Salt Lake Bible College
Salt Lake Bible College
PUBLICK MINISTRY COURSE III.
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THE MINISTRY by Gerald Sutek, Th.D,
Ph.D
Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. |
There are twelve verses in the King James Bible which specifically
use the phrase, “the ministry.” Two of these verses are found in the
Old Testament. Numbers 4:47 speaks of the burden of the ministry in
reference to the ministry of the priests. Certainly theirs was a burden
in their continual supply of appropriate sacrifices and maintenance of
a currency of relationship between a Holy God and His errant people.
Since this relationship is maintained in the New Testament by the
sealing of the Holy Spirit, the burden of the ministry becomes a
necessity and an urgency to reconcile the Lord with His enemies
through the gospel.
2 Cor. 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
1Cor. 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of:
for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
In Hosea, the Lord speaks of His ministry of supplying His people
with the message of His will for their lives through the many-faceted
ministries of the prophets.
Hos. 12:9 And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will
yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
Hos. 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions,
and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
Truly, the prophets were called upon to employ many strange ways and means
whereby they could command the attention of God’s people for the purpose of the
ministry.
Many set a good example to the ministers of today when, without hesitation,
they made spectacles of themselves (Isa. 20:2,3), stifled their personal
emotions (Ezek. 24:16-25), suffered repeated disappointment (Jer.
42,43), made life’s most important decisions in consideration of the
ministry without thought of personal happiness (Hos. 1:2,3 and Jer.
16:2), kept under their bodies to the point of loathing from the world
(Dan. 1:8), hazarded their freedom and lives (1Kings 17:1-5) and in
many other areas deprived themselves for the sake of the ministry.
Though today the office of prophet may be absent, their duty,
example, design and purpose needs to be evidenced to a world which
is distracted from the message of the Lord.
In our opening text, Paul admonishes Archippus concerning the
ministry. If I can make much of the specific wording of the preserved
Word of God in the King James Bible, and I believe that I can, note
carefully that Paul says that Archippus received the ministry “in the
Lord.” Paul could have used the word, “of” or “from” but the wise
translators preserved it as “in.” If you are “in the Lord” in the sense of
2 Cor. 5:17 and have “received him” in the sense of Jn. 1:12, then the
ministry awaits your reception. “It is a truth that stands out with
startling distinctness on the pages of the New Testament that God has
no sons who are not servants.” – Ward
In other words, if you are in Christ you are in the ministry. The
only question that remains is to what degree you will fulfill your
ministry. I cannot emphasize the importance of this concept of the
ministry. It is out of sync with the teaching and thinking of
mainstream fundamentalism. If a Christian man or woman can ever
bring the course of their vessel to line up with this doctrine they will
realize the full meaning of the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ when
He said,
“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly” John 10:10.
A careful reading of Acts 8:1-4 will exemplify this Biblical truth.
“In this theater of man's life, it is reserved only for God and angels to
be lookers-on.”-Pythagoras
In my early Christian life I served in a fine unit of spiritual military
headed by a great general. I quickly found service there and filled
many gaps in our hedge. However, all of the brass in this unit
received their training and commissions from institutions where a
common Biblical error was taught without question. This being, that
if you dare to enter the field of preaching without a call from God you
are likely to cause a great deal of damage. The standard line was, “If
you can be happy doing anything besides preaching then you are not
called of God.” This unbiblical theology gendered two great evils.
First, those who “felt the call” were instantly given a commission and
treated as officers while those who did not “feel the call” remained
non-commissioned; thus producing somewhat of a caste system, the
roots of which seek nutrition from Calvinism. Secondly, it gently
excused those who, in their sincerity, examined themselves and
though they may have had the desire, lacked initial courage, example,
and challenge to pursue an officer status for fear that they might add
to the category of “mama-called and papa-sent” hypocrites already
flooding the ministry.
If you are saved, the ministry awaits your embracement; and the
blessings, provisions, fruit, rewards and longevity of your ministry will
be paid in proportion to your faith and zeal.
