The word minister, Strong's 1247,1248,1249; means to be a waiter, a teacher, an attendant, a servant.
To be a minister of Jesus Christ, means to be a servant of Jesus Christ. This calling to service, means taking up certain
very important responsibilities. Certain qualifications are necessary to ensure that such responsibilities can be wisely
handled.
You are the servant of those you obey, Rom 6:16. To be a servant of Christ, you must obey Him.
What did He command? Go and sin no more Joh 5:14. What then is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law
1 Jo 3:4. So to be a true servant of Jesus Christ, a man must not transgress the law of God, he must keep all the commandments
of God and teach all men to do likewise Mat 28:19-20.
A minister must be blameless, as touching the law of God.
Enemies may criticize him for keeping God's law, but they must never be able to honestly criticize him for breaking those
commandments.
The list of qualifications is given in 1 Tim 3. A man must be or have been married. He
must have raised children. He must be able to teach, be experienced in the faith and knowledgeable in God's Word.
He must not be a drunkard or alcoholic. The prohibition on being given to alcohol would extend to include becoming a slave
to any other substance as well, especially to those things that tend to cloud the judgement. He must not be greedy or selfish
of personal gain. Nor may he be a confrontational or combative personality, but must be peaceable. Yet, he must be able
to deftly and vigorously wield the sword of truth. He must be filled with the fruits of the Spirit of Love Gal 5:22.
A minister must be an ELDER; that is he must be older in years, in experience of life and in the faith. He must be filled
with the wisdom developed through faithfulness and experience over a period of time.
To meet all of these qualifications
takes time. No new college graduate, who has never had to support himself in this life, can truly understand the problems
of life. No one, who has never experienced marriage or child raising, can truly understand these situations. Even
Jesus Christ, who had more of God's Spirit than any man, did not begin His ministry until the age of thirty, Luk 3:23.
It would be unrealistic to think that many persons below the age of forty, could meet all of these qualifications
in todays world. It would be unwise to ordain anyone under the age of thirty-five, even if they were otherwise qualified,
except in the most exceptional circumstances. Truly, it is not the years that really matter, it is the level of maturity and
experience. Some may develope faster, yet it does take time to gain experience and maturity.
Every minister
is a teacher. His responsibility, is to teach the flock entrusted to him to become ministers themselves. All God's
people are in training to become priests forever, after the order of Melchizedek, who was both King and Priest, being the
King of Salem (PEACE) Heb 7:1-2 and Gen 14:18. If a minister has the attitude of spoon feeding the people only watered
down milk of the Word, trying to protect his position, for fear that someone will learn quickly and rise above him. He will
be rejected by Jesus Christ as an unfruitful minister and will lose his position forever. His job is to prepare God's
people to become Kings and Priests Rev 1:6 and Rev 5:10. His attitude should be as the attitude of Moses Nu 11:29.
Instructions for the ministry are given in Titus.
There are also guidelines and instructions for women in
1 Tim and Titus. When a man assumes the office of a minister, his wife also recieves much responsibility, for they two
are one flesh. She has the opportunity to assist him, to teach other women, to teach children, to set a good example
and to support him in every possible way. While she will not preach to the assembly, her husband will discuss everything
that is on his mind with her and she will have a considerable input and impact on the assembly through him. A true Godly
ministry, is really a team effort between God, the minister and his wife!
The job of a minister is to work
very hard to follow the example and instructions of Jesus Christ, to try to become like Him, as much as possible. In
so doing, he will be teaching and setting an example for the flock in his care. Too many ministers think of God's
church as; their flock, their church, their congregation. IT IS NOT! It is; GOD'S FLOCK, GOD'S
CHURCH, GOD'S CONGREGATION! The minister is there as an older brother, to help the younger brothers, to keep them
focused on the Father and His Christ. WOE to the shepherd who feeds himself and does not feed the flock Ezek 34:1-10.
Take a good look around at the various groups of the Church of God. Why are they scattered? Why do people, who
essentially accept the same things, separate? Their ministers are feeding themselves and are not feeding the flock with
TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Truly qualified, deeply converted men, filled with the wisdom of God's Holy Spirit,
are desparately needed in these last days. Please pray diligently that many such men will be provided by our Father.
In
Israel; kings were to enforce the law, while the priests taught the law, priests passed judgements and they acted as intermediaries
between man and God. Even so, Christ is now a High Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek Heb 6:20 and is now
the only mediator between man and God 1 Ti 2:5 and Heb 12:24. Ministers today, should teach and make judgements regarding
the law of God; and we are all in training to enter that priesthood of Melchizedek at the resurrection of the saints.
It is an ABOMINATION for any minister to pass off his own opinion as the WORD OF GOD. They have ABSOLUTELY NO AUTHORITY,
TO DOMINATE THE FLOCK! They are to TEACH THE WORD OF GOD, NOT THEIR OWN OPINIONS!
Whenever the kings
and priesthood of Israel went astray from God, He sent them correction through someone especially called for the purpose.
The purpose of the office of PROPHET was always; first to correct the priesthood and people, turning them back toward God!
Predictions were ALWAYS SECONDARY! The function of a prophet was ALWAYS TO CORRECT the priests and the nation.
Since the prophet was directly and specifically called and sent directly by God, the mentioned qualifications for the ministry
do not apply. God calls and sends whoever HE WANTS, His judgement always prevails!
That is why
Jeremiah could be called as a very young man Jer 1:4-8. God's judgement is superior to man's in every way!
