Ministry redefined

 

When we speak of Ministry in Christian circles, people directly think of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, bishops, priests, praise and worship leaders, prison or hospital chaplains, intercessors etc. For them this is being in the ministry or having a ministry.

However, ministry is generally the profession or duties of a priest or a minister of religion; and the performance of these duties. Yet, the Bible says that every Christian is a priest of the Most High God (1Pe 2:9, Rev 1:6). This means that we are all concerned by the ministry and are all God’s ministers. What does this mean in practice?

According to Wikipedia, ministry is also a Christian activity done to spread or express the faith. The Wiktionary, which defines a minister as someone who serves others, also defines it as the action of ministering to someone. Bearing this in mind, we can now better understand the following verse:

Col 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

EVERYTHING we do is a way of serving Christ. Every job we have; every task or charge we fulfil and every service rendered to others is a way of serving the Lord: it is ministry.

When I get up in the morning and go to work, I go to do my job to the best of my abilities; not because of the fear of losing my job or a desire to impress my boss; but because my true boss is the One who gave me that job and in fact, it is therefore God that I serve. In so doing, I exercise my ministry; that is to say, the responsibility or office which the Lord has entrusted to me.

When I cook some food for my family or friends, I have to give special care to it because in reality, through them, it is JESUS ​​CHRIST whom I serve: I am ministering.

I will go even further. When I wash, dress, eat or even rest, it is also ministry in a way; because my body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19) and therefore, when I take care of this temple, I serve the Lord. If I indulge in drugs, excessive eating, heavy drinking or sexual immorality, I do not minister to my body, the temple of God (1Cor 3:16-17), and thus I do not serve the Lord. Not to talk about all those that I may lead astray by being a bad example.

As a matter of fact, whenever we're sensitive to the needs of those around us (at home, school, university, work, church, in the neighbourhood or the streets) and do our best to meet them, whether they represent actual persons or legal entities, we are doing the ministry, we are serving the Lord. He said indeed : “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 40 …'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'” Mat 25:35-36, 40

I do hope this has given you another perspective on the ministry and Christian life. Actually, the Christian life is to live like Christ. Yet, there is not a second of His life which was not spent ministering; and every aspect of His life was an aspect of the ministry. You've probably realised that in my mind and certainly in that of the Lord also, ministry equals service. The Christian life is a life of service. A life where we constantly give our own life as a ransom for many; and where we are regularly impoverished so that others may be enriched. And the greater we will want to become in this life and beyond, the more we will have to serve men. Did He not say, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all?" The life of a Christian is that of a permanent ministry: learning to see and recognise Christ everywhere, and hastening to serve Him every time we have recognised Him.

Have a wonderblessed week serving others.

Thoughts from the Book of Matthew (IV)

 

Mat 24:42, “Watch; for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.” Beyond the Lord's return or the rapture, this is an exhortation to vigilance because God can surprise us positively (and not only negatively) at any moment. He may appear unexpectedly under any disguise to bless us. If we fail to recognise Him or are not ready to receive Him like the foolish virgins (25:1-13), well, that will be our bad.

We must be even more vigilant that we do not know when our darkest hour or night of darkness will fall on us. Throughout chapters 24 and 25, Jesus repeatedly insisted on the need to be watchful. Unfortunately, His words entered in one ear and came out in the other because the guys saw no danger on the horizon; and yet… Jesus went to Gethsemane with three of them to pray; but on three occasions, He had to wake them up and remind them that it was not the time to sleep but to watch and pray (26:36-45). Had they done so, they could have understood the spiritual dimension of the events; they could have found the strength not to deny or forsake the Lord at this crucial time; and they would not have tried to use carnal weapons (cutting somebody’s ear with a sword) in a spiritual warfare. We must watch and pray because we do not know when the Lord will come or when trials will knock on our door; but one thing is sure: they will come.

Mat 26:29, “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." Oh! Will we be drinking beverages in Heaven? In Mk 12:25, Jesus told the Sadducees that after the resurrection, people will not marry again, but will be like angels in heaven. Do angels or spirits drink? Mystery, mystery of the kingdom… “In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (Jn 14:2). Oh! The Father lives in a house into which there are many mansions. Do spirits or angels live in houses? Another mystery and food for thoughts for those who imagine heaven as a dull and boring place. Seek and you shall find/understand…

Mat 26:51-53, “And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” The scene takes place at the time of the arrest of the Lord. It reminds us that we must not always call upon the heavenly hosts or call the fire down from heaven on our enemies (real or imaginary), like Boanerges, the sons of thunder (Mk 3:17). All is not resolved with a display of flesh or power. We do not have to reply to every attack, question or provocation. Indeed, when Pilate questioned Him regarding the accusations of the clergy of the time, Jesus did not answer; but He replied when asked if He was the king of the Jews (27:11-14). “There is a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak… a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (3:7, 8) In fact, Jesus goes on to ask Peter who had drawn the sword (vs. 54), “How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" He perfectly knew who He was and what was written about Him. Do you know what has been written, said or prophesied about you? Are you capable, like Jesus, to refuse to go in a certain direction or do certain things because it would be going against the fulfillment of your destiny or of a prophecy concerning you?

