Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Dec 15th More Than Just Preaching

Today’s Passages – 2 Thessalonians 1 – 1 Timothy 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 71 – 75; Proverbs 15)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 119:105

Read the “1215 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;” (1 Timothy 1:12)

I have always been very fond of this verse. Paul knew that he had been given an awesome privilege when God called him into the ministry, and I am very conscious of the fact that my calling is just as special and important as Paul’s. I notice also from this verse that Paul didn’t say that God called him because of his qualifications except for the one thing that God found in him, which was faithfulness. God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called and He often calls those He finds faithful.

Paul’s words remind us that ministry isn’t earned by merit but received as a gift—and with it comes great responsibility. So, what does it really mean to be “in the ministry”? What does a minister do? Is it just standing in a pulpit delivering a sermon on Sunday morning? My friend, it is so much more than that. Let me share with you some thoughts regarding what the ministry entails:

1. The Ministry Is About People– People have all kinds of problems and needs. A true minister of God does not use people as to fulfill his desires or goals; rather a minister recognizes that he is called of God to serve the people and to give them what they need spiritually so they can have the very best of God’s blessings upon their life. A minister does not try to be God to the people but rather tries to bring the people closer to God.

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” (2 Cor 12:15)

2. The Ministry is About Prayer– Many of us in ministry must confess that prayer is the area we most need to grow in. According to Acts 6, the apostles felt that their primary duties were “to give [themselves] continually unto prayer, and the ministry of the word.”  That would be a pretty good starting point for preachers today. We need to pray for our people, our churches, our communities, and our country.

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

3. The Ministry Is About Perspiration– There is work to be done. The Bible says that the office of a Bishop is a good “work.” Many full-time servants of God are lazy. They get up late, eat too much, and go home early. It will take a lot of work to be effective as a minister. There is soulwinning, visitation, hospital visits, administrative work, counseling, cleaning, planning, building, etc. Preachers ought to be up early and on the job before the world gets up. Satan never stops working to advance his agenda.

“7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thess 3:7–10)

4. The Ministry Is About Preparation– The pastor should spend hours in the study, preparing to feed the flock that God has entrusted them with. His people deserve fresh bread from Heaven that came directly out of time spent with God in study and in prayer. Sometimes, it is easy to get lazy in preparation. We can quickly throw some “fast food” together to serve our people but God expects more out of His ministers. Work, pray, and study so that God’s people will be fed gourmet meals from the pulpit each week.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)

I hope that you can see now that the ministry consists of so much more than is visible on the surface. What a privilege it is to serve such an awesome, wonderful, omnipotent, and merciful God. What has God called you to do? If you have been called to a ministry, it is because He found you to be faithful; but are you still faithfully fulfilling what God has called you to do? Let’s commit today to renew our faithfulness in whatever ministry God has entrusted to us, asking Him for the grace to abound more and more.