "partner," Philemon 17. It would be just as impossible for the servants to get along without the saints, as it would be for the saints to get along without the servants. We are workers together with God! Here are some of the ways in which the saints are a great help to the ministry: By their prayers, 2 Corinthians 1:11, "Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf." by their walk, 3 John 3,4, "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." by their fellowship, Philippians 1:4,5, "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." by their faithful witness, 1 Thess. 1:6-10, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven." by their honesty, 1 Peter 2:12, "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." etc.