An Exalted Ministry

God gave to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc. (Ephesians 4:11), so that the saints might be equipped for the work of ministry. Verse 12.

It is a great calling to be chosen for such an exalted ministry. Starting from the basic doctrines, each individual member in the church is to be led right up to Him who is the head of the body, which is Christ. Ephesians 4:15.

To carry out such a ministry you need to have the ear of a disciple and a good attitude of mind like those who kept the word in a good and noble heart. Luke 8:15. You are required to make a covenant with your eyes and thoughts, and be a perfect “wave offering” so you can bear everybody, and bear burdens. Then the lusts of the flesh are crucified, and you are in the right state to serve. Nevertheless, a ser­vant must first be tried to ensure that he is blameless.

The body of Christ needs to be nourished; it needs to grow and be edified. This is why such spiritual training is necessary. All our minis­tering must be done in holy fear. God can bless knowledge, but He anoints revelations. We can be zealous in a human way to support “the ark” because the oxen stumble, but such a ministry is dead. Even the instruments that were required for cleansing and taking care of the most holy things for the ministry in the sanctuary had to be made of pure gold.

Much work, speaking and knowledge are in themselves insufficient to lead the church to a state of spiritual growth. The church at Ephesus is a sad case in point. Revelation 2:1-5. It is easier to gather a large congregation than to build up a “body” where earth member learns to bear and be forbearing with one another, and is knit together in love by walking in the light.

The word “appointed” is used in 1 Corinthians 12:28: God ap­pointed in the church apostles, etc. Just as God appointed a definite course according to exact laws for the various heavenly bodies to follow, so our ministry must also be without wavering of any kind. Our way of life must create confidence in the others, so we can be made into pillars in the new covenant temple, from which we must never go out.

Every one of us is an individual member of the body against which the gates of Hades will not prevail. We share the same full as­surance Paul had: neither power nor might can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

We have been chosen to be fully equipped for the work of minis­try, for the edification of the body of Christ. In Acts 1:8 we have the promise of the power to do it. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

What a blessed election of God and a calling to serve!