Certainly, there are different fields of service within the ministry
just as there are in the army. Within the army there is work for all to
do. There is work that suits the ladies; there is work for the simple
man. There is a place for the brave at heart and there is opportunity
for the timid to serve. The work of the ministry among the saints
requires a great variety of gifts and services;
Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
as opposed to the simpler ministry of reconciliation,
2 Cor. 5: 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
This particular work of the ministry offers employment for all who are in
Christ, both men and women. The variety of services both challenges the
talented and welcomes the faithful beginner. A wise man once said,
“Successful is the man who, after he finds a job, looks for work.”
Christian, you have a job; now you must look for work.
As a young Christian, I heard Dr. John R. Rice preach that God
took volunteers. I immediately signed on. I began basic training by
studying the manual, as well as field training with a buddy. I was
invited to accompany a veteran on door-to-door witnessing. I was to
be his prayer warrior as he ministered the Word of God to the enemies
of our Lord. Soon I was the veteran and had my own prayer warrior.
I was assigned to a platoon on the front lines. These brave
ministers drew blood with their sword (Jer. 48:10) as they publickly
preached the message of the gospel. I never dreamed I could be that
brave but with the undertow of righteous camaraderie, combined with
the tender draw of the Holy Spirit, by the end of the day I had become
addicted to this exhilarating form of the ministry of reconciliation.
A specialty position within the ministry of the saints opened in
front of me and I stepped through this open door and took a Sunday
School class. A slight advancement to department supervisor gave me
the responsibility of offering open doors to other gifted teachers. As I
gave more of myself, the ministry began to unfold before me. I
yearned to minister from the pulpit, besides going on the street. I
looked for work in that capacity and found myself ministering several
times a week in the early morning devotion, as well as preaching in
the evening services at the rescue mission associated with my church.
Whatever I yielded to the Lord He took, (Amos 7:15) and with the
taking, He gave back double in blessings and a desire for more.
Soon my zeal threatened to outrun my ability. I found myself in
need of a larger and longer supply line with which to maintain my
offensive movement in the ministry. Bible college served this need.
Too often though, Bible college knowledge becomes so weighty and
inanimate as to become a drag on the offensive, but the academic
skills I obtained only served to fuel the forward movement of my
ministry. At the beginning of the final year I had numbered the days
to graduation with a great longing to put to use these acquired skills
to hasten the drive of my ministry. My time in Bible college was also
filled with sought-out chances to hone my ministry abilities in the
publick ministry as well as in the pulpit and classroom teaching.
In taking heed to fulfill my ministry, I developed a talent in music
ministry with the accordion. I also followed Spirit-filled leadership in
writing things helpful to the ministry of others. I have held the office
of pastor, evangelist, and teacher, all in the work of the ministry.
But these developments came as a result of my taking heed, through
necessity to fulfill my ministry in the Lord.
The root of the ministry both in word and deed is to minister.
Any dictionary will define this word to mean, “MIN'ISTER, v.t. [L.
ministro.] To give; to afford; to supply. MIN'ISTER, v.i. To attend and
serve; to perform service in any office, sacred or secular.”
Shortly summarized, these examples state, “To minister means to meet the
need at present.” The ministry is the performance of this verb
whether that be material or spiritual. Since the greater need in our
world and in our day is of a spiritual supply, it stands to reason that
the only agents who can supply that need are those who have access
to the warehouse. Simply put, if the Lord has done something for you
or supplied you with something spiritual, it is your responsibility to
minister that to those who are in need. The recipient of spiritual
substance has no option; he must minister. To do otherwise is to
default on payment due and will bring upon one the fearful prospect
of accountability before the bar of the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Consider the words of an ancient, but worthy, commentator,
Matthew Henry. “Ministers have a dispensation of the gospel, or
stewardship (Lu. 16:2), committed to them. Note, Christ’s willing
servants shall not fail of a recompence, and that proportioned to their
fidelity, zeal, and diligence; and his slothful and unwilling servants
shall all be called to an account. Taking His name, and professing to
do His business, will make men accountable at His bar. And how sad
an account have slothful servants to give!”
“The measure of a man is not the number of his servants, but the
number of people he serves.” –Moody
The Word of God defines a minister as the following:
Psa. 103:21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his,
that do his pleasure.
A fuller definition is found to include faithfulness,
Eph. 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do,
Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord,…
Paul claimed he was put into the ministry because the Lord had counted
him faithful. (1 Tim. 1:12)
Adolph Hitler was a preacher, but he did not minister the Lord’s
pleasure. Herod was a preacher, yet he did not do the Lord’s
pleasure. We have plenty of preachers…what we need are faithful
ministers.
