Nature of ministry
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· 48 viewsAll creatures owe their Creator a ministry of service to him and to humanity. The example and teaching of Jesus Christ illustrate this.
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All human beings owe a ministry of service to God
All human beings owe a ministry of service to God
The debt owed by the creature to the Creator
The debt owed by the creature to the Creator
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
The service of the nations and their rulers
The service of the nations and their rulers
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
See also Je 3:17; Joe 3:1–2; Re 15:4
Examples of the service of rulers
Examples of the service of rulers
Ezr 1:1–2 Cyrus of Persia
Nebuchadnezzar:
Nebuchadnezzar:
Je 25:9; Je 27:6; Je 43:10
The Roman emperor and other authorities:
The Roman emperor and other authorities:
Ro 13:4; Ro 13:6; 1 Pe 2:13–14
The ministry of the people of God
The ministry of the people of God
In the OT
In the OT
you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
See also Is 61:6
In the NT
In the NT
1 Pe 2:5; 1 Pe 2:9
See also Re 1:6; Re 20:6 resurrected martyrs
The ministry of priests, kings and prophets in the OT
The ministry of priests, kings and prophets in the OT
The priests
The priests
Aaron:
Aaron:
Ex 28:35; Nu 18:2
Anyone who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the Lord your God is to be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.
The Levites:
The Levites:
1 Ch 15:2; Je 33:22
Ezr 2:63; Heb 9:6; Heb 13:10
The rulers
The rulers
David:
David:
2 Sa 3:18; Ps 78:70; Lk 1:69; Ac 4:25
Hag 2:23 Zerubbabel, governor of Judah
The prophets
The prophets
Moses:
Moses:
Nu 12:7–8; Jos 12:6; 2 Co 3:7; Heb 3:5
1 Sa 2:18 the young Samuel
Elijah:
Elijah:
2 Ki 9:36; 2 Ki 10:10
1 Ch 25:1; Is 20:3 Isaiah; Is 42:1–4; Je 7:25; Je 25:4; 1 Pe 1:12; Re 10:7; Re 11:18
The ministry of those specially set aside by the church
The ministry of those specially set aside by the church
1 Co 12:28; 1 Ti 3:10 Deacons; Tt 1:5 elders; 1 Pe 5:2 Overseers; Eph 4:11
Jesus Christ fulfils the OT understanding of ministry
Jesus Christ fulfils the OT understanding of ministry
His ministry as servant
His ministry as servant
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
See also Is 42:1; Mt 20:28; Ac 3:13; Ac 3:26; Ac 4:27; Ac 4:30
His ministry as shepherd, teacher and prophet
His ministry as shepherd, teacher and prophet
Jn 10:11; Jn 13:13; Ac 3:22
His ministry as priest
His ministry as priest
where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
See also Heb 8:6
His ministry as king
His ministry as king
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
NT ministry follows the pattern of Jesus Christ
NT ministry follows the pattern of Jesus Christ
In servanthood
In servanthood
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
See also Mt 23:11
In teaching
In teaching
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In shepherding
In shepherding
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
In priesthood by self-sacrifice and intercession in prayer
In priesthood by self-sacrifice and intercession in prayer
Php 2:17; 1 Ti 2:1
See also 1 Pe 2:5
Jesus Christ’s servants can expect the same response that he received
Jesus Christ’s servants can expect the same response that he received
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
The ministry of angels
The ministry of angels
Angels are both ministers to God’s people and fellow-servants with them:
Angels are both ministers to God’s people and fellow-servants with them:
Heb 1:7; Heb 1:14; Re 19:10; Re 22:9