The Ministry

Introduction

What is ministry?

ministry = diakonos = “to serve”

Ministry = Jesus + People and the work of Jesus through his followers to bring the two together.

Who does ministry?

All followers of Jesus!

1 Corinthians 5:18

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,

There is a difference between vocational ministry and non-vocational ministry, but all followers of Jesus are involved in ministry.

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

We’re talking about Fully Devoted not Partially Involved.

*If this is the definition of ministry, then how many of you have participated in ministry at some point?

Acts 5:12-16

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

This is reminiscent of beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Luke.

This unique ministry explosion helps to authenticate a new move of God.

While the extent and frequency may be unique, there are principles which can apply today. 

Ministry meets people’s needs in order to bring them to Jesus. 

The Ministry (12-16)

Ministry = Jesus + People and the work of Jesus through his followers to bring the two together.

Who does ministry?

All followers of Jesus!

There is a difference between vocational ministry and non-vocational ministry, but all followers of Jesus are involved in ministry.

1 Corinthians 5:18

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,

There is a difference between vocational ministry and non-vocational ministry, but all followers of Jesus are involved in ministry.

Ephesians 4:11-12

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

We’re talking about Fully Devoted not Partially Involved.

*If this is the definition of ministry, then how many of you have participated in ministry at some point?

Ministry here is unique - not that God cannot or does not work in miraculous ways today, but frequency and extent seems greater than now. 

This is reminiscent of beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Luke.

This unique ministry explosion helps to authenticate a new move of God.

While the extent and frequency may be unique, there are principles which can apply today. 

Ministry meets people’s needs in order to bring them to Jesus. 

What does ministry look like?

The unloved are loved.

This is reminiscent of beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Luke.

This unique ministry explosion helps to authenticate a new move of God.

While the extent and frequency may be unique, there are principles which can apply today. 

Ministry meets people’s needs in order to bring them to Jesus. 

The unloved are loved.

People are being loved

16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

People are being healed

A physical healing with no explanation is actually a spiritual explanation of things not physically seen.

People are being freed

those afflicted with unclean spirits,

People are being saved.

14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Why do we not have miracles today? Because we aren’t sharing the gospel. Salvation is the greatest miracle of all. ILLUST - what if I told you you could say certain set of words and you could see people healed, freed, completely changed?

Don’t neglect to see that the greatest of all the miracles listed here is that those who are spiritually dead with no chance of helping themselves are brought to life through the gospel.

Why do we not have miracles today? Because we aren’t sharing the gospel. Salvation is the greatest miracle of all.

ILLUST - what if I told you you could say certain set of words and you could see people healed, freed, completely changed? - You can - it’s called the gospel.

Acts 5:17-26

17 But

But as we all know, ministry doesn’t always go as we expect.

the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy

Interesting that the religious leaders were jealous that God was at work through the apostles.

These were undeniable signs that God was at work. So why were they jealous?

Because it didn’t come through THEIR work.

At this point, the apostles were persecuted not because of their belief in Jesus but because they were successful in ministry.

If you become jealous that you don’t get the credit for how God is working, then perhaps you are not really interested in bringing people to Jesus but rather bringing people to yourself. In the end, it doesn’t bring people to Jesus at all.

18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

“This is the thanks I get for doing ministry?”

God called them right back to what got them into trouble.

Acts: Verse by Verse The Apostles Witness and the Authorities Fail (5:21–26)

Freed during the night, they didn’t even return to their beds for deserved rest but went immediately and began to teach at dawn, likely just a couple hours after being released.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.

Council = Sanhedrin

Group of 71 religious leaders were once the ruling body

They were ‘wondering what this would come to’

perhaps they were worried they had a spy or someone working on the inside.

25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

No physical boundaries can contain the spread of the ministry. (17-26)

- Notice the twists:

But the high priest rose up,

But as we all know, ministry doesn’t always go as we expect.

19 But during the night

the high priest rose up,

And when they heard this

Now when the high priest came,

But when the officers came

Now when the captain of the temple

*You can have a ministry wherever God places you

Sometimes God opens the prison doors for ministry

Sometimes God gives you ministry inside the prison walls

- Philippi - the jailer - Paul and Silas

God is in the business of opening doors in order that we might “speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

It is interesting that God made a way of safety for the apostles only to call them to a place of risk.

Ministry can be risky

God may call you to place yourself in a vulnerable position in order that you might speak the words of Life.

*Are we willing to allow God to call us to place of risk for the ministry?

Acts 5:27-32

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Notice how they can’t even say Jesus’ name.

If only our charge was that we were FILLING the entire area with the teaching of Jesus.

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

No human body can stop the witness of the ministry. (27-32)

‘Council’ = Sanhedrin

One of the last times we see Sanhedrin was at Jesus’ trial

Can you imagine making the statement the apostles did to the most powerful court of the land? “We must obey God. . .”

