Ministry Involvement

all right so really enjoyed last month um all of the different sessions that we had the different speakers that we had um this month you got to put up with me every Wednesday so sorry won't be someone different this month but um the theme for this month is we're going to talk about Ministry involvement in Ministry um if you kind of think back to all the past month the different things that we've talked about it's all a theme that's just tying together and each month we're putting a new piece into that theme of course in January we're talking about preparing ourselves and then we talked about Outreach in February so on and so forth all of this is one big picture it's not separate things but we have to have every one of these things in our lives in order to be effective in the kingdom of God so now we're going to look at Ministry so first off I feel it's best that we start off by looking at what is Ministry what is it we use that word so much but what does it really mean what is the purpose of ministry because I do believe that it's interpreted very differently depending on who you ask some people may see various different things as Ministry some people may see something else as Ministry it's not just on the p pit it's not just preaching but Ministry is so much more than that I feel the best place to start off is with Matthew 28:19 through 20 Jesus told the disciples go ye therefore and teach All Nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you and lo I Am With You Always even until the end of the world Amen so this scripture I see is essentially a call to go minister to All Nations teach All Nations observe everything that we that H he has commanded us and take that out to All Nations Jesus did didn't just teach preaching he didn't just teach this or that but there's so many different things that he taught us in the scripture and in his lifetime so that's why all of those things that we learn through Jesus's Ministry on Earth we want to take all of that out to All Nations every bit of it so so Ministry we can see that it'll have multiple meanings there's different ways that you can partake in a Ministry there's different things that you can do different aspects of the ministry one example we're going to talk about several different tools and things that can make you effective in whatever Ministries God God has called you to I do believe one of the simplest things that we can do to minister to others is just to share our faith with them just an initiative to share our faith with others believe it or not that is Ministry you don't have to be behind a Podium you don't have to be an ordained minister to share your faith with those around you EX for example it could just be you talking one on-one with somebody in your life just talking about what the Lord's done for you maybe if you're younger maybe if you're in school I know a lot probably in this church as well know what p7 clubs are even programs like that whatever it may be all of that is also a form of sharing our faith which is min mining to those in the world now one thing we're also going to talk about is serving now if you were here Sunday some of the things that we may talk about through this may also kind of overlap with what I talked about on Sunday because it's all very closely related serving others Ministry is also the work that church leaders and congregations do to serve others to help them grow spiritually and improve the community around that's what we're wanting to do as a church we want to reach out to this community we don't want to just stay confined to this building we want to reach those that drive by that live nearby that walk by whatever it is and we do that through serving this can include teaching preaching counseling whatever it may be all of these are aspects of serving even Pastor when someone is a pastor of a church they are a servant that is the ministry that God has called them to to serve so getting back to to what is Ministry if you get to the root of it what the word itself actually means it comes from a Greek word diaconia which means service or to serve so that is literally the meaning what Ministry is about is to serve others in the Bible Ministry itself's considered a high priority described as serving whether it's in the role of a priest offering spiritual sacrifices performing acts of service for others many different ways it's demonstrated throughout the scripture that the disciples Jesus whoever it is so many did in the Bible did so many acts of ministry some even say that Ministry itself is a willingness to respond to God's spiritual needs in any area of life that could be marriage if you're a parent work friendships whatever it is but when you get down to the root of what it is it is to serve

who better to model our personal Ministries after than Jesus himself he gave us the perfect example of how to be effective in our Ministries doesn't matter what it is as long as you do how he did it to the best of your ability we can't do nothing exactly how he did it because we're not him but when we model ourselves and our ministry after his teachings following his footsteps we will be very effective according to the scripture Jesus described himself as a servant Jesus the son of God God robed in flesh the creator of all described himself as a servant the one person that walked the Earth that didn't have to do that but yet he was setting an example for all of us to follow he also modeled servanthood in several ways going to kind of briefly look at a few scriptures to talk through of how he modeled servanthood for example Mark 1045 Jesus simply just said the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many that right there there's so much power in that statement there who better to be served than Jesus but yet he himself said he did not come to be served but to serve to set an example to all of us and to give his life for all of us we call what he did on the cross the Great greatest sacrifice that's ever been given sacrifice and serving go hand in hand none of us could have given what he gave none of us could have done what he done no matter how bad we may have even wanted to but yet he chose to come down from glory and to do that and to serve all of us in that way so in this verse two big things to point out to take from this serve and give because he came to serve and he came to give his life when you think about us and our flesh that's two of the hardest things for us to do sometimes to want to serve and to give because it goes against our nature it goes goes against everything within us