Every Christian Is A Minister!

Transcription

1 Message for THE LORD'S DAY MORNING, April 23, 2017 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Church, Christian Living Every Christian Is A Minister! I Peter 2:9,10 (NKJV) In this morning's message I am going to deal with a subject we rarely, if ever hear about in today's Churches, and that is the subject of The Ministry or The Priesthood of All Believers. Please open your Bibles to I Peter chapter two. And let's read verses 9, 10. I Peter 2:9,10 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. P R A Y E R ************

2 The statistics are staggering: Introduction * On average, 17,000-19,000 ministers leave the located ministry each year. * The average stay of a minister in one Church is 18 months. * 70% of ministers struggle with severe or even clinical depression. * 85% of ministers say they would leave the ministry immediately if they could find financially feasible employment elsewhere. * 85% of minister's wives wish their husbands were in a different vocation. * 80% of grown preacher's kids have sought professional counseling for severe depression. * 80% of Bible College or Seminary graduates who enter into the located preaching ministry will leave the located ministry within five years of graduation. * 70% of ministers say they have no close friends or confidants they can talk to about their problems. * 90% of ministers who have left the located preaching ministry say the three primary reasons for leaving the ministry was Number one, dealing with problem Church members; Two, the stress ministry demands placed upon their marriage and family life; and Three, the unreasonable expectations and demands placed upon them by the local congregation. ( Statistics from tonycooke.org)

3 ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago, my dear preacher friend Louis Hall, sent me an actual ad that was placed in one of our Church of Christ publications by a Church looking for a new minister. The ad read like this: The person filling this position shall be an experienced pulpit minister, firmly rooted in the Word, who lives a Christ-centered life. He will be supported by a Youth Minister, a part-time Associate Minister, a part-time counselor, eight elders, twenty three deacons and secretarial staff members. His duties and responsibilities will include the following: He must challenge the members and facilitate their spiritual growth and development. He must preach on Sunday morning and Sunday evening and be responsible for Wednesday Night services. He must plan sermons with the advice and counsel of the elders, which are consistent with the needs of the congregation. He must teach a Bible class at least once a week, either on Sunday morning or Wednesday night. He must write or edit a weekly newsletter which is to be distributed to members and other congregations and individuals who request it. He is to provide material for Sunday morning and Wednesday night announcements. He must present a balanced ministry that addresses service...faithfulness... morality...relationships...spiritual growth...leadership...temptations... and other areas that affect families and individuals. He must provide ministerial counseling to members in times of crisis and/or refer them to professional counselors. The minister must maintain regular, posted office hours and be available for meetings with Church members. He must also visit the sick, and the shut-ins, and the nursing homes as time allows. He must be willing to speak at special functions inside and outside the Church. Whenever possible he must attend functions outside the Church setting where our members are involved such as civic club meetings...school activities... ball games...and plays. The candidate must hold a Bachelor's Degree or an equivalent or greater degree. He must be an effective communicator and computer literacy is preferable. He must also have at least five years of pulpit experience. (Down at the bottom of this ad, Louis Hall wrote: The only thing they left out was The candidate must be able to stop a speeding bullet and leap over tall buildings in a single bound. )

4 ILLUSTRATION: When I was preaching in southern Indiana back in the 1980's I had a dear minister friend who preached at a Church over in the next county. He was receiving such a meager income from the Church he was barely able to pay his bills. Finally he went to the Church elders and asked for a raise. The elders told the preacher they would give him a $25 a week raise if he and his wife would clean the Church building every week. ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago I read about a Church in Ohio where the minister was told by the elders of the Church if he didn't win a certain number of souls to Christ by such and such date he would be fired. *************************** Somewhere along the way many, many years ago our Churches lost their way when they got the idea to hire a minister to do the work of the Church, and if the idea that if the preacher's wife can play the piano and direct the choir that's an added bonus... two for the price of one! This approach to the ministry of the Church is neither Biblical... practical...or reasonable. This was NEVER the LORD'S will or His plan for His Church! And this approach to ministry has had a very devastating effect upon our Churches. Many of our Churches have died or are in the process of dying and don't know it yet! Many of our Churches have lost their influence in the local community and aren't winning any souls to Christ. And for many, Christianity has become nothing more than a spectator religion. They come to get rather than to give. They come to watch rather than to work. No wonder there is so little passion...zeal...and enthusiasm in our Churches.

