THE MINISTER

By Rick Mathes

Colossians 1:25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

May we as minister love, trust and worship Jesus. This can be a difficult task to accomplish. I can speak for me that I fall short in all three of these critical categories of our ordained duties. There is expectancy on a minister’s life and discharge of responsibilities toward his sheep.

The main issue for God’s spokesman is to reflect Christ; to be a little Jesus clothed in our skin. He certainly cannot be the light because it matters not how brightly the sun shines among blind men. He is through charged with illuminating, blossoming and planting  the seed of election and predestination.

On the whole we sheep have a very anemic announcement of God. Our shepherd must impart understanding of the Word to us. We need to have a clear interpretation of God Words. What has the Father disclosed to us and what obedience to His commands does he expect. Most pastors as I have mentioned, forth-tell or rather blossom the Word exegetically. I parse a verse, light the flame and let it explode to manifest God’s glory. Scriptural interpretations and understanding is an enormous flash-bang that quickens the Holy Spirit and imparts life to that breeze that God first breathed into my wings.

His glory is manifest in pointing to our Savior with instruction, prophesy, and inspiration. This enables us to step into the pulpit with much determination and patience. Proclaiming the name of Jesus is our centerpiece of calling and anchor of our faith. We need to reach into their gut, grab his heart and point to Jesus.

C.H. Spurgeon suggests that we relax, disturb and relieve our audience with the God-breathed message of salvation. Our great short coming is that in our acknowledgment of God we must live our lives on God, live with Him and rely on no one else. Once this step is taken, there is a turning back to basics. We must press on!