As long as the Church is upon
earth, as long as sinners are to be brought into it and saints are to be
edified, there will be the absolute necessity for ministry, and that of a most varied
and complete kind. Let us see what Scripture teaches as to the source,
character, and power of true ministry.
The Source of Ministry
The Source and Author of all true
ministry is the glorified Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. "When
He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men….
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints," etc. (Eph.
4:8-12). We are reminded in verses 9 and 10 that all gifts are the purchase of
the death of Christ, and that His ascension was preceded by His descent first
into the grave. So is our adorable Lord ever contemplated now:"I am He
who lives, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen" (Rev.
1:18). As glorified, He has bestowed gifts upon men. The Church that He loved
and for which He gave Himself has not been forgotten or neglected by her absent
Lord. He has sent down from the glory all that is needed for the ingathering
and upbuilding of His beloved people. As we enjoy the varied gifts of ministry,
let us ever remember their source. In this way we gain a clear perception of
two things:the love and care of Christ and the dignity of Christian ministry.
In every gift, whether more or less prominent, we see the love of Christ. There
could be no true ministry apart from His gift. The effect, then, of enjoying it
should ever be to lead our hearts up in grateful love to Him. But if on the one
hand His love is manifested in the gift bestowed for ministry, on the other we
see the dignity and the responsibility attaching to it. "Neither count I
my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry that I have received of the Lord to testify the gospel of the grace of
God" (Acts 20:24). "For I neither received [the gospel] of man,
neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal.
1:12). Such and many other scriptures show the dignity attaching to a Christ-given
ministry.
The Character of Ministry
Apostles and Prophets. As
to the character of ministry, it is most varied and complete, taking in its
range all manner of service needed for the Church. In the list already quoted
from Ephesians 4, we have apostles and prophets:these are connected with the
foundation. "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20).
The apostles were entrusted with the planting of the church and nourishing its
infancy, as well as providing it with an infallible guide (along with the rest
of Scripture) for its whole earthly history. This we have in the apostolic
writings, which are, equally with the whole sacred volume, absolutely and
perfectly inspired (2 Pet. 3:15,16; 1 John 4:6). Thus, while we do not have the
apostles personally with us, we have them in their writings.
Evangelists. These, as
their names suggest, are heralds of the glad tidings, preachers of the gospel
of the grace of God, who awaken the careless and win souls to Christ. It is not
every one who is an evangelist, though all should have the love of souls, and
be ready to point the sinner to Christ. But men who are evangelists by gift
have a true passion for souls, true longing and travailing in birth for them.
They are instructed how to present the gospel, how to gather in the souls, to
distinguish true anxiety from false, and reality from mere profession. It is
their joy to bring sinners to Christ, to see those who were in the world brought
into the Church. The evangelist is a man of prayer, for he realizes that the
work is all of God, and that "methods" are but of little worth. He is
a man of faith, who counts on the living God. He is a student of Scripture,
that he may present only the truth to souls. He is a man of courage, not
fearing to go even where "bonds and imprisonment" may await him, that
he may carry the glorious gospel of the blessed God to the perishing. He is a
man of energy, instant in season, out of season. He is a man of perseverance,
not discouraged if he fails to see immediate fruit from his labor. Lastly, he
is a man of humility, glorying in Another, saying from the heart, "Not I,
but the grace of God which was with me."
Pastors. The evangelist, in
his love for the newborn souls as their spiritual father, will see to it that,
as they have through the Spirit been introduced into the body of Christ, they
also may be brought into its fellowship. The true evangelist cannot be
indifferent as to their ecclesiastical associations. And as the evangelist
introduces the convert into the Church, a ministry of a new kind awaits him.
After evangelists, in the passage we are considering, come "pastors."
