The Amish Voice 4
but the ministry of other true ministers. They must reject false
ministers and have nothing to do with them, but they must receive
the ministry of true ministers in order to grow in Christ. Paul
himself demonstrated three reasons why the church is to receive
true ministers of God.
1.
True ministers hold believers within their hearts as dear children.
The minister’s heart is ever so tender, warm, caring, protecting, and
providing toward the church.
2.
True ministers agonize over the growth of believers. They seek
“
Christ to be formed” in the believers. They want them living as
Christ lived and conformed into the image of Christ.
“
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how
often would I have gathered thy children together, even
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not” (Mt.23:37).
3.
True ministers guard the church against error. Note: if there is
any doubt about the matter, he warns the church.
“
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and
now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of
the cross of Christ” (Ph.3:18).
APPLICATION:
No believer or church should ever reject the ministry of a minister
who seeks to help them and to grow them in Christ.
ILLUSTRATION:
How open is your church’s pulpit to visiting ministers? Does your
pastor have every gift in the Bible and a resume that lists every
possible spiritual experience? Of course not. A healthy church
wants and needs input from other parts of the body of Christ.
Without an extended vision, a church will never grow; eventually it
will dry up and die.
About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the
northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town
sight. The next year they elected a town government. The third
year the town government planned to build a road five miles
westward into the wilderness.
In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town
government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to
build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to
go there anyway?
Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand
miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there.
But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles
out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision.
With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean
of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our
current boundaries.
Without a vision from outside our walls of comfort, we’ll never
know what God is doing in His world. Don’t you want to know?
PERSONAL JOURNAL NOTES
(
Reflection & Response)
1.
The most important thing that I learned from this lesson was:
2.
The area that I need to work on the most is:
3.
I can apply this lesson to my life by:
4.
Closing Statement of Commitment:
This article was taken from the Teacher’s Outline and Study Bi-
ble (TOSB) Commentary, Galatians? Did you know—you can
buy the whole New Testament commentary set? To order, please
order form below.
————————————————————
If you have missed our previous studies in the Book of
Galatians, please let us know and we will send them to
you. Call (419) 962-1515 or write the Amish Voice, P.O.
Box 128, Savannah, OH 44874
QUESTIONS:
1.
Who has come to your church recently that gave you a bigger
picture of what God is doing in the world?
2.
Does your church support any missionaries, evangelists, mission
churches, or student ministers? Do they come and share their
experiences with your congregation? What does your congrega-
tion do for them? What can you do?
3.
Is Christ being formed in you? If yes, in what way?
SUMMARY:
Do you have a better understanding of how to relate to the minister
of God? You must realize that they are all human just like you, and
they need your prayers and support as they follow God’s will for
their lives. God’s will for you is to...
1.
Treat the minister of God as a brother.
2.
Welcome the true minister of God.
3.
Guard against and reject all false ministers.
4.
Receive the true minister—always.