“It is not the possession of extraordinary gifts that makes
extraordinary usefulness, but the dedication of what we have to the
service of God.” – Robertson
END OF INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION
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THE MONARCH OF THE MINISTRY
Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
If He is Lord of all, then He is Lord of the ministry. He is Lord of
your ministry. He is the one we account to. He is the one we please or
displease.
Gal. 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek
to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of
Christ.
If He is Lord of our ministry we must not forget that He is to be
the manager of our ministry. How could we ever hope for better
management? Do we dare to presume that we could manage on our
own the affairs of our ministry?
It may be argued whether Moses was wise in heeding his father-inlaw’s
counsel in dividing his wisdom and rule and appointing seventy
men to help. The Lord accommodated his decision, whether wise or
not, and gave the seventy men wisdom, but did He take it from
Moses? Would Moses have certainly worn away as his father in law
had predicted, or was the Lord well able to manage the ministry of
Moses? There was neither complaint from Moses nor proposal from
the Lord until Jethro made suggestion and then there were both
discontent and complaint from Moses (Num.11). I see that Moses
made influence for the Lord in the life of Jethro but at the time of
Jethro’s advice to Moses, was he heathen or a very recent convert?
Did Moses do right in giving the management of his ministry over to
such a person? Was the outcome of this decision better either for
Moses or his subjects? Did Moses truly enjoy his semi-retirement or
did his ministry, though it be busy, simply serve as a full cup. I have
known ministers who have had ministries so vast and intricate as to
keep employed several, but they did not endure under the great
strain, but rather reveled in their great opportunities. Such men seem
to put off the opportunities to reduce their ministerial load as long as
possible and in the end write their autobiography as one quite
content.
There are many in the world that advertise their skill and invite
you to employ them in the management of your ministry. My email
junk mail is peppered with them. But is not the Lord superior to them
all? Did He not write the manual for the ministry?
2 Cor. 9: 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
WHAT THE LORD HIMSELF EXPECTS
If you will be a minister of the Lord He expects you to do His
pleasure,
“…ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” (Ps. 103:21)
His pleasure is in obedience, 1 Sam. 15:22. This makes the ministry
rather simple; just do what He tells you to do. Just go where He tells
you to go and just say what he tells you to say. He told Ezekiel, “…I
do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the
Lord GOD.” (Ezek. 2:4) Do you have a copy of what the Lord God hath
said? Do you have vocal chords which the Lord hath made? (Ex. 4:11)
Can you read? Then welcome to the ministry.
A child has a simple life unless he chooses to disobey his parent.
Often, a parent need not offer any explanation but simply a, “Just do
what you’re told.” Life for a child only gets complicated when he does
not do what he is told.
WHAT PLEASES HIM
In this we have a perfect example: Jesus.
Mt. 3: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
So, if we do what Jesus did then we will be pleasing as well.
Again, this makes the ministry simple. Jesus obeyed His Father.
(John 5:17-21) He magnified the Father so that all men might marvel.
(John 5:20) His obedience was even to the death of the cross. (Phil.
2:8) This also pleased the Father. (Isa. 53:10)
Paul took his cue here, in that he did not even count his life dear
unto himself. Paul was willing to, and did, make the ultimate sacrifice
in order that he might magnify the Father. If we can attain to this
level of love and obedience, then any sacrifice below this is reasonable.
(Rom. 12:1)
The Lord could but smile at the words of the young Samuel,
“Speak Lord, thy servant heareth.” Did not the Lord use Isaiah
mightily after he answered, “Here am I; send me.”? But many
Christians sing these words to the great displeasure of the Lord
because with their lips they do honor Him, but their hearts are far
from Him.
WHAT ANGERS HIM
Certainly, the longsuffering of the Lord was challenged when
Moses avoided the ministry with his petty excuses. (Ex. 4) Just do
what you are told. Please allow me a personal illustration here. You
will see the value of personal illustrations later in this book.
I have been involved with choral music since I was ten years old.
