VITAL SYSTEMS - MINISTRY

     Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
     2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Ministry means;

What is ministry? 1)) to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon

 Render ministering offices

 Wait at a table and offer food and drink to the guests,

 Those men and women preparing food

 Supply food and necessities of life

 To relieve one's necessities, to provide the things necessary to sustain life

 To take care of the poor and the sick

 To attend to anything, that may serve another's interests

 To serve one or by supplying any thing

Who is supposed to minister?

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

(Examples)

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. (Jesus in the wilderness).

Matthew 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. ( Peters mother in law).

Everyone in the body of Christ is a minister.

Ministry isn't just an office;

(James and John)

         Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

 ²¹And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

 ²²But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

 ²³And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

 ²⁴And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

 ²⁵But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

 ²⁶But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.

 ²⁷And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

Jesus considered himself to be a servant;

 ²⁸Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

We minister to each other;

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Jesus gives an example

     John 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

 ¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

 ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

 ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Angels minister to us

Hebrews 1:14 Concerning the angels he said; Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

What should our attitude be?

     These women ministered after being delivered from evil spirits;

     Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

 ²And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

 ³And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

We minister because we want to.

2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Be yourself

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The Training Process

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

 ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 ¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 ¹⁶From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.