The word is literally "shepherds," and fittingly designates those
whom the Lord has qualified to "feed the flock of God." The sheep of
Christ need care. The Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for them, will see
that they are not only delivered from the enemy, but guarded, led, and fed as
well. It is here that the importance of the gift of pastor is seen. His it is
to look after the Lord’s people; to see that they do not go astray, and seek to
recover them if they do; to comfort them under affliction; to cheer and
sympathize with them under trial; to warn them if they grow worldly or
careless, watching over their souls as one who must give account. The pastor’s
work is necessarily largely of a private character. He need not be a public
speaker nor take a prominent place. The true pastor’s sphere of service is not
a limited one. How such a one is needed by the Lord’s people everywhere—one who
can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep; ready to give
counsel, encouragement, or correction. Are we sufficiently thankful for
pastors? What would the Church of God be without them? And is it not well for
us to pray that this precious gift of Christ may be more recognized and made
use of? Let those who have the care of Christ’s flock awaken afresh to their
responsibilities.
Teachers. Closely linked
with the gift of pastor is that of teacher. In a distinctive sense, as
contrasted with pastor, the teacher is one gifted to unfold the Word of God.
How important is this gift! It is the truth that makes free and keeps free; and
it is the work of the teacher to minister the truth to the people of God. The
Word of God is to be unfolded, its perfections to be exhibited, its doctrines
expounded, and its difficulties explained. The teacher is the student of this
Book, devoted to it. In days like these when all sorts of error abound professing
to be derived from the Scriptures, when the very foundations are being
undermined, we need teachers, men who turn us back "to the law and to the
testimony" (Isa. 8:20), and show us that, in the midst of the confusion of
tongues, there is still a Voice that speaks with no uncertain sound.
Let us pray for teachers:that
they may be kept dependent, and thus free from error; that they may keep the
even balance of truth and present "the whole counsel of God"; that
the study and impartation of the treasures of God’s Word may never be with them
a cold intellectual task, but rather that all their service may be as the river
that brings beauty and fertility to its own banks while it bears refreshment on
to the country beyond.
There are other gifts mentioned in
Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, several of which are closely related to those
we have described from Ephesians 4. While not all are gifted or qualified for
prominent service in any of the ways we have described above, it is still true
that all are needed and none can be ignored—none too insignificant to render
valuable service. Indeed, "those members of the body that seem to be more
feeble are necessary" (1 Cor. 12:22). Every member of the body is a member
of Christ, and is gifted for service to the whole. How can he know his gift and
exercise it? Not by thrusting himself forward, but simply by abiding in Christ.
"Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is
the Head, even Christ:from whom the whole body, fitly joined to together and
compacted by that which every joint supplies according to the effectual working
in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of
itself in love" (Eph. 4:15,16).
How beautifully does each member
fall into its place to do its appointed ministry here! And what is the secret
of this harmonious and effectual working? "Holding the Head!"
(Col. 2:19).
The Power of Ministry
Having seen the various classes of
ministry, we are now to inquire whence comes the power for its exercise. And
this brings us again face to face with that most evident fact, which is so
constantly ignored, that the Holy Spirit is present in the Church as the power
for ministry of whatever kind. Power in an evangelist is shown in the conversion
of souls; in a teacher, in the divine instruction and upbuilding of the people
of God; and in a pastor, in their true, real shepherding. We repeat—alas that
we all profess to believe it, but so little realize it—that there is no power
apart from the operation of the Holy Spirit. Were this truth acted upon, we
would see less dependence upon man and more upon God. We would see more true
prayer, more deep self-judgment, and we would, as a result, see more divine
power exercised. Man’s power, like Saul’s armor for David, is only a hindrance.
How often must God strip His people, as in Gideon’s day, of all earthly
strength, showing them that the treasure is in earthen vessels—and vessels to
be broken at that—that the excellency of the power may be seen to be of Him
alone (Judg. 7:1-20; 2 Cor. 4:5-10).
We will now conclude this subject
as one upon which we need, not instruction, but exhortation; not theory, but
practice. May God awaken His servants afresh to see where their weakness and
their power lies.
(From The Church and Its Order
According to Scripture.)