Ministry: Is your's good or evil?
Galatians 6: 1-2 " Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such as one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ " .
What is ministry? How do we minister? Who do we minister to? Ministry is healing. We are given tools from the divine to impart a specific healing into a specific need. A human heart needs ministry, no matter how little it may seem to you, to the one in need of receiving it could be a major ordeal in their lives.
What about those who have fallen? It's not in the cards for us to start that ungodly rumor and spread the poison. We are to lift those who have fallen. I know what it's like to fall from grace and become the main subject in the rumor mill of the sainted ones. I remember the darkness that surrounded me as I struggled through my disreputable new image, just trying to find a little ray of light. Those I worshipped with in church became the enemy I did not want. My head hung low as murmurs rose and those familiar faces became askance if I entered their presence. Their lack of affection and disgust towards me was as public as the sin I had committed. My mere presence created so much tension in the midst of the Pharisees and I could feel their poison even before it left their breath. I knew I had fallen, I did'nt need to be reminded over and over again. I knew the sin I would be held accountable for. I knew I needed ministry from my fellow spiritual colleagues. I needed to be forgiven, strengthened and to be healed. But the ministry was no longer there for me. We as the body of Christ are supplied with the ministry tools of filling up empty vessels and reaching towards those who have lost the ability to pursue. We have the tool to impart what has been given to us by Christ, not by satan. Our ministry should be a place where we heal, feel, embrace, forgive and forget, become the strength, the provider, the helper, the mender. Our ministry should be all things good that is worthy to impart into those who need us. But for those who live in the illusion of their own self competence, how can you even breathe grace and recognize the power of forgiveness that our Father God has for each and every one of us?
It does not matter who you are, how stately you've become or how rank you are in sin, every person lives with some regret or shame because of bad choices whether it be grand or minute. God is faithful to forgive so why can't we forgive as God forgives? If you're not in the forgiving buisness, then your ministry is everything but good. You are operating under satan's ministry. Study Galatians 6: 1-2. Embrace the words before you and follow Christ and your ministry will shine with goodness as a diamond facets it's brilliance with just a hint of light. Let your ministry be of a good report...
Article submitted Wednesday, April 14, 2010 & read 174 times.
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» left by Mark Parsec (1 year 301 days ago.)
Hi MJ,It is great to hear from you. This is a wonderful article. I would like to see more like these here at Blogz. You are so right about the need for forgiveness in ministry. I think it is something we all not only need to be reminded of frequently, but we need to practice it daily.God bless you,MarkRespond to this comment
» left by Kathleen Williams (1 year 300 days ago.)
The word says to rebuke those who have sinned so that others will see and know not to do the same. I don't see any of that at all in Churches. I do see the gossip, rumors and such which don't accomplish any thing.What do you do about those who have fallen into the same sin over and over? We have been dealing with someone like that for many years.........well I say that I am finish with them and have turned them over to God......there is nothing else that I can do for them. They never truly repent. For those who have repented I say praise God and pray that they go forward instead of going backwards. We have grace to keep us from sinning not so that we can remain in sin. People do get that confused.Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 299 days ago.)
Hi kathleen,
Let me begin by asking you this question. How many times does Jesus forgive? In his mathmatical equation he says, "seventy times seven". (Luke 17:3) Yes, the word does say to rebuke those who have fallen into sin. It does not mean to put them on trial, we do not get nasty or hurtful with the sinner. A clear rebuke means " this relationship or this person is important to me". Restoration should be done in a spirit of gentleness. What about bearing one another's burdens? Do we stop after one or two or even three times? NO one is perfect except Christ, and when there are people, well there will be sin. And when there is gossip and rumors you better believe it does accomplish something. It accomplishes sin in the body of Christ. In Matthew 18:21 "If you do not forgive men their sins ( sins is plural) your Father will not forgive you your sins"( again sins is plural).
You are not God and you cannot say that this person you have given up on never truly repented of sin. Their repentance could have been genuine, but they resorted to a lifestyle that they cannot change on their own. It seems to me you had their back in their blind spots and when they fell. This person evidently needs to be restored, not ignored! You had their back then what about now? In all honesty, why would you give up on them now? Satan is the author of confusion and he tries to trap people with guilt and tell them they cannot be forgiven. This person may be dealing with this guilt, or they may be dealing with weakness. Maybe they have not completely died to themselves to allow God to be the center of their life. We are not meant to "quit" one another. God went as far as sending his only begotten son to die for us. God did not "quit" us! So why should we be finished with someone because of sin? Grace is made possible through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We do not deserve grace. Grace does'nt keep you from sinning neither does mercy. But by grace we will find repentance through the wonderful mercies of God.
Be blessed and I pray your "someone" you've been dealing with will be restored and forgiven by all...
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» left by Arthur Johnson (1 year 297 days ago.)
Wonderful article!The Bible says in 2 Timothy, "Study to show thyself approved onto God. A workman need not be ashamed. Righty dividing the word of truth".You have truthfully divided the word of truth in this article. God Bless!Respond to this comment