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Showing posts with label ministering to others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministering to others. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Something to Think About...
I first heard of Paul Washer, over on Sicarii's old blog (sorry no link, because that "old" site has been taken down), and recently have begun listening to his sermons with my husband. I highly recommend him, to anyone that is serious about their faith in the Lord, and especially for those that are not so serious about it. Here is a CliffNotes version of one of his most powerful sermons. If you'd like to hear "part two" of sermons by Paul Washer, check out my hubby's blog tomorrow (since I stole this video from him today.) Blessings to you...
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Monday, January 7, 2008
All In A Name
As some of you know, back in August of this past year, I engaged in an online ordination program, with the express purpose of illustrating just how easy it is to claim the title "minister", "pastor", or "evangelist". Also, to show just how little actual knowledge a person must have of theology to claim these same titles. One does not have to go through any kind of schooling to claim ANY of these titles (though there are many that do.) Since then, I have been burdened to learn of many false teachings of some that would claim one or all of these. So what does the Bible say about being a minister?
Do any of these definitions apply to you? If so, you are a minister. Does that mean that you should be teaching others? That depends on whether or not you will teach them what the Bible really says. Those of us that feel called to share Scripture are under a heavier burden of judgement. If we share falsely, we bring upon ourselves swift destruction.
Do you follow the teaching of Christ, and does your minister or paster follow them as well? If not, perhaps you should re-evaluate your reasons for following them. Remember, being a Christian isn't about storing up treasure here on Earth. It's about sharing who Jesus Christ was, and why He came to save us all. The most important leading you should receive is that of the Holy Spirit. All others, should be supporting what the Bible says, word for word. Not just what feels good to hear. If you aren't in communion with God on a daily basis, with prayer, and your own reading of Scripture, I urge you to BEWARE! You are in danger of being led astray. I pray you meditate on this today. Do you know what your bible says, and what it means? Are you a good Berean?
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If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 1 Timothy 4:6 NKJVLet's define "minister" according to Scripture: Nave's Topical Bible defines a minister as "A Sacred Teacher". Scripture defines it with the following verses:
Ambassadors of Christ 2 Corinthian 5:20
Angels of the Church Revelation 1:20, 2:1
Apostles Luke 6:13 Revelation 18:20
Defenders of the Faith Philemon 1:7
Elders 1 Timothy 5:17 1 Peter 5:1
Evangelists Ephesians 4:11 2 Timothy 4:5
Fishers of Men Matthew 4:19 Philemon 1:1
And many more.
Do any of these definitions apply to you? If so, you are a minister. Does that mean that you should be teaching others? That depends on whether or not you will teach them what the Bible really says. Those of us that feel called to share Scripture are under a heavier burden of judgement. If we share falsely, we bring upon ourselves swift destruction.
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1 NKJV
Do you follow the teaching of Christ, and does your minister or paster follow them as well? If not, perhaps you should re-evaluate your reasons for following them. Remember, being a Christian isn't about storing up treasure here on Earth. It's about sharing who Jesus Christ was, and why He came to save us all. The most important leading you should receive is that of the Holy Spirit. All others, should be supporting what the Bible says, word for word. Not just what feels good to hear. If you aren't in communion with God on a daily basis, with prayer, and your own reading of Scripture, I urge you to BEWARE! You are in danger of being led astray. I pray you meditate on this today. Do you know what your bible says, and what it means? Are you a good Berean?
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:10-11 NKJV
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Friday, August 10, 2007
Rejecting the Lies by Shalene
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Yesterday, I talked about the blind leading the blind, and how very important it is to be in the Holy Word of God. Today I want to talk about the importance of not only reading the Word but applying it in your life.
I was once a staunch disbeliever, as some of you know. But before that I was a long time church attender as a child. I read my bible often enough to memorize scripture and gain my merit badges; and to know enough of the bible to use against those that would try to bring me back into the Fold, later in life. However, had I truly known the contents within, perhaps I never would have stumbled in the first place. That's not to say that I regret those lost years. They have made me who I am today, and have given me the means to see the Christian lifestyle through eyes that not all Christians have.