5 This is why we must get back to the Biblical principle and practice of The Ministry of All Believers! For the remainder of the message I would have you focus on three key thoughts with me... First, we will consider The PRIVILEGE of Our Ministry Secondly, we will consider The PRICE of Our Ministry And thirdly, we will consider The PRIZE of Our Ministry First of all, let's consider... I. The PRIVILEGE of Our Ministry I Peter 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1. Now immediately when you see those terms chosen and priesthood and holy nation and His own special people...it sounds a whole lot like the children of Israel in the Old Testament, doesn't it? The Jews were the only people on earth who were given this special privilege of being God's people. 2. But here, these terms describe the Lord's Church. Now I could spend an entire message explaining the meaning of all four of these terms Peter ascribes to us in this verse. But I would like to draw your attention to the term royal priesthood. You and I are royal priests or royal ministers.

6 3. Now let me try to explain this whole idea of what it means to be a royal priest or royal minister in a way we can all understand. If you are at all familiar with the Old Testament you know the nation of Israel consisted of twelve tribes, all of which were descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob.: Reuben... Simeon... Levi...Judah... Dan...Naphtali...Gad...Asher...Issachar... Zebulun...Joseph...and Benjamin. Of course Joseph had died in Egypt, so his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh were given his portion of inheritance in the Promised Land. But out of all the twelve tribes, one tribe was given a very special privilege by God, and that was the tribe of Levi. The tribe of Levi was the priestly tribe. The Levi tical priests were given the special privilege of ministering in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. The Levitical Priests were the only ones who had special access to God. The Levitical Priests were the only ones who could make sacrifices to God on behalf of the Israelite people. No other tribe was given the privilege of doing the Lord's work...or doing the work of the ministry except for the Tribe of Levi.

7 4. Now what does this have to do with you and me? Let me explain. The day you were baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ you became one of the Lord's royal priests or simply put, you became a minister. Now notice Peter doesn't just call it a priesthood he calls us a royal priesthood. Now what does that mean? Well when we see the word royal we naturally think of Kings don't we? Well who is the King of all kings? And Lord of all lords? Its Jesus Christ, isn't it! And not only is Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords Jesus is also Our Great High Priest! Hebrews 8:1,2 (NKJV) says, Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. I L L U S T R A T I O N If President Trump called you this week and said, I would like to appoint you to a very special position in my administration, you would be stunned beyond belief, wouldn't you? You would be absolutely shocked that the President of The United States would afford you such an incredible privilege and opportunity, wouldn't you?

8 5. Well, you and I have been called to a very special position by someone far greater than President Trump. To say that you and I are royal priests means we have been afforded the wonderful privilege and opportunity to serve the King of all kings...and the Lord of all lords. We have been given the privilege of doing the work of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. 6. It has absolutely nothing to do with your qualifications. You didn't work your way up the ladder of success to achieve this position. You didn't receive it because of any merits of your own. The privilege of serving as a royal priest or a royal minister has been afforded to each and everyone of us on the basis of what Christ did for us on Calvary when He offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 7. Just what is the holy work He has called us to do? Peter tells us in this 9 th verse... 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, (now listen carefully) that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; The Lord has given each and everyone of us the privilege of helping to build His kingdom one person at a time by sharing Christ with our lost loved ones and friends who are lost in sin.