At the time of this illustration I had had much experience in choral
music. I had sung in many choirs, ensembles, trios, and duets but I
had never done any solo work. I was in a large choir in a large
church. The director of the choir asked me to sing solo for a Sunday
school class. That did not sound too bad on the surface, so I agree
before I found out that the class had an attendance of over 400. I was
scared to death. I fasted, I prayed, I practiced, I memorized, I fasted
some more…etc. Sunday came and between uncomfortable gulps of
saliva and gasps of breath, the class and I endured to the end. As I
exited, my director complimented me and asked me to sing again the
next week. My countenance fell, I explained to him what I had
suffered in this preparation and he apologized and gave me liberty to
inform him when I might be ready. The very next day I ran to catch a
bus; the pavement was wet from a light shower, my feet went up and
my head went down --vocal chords first-- on the sharp edge of an
attaché case I was carrying. My full weight increased the Karate chop
to my Adam’s apple. I recovered myself with great effort but my voice
was as gone as an email lost in cyberspace. Argue of coincidence if
you please, but I knew what this was all about. For three weeks I had
no voice, and for that again I had little voice. In repentance I told the
Lord if He would give me back my voice that I would speak, shout,
sing, preach, or testify for Him anytime, any place and under any
conditions He chose. It wasn’t long that the Lord repaired my voice to
the tune of double strength and double volume. If you doubt this just
ask my street audience for the past 39 years.
No parent wants excuses; they want immediate obedience.
Nothing angers a good parent more than useless excuses. Just do
what you are told.
Saul angered the Lord when, out of fear he made compromise. It
cost him his popular vote, his relationship with the Lord, his kingdom
and his ministry (1 Sam. 15). Just do what you are told, when you are
told, and in the manner that you are told.
The Lord had blessed King David beyond his imagination or worth,
(2 Sam. 12:8) as He also does with us (1 Cor. 2:9). However, David was
not happy. Discontentment is never satisfied; it eats like a spiritual
leech until the host is pale, weak, and lifeless. The Bible says that the
Lord was displeased (2 Sam. 11:27) with what David had done.
Discontentment was the root of this great evil, and study here will
yield very profitable ministering in the discovery of the full bloom and
fruit of this wild vine. Dissatisfaction in any flavor will make the
ministry distasteful; thus we have ample warning on this subject.
(Phil. 4:11, 1Tim. 6:1-8, Heb. 13:5) When I was a young boy there was
an advertisement on TV for Carnation evaporated milk. The slogan
ran, “Milk from contented cows.” The slogan appealingly invited the
consumer to the product. Should not the minister of the gospel of
Jesus Christ offer the sincere milk of the Word from a contented
minister?
“O Father, may it never be said of us that having come to an open
door, we closed it; having come to a lighted candle, we quenched it;
having heard the voice of a neighbor begging bread, we made denial,
speaking of our own case.” - McKenzie
Since we have been given such an awesome responsibility, then,
as a faithful witness, the Lord can rightly expect of us the same
simple, yet high rank; since we have been given a trust as concerning
the propagation of the gospel, 1 Thess. 2:4 But as we were allowed of
God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as
pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. then it would be safe
to say that the Lord would be quite angry with his servants who
neglect such glorious representation and awesome responsibility.
WHAT WILL CALL FOR A “WELL DONE” FROM HIM
The text where the Lord introduces this commendation (Mt. 25:21)
emphasizes just one attribute; faithfulness. The servant in this
parable may have had many faults and shortcomings, but his lord
rewarded him with the medal of “Well done” for his faithfulness. The
Lord makes much of this character trait; it seems this is that quality
which pleases Him most. Throughout these writings you will find
many admonitions to faithfulness. It seems that faithfulness is a
greatly lacking part of people worldwide in these last days. Even the
Lord laments,
Pr. 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own
goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
To say that the Lord is a most complex person would be an eternal
understatement, but when you examine what He requires from his
creation, and certainly for His servants, His demands are of the most
basic nature. You may not be talented, wise, intelligent, strong,
healthy, inventive, skillful, charming, or even ambulatory, but anyone
can be faithful. And for this alone comes the Divine award and invitation,
Mt. 25:21 …Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
END OF LESSON ONE
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LESSON
ONE TEST
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the refresh symbol
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then restudy this section and retake the test.
You may NOT retake the test on the same day.
