"For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them."
What we learn in verses 1-10 is that where the shepherds of Israel have failed to take care of God's flock but have instead used and extorted them, God himself will do. God gave them a sacred charge to care for his people, to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, and bind up the injured. But instead, they have treated them harshly and brutally. They have not even gone out to look for the sheep, though they remain scattered over the whole Earth. They have failed, so God will do it himself.
He like a good shepherd will find the sheep that are lost.(Luke 15; Matthew 18:11) He will descend from heaven to bind up the broken-hearted and to set the captives free. (Is 61:1) All his sheep know his voice and obey his command.(John 10:14) He is the good shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep. (John 10:11) He is Jesus Christ, God, come to shepherd his people.
So do not think of yourself as a shepherd of God's people. The LORD is against shepherds and holds them accountable for what they have done. (Ez 34:10) That burden is not yours, but it is God's. It is only through Jesus Christ, the only true shepherd, that you can minister and shepherd the flock lest you carry the burden of responsibility. They are Christ's sheep, not yours. Quit feeling guilty and overburdened. Christ can handle it without you.
Showing posts with label Ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ministry. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
1Corinthians 12:13
"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
The Holy Spirit bind us to Christ just in the same way as it binds the Father and the Son together in the trinity. It is through the spirit that we can be in Christ just as he is in the Father and the Father in Him (Jn 17:21). Because of this, we are no longer independent beings but interdependent, our identities being grounded in the Holy Trinity and in the Church, the Body of Christ.
The Church is the product of Jesus's work and is a continuation of his present ministry through the presence of the Holy Spirit. We belong to Christ and are bought with his blood (Col 1:16-20). Christ is the first born of the Church, its head, and priestly mediator who enables peace and fellowship with God through reconciliation.
It is inseparably linked to the Holy Spirit which binds us and animates us. The Church is not a club, but an image of the inter-relatedness of the Trinity. It is an eschatological community but not Christ's ultimate goal and is distinct from the kingdom of God. The Church's mission is to bear witness and be a witness to Christ in the present day. We are the new Temple where God dwells; a living, breathing, and moving temple that goes to the people instead of having them come to it.
The Holy Spirit bind us to Christ just in the same way as it binds the Father and the Son together in the trinity. It is through the spirit that we can be in Christ just as he is in the Father and the Father in Him (Jn 17:21). Because of this, we are no longer independent beings but interdependent, our identities being grounded in the Holy Trinity and in the Church, the Body of Christ.
The Church is the product of Jesus's work and is a continuation of his present ministry through the presence of the Holy Spirit. We belong to Christ and are bought with his blood (Col 1:16-20). Christ is the first born of the Church, its head, and priestly mediator who enables peace and fellowship with God through reconciliation.
It is inseparably linked to the Holy Spirit which binds us and animates us. The Church is not a club, but an image of the inter-relatedness of the Trinity. It is an eschatological community but not Christ's ultimate goal and is distinct from the kingdom of God. The Church's mission is to bear witness and be a witness to Christ in the present day. We are the new Temple where God dwells; a living, breathing, and moving temple that goes to the people instead of having them come to it.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Exodus 5:22-23
"Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O LORD, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued them at all."
Each one of us has been called into God's ministry to serve, some for great tasks and some for lesser ones, but each according to their ability. But when God gives us a clear vision, do we let discouragement shake us? When we go to accomplish God's will and are met with opposition, will it cast doubt upon our mission and dreams? Even Moses had to ask if he was doing the right thing by going back to Egypt. Surely he must've thought to himself "What am I doing here? They were better off than if I had never come at all!"
But God had a plan of redemption even in the midst of the problem growing worse and not better. Moses had to trust God every step of the way even when he had his doubts about if he was actually doing any good in ministry. He stuck through it because he was sure in his call by God to be where he was even when he couldn't see why or how. Moses had no clue what he was doing, but he went and did because of the LORD. This has made all the difference in his ministry.
Each one of us has been called into God's ministry to serve, some for great tasks and some for lesser ones, but each according to their ability. But when God gives us a clear vision, do we let discouragement shake us? When we go to accomplish God's will and are met with opposition, will it cast doubt upon our mission and dreams? Even Moses had to ask if he was doing the right thing by going back to Egypt. Surely he must've thought to himself "What am I doing here? They were better off than if I had never come at all!"
But God had a plan of redemption even in the midst of the problem growing worse and not better. Moses had to trust God every step of the way even when he had his doubts about if he was actually doing any good in ministry. He stuck through it because he was sure in his call by God to be where he was even when he couldn't see why or how. Moses had no clue what he was doing, but he went and did because of the LORD. This has made all the difference in his ministry.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Matthew 25:15
"To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability."