9 Secondly, let's consider... II. The PRICE of Our Ministry 1. In the Old Testament, the Levitical High Priests had to make a number of sacrifices in order to serve as ministers before the Lord. For example they had to surrender the firstborn of their children, and the firstborn of their livestock, and the first fruits of their crops to the Lord. They also had to give up all rights to inherit any land in the Promised Land. And they had to surrender their time to do service at the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Simply put, the life of The Levitical High Priest was a a sacrifice of service to the Lord. 2. What is the PRICE of our MINISTRY? What sacrifices must you and I be willing to make in order to serve the Lord? (a) First of all, We are to offer our bodies as LIVING SACRIFICES to God. Romans 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. What this means is first and foremost GOD wants you...he wants all of you...not part of you... He wants all of you. He wants you and me to come to Him in full surrender. God didn't call you and me to sit He called us to go... to go serve!

10 (b) Secondly, We are to offer a continuous sacrifice of PRAISE to the Lord. Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. This means you and I must be willing to surrender whatever right we feel we have to gripe and complain, and offer a continuous offering of praise and thanksgiving to God. (c) Thirdly, We are to offer the sacrifice of GOOD WORKS. Hebrews 13:16 (NKJV) But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Remember that wonderful passage in Ephesians 2, verse 10 where Paul said, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Our time here on earth is limited. Our lives will soon pass. We must devote our days to doing the Lord's good work while we are here. (d) And fourthly, We are to offer a sacrifice of SERVICE to others. I John 3:16 (NKJV) By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Just as Christ Himself did NOT come to be served but to serve, we must also dedicate our lives to serving others and ministering to others, and showing God's love to others.

11 Well we have considered The PRIVILEGES of Our Ministry and The PRICE of Our Ministry. Finally let's consider... III. The PRIZE Of Our Ministry 1. Do you remember Jesus' Parable of The Talents in Matthew 25? In that parable Jesus told about a man who traveled to a far country, and while he was away He entrusted His work to His laborers. To one He gave five talents...to another He gave two talents...and to another He gave one talent. Do you remember what each man did with what had been entrusted to his care? The man with five talents doubled it to ten. The man with two talents doubled it to four. And the man with one talent buried it in a field. What happened when the Master returned from his journey? Let's pick up the record in Matthew 25: So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them. 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.

12 26 But his lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 2. The Lord has blessed each and everyone of us with special talents, special spiritual gifts to use as royal priests or ministers in His service. The Lord may not have called you to preach, or teach a Sunday School class, or to go to some foreign mission field, or to be a leader in the Church. But He has blessed each and everyone of us with the talents and and gifts to do something in His service. 3. There are no prizes for wasting those gifts and talents. There are no prizes for sitting back and being a spectator. There is no commendations... of well done for those who do nothing in the Lord's kingdom. But for those who faithfully serve...faithfully minister...the prize is hearing the Master say, Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.

13 CONCLUSION ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago, the late Karl Ketcherside wrote a book entitled, Let My People Go. In that book Ketcherside addressed the issue of The Priesthood or Ministry of All Believers. Let me share some of his thoughts as we close. Jesus said, The Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister. But many Christians today, come not to minister, but to be ministered to. The result is that the saints are no longer participants in the arena, but spectators in the grandstand. Today's congregation is spoon-fed for years and never learns to feed itself. The fact is we are delivering spiritual babies who never intend to grow...we are enrolling students who never intend to graduate... we are enlisting spiritual soldiers who never intend to fight...we are registering racers who never intend to run. Our motto has become, There he is Lord, send him! Many congregations are made up of half-converted individuals who think that when Jesus said we were to be child-like, He meant childish and they have to be petted and pampered to even keep them coming to Church, much less to minister to others. The early New Testament Church did not send out missionaries, they were missionaries! They didn't have meetings to discuss what ministries needed to be carried out because they were out ministering. The Church's greatest source of power and potential is not in the pulpit, its in the pew. We have moved from the battlefield to the mess hall where we spend all our time getting fat on fellowship and warring amongst ourselves.

14 I believe with all my heart that if we will get serious about EVERY MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH BEING A MINISTER and we get serious about doing the work God has called each of us to do...christian Hope Church of Christ will be STRONGER, and BETTER, and HEALTHIER than she has ever been before! Its time to stop being a spectator! Its time to come down out of the grandstands, and get out on the playing field and do the work God has called you to do!