WHY SHOULD WE DO MINISTRY
October 2016
“And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come” (Mat 24:14) The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST should be preached in all nations and then shall the end come. 160 Crores of Indians came to know about the election date, the party symbols within a short period. But it is 2000years since JESUS CHRIST came, the symbol of cross has yet to reach the people. Indeed we are sinning by the slow process of reaching the people. A party worker toils hard for the growth of the party. Are we really working for JESUS CHRIST with truly sincerely with a sacrificial mind. Only those who are saved like you and me have to involve ourselves in the ministry. Many think that ministry is the work of full time workers. You may say if God calls for full time then I will do ministry. My dear brothers and sisters will a medical student after graduation fail to practice? Every one after completing his course will search for a job according to his qualifications. If you say that you are washed by the precious blood of JESUS and have the joy of salvation in you, then spend your time in the ministry. Immediately after I was saved the next day itself I started my friends about JESUS. When I was doing B.A in Madras Christian College I started my ministry. I used to avoid taking food in the afternoon and saved my lunch money for ministry expenses. I did my ministry among students, villages and other youths. By the grace of God I am in the Ministry from the age of 18. I have faced all kinds of opposition in the ministry. By having the mind of Christ continued the ministry with firm determination. My dear readers, satan will bring many obstacles in the ministry. People who are saved come to church with great zeal and enthusiasm. Pots and pots of cold water are poured on them and make them cold in spiritual life. How sad it is! Today there is a ban in many Churches to do God’s work. I have heard many pastors say that my church. should be an evangelical church. The same pastor will tell his congregation individually not to go for ministry. JESUS is broken at this double tongued pastor. (Jer 23:1)
“For through I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid up on me: yea woe is unto me. If I preach not the Gospel”.(1 cor 9:16) St Paul after conversion preached that JESUS is Christ. Gospel was his breath and speech always. St Paul was in the ministry always. Nobody could stop the zeal for the ministry. Any time, any place St. Paul would preach about JESUS every where. My dear readers, we are busy ministering in Churches, Christian homes but instead let us work among non Christian and tell people who have not heard the name of JESUS even once in their life time. Today there are people who speak very low about evangelist. They call them as wanderers etc Lucifier is using the tongue of the so called servants of God to redicule evangelist.. Beware! JESUS went place to place. He appointed 12 disciples and sent them to do ministry. Then he chose 70 and sent them two by two. By doing this he formed 35 teams. JESUS CHRIST was a perfect evangelist leader. Teams were sent to preach to everyone JESUS CHRIST was the first to start team work. My dear reader do you have the burden to carry the Gospel to the perishing souls. Once I met a person and asked him if he is doing ministry. He told me that he had no time to do God’s work. After some time he backslided. If your soul is alive you will have the burden for other souls. But if your soul is dead then you will not have any interest in ministry. The rich man thought about his five brothers in Hell and did not want them to come to this place. Let us have burden for souls when we are in this earth. When we are having church programme we should not have ministry is the new rule. When the church has 7 days programme when can the believers go for ministry? My dear pastors please answer these questions. Don’t fall into the trap of the devil by shunning ministry work. Once a brother asked me did you face opposition when you did ministry in Guruvayoor. I said no. Then he told me if there is no opposition I would have come with you. We don’t want this kind of timid believers. “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain”(Phil 1:21) Who has suffered like St. Paul in the ministry? Even persecution and severe hardships came, who can say like St. Paul I care not for my life! I don’t want to go to Heaven empty handed instead I will take a crowd. with me to Heaven. (Prov 11:30) JESUS said go ye to the villages before you. But satan chides the innocent believers why should you do ministry, let us be holy for His coming, we can do ministry after his coming. We have to reach out to our generation in our time. Be an Indian, Evangelise India. After you evangelise India go abroad, Take this as a challenge what is the motive behind leaving a country of 160 Crores and running to a affluent country of 2 lakhs population? Evangelist Beware!
“And the Gospels must be first be published among all the nations.” (Mark 13:10)
What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is not forgetting or letting someone off the hook. Forgiveness is choosing to not desire revenge, to not want to see the other hurt for the hurt they have caused us.