Sometimes we get disappointed with our own ministries because we try to spend five talents when we've only been given one. We can easily stretch ourselves too thin, trying to do everything but being effective at nothing. Sometimes we even try to do too much at a time and we end up exhausted with a pile of things all over the floor.
God has indeed gifted some more than he's gifted others, each according to their ability, but there is no reason to be jealous and to try and act as if we are more capable than we are. God has given us only what we can handle! This is a blessing to delight in, not a reason to covet the blessedness of others. So what if you cannot physically do as much as others or you cannot speak as well as others, God has only ever asked of you to do the best with what you have been given. You can still be an encourager, a prayer warrior, a companion to the poor and destitute, and a friend of sinners.
Remember that no one owns the talents they work with, all of it is a gift from God, so keep watch as he might return at any day. Remember that the worst thing you can do is not to do anything.
Sometimes we get disappointed with our own ministries because we try to spend five talents when we've only been given one. We can easily stretch ourselves too thin, trying to do everything but being effective at nothing. Sometimes we even try to do too much at a time and we end up exhausted with a pile of things all over the floor.
God has indeed gifted some more than he's gifted others, each according to their ability, but there is no reason to be jealous and to try and act as if we are more capable than we are. God has given us only what we can handle! This is a blessing to delight in, not a reason to covet the blessedness of others. So what if you cannot physically do as much as others or you cannot speak as well as others, God has only ever asked of you to do the best with what you have been given. You can still be an encourager, a prayer warrior, a companion to the poor and destitute, and a friend of sinners.
Remember that no one owns the talents they work with, all of it is a gift from God, so keep watch as he might return at any day. Remember that the worst thing you can do is not to do anything.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:1-2
"The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor."
The Gospel isn't simply about forgiveness. Those who believe that the Gospel is that Christ died on a cross in order to forgive sins only understand half of what the Gospel is. This verse points to so many various things that Jesus did in His ministry in fulfillment of the law and prophets, all of which can be summed up in one word: reconciliation. Yes, Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins in order that we may live, but more than that, so that we might live unto and through Him in right relationship with God our Father.
Jesus came to bring restoration of this world back to the way it was in the beginning, to rightfully restore us back to a place of dominion over all of the Earth as it's stewards, and to condemn that usurper who took from us our dominion and enslaved us by deceiving us into obeying him rather than God, the prince of this world, Satan.
Do not forget: We are agents, ambassadors for Christ, spreading the ministry of reconciliation which He started and has set in our hearts so that He may continue to work through his body on Earth, the Church.
The Gospel isn't simply about forgiveness. Those who believe that the Gospel is that Christ died on a cross in order to forgive sins only understand half of what the Gospel is. This verse points to so many various things that Jesus did in His ministry in fulfillment of the law and prophets, all of which can be summed up in one word: reconciliation. Yes, Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins in order that we may live, but more than that, so that we might live unto and through Him in right relationship with God our Father.
Jesus came to bring restoration of this world back to the way it was in the beginning, to rightfully restore us back to a place of dominion over all of the Earth as it's stewards, and to condemn that usurper who took from us our dominion and enslaved us by deceiving us into obeying him rather than God, the prince of this world, Satan.
Do not forget: We are agents, ambassadors for Christ, spreading the ministry of reconciliation which He started and has set in our hearts so that He may continue to work through his body on Earth, the Church.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Luke 10:3
"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."
This is a very dangerous mission we are called to. At every moment we are in danger of being devoured if we are not careful. Jesus gives us careful instructions on what to do lest we find ourselves in some serious trouble. The life of one called to be an apostle is one that needs to be handled with the utmost care. When one is in a position to share the Gospel, mistakes cannot be afforded. This entire mission is life or death as lives hang in the balance.
Your enemy is prowling about like a lion waiting to devour someone who stumbles; Do not give him the chance. It takes but one thief to break into a house to let the rest in. Though a single flake of snow may not seem like much, over time and repetition it can amount to a serious problem. So take heed to yourselves and make sure that you do not falter in this task given to you.
No one in a position of authority can ever commit a small sin. Those who teach will be judged more harshly. Far be it that we sin while everyone's eyes are upon us! For he who causes any of these little ones to stumble, it would be better if he were thrown into the sea with a large millstone around his neck. It would be worse than if he never served at all. Do not take God's calling lightly.