to serve somebody to want to give whether it's time Talent money we just we don't like to do that but if we want to be Christians what does it mean to be a Christian to be Christlike to follow his example again the only one that's ever walked this Earth that didn't not have to give that did not have to do any of that but yet he did it more so than any of us put together could ever do so how much more why shouldn't we serve Why shouldn't we give as much as we can what are some ways that we can serve if I may does anyone have anything in particular that you see as a way to serve just if so feel free to just say it maybe a way that you serve maybe a way you've seen others around you serve anything in particular that comes to your mind e yeah that is a great example and I really like what you mentioned as well that's makes it even harder when it's when the Lord impresses on us to serve or to give to someone that we know can't do the same back maybe God is asking you to do something for somebody but your flesh is saying I'm just going to waste my time I'm not going to get any return out of this I they wouldn't do the same for me why would I give this to them so easy for our flesh to want to influence our ministry more so than you know so yes what are some ways that we can serve being there for those that have nobody so just as the example that was mentioned that sounds like somebody that probably truly needed somebody there's so many that I'm sure that you can think of that just in your life that don't have somebody of course God's always there but some people choose not to take his hand that he's holding out so they don't have anybody around them to help them so that's one way that we can serve is to just be there for somebody whether it's praying giving whatever it is that's one way that we can be very effective in our Ministries Philippians 2 6-8 also talks about how Jesus gave up his place and became like a servant by being born as a man and taking on the limitations of a human body so just like we talked about before he gave up everything to come walk walk in this flesh that me and you have he didn't have to but he did going back to what we talked about sacrifice can you think of the last time that you sacrificed something for someone in your life maybe you sacrificed some time in order to pray for them have you ever woke up in the middle of the night like why can't I sleep I've heard it before maybe that's the Lord needing a prayer Warrior for somebody in your life and that is the time that he needs you to act you may not ever know who it's for what it's for or what the reason is but look at those opportunities when they don't make sense like why am I awake at 3: in the morning why can't I go to sleep just look at it as a way to give to sacrifice think of that person in your life that needs prayer more than anyone else and let that be the time that you sacrifice and pray for that person I talked about this verse on Sunday if you were here Mark 9:35 Jesus said whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all as Christians as followers of Christ we are called to serve as people who generously offer whatever we have to help those in need we have to give them help strength whatever we have to offer and that's again one of the most basic ways that you can minister to people in your life is to just serve and give we're going to talk a lot about prayer of course just praying can strengthen someone so much have you ever been in such a rough time in your life but then suddenly you just felt something change and you felt that you now had the strength to go on I guarantee that's because there was someone that was praying for you at that time you can be that vessel that God uses for those people that are at wit's end that can't go on and even though you may not know it you may through your prayer minister to that person in the Supernatural through the spirit and they will get the strength to go on it's not always about understanding why we do what we do I could only imagine being a pastor and when people walk away just not understanding all this time I've invested all of these prayers for this person I just wouldn't understand why but it's that's not what it's about even for all of us you don't have to be a pastor to be able to minister and pray and help people even when you don't know it those people that walk away that doesn't mean that they're a lost cause that doesn't mean that every prayer that was prayed for them that everything that was invested that doesn't mean that it was in vain cuz I just know this is all I've ever known there's no way you can forget this once you have experienced it once you felt it it don't matter how far you go there's no way you can forget so even when we don't understand and we feel like my Ministry is not effective I'm not reaching people it's not for you to understand you can't understand the way God does things we don't have the capacity we just have to do it we just have to keep sacrificing keep going

another way that Jesus modeled servanthood was by washing the feet of his disciples he washed the feet of his 12 disciples including Judas on the night before his crucifixion during the Last Supper John 13 talks about Jesus gets up from the mill he removes his outer clothing wraps a towel around his waist pours water into a basin and washes his disciples feet one by one one he then dries their feet with the towel and says you do not realize now what I'm doing but later you will understand and unless I wash you you have no part with me I don't know how much closer you can get to servanthood than doing as Jesus demonstrated here I don't know if any of you have I personally never washed anyone's feet right except my own when I'm in the shower right but it's you can look at it as this is an act of humility this doesn't mean that everybody that you come across you got to ask them to take their shoes off I need to wash your feet I got to be a servant that's not what it's about it's about humility it's about not putting yourself above somebody cuz if I can be transparent in the church that can be so easy to do to look down on those and if I can say it again I've been in this my whole life it can be harder for someone like me to understand somebody that won't do right than maybe some of you that didn't do right one day maybe you weren't raised in this maybe this isn't all you know so you have a completely different Ministry than I have and I have a different Ministry than you have that's why testimonies are so vital in the church because one of the hardest thing for someone that's not