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Ministry-Minded - part 2 of 2 Being Christ-minded is having relationship with Christ and being aware of how he would handle situations. The result of being Christ-minded in ministry is being compassionate. Christ wants us to be so moved with compassion that we cannot help but to minister, as in Jer. 4:19 (KJV): “My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.” Seeing the needs of others affects our heart toward compassion: Lam. 3:51 (KJV) “Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.” To be ministry-minded means to be perfect. This is not to think of perfection in the natural sense of doing everything right, but in the spiritual sense of being everything right. When we live a life of ministry, we are being perfect in God’s sight. 1 Cor. 13:11 (KJV) says, “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” How do we attain this step? We must be a servants if we are to be perfect. Eph. 6:5 (KJV) says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;” Ministering to those over you as unto Christ is being perfect in ministry-mindedness. Col. 3:22 (KJV) says, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:” In everything we do, it all comes back to God. We do not serve to please man, but only God. This keeps us fearing God, not man. The way to keep from fearing and pleasing man is to keep man out of the loop. The Lord should be more involved in what we do. We cannot fail if we fear only the Lord; however, we will continually fail if we are caught in the game of pleasing man. In this, some seek natural perfection and not spiritual perfection. Being professional isn’t always the right response to perfection. The definition of being professional is subject to the one teaching. No two people will agree on what is the “professional” response in any giving situation. Why shouldn’t we then get our teaching from the Spirit and let Him decide what is best for us. A result of being ministry-minded is to be lowly. Matt. 11:29 (KJV) says there is rest for the humble: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Rest comes by faith, not our own strength: Rom. 12:3 (KJV) “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” We must remember that we do not know best. Rom. 12:16 (KJV) says, “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Being ministry-minded teaches us to take care: Phil. 4:10 (KJV) “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.” Not only is the heart associated with the activities of a person’s mind and the will, but it is also closely connected to one’s feelings and affections. Emotions such as joy originate in the heart. If we do not take care, we miss opportunities. We may say “that’s not my responsibility.” We may not discern into a situation for the best outcome. We have not because we ask not. There are opportunities to minister to others and there are opportunities for others to minister to us, but we miss them if we do not ask. Another result of being ministry-minded is to be sincere. Sincerity occurs when others know your heart: Luke 8:15 (KJV) says, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” When we are sincere, people will know we are there for them and we won’t leave. When we set our mind to be ministry-minded we receive the ultimate result of being ministry-minded: To be joyful. When the decision is made to be ministry-minded we will rejoice: 1 Sam. 2:1 (KJV) “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” When we are going through it: Psa. 97:11 (KJV) says, “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” Even the ministers family will rejoice: Zech. 10:7 (KJV) “And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.” Praise the Lord! -S. Chad Ross June Newsletter 2002 | Our Inheritance | Ministry Minded part 2 of 2 Pastor's Journal - June 2001 | God of the New | Signs and Tokens part 3 of 3 | Refiner's Fire |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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