However, that is one of the dangers of not knowing the Word for yourself. You can be led astray very easily by those that would use the Word of God in their lies. Satan himself knows the scriptures, and can twist them to suit his plans. He can make them sound like just enough of the Truth that it is believable.
I am not here today to say that everyone who misinterprets the Word is knowingly in league with Satan himself, but unfortunately, when we do not know the Word for ourselves and apply it accordingly, we are in league with him that would deceive us. We are helping him in his plan, rather than furthering God's kingdom and God's plan. We must be ever vigilant in making sure that we don't unwittingly aid the enemy. And for those that do it knowingly, I say pray for their eternal souls, that God might show them the error of their ways. And pray for those souls that they are leading, that they might see the errors in that which they are being taught.
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 2:5
Obeying the Word of God is not easy to do. And in fact, everyone of us fall short of doing so. We all sin everyday. And are tempted everyday to sin more. Do you know the reason that this is so? It is Satan's defense against our ability to be effective witnesses. The more we are led astray, the more we dim the Light that shines through us with the deceiver's darkness. The only defense against this is prayer and time with God, in His Holy Word.
I'm not going to try to tell you what applying the Word of God in your life, looks like for you. I don't know you, and that's not my place. However, you know where your sinfulness lays, and what you need to change. At least, you will if you read your bible daily, pray continuously, and love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul.
--Lord, I pray today that my witness would be effective to all that I come in contact with. I pray that You would use me to further Your Kingdom, and that all Glory is to You and You alone. I pray for those souls struggling with applying Your Holy Word in their lives that they might see that You have a Divine Plan for their lives and it is for their good, not their harm. I pray that You would also continue to work in my life, that my sinfulness would be conquered. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen
Yesterday, I talked about the blind leading the blind, and how very important it is to be in the Holy Word of God. Today I want to talk about the importance of not only reading the Word but applying it in your life.
I was once a staunch disbeliever, as some of you know. But before that I was a long time church attender as a child. I read my bible often enough to memorize scripture and gain my merit badges; and to know enough of the bible to use against those that would try to bring me back into the Fold, later in life. However, had I truly known the contents within, perhaps I never would have stumbled in the first place. That's not to say that I regret those lost years. They have made me who I am today, and have given me the means to see the Christian lifestyle through eyes that not all Christians have.
However, that is one of the dangers of not knowing the Word for yourself. You can be led astray very easily by those that would use the Word of God in their lies. Satan himself knows the scriptures, and can twist them to suit his plans. He can make them sound like just enough of the Truth that it is believable.
I am not here today to say that everyone who misinterprets the Word is knowingly in league with Satan himself, but unfortunately, when we do not know the Word for ourselves and apply it accordingly, we are in league with him that would deceive us. We are helping him in his plan, rather than furthering God's kingdom and God's plan. We must be ever vigilant in making sure that we don't unwittingly aid the enemy. And for those that do it knowingly, I say pray for their eternal souls, that God might show them the error of their ways. And pray for those souls that they are leading, that they might see the errors in that which they are being taught.
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 2:5
Obeying the Word of God is not easy to do. And in fact, everyone of us fall short of doing so. We all sin everyday. And are tempted everyday to sin more. Do you know the reason that this is so? It is Satan's defense against our ability to be effective witnesses. The more we are led astray, the more we dim the Light that shines through us with the deceiver's darkness. The only defense against this is prayer and time with God, in His Holy Word.
I'm not going to try to tell you what applying the Word of God in your life, looks like for you. I don't know you, and that's not my place. However, you know where your sinfulness lays, and what you need to change. At least, you will if you read your bible daily, pray continuously, and love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul.
--Lord, I pray today that my witness would be effective to all that I come in contact with. I pray that You would use me to further Your Kingdom, and that all Glory is to You and You alone. I pray for those souls struggling with applying Your Holy Word in their lives that they might see that You have a Divine Plan for their lives and it is for their good, not their harm. I pray that You would also continue to work in my life, that my sinfulness would be conquered. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen
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