The lightning like speed with which this tragically deceived, tormented generation plunges toward an eternity without God; wrenches from the heart of every concerned saint any desire for gospel games or spiritual amusements. Leaving in its place only a lonely crying out to know where went the power of Pentecost; and the profundity of its gospel witness.There are 18 separate verses, in the New Testament, that speak to us about ministry, using the word ‘ministry’...
Excerpt from The Power Witness, Mark Hanby, circa 1970
THE MINISTRY:
Acts 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
Acts 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Acts 21:19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Romans 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
1 Corinthians 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, ye (know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
Ephesians 4:11-12 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:
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.
1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Hebrews 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
LET ME SAY FIRST OF ALL...EVERY SAINT OF GOD HAS A MINISTRY…EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US...
And you and I will stand in the Judgment some day with the fruit of our ministries or the lack thereof, and give account to a great and awesome God, as to our handling of the part of ministry that he has placed into our hands...
However, in all these scriptural nuggets concerning ‘the ministry’, there are only 2 passages out of the 18, which actually tell us what ‘the ministry’ is and give us clear insight into a real-time, day-to-day approach as to how to perform that ministry.
TEXTS:
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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.
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION!
Let me take the time to back up here for just a bit and lay a foundation that we can stand on from the Word of the Lord. First of all, we need to know the answer to the question, “What is the Gospel?”
MINISTRY: WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
(Theologically) 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
According to the apostle Paul, the Gospel, or “the Good News” is the Death, the Burial, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He indicates in this passage in Corinthians that it is what we stand in by faith; it is the very thing that saves us…unless we have believed in vain. But that begs the question then, “How do I apply that Truth to my own life?”
(Practical Application) Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent (death to sin), and be baptized (buried) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (the resurrected life in Christ).
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
I become identified with Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection...or as Paul stated in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ...", retro-actively in the New Birth experience when I repent, am Water Baptized, and then am filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
And the understanding that ties those 2 powerful passages of scripture together is what Paul wrote in Romans chapter 8...
(Connection) Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:10-11 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
MINISTRY: WHAT IS RECONCILIATION?
Definition: Merriam-Webster
1a: to restore to friendship or harmony
b: settle, resolve
2: to make consistent or congruous
3a: to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy
b: to account for
Strong’s Lexicon tells us:
1) Exchange
a. Of the business of money changers, exchanging equivalent values
2) Adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor
a. In the NT, the restoration of the favor of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ
JESUS’ MINISTRY:
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE.
THE ONLY MINISTRY FOUND WITHIN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS...
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION!
And the two-pronged method of fulfilling that ministry in our lives is…
- Intercessory prayer for the reconciliation of all men and women to God…
- Sharing, or testifying of the Gospel of the grace of God…
(It is NOT sin, or lukewarmness, or backsliding, etc.)
Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
(Hebrew) Shamem (shaw’ mame) – translated as WONDERED (to be appalled, stunned, stupefied, numbed, causing horror, to be deserted, to be devastated, to be amazed, to be struck dumb, to be astounded)
According to Isaiah, when God cannot find any one of us to intercede in prayer for His lost world...and we cannot, or will not reach out with His same heart of compassion for lost, lonely, wounded and hurting people...the same way someone reached out for us...God is appalled, stunned, stupefied, numbed, horrified, devastated, struck dumb, and astounded!!
If I am not involved in the reconciliation of lost people to Jesus Christ...
And/or the restoration of fallen brothers and sister back to right standing with Jesus Christ…
Then I have no part in New Testament ministry...and I really need to take my sign down.
How can I call myself a Christian if I don’t love His lost world enough to die daily in prayer for it?!!
How can I call myself a Christian if I “just can’t talk to people about Jesus”, because I’m too embarrassed...
How can I call myself a Christian if I cannot bother myself to be a part of reconciling a fallen brother or sister back to right relationship with God?!!
IT AIN’T ROCKET SCIENCE, MY FRIEND!!
WE PRAY FOR PEOPLE AND TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS
WE PRAY FOR PEOPLE AND TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS
WE MODEL HIM IN FRONT OF THEM
WE GLORIFY HIM IN THEIR HEARING
WE LIVE IT AND TELL IT
They said in Acts 4:20, “We can only tell what we've seen and heard.”
AND THEY TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN!!!
Acts 8:1-4 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
It is NOT just the preacher’s job!
In Acts 8, everyone got scattered out from Jerusalem, EXCEPT THE APOSTLES! And verse 4 says, “they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
Too many of us have allowed the devil and our own laziness to rob us of our VOICE!!
In the prayer closet of intercession for a hurting world…
And on the street; telling that lonely, hurting world of a Savior who can bring them healing and peace in a world that has gone to the limits and beyond in degradation and debauchery!
Let me say again...EVERY CHILD OF GOD HAS A MINISTRY...every single one of us...
Ministry is merely the outflow of a healthy spiritual life...
And we will account to God, for “the power of Pentecost; and the profundity of its gospel witness.”
And what we’ve done with it...
