“Concerning Ministers”

By Brother Kenneth Ray

October 9^th, 2011

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How are you doing this morning?  If we call ourselves ministers, then we should ask ourselves frequently, “How am I doing?”  Don’t bother to ask if you are worthy—none of us are worthy—but understand that you are worth it; Jesus wouldn’t have died for us if we weren’t worth it.  A minister is not just the person in the pulpit.

According to Strong’s concordance:  ὑπηρέτης (hypēretēs)—from <G5259> (hupo) and a derivative of eresso (to row); an under-oarsman, i.e. (general) subordinate (assistant, sexton, constable) :- minister, officer, servant.

According to the dictionary:  a person acting for another as agent and carrying out given orders or designs. 

The orders that we have been given to carry out are God’s commandments.  You may think of a minister as being a televangelist, making a big presentation, but, really a minister has a humble job.  We are ministers of God, not ministers of the church.  The church is an organization, and, let’s be honest, even in the church we don’t do things right all the time. 

In the Book of Acts, chapter 26, we find the story of Paul speaking with King Agrippa; giving the account of his journey to Damascus.  A bright light shone round about him, and a voice in Hebrew:

 Acts 26:14-16     …I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister…

 Jesus is pricking his heart.  Jesus wants to make sure that Saul (later Paul) knows who is talking to him.  He did not tell Paul to run an organization.  We’re intended to (notice I said intended to, not that we will) get to the same place.  Some one like you or I will find a way to let God work through us to share with others. 

People have needs.  Physically and spiritually.  Sometimes you have to meet physical needs before they will listen to anything about their spiritual needs.  If someone is hungry, it’s hard to concentrate; it’s a lot easier to share Scriptures with someone who has a full stomach.  Allow God to show us these needs.

There’s a guy in the Bible that was on a rooftop, in a trance (Acts 10:10), and some people came to get some needs met.  They were not the sort of people he was supposed to be hanging around with, but God said, it’s okay—go ahead and go with them; I’ll take care of this. 

On a rowing team, there is one captain and a lot of rowers.  When the captain says row, we are supposed to take it on faith, and row.  The rowers cannot see their destination; they’re facing the other direction.  They have to trust their captain.  Our captain is Jesus, and we can’t se what He sees.

 A minister must have focus:

 A minister’s focus is on what Jesus reveals and guides him with: A burning bush (Exodus 3:2), a donkey (Numbers 22:20-33), a cloud, a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21), whatever it is.  In order to do this, a minister must set time aside—yes, I know that we all have busy schedules—but take time to talk with God, complain to God (yes, I said complain to God), ask question of, and wait for a reply from Jesus.  There have been a lot of changes lately; why so many?  If I ask you why, you’re not going to give me the answer I need.  If I ask God why, He knows why, and maybe He’ll tell me.  In the movie, ‘Miracle,’ there’s a line where the coach says that for everything he does, there’s a reason.  Well, everything that God does, there’s a reason.  You have to ask Jesus questions sometimes.

What’s in your wallet?  Do you have a little piece of plastic in your wallet or purse?  I’m talking about an ordination card (holding his up so that everyone can see it).  You don’t need this to be a minister.  Actions of faith and availability make me a minister.  You can have an ordination card and do absolutely nothing, but you won’t be a minister.  You can also sit in a boat and hold an oar, but if you don’t do anything with that oar, then you aren’t an oarsman.

 Titus 2:1          But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

 1 Corinthians 1:10      …all speak the same thing…

 The Bible tells us to all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions amongst us, and that we all have the same judgment.  Let’s talk about judgment:  As a minister, we judge, not by our standards, but by God’s Word.  This is because a minister has pride, feelings, hurts, and expectations, just like anyone else.

Satan was the most beautiful angel that God made.  He caused a revolt, and desired to be the king of Heaven.  He would love nothing better than to convince you to stop being a rower; get up out of that seat, and take the Captain’s seat—or get out of the boat altogether.  He would love for you to decide that you aren’t going to row any more because one of the other rowers hurt your feelings.

 A minister is under attack:

 1 John 4:1        …believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…

Sometimes you will get bent out of shape because you will get a thought in your head.  Something like, “Not that I’m somebody, but it was my idea,” because somebody else did something, and it didn’t turn out like you thought it would—not that there’s anything wrong with what they did, they just didn’t do it the way you wanted it done.  “No one appreciates me.”  “Everything is changing, it’s not like it used to be.”  Anybody familiar with football?  What do they call the guys on a football team? players.  New players can be drafted (in the NFL) or recruited (in the NCAA).  Either way, if the right players can get added to the roster, the team can get a lot stronger.  The Detroit Lions have been pretty much a doormat for a long time, but this season they’re undefeated.  The question isn’t, “How can I avoid change?” but “What’s my part in the change?”

Hope is not found in your brothers of sisters.  Or me.  Or Pastor Paine. Or Pastor Thomas.  Hope is in God, and in His promises.  Try this:  get a notepad, and every time you make a reference to someone that you have learned something from, write down their name.  See if you have been learning from people, or from God.  I know that there are a lot of things that I have learned in this ministry because God was working through my brothers and sisters, but, ultimately, God was doing the teaching.  I have heard people say, “I will follow that man to the gates of Hell.”  But you shouldn’t be following a man.  God’s Word is God’s Word.  It applies, and as ministers we should be tapped into that source.

A minister must confirm:

Romans 15:8   …Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises…

A minister is not self-centered:

He or she knows that our payment or joy does not come from the world, the things in it, or the people around us.  God is the source of our joy, understanding, and strength.  In this life, we get ‘per diem’—something each day to live on.  When we fill out the travel voucher at the end of our journey, then we will receive our full payment of joy, mansion, streets of gold, and victory.

To those who will become ministers:  Make Jesus your Captain; keep Him there; keep rowing; communicate with your brothers and sisters in victory and in offense, and, when we pull this ship into port, our joy will be full, and your joy in Christ will be fuller.

            Sermon notes by Pete Shepherd