It can be hard to forgive someone who has hurt you, especially if they are not sorry for what they have done. The Lord’s Pray says, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. So, we start from the premise that we also have fallen short and need forgiveness. When we do not forgive others, bitterness has an opportunity to occur and can remain for years. I say, ‘bitterness has an opportunity to occur,” because it is really up to us how we respond to offenses. When we refuse to forgive, bitterness, anger, and hatred grow until it consumes us. The good news is, there is a cure for bitterness. It is forgiveness! I am not telling you it will be easy, but when we are willing to forgive, the power of God will be present to help us.
It is human choice to feel when we are hurt, we want to hurt back, or see the other hurt for the hurt that caused us. This desire for justice is normal but forgiveness means we don’t expect justice, we will take our hurt and deal with it instead of turning it into anger at another. Remember, anger is a secondary emotion coming from hurt. To forgive means giving up any right you might have to see the other suffer for what they did to you. You can’t forget, but whenever the hurt or anger come back, you make that choice again to give up any right to see them suffer.
God forgives us – He gives up any right to see us pay for our sin against Him. Therefore, when we forgive, we are being like Him and when we don’t we aren’t. If you have trouble forgiving just tell God, you are willing but struggling. As God heals the pain you will better be able to forgive.
The Benefits of Forgiveness
Forgiving is more for us than it is for the other person: Many times, people don’t even know you are angry with them. They walk around free while you are bound with bitterness. Forgive those who have offended you, betrayed you, or mistreated you, because unforgiveness does not hurt the other person. It hurts you. There is a saying that refusing to forgive someone is like drinking poison and expected the other person to die.
Forgiving gives us the power to heal – When we are constantly angry and hold negative feelings, it affects our health. This negative energy causes high blood pressure, headaches, arthritis, depression, stomach problems, and a host of other maladies. So, when we don’t forgive, we are hurt twice. Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Forgiving gives you the power to move forward – When we do not forgive, we become emotionally and physically stuck. Constantly rehearsing in our minds what has been done to us. We become spiritually paralyzed and cannot move on to other things, such as new jobs, new relationships, ministry.
God commands us to forgive – There are times when we don’t want to forgive. Especially if we feel justified. God does not tell us to forgive if we feel like it but forgive because we have been forgiven. If we do not forgive others, our relationship with God is in jeopardy, and our prayers will become hindered. Mark 11:25-26
Forgiving gives you the power of mercy – We all know that we will reap what we sow through the law of reciprocity. The Bible teaches that blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. This wisdom reminds us that we are not perfect and will, at some time in life, will need to be forgiven also. Matthew 5:7.
Forgiving gives you back personal power – When you forgive, you are empowered, and it releases you from the power the offender has over you. When we hold resentments and hatred, we from becoming a prisoner of our emotions. We open ourselves to become a bitter person who is not pleasant to be around. When we forgive someone, we become free from the hold that person has over us. We are free at last!
Refusing to Forgive:
Refusing to forgive affects us emotionally: When we are unable to forgive, it can fester and become a root of bitterness. The Bible speaks of a root of bitterness springing up and defiling many. It negatively affects how we see things and how we act. Saul became threatened by David when David was hailed as a great warrior by the maidens. Th e Bible says that from that time forth, Saul began to eye David. This was when anger and jealousy came into Saul’s heart, and he desired David dead. 1 Samuel 18:6-10.
Prayer of Forgiveness (Pray in Faith not by how you feel)
Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I thank you for the power that is in Jesus’ name. I release forgiveness to {mention the name of the person] for hurting me. I choose to no longer hold onto anger, bitterness, and hatred. Father, as you have forgiven me, I forgive and release forgiveness to [mention the name of the person]. Amen. Continue to pray to release forgiveness to all those who have hurt you. As you allow forgiveness to your heart, you will feel a fullness of God’s grace and love. God’s desires His Children to lead a joyful and prosper life. I pray that, God has delivered you as you read this word. Rejoice and be joyful always.
