One thing that always
marks ministry in the Spirit is the prompting of personal affection for Christ.
“Do you love Me?” was the thrice repeated question to Peter, connected with the
injunction to feed Christ’s flock (John 21:16). “For the love of Christ
constrains us” (2 Cor. 5:14), Paul says. How different is this from the many
motives that might influence us naturally. How important that we should be able
each time we minister to say with a good conscience, “My motive for speaking
was not a love of prominence, or force of habit, or a restless desire to break
the period of silence, but love to Christ and to His flock.”
Further, ministry and
worship in the Spirit is always marked by a deep sense of responsibility to
Christ. Suppose we were questioned after the close of a meeting, “Why did you
give out such a hymn, or read such a chapter, or offer such a prayer, or speak
such a word?” Could we with a clear, good conscience reply, “My only reason for
doing so was the solemn conviction that it was my Master’s will”? My brethren,
is there not often the taking this part or that without any sense of
responsibility to Christ?
“If any man speak, let
him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). This is not an exhortation for
one to speak according to the Scriptures, though all should, of course, do
this. It says rather that they who speak are to speak as God’s mouthpiece. If I
cannot say in speaking, “This is what I believe I have been taught of God, and
what God has given me to speak at this time,” I ought to be silent. Of course a
man may be mistaken in saying this; but nothing less ought to induce anyone to
take part in the meetings than the solemn conviction before God that God has
given him something to say. If our consciences were exercised to act under such
responsibility as this, it would doubtless prevent a great deal which does take
place; but at the same time it would make way for God to manifest His presence
as we are not accustomed to witness it.
(From Five Letters
on Worship and Ministry in the Spirit.)