As a Christian, it is our belief that Jesus Christ died for our salvation and ascended into Heaven, only to return again someday to reign. This is such a magnificent thing for all of creation but only beneficial to those that bring Jesus into their life.
So, let's say that you're saved. You've repented of your sins and asked God to make you a new creature through Christ. Okay, great! But your work is not done. All Christians are called to minister and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Webster's 1828 dictionary defines ministry as:
n. [L. ministerium.] The office, duties or functions of a subordinate agent of any kind.
1. Agency; service; aid; interposition; instrumentality.
2. Ecclesiastical function; agency or service of a minister of the gospel or clergyman in the modern church, or of priests, apostles and evangelists in the ancient. Acts 1. Rom.12. 2 Tim.4. Num.4.
So essentially, a ministry is an agency that is meant to aid or provide assistance to others, in the service of someone higher. In the service of our Lord Jesus Christ, the world has seen priests, evangelical preachers, and other types of ministers travel the world, setting up foundations in a multitude of countries. This Christian Ministry is a calling that is different for each person. One person may be called to be a musician and create songs/albums for God. Others are called to preach in a church or on the streets. Some, like me, feel that their call to ministry is through writing.
But why is it so important that we, as Christians, let others know about the Gospel of Christ and the salvation that is ready for them to receive.
Looking at some scripture should help...
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith unto 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.
-St. John 21:14-16
Jesus went on to ask Simon Peter three more times to profess his love, and then he said to him, "Feed my sheep." What does this mean? It means, take care of those that Jesus loves, including those that sin against Him. It is a calling to carry on with the work Jesus had set out to do: save mankind. If it were not for these first few disciples listening to the Jesus, the Ministry of Christ would not have been born and it would not have reached us 2,000 years later.
God wants us to care for each other and save one another. He doesn't want us to be selfish, judgmental, and fearful of non-believers. As I heard on a Christian program yesterday, Jesus didn't come to make us safe from darkness...He came to make us dangerous to it. He wants us to be able to step right up and proclaim God's Word and speak against the evil.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
-James 4:7
As co-heirs in Christ to the promise of eternal life, a Christian should be able to speak the Word of God and defeat anything that comes against them.
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
-Isaiah 54:17
This verse tells us that by serving God, we are protected against anything that is set out to harm us, as long as we hold onto and believe in His Word. I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty awesome to me! Therefore, we are reminded to serve God and serving God is done by listening to the request of Jesus Christ. We must set out on our own individual journeys to let others know what God has done for them, what Christ's blood offers them: salvation a.k.a. eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Going back to the Book of James...
Brethren if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
-James 5:19-20
It is a great thing as James writes, to convert a sinner from a life of tribulation and misery to a life filled with the Holy Ghost. It is not just an optional part of being a Christian, it is something amazing that God wants you to do! He wants us to hide a multitude of sins, or in other terms, allow someone that chance to let Jesus free them of their sin.
Furthermore, the Book of Luke, Chapter 15, tells the story of the prodigal son, who had left home and spent his inheritance on vain, lustful things, only to return home poor. However, his choice to return home was met well with his father welcoming him home with open arms and rejoicing for his son (had been lost) was now found. What a beautiful ending to a story that could've turned out so tragic.
That being said, if you have that lost sense of feeling, you always have a choice to return home. The Lord loves all of His creation. He will rejoice even if one person is returned home.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
-St. Luke 15:32
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
-St. Matthew 18:12-14
Therefore, their is great importance in becoming a part of the Christian Ministry in some way. This does not mean you have to give your life to the church and set up rules and boundaries for yourself (much like some denomations make their clergymen do).
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times soem shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
-1 Timothy 4:1-3
As these verses state, it is okay to marry and be a part of the faith. It is also shown here that it is okay to eat all types of meat and food whenever one pleases as long as you give God praise and thanksgiving for it. Thus, reverting back to the importance of ministering the Gospel, it essential to become involved in some way. There is a great reward and protection for those that serve the Lord. However, we must all be careful not to show judgment against others, lest we be judged ourselves.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
-St. Matthew 7:4
In other words, don't be so quick to notice others faults, if you are guilty yourself of other faults. It is better to not judge, but pray and hope that those you preach to and those you minister to will hear the Word of God and believe it and receive it. It is better to pray to the Lord for others' salvation than to call other people on their sins, one by one. However, it is even greater to show kindness, mercy, and love to others as Christ would want us to. He wants us to feed his sheep, his lambs. That is what true ministry is about: showing compassion for people so that they may know about the goodness of God. It all winds down to love in the end. Show love and you will reach the hearts of many and convert those that have gone astray.
Praise the LORD!
God bless and have a wonderful day!
***All red-lettered print above are the actual Words of Jesus, our Lord***
***All scripture taken from the Authorized 1611 King James Version of the Bible***
No comments:
Post a Comment