in church to walk through these doors and do is feel that they're not below everyone else in here that's why we have to demonstrate humility we have have to put ourselves down here and that is going to be so effective in reaching people if we can just get that through our flesh that we're not better Just because we have the spirit just because we've been baptized we were all born into sin we are no better than that person that's out there that wants no part of this we are no better humility the act of Jesus washing his disciples feet can have multiple meanings that we can take from it it required humility on both sides it showed that he was shedding any notion of rank whatever you want to call it among his disciples even the discip Les argued who is the greatest because that's what we want to do that's just our flesh but yet Jesus himself cast all of that aside with this act it also demonstrates a Selfless Love which is so important to have this is one of the reasons the early Christian Church adopted the custom of foot washing to imitate Jesus's humility and the selfless love that he showed through this act even though he had all authority to forgive sin this was still a symbolic reminder that he still came to serve that he would did not come to rule with an iron fist but he came for us so he gave us an example to follow he told his disciples I've given you an example that you should do as I have done to you we need to do our best to emulate to the best of our ability the teachings that he left us and that we still have even today as he still speaks to us by serving one another in humility and love and that even includes one of the hardest things for us to do is forgiveness as well that's part of it forgiveness John 13:15 Jesus again reiterates I've given an example that you should do as I have done to you so when you're wanting to be effective in your ministry with somebody but yet you're not showing humility but yet you're not showing a Selfless Love but yet you're not putting yourself at the level you need to be at how do you expect to be effective because in doing in not following those things you're not following the example Jesus set and when we are not following in his footsteps we're not going to be effective in our Ministries it's so easy one of the pitfalls like we have talked about just a few moments ago is just casting judgment on those around us and if I can be honest there are some people that you just want to tell them like it is like what's wrong with you if you would just submit to God your life would be so much better and maybe in some situations that might be effective but all in all that's not how we want to approach the people in our lives it's not with fury it's not with indignation it's with love and humility loving people despite their sin this doesn't mean we agree with their sin but we have to love them anyways even if they choose maybe for a season not to give up whatever that is whatever that sin is we have to still love them but we have to remember there's a fine line between love and acceptance we still have to stand true to our ministry and stand strong to what's right but we have to still do it in the right way and love people best way to follow his example is just do everything we can as he would you may ask how do we do that if you're not sure how to handle something you want my recommendation ask him before you do it what better to do if you don't know what to do than to ask the one that that knows all the one that set the ultimate example pray ask him everything that we do for God is part of our ministry everything no matter like I talked about Sunday no matter how small it may be if you're doing it for the kingdom if you're doing it to reach somebody for the kingdom that is part of your ministry no matter what that thing may be whatever you're good at that I'm not good at when it's for the kingdom do it the best you can as much as you can get involved with the kingdom get involved with those around you be available for them be available to again do that thing that only you can do maybe you're the only one in the church that can minister in that way I know that there's people sitting in here that can minister in ways that I can't and maybe there's ways I can Minister that others can't that's why we need each other that's why we have to always put all of our Ministries together as one and continue the furtherance of the church and of the Kingdom we're all ministers in the church always be ready like the scripture says to give an account of that hope that's in you that's one way be an ambassador for Christ just represent him in everything you do whether you ever step foot behind a keyboard a drum set a cooking class whatever it is whatever you do do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men and that's how you represent him if I can say this I believe this to be the case maybe maybe some of you will agree I believe what a lot of people in the world need is just to see him represented around them maybe at your job the restaurant wherever it is there's so many people that are not representing Christ it's so so so important that no matter what we're doing in life in general that it's done through the scope of Christ through Jesus so that those around us can just see him just see him through us we so often just worry about ourselves as long as I'm where I need to be in my walk then I'm I'm comfortable right here as long as I know that my sins are forgiven then I'm okay here there's other people that have this sin in their life that have these struggles and they want out and they just don't know how they don't see a light at the end of that tunnel you have the opportunity to minister to those people to show that light to them it's not difficult just smile sometimes sometimes I believe this to be the truth a smile might actually shock people because they're just not used to it like why are why are you smiling at me if you knew who I was if you knew what I was going through what I've done why me doesn't matter who it is just being a light spreading Joy being happy it sounds so Elementary almost to say it but that's one of the best ways to reach people is to just be different from all the Doom and Gloom that's in the world around them cuz that's all that some people know is just sadness Doom and Gloom does that mean we won't ever experience sadness of course not I'm sure if I ask you to raise your hand every single person would raise their hand we've all went through tragedies we've all went through terrible things we've all needed to be ministered to and continue to be but