King James Version
11 And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints,
for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ:
Are you a minister of the LORD?
Have you been called to serve the LORD?
Are you a believer?
Are you born again?
Have you a desire to spread the GOSPEL?
Does GOD matter, more than anything else, to you?
Then, you have been called into CHRIST's ministry.
If there are unfaithful churches, there are also faithful ones.
Here's how Scripture describes faithful ministers:
1 Corinthians 2:2
King James Version
2 For I determined
not to know any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ,
and him crucified.
2 Corinthians 4:1
King James Version
4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry,
as we have received mercy,
we faint not;
2 Corinthians 4:2
King James Version
2 But have renounced
the hidden things of dishonesty,
not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience
in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 4:5
King James Version
5 For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord;
and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2 Corinthians 4:6
King James Version
6 For God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:7
King James Version
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power may be of God,
and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:8
King James Version
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Corinthians 4:9
King James Version
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken;
cast down, but not destroyed;
2 Corinthians 4:10
King James Version
10 Always bearing about in the body
the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest
in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:11-12
King James Version
11 For we which live
are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,
that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us,
but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:13-14
King James Version
13 We having the same spirit of faith,
according as it is written,
I believed,
and therefore have I spoken;
we also believe,
and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus
shall raise up us also by Jesus,
and shall present us with you.
2 Corinthians 4:15-16
King James Version
15 For all things are for your sakes,
that the abundant grace might
through the thanksgiving of many
redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not;
but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:18
King James Version
18 While we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
In SUMMARY, faithful ministers of CHRIST:
1. FOCUS on the crucified JESUS.
2. FAINT not.
3. RENOUNCE dishonest things.
4. DON'T walk in craftiness.
5. HANDLE the word of GOD truthfully.
6. PREACH only JESUS.
7. ARE your servants for JESUS' sake.
8. GIVE the knowledge of the GLORY of GOD, in the person of JESUS.
9. ARE humble servants, focusing on GOD's power alone.
10. ARE not distressed, nor in despair.
11. ARE not forsaken, nor destroyed.
12. FOCUS on the LORD's death, that His life may be made manifest in our body.
13. FACE death for JESUS' sake, that His life may be in us.
14. HAVE the same spirit of faith, knowing believers will be resurrected by GOD.
15. MINISTER for your sakes, for the GLORY of GOD.
16. FAINT not, but are renewed day by day.
17. LOOK at things that are not seen, for they are eternal.
Serving the LORD is a calling.
That's why it's a ministry.
Do you have what it takes?
Related material:
HOW do WE KNOW we have GOD's SPIRIT in us?
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