Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? (2 Corinthians 3:1, ESV) The Apostle Paul found himself being scrutinized by the Corinthians, who began questioning his authority as an Apostle of Christ. That was awkward for the Apostle. He asked them Read More
Ministry
God’s Idea of the “FiveFold” Ministry
It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11–12, NET) Christ has a governing structure for His Body, often called the fivefold ministry made up Read More
Who Will Go for Us ?
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8, KJV) Isaiah had a prophetic vision of the throne room of God and heard the LORD asking “whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”. Read More
The Dangers of a Men-Pleasing Attitude
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10, KJV) Men pleasers are people who have a high priority in their lives to please other people, doing what they want, making sure their Read More
We Must Work the Works of Him that Sent Me
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work (Jn. 9:4 ESV) Jesus once met a man that was blind from birth and said to His disciples: “we must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day”. The Read More
Say to Archippus
And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it (Col. 4:17 KJV) The Apostle Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians with an instruction to deliver an intriguing message to a brother called Archippus. He says “say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry Read More
Who is a Minister?
Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6 ESV) The Apostle Paul contrasting the ministers in the Old versus the New Covenants gives us an astonishing definition of what ministry is Read More
Keep a Close Watch on Yourself
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching (1 Tim. 4:16 ESV) The Apostle Paul introduces the two broad categories of our Christian life while on the earth with the words “yourself” and “teaching.” Timothy was a Pastor, and his ministry was essentially that of preaching and teaching the Word, so “teaching” here Read More