Three ministries
One ministry feeds those gathered. Bellies full, they will return for more.
One ministry supplies justice for those who thirst for authority.
One ministry offers the truth, and the sufferance for it.
---
I have witnessed the development of all three. I have seen that each does scatter seeds, and each does bring believers. But, I have noticed that two are based on a desire to maintain their ministry, and one is based solely on faithful acts. All three have struggles, all three do in lesser proportions what the other two do. But, in the end, which is more correct?
---
John 6:28,29
28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
---
If I feed you, because you are in need, I do so because the love of God works through me. But if I feed you to supply you with hope, and I say I am doing God's work, I am a liar. The bread of life is the Truth. Salvation of the soul is what supplies hope placed in God.
If I protect you with my authority to give you leverage in the world, I do so because the love of God works through me. But if you become confident in my protection, and I say I am doing God's work, I am a liar. You should thirst for the eternal authority of Life. Mediation of the soul is where your faith in God is answered.
If I have nothing, and am nothing without God, there is nothing the body or the world gains from me. If I desire to do God's work, I do so because I love Him. If I do God's work, I do so because the love of God works through me for others. So if you come to me, or I come to you; seeking the Truth, or understanding of Life, I can only show you the Way. The path of Christ is based completely in Love.
Amen
---
For money
1 Corinthians 9:11,12
11
If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
12
If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
---
Wages of ministry are legitimate. I you minister the gospel, it is commanded that you receive your wage from it. But this does not mean you should have expectations, or place yourself above the others whom you are serving. Paul and Barnanbas both knew they could receive pay, but did not take it, or ask for it, or expect it. They did this for reasons of eternal reward, having put the work of God first in all aspects.
---
1 Corinthians 9:23-27
23
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
26
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
27
No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
---
For authority
Acts 8:18-23
18
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
19
and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21
You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22
Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
23
For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
---
Simon sought power. Authority is a form of power that others are witness to, and celebrate. People celebrate authority because it supplies them with a sense of protection. So they place their confidence in it.
Peter and John had the power to grant believers with the Holy Spirit. This was possible, because they had been given eternal authority to do so. That authority was granted to them because they served God by doing His work. Selfless in this authority, they Holy Spirit was supplied to those who repented and denied themselves because of their belief in the Truth which is Christ.
Today, eternal authority is not found in those who claim they have it. These authorities are worldly and based on a desire to control the development of worldly identity. The use the name of Christ like a banner. They promote their desire to protect, and develop their ideals in others. This is morality. The eternal authority does not supply human morality, it is instead based on Truth. And Truth is rooted in Love.
Amen
---
For Love
John 6:35
35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
---
We are not here to change the world. We are not here to prosper, nor to gain. We are here to live drunk in our darkness, and die of it. We are surrounded by things we must overcome to survive. We will do anything to survive, and that always creates cost. Any relief we find, we will return to. This is the human animal. We are opportunistic, and survivalist.
Love is spiritual. Its fruit are spiritual. God is spiritual, and so is His authority. When we are doing God's work, we are bringing souls into an understanding. What is supplied it the Truth. Faith in this Truth, finds a soul denying its body what it desires. Love does not feed it's neighbor, but instead, a soul that loves works through, finds; treating others as they have been treated, glorifies the Father through His Truth. This is an act of faith, and this glorifies the spiritual aspects of Love. God is Love.
---
Romans 12:10,11
10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
---
Hate what money does. Do not look to supply protection or personal development by any form of man-made morality, culture, or social agenda. These things are not what feeds a soul that is hungry, or, satisfies the thirst of a soul. Satisfy the soul with the spiritual.
---
Colossians 3:17
17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
---
In closing my brothers, do not be quick to judge one another. We all have a journey to make in ministry. Do not fall into piety so you look down on each other. Do not fall into envy so you condemn the acts another makes. Do not fall into pride, that will leave behind the Truth which you carry. Instead, encourage one another. Allow yourself to celebrate the good works that comes through each other's ministry.
John 6:28,29
28
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Amen. Glory to God. Amen.
-
No comments:
Post a Comment