But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12
The word “minister” comes from the same word meaning “to serve”. Hence, a minister is a servant, a ministry is a service, and to minister is to serve. This is the same context that Paul writes that He is the servant, or slave of Christ. As Jesus said, he who wishes to be the greatest in the Kingdom will be the servant, the slave, of all.
The position of ministry is never one of exalting oneself over another, but rather the serving of another, and being their slave in the Lord. A minister could be viewed as someone who has something of God so that he has been designated, by God, to help other people find Him as well. A servant, a slave, never works on his own behalf, for his own name or recognition, but only and always for that of his master, his steward and keeper.
Read more…
Categories: Church of the Beyond, Favorites, General, Kingdom, Teaching Tags: 5-fold, Apostle, Christ, Equip, Equipping, Evangelist, Five-Fold, Jesus, Kingdom, Minister, Ministry, Pastor, Prophet, Servant, Serve, Service, Teacher
A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:40
Imagine that your job is to teach blind musicians to water-ski… You know everything about how boats work, how the water dynamics and the waves affect you. You know about the tow-rope, the skis, and watching out for other watercraft. It’s really not a difficult thing for you to do, or teach. Only now, you’re dealing with people who don’t have a clue, and don’t have even an ability to have a clue. Yet…
Jesus said that no one could see the Kingdom unless they were born again (John 3:3). Jesus’ ministry on Earth was to teach and preach concerning the Kingdom of God. When Jesus was faced with the throngs of followers early in His ministry, and told so by His disciples, He simply said, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” (Mark 1:38). Early success and popularity did not distract Him.
Read more…