Once you have passed the test, do not take it
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If you missed any questions on the test, even though you passed it, then restudy the section and find all of the correct answers to any questions that you missed. A copy of your test was sent to you with the correct answers on it. You may use that for comparison purposes to make sure you have found the correct answers in the textbook.
THE MAN OF THE MINISTRY
Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up
the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should
not destroy it: but I found none.
When the task of the ministry is needed the Lord looks for a man
Ezek. 22: 30 “And I sought for a man among them,”.
The assignment is given secondarily, because if a man can be found, the
nature of the assignment makes little difference
“that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for
the land, that I should not destroy it:”
But how painfully often is the truth of this last phrase to be the
case “…but I found none.” Look at the spiritual conditions existing in
Ezekiel’s day, when it was said the Lord could find no man.
The ministry is a manly art. All the preachers in the Bible were
men; but not all the men of the Bible were preachers. All the
preachers of the Bible were men first. There is a serious lack of
preachers in our land today because there is a serious lack of men.
Gladys Aylward, missionary to China, gave a testimony which will help
on this subject. “I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done in
China. I don’t know who it was. It must have been some well educated
man. I don’t know what happened. Perhaps he died.
Perhaps he wasn’t willing and God looked down and saw Gladys
Aylward. And God said, ‘Well, she’s willing.’” If you are a saved man
who is hesitant, reluctant or just simply not willing to exercise your
manhood for the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, just remember,
there is a good woman standing by, and the Lord is not above using
her to replace you.
The rod of manliness will also measure the spiritual condition of
any nation. The preacher we all should study and follow here is the
man Christ Jesus. Rid your mind of the movie image of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Hollywood uses a French dictionary when they attempt
to define manhood, so do not trust what you see. “[F]aith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)
With the absence of men, and consequently the absence of
preachers, comes the deterioration of the fabric of any society.
Observe what lie ahead for Israel in Isaiah’s day when he prophesied
the existence of no mighty man, nor man of war, no judge, or prophet,
no prudent or ancient men, no captain of fifty, and no honorable man,
no manly counselor, no cunning artificer, and no eloquent orator. He
said when that takes place, children will run things, babes will make
national decisions and women shall rule. The Lord says, “In this evil
case the people are oppressed and Jerusalem is ruined.”
If you are looking for a way to make use of your manhood, don’t
run for political office, don’t join the Peace Core, don’t argue for Green
Peace or civil rights; embrace the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The ministry will produce, demand and use all of the manhood you
may ever be able to muster, and you will be fulfilled thereby in your
gender. It doesn’t take a man to sin; any wimp can sin. It takes a
man to live righteously and serve the Lord.
If you are a saved man, you were saved for a specific purpose.
Paul said this in Acts 26:16, “…for this purpose” and that purpose is
to minister. I believe the Lord chose His words carefully here in 2 Cor.
5:17, “[I]f any man be in Christ,”; the text further reveals this man as
having a “ministry of reconciliation” and as having received a
commitment of “the word of reconciliation.” This man is crowned an
“ambassador for Christ” and God, through this man beseeches His
enemies to “be… reconciled to God.” This is the universal calling,
commissioning, and crowning of all men in Christ.
In the testimony of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, notice that Paul
asked the Lord two questions, and only two questions. In fact, those
are the only questions Paul ever asked the Lord during his entire
ministry; a ministry filled with many difficult happenings and things
hard to understand. Paul asked in verse 5, “Who art thou Lord?” The
Lord most kindly and fully revealed himself to the serious inquirer.
The Lord is always pleased to fully reveal himself to any serious
inquirer. Paul, having been satisfied with this identification then asks
in verse 6, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” The first question is
salvation; the second is service. This is the perfect way for us to come
into the ministry, without a pre-designed life, without qualifications,
without any further need for clarification. If you ever truly find out
who He really is--the Creator, Alpha, Omega, Saviour, Redeemer,
Judge, Commissioner, Director, Protector, Provider, Co-Labourer,
Wisdom-giver, Sanctifier, Joy, Empowerer, and Rewarder,-- then there
is no need for any further question. And if there seems to be a need
for further questions, then you really don’t fully know who He is. Life
can be very simple if you make Him a two-question God.
