Title: We are ministers.
Dear brothers and sisters, please do not think that the place of our ministry is merely the church. Please believe that the main place of your ministry is your home. It could be your area. It could be our Adventist Church. And further, I hope you believe that the world you live in is the field of your ministry.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are various ministries in our Adventist Church. There are several ministries necessary for the purposes of worship, education, fellowship, service, and mission. Some of you are ministering in the church. Also, I think there are people who want to do ministry.
Dear saints, today's text shows us the principle of ministry. I want to cover the principles of this ministry this week and next week. This text answers many of the questions we have in ministry. For example, you can discover the reasons why some people accept the gospel and others reject it after hearing the gospel. Those of you who are already in ministry, please check yourself and your ministry through the principles of ministry in this text. Those who want to do ministry in the future should meditate on the text and establish the principles of ministry. So, I hope that all of you will become ministers who bear abundant fruit.
1. The foundation of ministry is God's mercy. verse 1
Look at verse 1. Our Bible is not clear about this. The original saying is that we received this office through mercy. The word office refers to ministries, or ministries. The basis of his work is God's mercy, that is, mercy. We are not given positions because we are entitled to them. It's not that we don't have the capacity to handle it. Not because we have any merit. Just as we received salvation by God's grace, so our work is also given by God's grace.
Brothers and sisters, this fact is very important for us to fulfill our office.
First, our ministry and office are not our privileges or rights because we are not entitled to God's mercy. Therefore, please do not insist on any particular ministry. Instead, ask God to allow you to claim it. I hope you will take on your duties with gratitude.
Second, many saints hope to have the courage to volunteer. No one works with full qualifications and abilities. We are all lacking. Nevertheless, you can be used by God. Please believe that the ministry and office are given by God's mercy.
Dear saints, if you hear that you do not have the ability, admit it. Admit it when you hear it's not enough. From the beginning we were lacking. Nevertheless, in mercy God has given us offices. God has given us work by grace. Be sure of this fact and never lose heart. I hope you have strong confidence and hope in your ministry and office based on God's mercy. I hope you have the confidence that God is acknowledging your office and ministry. Therefore, I hope that you will have faith that there is bound to be abundant fruit in our ministry.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are all ministers. I hope that you will become ministers of hope who never lose heart. I hope that you will become a minister of hope until the end.
2. The method of ministry is God's method. verse 2
A minister who does not lose heart even in difficult circumstances will not compromise on the method of ministry because his office and ministry are based on God's mercy. A minister who has strong conviction and hope in his ministry will not yield in the way of ministry.
What is your method of ministry?
First, the apostle Paul did not compromise in his method of ministry. Look at the first half of verse 2. These are the methods rejected by the Apostle Paul, “therefore, putting aside the things of the hidden shame, and not walking in deceit, not confusing the word of God.”
At the time of the Apostle Paul, there were people who ministered in shameful and hidden ways. Some did it by trickery. The term deceit refers to cunning, cunning, and cunning behavior. There were also ministers who confused God's Word. The apostle Paul did not follow the methods of these people.
Dear brothers and sisters, there are ministers who are doing this even today. I have also heard that if you evangelize in Sunday School, you will be given a bicycle and a computer. It's not just Sunday School. It is said that there are churches that even offer a gold ring and even promise a reward when older people come to evangelize. If you do this, you are doing it in a shameful way. Today's churches are turning into huge show business. They compete with showmanship to grab people's attention. They even confuse the Word of God. To confuse the Word is to blur the Gospel by mixing the Word with worldly knowledge in order to gain popularity.
Dear brothers and sisters, what is the most important thing in your ministry? Aren't you human? The method of ministry can be said to be human. A person who believes in the power of truth. He is a believer in the word of God. I hope that you, like the Apostle Paul, are convinced of the truth, the Word of God. I hope you believe that the truth will surely triumph. May you be convinced that the truth is the strongest force and the most effective method.
Brothers and sisters, we are thinking about the principles of ministry with 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. Our ministry and office are based on God's mercy, so I hope you never lose heart and have hope. Please believe that the way of ministry is our character to the truth.