Ministry: How are we to define a successful one?
The principle of “ministry” is to do with serving. The most important thing we have to serve others is our gospel, our message about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and what He accomplished through this for us. We speak of it as a gospel because the word gospel in the language of the original writings of Scripture means good news. In this case we find that God has given us good news about how we can be delivered from the consequences of our foolishness, our sinfulness. A major part of this good news is that our salvation is a gift offered to everyone.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that [salvation] not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
9 NOT of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
That’s right! No works of righteousness on our part are required at all.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Despite all this Scripture, so many people are determined to believe that they have something in “works” to contribute to their salvation. Our gospel tells us that Jesus Christ came into the world to pay the full price for it so that it could be free to us and to anyone. A summary passage of Scripture that I often mention on this website that states this is this one—
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Our ministry, our service in this is to get this information out to as many people as possible. Are YOU involved in doing that? Do YOU present this “good news” to people about what God has done for them through His Son, Jesus Christ? If you aren’t involved in this in some way, why not? What’s the hold up on that? Don’t you realize what a fabulous difference you could make in someone’s life for all eternity?
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
That’s a part of the good news. All our sins were held against Christ, not us! Christ paid the penalty for them all. People won’t end up in Hell and the Lake of Fire because of their sins; they’ll end up there because they never accepted what Jesus Christ did about them [John 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21].
20 Now then WE are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, BE ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
But always bear in mind that your success and your faithfulness in ministry is not manifested by the results and the number of positive responses you get to this message. Instead, it is determined by YOUR own FAITHFULNESS to get the word out about this. Again, it isn’t dependent upon the response or the results you get. If it did, then Jesus Christ was a failure in His ministry because most people, nearly everyone rejected Him and His message. It was even prophesied around seventeen centuries earlier that it would happen this way.
Isaiah 53:3
3 He [Jesus Christ] 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. [Emphasis added]
Such rejection of Him has always been the case. As great a man as he was, even the apostle Paul as one of His main representatives faced rejection on every side. It was always a minority of people who would respond favorably to the truth about Him. I have other articles about this on this website—
Minority: Are you in God’s minority?
Minority: Who is The Real Minority?
I also have videos on here about this—
There may be times when you hear of large numbers of people being saved but always realize that such is a small minority of the whole. It is quite interesting to note that even such a great man as the apostle Paul wrote about this in the last days of his ministry. He even tells us things were going to get worse about this.
2 Timothy 4:3-18
3 For the time will come when they will NOT endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure [his physical death] is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Then pay special attention to what he says about his marvelous future. We, too, can share in such as this!
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown [STEPHANOS = a wreath] of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto ALL THEM ALSO THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING [speaking of the occasion of the Rapture which introduces our time of evaluation].
For more information about this time, please see my articles about it—
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
There are also my videos about this—
#215-EP15 ~ The promises of Everlasting Rewards for Faithfulness
2 Timothy 4 continued…
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
16 At my first answer [speaking of his court room defense] no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [Emphasis added]
What a story of rejection! But such is the lot for all who love and serve our Lord faithfully. Yes, such is to be expected in a truly successful ministry. In fact, if you’re not experiencing some of this, you need to reevaluate both your message and your ministry.
2 Timothy 3:10-13
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Then he says things weren’t going to get better.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [Emphasis added]
But please realize that our Lord has promised that He will sustain us for as long as He wishes for us to have a ministry here. Here’s what Paul thought about this—
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [Emphasis added]
The “prosperity gospel” misrepresents the meaning of this verse. It is commonly quoted out of context. So, let’s take moment to look at the verses around it—
Philippians 4:12-14
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be HUNGRY, both to abound and to SUFFER NEED.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. [Emphasis added]
Here we read that the Philippian church had sent him offerings to sustain him and his ministry. God does provide for those who are faithful to His message.
Real success isn’t always determined by numbers. If YOU are to have a truly successful ministry in representing our Lord, it will be because you learned to study your Bible rightly divided and faithfully applied the things you learned. It is this that is the correct standard by which to measure anyone’s success in ministry. This is why so many in “the ministry” are failures no matter how many people are a part of what they are doing. Many of these people can’t even present a clear and correct gospel message let alone even have a knowledge of the full teachings of our apostle, the apostle Paul.
In the last days of Paul’s ministry, he speaks of the opposition he was having to deal with and the few who were a faithful part of what he was doing. This should remind all faithful believers that we should work our ministry with a sense of urgency. We should all do the best we can in presenting our gospel message and the principles of truth every believer should learn to live by. The following command should cause us all to be diligent in this.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
Everyone needs to know that though the whole Bible is FOR us it is not all TO us or about us. What a wonderful opportunity we all have to not only present our gospel message that is the best of all news, but to also present the Scriptures rightly divided! By doing this we can be a complete success regardless of what other people may say or think about it.