If you would like a quick test of your manhood in Christ Jesus,
just ask to be caught away in the spirit and pre-incarnated into the
man named Abijah, recorded in 2 Chron. 13. This great king of Judah
took the high ground with his formidable army of four hundred
thousand chosen men and took the occasion to publickly preach to
his enemy Jereboam, and his army of eight hundred thousand chosen
men. Can you add? That is one million, two hundred thousand men.
Man, is it ever time to preach…and he did. He had spent time in his
study, for he knew his history, current events, God’s laws, and
personalities involved. Abijah rehearsed these in the ears of his men
and his enemies, he gave a brief invitation in verse 12 and in that
invitation told Jerboam where all the major exits were located from
which they could quickly vacate the parade grounds. God honoured
this spiritual manliness and gave them a victory that was thought
impossible. Abijah was a man and made the most of a once in a
lifetime ministerial opportunity. Certainly, I cannot know that I would
play the man in a similar situation but I like to lick my lips as I dream
of it.
To my knowledge only Moses preached to more people at any
single gathering. The size of the crowd does not make or break a man,
but rather reveals the man. Jesus was moved with compassion when
He saw the multitudes (Mt. 9:36). A man might examine himself by
asking the question, “What happens inside me when I see the
multitudes? Am I moved with compassion? Would I prefer to identify
myself as a peculiar person belonging to Jesus Christ by preaching
here, or do I desire to belong to that multitude?”
Jeremiah reenlisted upon sight of his enemies, that is, the enemies
of the Lord, as they defamed him, evilly reported him, and watched for
his halting, in hopes of prevailing against him to put a swift end to his
ministry. Oh, ever make me this kind of man. Amen! Ezekiel was
preaching to a multitude of his enemies when one dropped dead in the
middle of his sermon (Ezek. 11:13). After a brief prayer he took a deep
breath and said, “As I was saying, before I was so rudely
interrupted…”. Would you care to try that frock on for size, Fonzie? If
you’re not sure you would fit into that manly garment then take the
Joab challenge to play the man for God until you can be a man…it
won’t take long.
Bringing this challenge closer to our era, John Pollock wrote in his
excellent biography of George Whitefield, the story of Whitefield
renting a booth in which to preach at a fair. Not far distant was a
booth, which dared men to try their bare fists against professional
bruisers for prize money. The bruisers decided to have some fun with
George and came and began to shake the flimsy table upon which he
preached. Whitefield, not being a naturally burly-type preacher, was a
bit shaken, along with the table. But George’s wife stood bravely
beneath him tugging on his robe and urging him, “Play the man for
God, George: play the man for God.” …………He did……………
Bringing this challenge still closer to center stage, may I enter
from the wings and tell my story? In the heart of Portland, Oregon is
one city block given to a public park named Pioneer Square. This is a
gathering place for the general public but at lunch the yuppies use it
for brown-bagging and in the evening the lovers smooch while street
people await an open bench. I, and a pastor of a local Portland
church, read in the news that there was to be a rock concert in
Pioneer Square but also that the laws would demand that it conclude
at ten PM. There were an estimated five thousand enemies of the Lord
gathered at 9:30 PM. While other Christians passed tracts, I looked
for the right location for a street meeting. At one end of the park there
was a high water fountain flanked by stairs leading to another street
level where one could delight in specialty coffee shops and deli’s. With
some effort but without danger, I climbed nearly to the top of this
fountain and positioned myself 50 feet above the main body of the
enemy. There was only one way up and my back was against solid
concrete. At the stroke of ten PM the M.C. said goodnight, the lights
went out, the audience fell silent and I opened with, “THE BIBLE
SAYS…” I preached full steam and unhindered for a full twenty
minutes until the crowd finally dispersed. His Spirit testified to my
spirit that I had played the man.
Over the entrance of the Lord’s worldwide headquarters for
evangelism and ministry hangs a massive banner that states;
|
HELP WANTED MINISTERS OF ALL TYPES TOOLS PROVIDED AMPLE STARTING PAY REWARDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD RETIREMENT INQUIRE WITHIN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER |
The banner is never removed, for there are always openings for
those who desire to serve the Lord. The demand is ever present but
the supply is always short. When General Douglas MacArthur headed
the occupation of Japan following the Second World War, he called on
the mission boards of America to send two thousand missionaries
immediately to Japan. That nation could have been influenced for the
gospel at that vulnerable time. The boards informed him there were
not that many who were willing to go. What is the consequence of this
lack of ministers?