the difference is is that we still have that hope and we just need to push that out to those around us through prayer you can figure out where God wants you to be in your ministry if you don't know what you need to be doing just pray talk to God and he'll show you what you can do for him it may not be what you expect but he can show you things that you had no clue you could do I had no idea I could reach people that way but that's what he can do when you just talk to him when he calls you to whatever it is be obedient answer that call and be effective in that Ministry you don't want to run from it once he calls you we all know what happened to Jonah when he fled from what God called him to do I don't know I wouldn't think anyone in here would get eaten by a fish but it's happened before so just don't run from it it may be tough sometimes I know from experience it's tough sometimes life's just weighing down on you you're so busy all the time can barely keep yourself up but yet you still know you have to serve and be there for others you just feel trampled sometimes and that makes it hard to want to do the things of God when you feel so trampled over but I once heard it said one time that there's some flowers that spread their seeds once they've been trampled that thing that you're going through seeds are going to go out from that I believe I may have talked about it back in February when I went through talking about Outreach I don't remember but I know from personal experience my parents losing a child I couldn't imagine especially now I could never imagine what better time to question God and his plan like what are you doing but can you imagine I couldn't count the people that my parents have been able to reach because of the seeds that they've been able to plant for people that's went through that same tragedy but didn't have that hope but didn't have a way out that didn't know there's a way they can see that child again those seeds came from being trampled on maybe you're there right now just know that there's some seeds that God's wanting to plant and he's wanting to use you as the vessel one of the best things you can do to stay effective as you Minister through this is to just give everything to God sometimes when you feel like you hit rock bottom just give it all to him whatever is left whatever you feel like's left of you at that point give him your past your present your future just give it all to him sometimes I do believe that we have to have some things Stripped Away so that we realize all we need is him as long as we give it all to him him

I have what I call a three-step program to help you accomplish this to give your past present and future maybe your past is what's keeping you from being effective but 2 Corinthians 5:1 17 therefore If any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are ped passed away behold all things are become new so that's your past you're a new creature you're present whatever you're going through right now give that to him Proverbs 3: 5-6 trust in the Lord with all thine heart lean not into your own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He Shall Direct direct thy path whatever we're going through presently just give it to him trust him even when you don't understand and lastly your future some of us worry so much about the future that we can't even live in the present but 1 Corinthians 2: 9-10 but as it is written I hath Not Seen Nor Ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him you don't have to worry about the future as long as you love him that's taken care of so again those three things your past your present your future when you just decide none of these things are going to hold me back you're going to be be so much more effective in ministering to this world than you know when something is God ordained it is going to be successful I talked a lot about Joshua on Sunday Kind of hearkening back to some of the things I talked about

what if you worry you're not going to be accepted in your ministry well in Deuteronomy 34 after Joshua came in to God's plan as he was to be used it talks about in that chapter how he was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him and the children of Israel hearkened or obeyed him and did as the Lord commanded Moses every one of you have the hand of God on your life you will be accepted in your ministry people will trust what you have to give as long as you're obedient as long as you love him just take your time and serve and work as I get ready to put down the landing gear tonight I'll leave you with this don't rush your ministry if you're still trying to figure out exactly where you're going to be most effective take your time I once heard it said that when you try to live faster than light you always live in the dark God doesn't when it comes to God time is not a factor scripture mentions that thousand years is a day a day is thousand as a thousand years time is not a Factor but yet some of us just want to rush everything we want to be where we want to be right away but just take your time pray spend time with those around you show humility show Selfless Love share your faith sometimes the greatest things they take some time to come into being think of your favorite dish your favorite meals sometimes it's not just always going to come right out of the microwave like most of my meals that I cook but sometimes you got to get out that crockpot and you got to wait not to sound too simple but sometimes the greatest things that you're going to accomplish in your ministry is going to take some time one of the best things always no matter what just praise him through it all whether you're in that time of waiting whether you're where you feel you need to be whether you're the one being trampled the psalmist said I'll bless the Lord at all times his praise shall continually be in my mouth so as they get ready to sing if you're still searching where you need to be where you're going to be effective just talk to him just give your life to him and he's going to lead you there if we can before we go into song let's just take a moment and let's just pray and talk to God as we close out Lord we thank you for your word word God we thank you for your spirit Lord as we get ready to go into this time of worship we just ask that you give us Effectiveness God give us a desire to do the things of you to reach those around us give us a desire to do better at whatever it is that the talent you've given us the ability that you've given us that we can use that for the furtherance of the Kingdom in Jesus name in Jesus name