Some Ministry Advice

Some Ministry Advice
LUKE 6:20-26

Last week we read the last portion of Paul's first letter to Timothy and saw some very real and practical back to school advice.

Today we will read the words of Jesus as He encourages His disciples before sending them forth to minister.
This passage is powerful and applicable to all of us because we have all been called to ministry.

The ministry is not just for pastors or people in leadership.
It is for all of us.

However, if you are determined to invest your life into other people and minister or serve as God has commanded us, then you will face many obstacles.
You will face sorrow and suffering, rejection and misunderstandings.
You may even reach a point of wanting to give up ministering to others and live for yourself for a while.

Because Jesus knew all too well the dangers and difficulties of ministering to people, He sat his disciples down and gave them some very practical advice.
In this first part of Jesus' words on the subject Jesus deals with the blessings of ministry.
Upon reading this advice it is easy to see how we sometimes do not recognize the blessings of ministry for what they are, and we get discouraged in our good work for the Lord and for the people He loves.

READ TEXT
PRAY

Realize the Blessings of the Ministry.

The Blessing of the poor: Verse 20
> The privilege of building The Kingdom of God
- With little to distract us in the way of material things, we can enjoy the much greater work of building His kingdom instead of our own.
> Remember, the riches of this world are temporary. Verse 24

The Blessing of the hungry: Verse 21a
> The fulfillment of doing God's will.
- John 4:32 finds Jesus, hungry and thirsty, but full and satisfied.
- This hunger can apply to any desire that we have that is not fulfilled - A man or woman enslaved to fulfilling his own passions and desires is an empty person.
- What a blessing and a fulfillment to know that we are doing God's will!
> Remember, natural fulfillment is fleeting. Verse 25a

The Blessing of the broken hearted: Verse 21b
> The joy of the Lord
- Sorrow makes us pliable and usable for Him and dependant on Him for strength.
- Nehemiah 8:10b …the joy of the LORD is your strength.
- Sadness is the deep colors woven into the tapestry of our lives. Without them we have little over which to rejoice.
- Psalm 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
- Joy dearly paid for is long lasting and meaningful.
> Remember, cheap laughs are short-lived. Verse 25b

The Blessing of the rejected: Verse 22,23
> Good company
- Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
- Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
- Jesus was rejected and scorned, often misunderstood and lied about, but in his hour of greatest loneliness, when all had deserted him, he accomplished the greatest feat, He paid for the sins of the world.
> Remember, human affirmation is not an assurance of being right. Vs 26

Every minister must learn to appreciate the blessings of the ministry or suffer disillusionment.

Have you surrendered to a life of ministry?
Learn to recognize and appreciate the blessings.
It is the most meaningful, the most fulfilling, the most joyous of all occupations, and in the ministry of Christ you are following in the footprints of the greatest men on earth.

In truth, Jesus himself was poor as he walked this earth.
He was often hungry and we read of how he wept.
As his ministry progressed we see that he was hated by many and even betrayed by those closest to him.
Even one whom he loved especially, denied him to others.

Now He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
He is above all and some day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.

Certainly I can suffer and even value the suffering of ministry as I grow to be more like Him.