Rom. 10: 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU REFUSE THE DUTY
1 Cor. 9: 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of:
for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the
gospel!
Paul said in the next verse that a dispensation of the gospel
was committed unto him. There is a duty that the Lord, in his master
plan, has assigned to you. The servant whom the Lord specially
equipped to accomplish that duty can best perform this particular
duty. We know not all the duties assigned to us, nor can we foresee
how we may succeed in them. We must only display a willing
readiness of heart to obey to the best of our ability and wait upon the
opportunity. In and of ourselves, we are completely without capability
to accomplish even the most trivial of assignments. (John 15:5) But,
we must do all things through Christ (Phil. 4:13) and in this way we
cannot fail.
To disobey the calling to the ministry is to incur the discipline of
the Master. To disobey is to hear the “woe” from the lips of the
Master. To disobey is to deny the ministry of the Lord through you, to
those in need. To disobey is to neglect your watch post (Ezek. 3:18).
To disobey is to stand before the Lord with the guilt of the blood of the
needy upon your hands. To disobey is to miss the fulfillment of the
abundant life and to die without the testimony of the apostle Paul.
2 Tim. 4: 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith:
Jonah ran from the ministry and God ran after him but only for a
while; and notice where the Lord found him when Jonah surrendered.
His attitude did not change and in chapter four of Jonah the Lord
allowed him to quit the ministry. Woe is unto Jonah at his judgment.
Don’t count on the Lord running after you.
THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU ACCEPT THE DUTY
You represent the Lord Jesus Christ. As His ambassador, (2 Cor.
5:20) the communications you make in His name will be the first
impressions these subjects will have of their King. If you let some
warp, it will only remain for their pursuit within His Word to
straighten that imperfection. This is a hard thing. What impeccable
conduct must accompany an ambassador of the King of Kings. More
will be said on this in the chapter on the manner of the ministry.
To accept the duty is but to acknowledge the fact that you have,
upon salvation, relinquished all rights over your own body.
1 Cor. 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in
your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Cor. 7: 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
You no longer can do your pleasure, except it be His also. You are His
minister, His servant, His ambassador, His personal representative,
and you must please Him.
Whether actual or fiction, the following preacher’s story will serve
to illustrate the above paragraph.
A gentleman was sitting quietly alone in the club car of a traveling
train. He was perfectly content to enjoy the passing scenery until
another passed by and noticed his amusement. This second man
asked, “Sir would you enjoy a game of cards?”
To which the first replied, “Oh yes, very much indeed.” They sat
across from each other at the table and agreed upon the game and the
rules. The cards were dealt and the second man picked his cards up
and began to sort them and make his judgments, when he observed
that the first man’s cards remained face down upon the table.
“Um, I thought you said you would enjoy a game?” said the second
man.
“Oh yes, I truly would, except that I have no hands,” said the first
man. Terribly embarrassed, the second man exclaimed,
“I am truly sorry, for I did not know…I offer my sincere apology
and trust you were not insulted at my offer.” The first man offered a
further explanation as he held up his hands,
“I do honestly want to play cards, as I was a professional gambler
before I became a child of God, but now that I am saved my body
belongs to my Lord and Master Jesus Christ. These are His hands,
and I can no longer do my own pleasure with them.”
SPEAKING THE WORDS OF THE LORD
When an ambassador speaks, he has no liberty to insert his own
views or opinions. He cannot even make recommendations for the
negotiations. He can only speak as a representative for his Superior.
2 Cor. 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God:
but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in
Christ.
1 Thess. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard
of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The O.T. prophets were forever prefacing their preaching with,
“THUS SAITH THE LORD…” The world is much cankered by, “Well, I
think…,” “My guess would be…,” “The majority opinion is…”. The
world is very much in need of more, “THUS SAITH THE LORD…” Read
in Job 32 the Lord’s response to Elihu’s opinion. The Lord doesn’t
give it the value of His response. The man of the ministry has no right
to his opinion; he speaks the Word of God.
END OF LESSON TWO
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