Their prayer had been answered -

- 30

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

May our prayer be not for lack of persecution but the presence of boldness.

What was it that aided the boldness of the apostles?

They were witnesses - of the power of the gospel

They had the Holy Spirit

Luke 12:11-12

11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

We often associate this passage with politically-motivated persecution.

The apostles had a greater fear(worship) of God than they did fear of man

How much does the

In what ways has the fear of man stopped ministry God is calling you to do?

Acts 5:33-42

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

Gamaliel - a respected Pharisee - was taught by one of the greatest rabbis of all time, Hillel, and the one who taught the apostle Paul

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Theudas - Ancient historian Josephus mentions a Theudas as well; however, he was 10 years AFTER the events in Acts took place. May be a different Theudas

Judas the Galilean - led a Jewish revolt against the Romans because of the census taken by Quirinius in AD 6. Founder of Jewish Zealot party that tried to throw off Roman oversight and reestablish Jewish rule.

The difference is, these men were dead but Jesus is alive!

38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

“If God is not involved there is nothing to worry about; if God is involved there is nothing you can do to stop it.”\

beating - In this meant being beaten with a whip thirty-nine times or “forty lashes minus one,” as it came to be called.

In this meant being beaten with a whip thirty-nine times or “forty lashes minus one,” as it came to be called.

41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

No authority or power can overcome the power of the ministry. (33-42)

I love how they didn’t skip a beat. “They did not cease . . .”

What confuses me, though, is that it is when they are leaving the presence of the council that they are rejoicing.

Their backs are throbbing but they are rejoicing.

The beating was not only to inflict pain but shame.

You can be beat for something you deserve, but being beaten for doing the right thing rarely brings joy.

Philippians 3:10 ESV

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

The only way this is possible is if the power of “the Name” is greater than the power of the the council - even to inflict physical or psychological pain.

It is my prayer that I/you become so satisfied in Jesus that suffering shame and pain in ministry could be an occasion for joy.

Conclusion

I think it is interesting that the last word of this passage in Greek is “Jesus.”

One of the most loved Brother Andrew stories recounts a risky incident from early in his ministry. On this occasion, Brother Andrew approached the Romanian border in his car—which was packed with illegal Bibles.

He could only hope the border guards were moving swiftly and not paying much attention, which might allow him to pass through undetected.

But just as he was hoping this, Brother Andrew saw the guards stop the car at the front of the line. He watched, in anticipation, as the vehicle’s owners were forced to take out all of the car’s contents and spread them on the ground for inspection.

Each car that followed received the same treatment, with the fourth car’s inspection lasting the longest. The guard took a full hour to sift through it, including removing hubcaps, taking the engine apart, and even removing the seats.

“Dear Lord,” Brother Andrew remembers praying, “What am I going to do?”

As he prayed, a bold idea came to Brother Andrew. “I know that no amount of cleverness on my part can get me through this border search.  Dare I ask for a miracle? Let me take some of the Bibles out and leave them in the open where they will be seen.”

“Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to your children. When you were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind.  Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.”

Putting the Bibles out in the open would truly be depending on God, rather than his own intelligence, he thought. So when the guards ushered Andrew forward, he did just this. “I handed him my papers and started to get out. But his knee was against the door, holding it closed.”

And then, the almost unbelievable happened.

The guard looked at Brother Andrew’s passport and abruptly waved him on. “Surely thirty seconds had not passed,” he remembers.

Brother Andrew started the engine and began pulling away, all the while wondering if he was supposed to pull over so the car could be taken apart and examined. “I coasted forward, my foot poised above the brake. Nothing happened. I looked out the rear mirror. The guard was waving the next car to a stop, indicating to the driver that he had to get out.”

God had cleared the way for Brother Andrew to smuggle the Bible to Christians who had no access to God’s Word.

If Brother Andrew talked with each of us, he would likely encourage us along these exact lines. He would tell us as he has told many others, “The Bible is full of ordinary people who went to impossible places and did wondrous things simply because they decided to follow Jesus.”

“The real calling,” he has said, “is not a certain place or career but to everyday obedience. And that call is extended to every Christian, not just a select few.”

(https://www.opendoorsusa.org/about-us/history/brother-andrews-story/)

Maybe you thought given where you have found yourself that ministry is not an option. You’re right about one thing - ministry is NOT an option, but not in that you are limited - you are freed to do ministry wherever you find yourself.

Maybe you need to be freed for ministry - God may be calling not to a place of safety but of risk.

Maybe you’ve allowed the fear of man to slow or stop your ministry.

Maybe you need to experience the JOY of ministry - externally and internally.

Maybe for you “Jesus” needs to be the final word. You need to trust him for the first time today. You need something in your life that you would risk everything for?

Galatians 6:9 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.