Mat 27:19, “While he was sitting (Pontius Pilate) on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream."” God does not speak only to Christians. He can also use dreams and visions to speak to non Christians. He did so with Pilate’s wife, the Pharaoh in Joseph’s days, Nebucadnezzar and some others. The Magi who came to worship Jesus were obviously neither Jews nor Christians; yet, God spoke to them through the vision of a Star. When we consider the sorts of channels which God can use, we must be careful throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Test everything; hold fast what is good (1Th 5.21).

God bless you!

Thoughts from the Book of Matthew (III)

 

The parable of the wedding feast [Mat 22:1-14 – the guests of honour at a prince’s wedding decline the invitation and the king sends for people who were initially unworthy to attend the event to come and replace them. As they are about to eat, he spots someone without wedding clothes amongst the guests and asks: 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' Unable to answer, the guy is tied up and thrown into the 'outer darkness.'] reminds us that it is not all to enter into the kingdom of Heaven; there is also a dressing, a code of conduct and a protocol to observe. We do not do what we want in God’s presence. We are not saved to live the life that we want and do things our way.

Mat 24.1-2, “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." This is a stern reminder of the fact that all the wonderful things that we presently admire in the world will pass away. They will all disappear one day. Jesus’ answer is an invitation to set our hearts and attention on that which is timeless.

Mat 24:12-13, “Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” I had never paid attention to the beginning of verse 12 which actually has a causal relationship with what follows. The love of many waxes cold BECAUSE iniquity increases. Come to think of it, when I look at my own life, I realise how true this is and how much I need to persevere and guard my heart. For many years I strived to live like the early Christians, widely opening my door to brethren. I thought every Christian was filled with the love of Christ and wanted to please the Lord just like me. However, after many blows, some of which even nearly costing me my life, I became disillusioned and now handle Christians with very long tweezers. Likewise, I have seen many Christians withdraw into themselves after being offended and wounded in the church: love grew cold… This is why we really need to contain lawlessness as much as possible by engaging in spiritual warfare in order to push the territorial boundaries of wicked spirits as farther away as possible.

So, Jesus announces the end to His disciples and describes its warning signs. The thing seems settled. Yet, He tells them (24:21-22): “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” In other words, although the thing is inevitable, they still have a little room for maneuvering. This gives me a brand new perspective on irremediable events and situations. I realise that God always gives me an area, however small it may be, where I can act in prayer. He tells them to pray that those calamities should not happen in winter or on a Sabbath because He knows that God will grant their request. This reminds me of when the Lord decided to punish David after the census (2 Sam 24). It was impossible to avoid the chastisement and it would have been totally pointless begging for the Lord’s mercy. However, God left him the choice of the punishment (just as Jesus left the choice of the day and season to the disciples): "Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide…" David chose the pestilence…

May God grant you Peace and Grace this week.

Thoughts from the Book of Matthew (II)

 

Parable of Jesus on workers (Ch. 20:1-16). Early in the morning a householder went out to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed with them for a denarius a day. At 9:00am, noon, 3:00pm and 5:00pm, he did the same, always agreeing with labourers for the same wages. At the end of the day, at 6:00pm, starting with the workers of the last hour, he paid them one denarius each. The others, who now expected to receive more, were also paid one denarius each. They were displeased and began to murmur (vs. 12): 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' The householder replied (vs. 13-15): 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?... I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' Honestly, what would have been your reaction? The story is old: we have a special interpretation of justice and we like to compare ourselves to others. I can hear the workers say, "It's not fair!" Why must your earnings (i.e. your value) depend on someone else’s earnings (value)? Why does it bother you that he who has only worked one hour earns as much as you do?

1. It is not your money which is ‘vainly’ spent.
2. If you think a denarius is not enough, you should have negotiated your salary differently.
3. It's not their fault that they were smarter than you in their negotiations.

Remember the prodigal son and his brother? The latter was furious to see how their father was celebrating the return of his renegade son. Was it his brother’s fault that he did not realise he was free to kill the fatted calf and invite his friends at will? Was their father not allowed to dispose of his wealth and goods as he wished? Likewise, there are people in the church who believe that because they have been Christians for donkey years, the Lord’s blessings must respect the order of arrival. They don’t find it ‘funny’ when newcomers get married, find jobs and have children before them, or when they are entrusted with the leadership positions that they have been coveting for long. Their 'Praise the Lord!' is bittersweet because: 'It's not fair.' Let’s guard and watch over our hearts. Our relationship with God is first of all personal. When Jesus told him how he was going to die, Peter inquired about the fate of another disciple. The LORD replied (Jn 21:22): "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" Let's mind our own business, our mission and our own salvation. We will have ample time in Heaven to discover what has happened to others, provided it still matters...