This is a very dangerous mission we are called to. At every moment we are in danger of being devoured if we are not careful. Jesus gives us careful instructions on what to do lest we find ourselves in some serious trouble. The life of one called to be an apostle is one that needs to be handled with the utmost care. When one is in a position to share the Gospel, mistakes cannot be afforded. This entire mission is life or death as lives hang in the balance.
Your enemy is prowling about like a lion waiting to devour someone who stumbles; Do not give him the chance. It takes but one thief to break into a house to let the rest in. Though a single flake of snow may not seem like much, over time and repetition it can amount to a serious problem. So take heed to yourselves and make sure that you do not falter in this task given to you.
No one in a position of authority can ever commit a small sin. Those who teach will be judged more harshly. Far be it that we sin while everyone's eyes are upon us! For he who causes any of these little ones to stumble, it would be better if he were thrown into the sea with a large millstone around his neck. It would be worse than if he never served at all. Do not take God's calling lightly.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Exodus 4:11-13
"The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf and mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O LORD, please send someone else to do it.'"
Moses is running low on excuses. Despite God's constant reassurance that He will take care of everything, Moses comes up with reason after reason and fear after fear in hopes that he can get out of what God is asking him to do until finally he just outright says it, "O LORD, please send someone else to do it."
God is sovereign in all our lives and has a calling for each and every single one of us, but often we put it off. "God, I need to get my degree before I can serve you." "God, I need to save up money first before I can do that." "God, I am not very good at evangelism!" Believe me, I'm sure God has heard every single excuse in the book why you aren't doing what he asked of you to do and God asks of us the simplest things! He even promises to equip us adequately for the mission if we just go, and we sit and make excuses.
Maybe you don't know God's will for your life, but are you trying to figure it out? Come on: What's your excuse?
Moses is running low on excuses. Despite God's constant reassurance that He will take care of everything, Moses comes up with reason after reason and fear after fear in hopes that he can get out of what God is asking him to do until finally he just outright says it, "O LORD, please send someone else to do it."
God is sovereign in all our lives and has a calling for each and every single one of us, but often we put it off. "God, I need to get my degree before I can serve you." "God, I need to save up money first before I can do that." "God, I am not very good at evangelism!" Believe me, I'm sure God has heard every single excuse in the book why you aren't doing what he asked of you to do and God asks of us the simplest things! He even promises to equip us adequately for the mission if we just go, and we sit and make excuses.
Maybe you don't know God's will for your life, but are you trying to figure it out? Come on: What's your excuse?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Mark 6:31
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Ministry with Jesus is exhausting, no doubt about it. They served non-stop at His side so they couldn't even catch a break for lunch. The good news is, Jesus provides them an opportunity to rest because he recognized his disciple's needs. I'm positive his disciples were looking forward to that well earned rest.
But that's not what happens.
Thousands of people follow them to their resting place. Imagine, if you will, your work following you home to the place where you should be free to rest. The hour is late, you haven't eaten all day, and in addition you had already spent the entire day working. "A little annoyed" wouldn't begin to cover it, so they tell Jesus to send them away.
But that's not what happens.
It turns out, before they get to eat they must feed the starving crowd. Before they can get rest, they must pacify the restless crowds. Before they could retreat, they must deal with the crowd who ran from all the towns and beat a boat across a lake. But love often is inconvenient. Sometimes the times when people need us the most are the times we really don't want to deal with them. However, Jesus as well has gone through the same things as the disciples had just done, and no doubt he is tired and hungry as well, but he sets the example. So love like Christ loved you.
Ministry with Jesus is exhausting, no doubt about it. They served non-stop at His side so they couldn't even catch a break for lunch. The good news is, Jesus provides them an opportunity to rest because he recognized his disciple's needs. I'm positive his disciples were looking forward to that well earned rest.
But that's not what happens.
Thousands of people follow them to their resting place. Imagine, if you will, your work following you home to the place where you should be free to rest. The hour is late, you haven't eaten all day, and in addition you had already spent the entire day working. "A little annoyed" wouldn't begin to cover it, so they tell Jesus to send them away.
But that's not what happens.
It turns out, before they get to eat they must feed the starving crowd. Before they can get rest, they must pacify the restless crowds. Before they could retreat, they must deal with the crowd who ran from all the towns and beat a boat across a lake. But love often is inconvenient. Sometimes the times when people need us the most are the times we really don't want to deal with them. However, Jesus as well has gone through the same things as the disciples had just done, and no doubt he is tired and hungry as well, but he sets the example. So love like Christ loved you.
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