“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once."” (21:1-3) What assurance! There is an important spiritual key here: the world, the people and the systems will NEVER refuse you the resources that the Lord needs. Whenever it is question of the sovereign interests of the Kingdom, the provision will never lack. If you lack of x, y, z when you need it, ask yourself whether the LORD needs it as well and re-orient your prayer. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (Ja 4.3).

Next, the Lord triumphally entered into Jerusalem on that ass. If you serve as a vehicle for the Lord, you automatically partake in His glory and exaltation. The donkey on which He rode was the most honoured donkey in the region; but it was also more honoured than all the men and women who had gathered along the roads to magnify the Lord. It was covered with the disciples’ cloaks and walked on the clothes and branches (today it would be the red carpet) which had been spread on the road for by the LORD (21:7-9). Do you want glory? Carry the Lord. Do not take Him where you want, but go where He leads you.

God bless you. We will continue next week; courage: we the end is near !

Thoughts from the Book of Matthew

 

. Mat 10:29, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father (without your Father's permission, ISV).” In other words, it is God who decides that a bird must fall. This reminds me of what the Lord said in Jn 19:11: "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above." He was responding to Pontius Pilate who boasted of having the power to crucify or release Him. In other words, ‘It is from above, from the Father, that will actually come the decision to execute Me or not.' Another example is the conversation between God and Satan in Job 2:5-6. Speaking of Job, the devil said: “Stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” And God replied: "Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life." Where am I heading to? To the fact that, Christians do not like to associate God with ‘evil’ or negative experiences. When we think of God, we generally think of the 'Good Lord.' One of the most difficult and uncomfortable question for a Christian is: 'If God exists; if God is Good; why is there suffering? Why this catastrophe? Why such a crime or atrocity? Yet, God Himself said: “that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” Is 45:6-7

He is directly responsible for the light and darkness in our lives, and not just in a scientific way. He is directly responsible for our prosperity, the adverse circumstances and the contrary winds in our lives. We do not like to preach or think about these things, but that is the truth (and these are not my words). God is the One who has full control over creation (people, animals and even elements). So, ultimately, He is the One who decides of the fate of people and the universe. If things are not working in your life, community, country or on Earth, instead of wasting time blaming the politicians (who believe like Pilate that they have the power to play God) or Satan, you’d better stop and take time to inquire of the Lord, who alone is able to allow these things to befall on you. Fast, pray, ask and plead.

. Mat 11:11, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” We are familiar with this passage. Should we understand that John the Baptist is not part of the Kingdom? (Since the least in the kingdom is still greater than him –> he is not even the least in the Kingdom.) What is the meaning of these enigmatic words of the Lord? I leave it to you…

. Mat 11:27b, “No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” It seems Jesus doesn’t want to reveal the Father to everyone; does it not? Moreover, speaking of parables a bit further, He told His disciples (vs. 13:11): “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” There seems to be two categories of people: the elect and the others. This is rather disturbing as the Bible says repeatedly that there is no favouritism in God and also that His will is that all men come to the knowledge of truth. So, why this 'discrimination'?

The answer lies here (Mat 7:6-7): "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” God actually wants everybody to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth (1Tim 2:4). So, many are called, but few are chosen (Mat 22:14). We can all go to a museum or exhibition, but it's not everyone who will seek to learn more about each of the works on display. Some do not even bother reading the brief summary or description provided. They just look at them as one leafs through a picture book. It's the same with the truth that God wants us all to know. It is there before us, but as if veiled or 'protected.' It is so precious that these mysteries of the Kingdom are only revealed / detailed / explained to those who ask (like the disciples who questioned Christ about the parables while the bulk of the crowd dispersed) ; seek (by searching the Scriptures for instance) and knock (like the Canaanite woman who insisted on the issue of her daughter). That is why Jesus said the Kingdom of God is forced and that only the violent take it by force (Mat 11:12).

Pr. 25:2 says that the glory of God is to conceal things (in parables for example), and that of kings to search them out. If we want Christ to feel like revealing the Father to us, we must deserve it. We must ask, seek, knock, and love Him by keeping His commandments. He said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him…" And when Judas (not Iscariot) asked why He would manifest Himself to them, and not to the world (again the ‘discrimination’), He answered: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Jn 14:21-23. In other words, 'I will manifest Myself; and my Father and I will become intimate with those who show their love for Me by keeping my Word and my commandments.’

We will continue this next week, but until then, be and remain blessed!