As the article is titled, we will be looking at the commission and the work of a minister. Through my life as a minister I have found that my roles and responsibilities would change based on what was needed by the pastor or whomever was leading the ministry that I was part of. When we look at the word “commission” we find it being defined as having a special assignment. In that assignment, is the work of a minister. As I mentioned above, the direction in my early years of a minister was determined by man. This should not be. Our direction as ministers has been spelled out for us through the Bible. In other words, our special assignment or work, has been spelled out for us through the word of God. What do we as ministers do? How do we lead the people? Can we show them what to do and how to do it? These are just a few questions to get you to think about what you do as ministers. Remember, we do not want to do something just because it seems right. We want to do what we do because the Bible tells us to. The following is a list of duties/work that we as ministers are to do.

First, as a minister, you must challenge and lead people to worship the Lord in spirit and truth.

John 4:23-24, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

As we see in this scripture, God is interested in only one type or style of worship, that is in spirit and truth. Spirit and truth are the two requirements that God has given us to worship Him. How many times have churches split because of the music for praise and worship? Have you ever heard people complain because of the type of music played whether it be the older people complaining about the guitars and drums or the younger people complaining about the old hymns? Can we as a body of believers worship God with guitars and drums? Can we worship God with singing and clapping and dancing? Sure, why not? The two requirements are spirit and truth. The spirit is the immaterial part of man. Our spirit or soul is the part in which the Trinity created in their likeness.

Genesis 1:26, 27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

In addition to worshipping God in spirit we are to worship Him in truth. As we look around at many different churches we find ourselves witnessing different styles of worship. As I mentioned earlier, some worship by clapping, some worship by waving their hands, and some worship by sitting quietly. Any of these are okay as long as you follow the guidelines that God has set for worship, in spirit and truth (look through Psalms to look at different styles of worship).

John 4:20, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”

The woman at the well worshiped something because it was tradition opposed to worshipping the living God. Jesus had to clarify for her that true worship was not location but God Himself.

Second, we must minister and serve the way that Christ did. As believers we are to have Christ as a role model. That means, if Christ did something we too should do it. If Christ didn’t do things then we too should abstain. Ministering/serving should be no different. Many times in the church we begin to elevate the ministers to a position that would make you think that they are far above the rest of the people. Now, before I go any further, I am not saying that ministers are not to be honored but we have to remember that we are all equal at the foot of the cross. I have seen pastors have their “personal assistant” carrying the Bible for the pastor. There have been preachers that don’t think that they need to pick up or put away anything. We cant forget that a minister is a servant. Look at Matthew 20:27-28.

Matthew 20:27-28, "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

This verse would contradict anyone thinking that as ministers we don’t need to lift a finger. Verse 27 is very clear that if you are the chief then you are to a servant. Verse 28 proves to us that even Christ Himself was living this scripture. Christ came to minister not to be ministered to. In other words, Christ came to serve not to be served. His service was 100 percent. He served us all the way to the cross in order to pay for our sin. We as ministers can not take on the sin of man but we can take on their burden. We can shoulder the pain and burden that the people have in regards to giving them encouragement, showing them compassion, showing forgiveness, sharing the promises of God, and praying for those in need just to name a few things that we can do. The most important thing to remember is that we have to serve the people.

Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Amen

Third, we are to seek and evangelize the lost.

John 20:21, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

This verse reveals to us, much like the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”), that we must seek out those that do not have Christ and tell them the good news. Again, we must allow Christ to be the example. That being mentioned, Christ sought out the lost and so must we. Notice in the scripture above that Christ did not give the disciples an option about going out and witnessing. Jesus said, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Jesus was saying, even as I was sent so are you. The same applies for us today. You have been saved, called to minister, and required to evangelize/tell people about the love of Christ.

Fourth, we should be intentional in laboring and working for the Lord right now.

John 4:35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

The harvest is ready right now. There is no need to delay in all the work that needs to be done for the Lord. So many times the preacher gets so hung up on the “work” that they say the Lord has called them to do, that they miss all of the work that the Lord is doing around them. Intentionally working for the Lord is a must and it has to be done now. Let us be at a place in our lives where we actually put the Lord first in all that we do. Let the Lord be above sleep, rest, food, television, music, and yes even church work. Years ago, when I was an intern, I spent a lot of time in prayer and would you believe that I was talked too about it? The thought was that I was not being paid to come to work (as an intern at the church) and pray. The reason that I tell you this story is because I was intentional about seeking God’s face. My desire was that I would hear from the Lord so that I could meet Him where He was at work. The desire of the Pastor was different. He wanted to see if he was getting most bang for his buck. If the fields are ready for harvest, or in other words, people are ready to be told about the wonderful grace and mercy of the Lord them we need to align ourselves to him and not to anything else.

Fifth, the responsibility of a preacher/minister is to preach/teach the word of God. This is an issue that is starting to lack, considerably. We are at a point in the world that we are so afraid to tell someone the truth about the gospel. We are concerned that we may offend or hurt someone’s feelings. If we as ministers know the responsibilities of a true teacher of the gospel then we wouldn’t follow the our feelings but rather the word of God. Here is what the Bible says about preaching in 2nd Timothy 4:1-2:

2nd Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

Lets look at his verse a little more thoroughly.

In this verse we find Paul, the writer of 2nd Timothy, charging Timothy with the responsibility of preaching. Paul tells him to preach (stand before the people) in season and out of season. In other words Paul is saying that Timothy and us should be preaching when we feel like and when don’t. We should preach when we are sick and when we are healthy. We should preach when its convenient and when its not. Nothing should stop us from spreading the good news.

If you notice, the role of a preacher/minister is also mentioned in the same verse. Paul says to Timothy that he is to reprove (express disapproval), rebuke (reprimand sharply), and exhort (encourage others). This is to be done with all patience and doctrine (teaching). This is not being done in the church today. It is time for us as ministers to stop being concerned about the numbers in the congregation and start being concerned about following the instructions that the Lord has given us. It is not enough for us as teachers of the gospel to simply stand up and give a message. What is enough is when we follow the instructions that the Lord has given us. Here are the instructions, we have to reprove, rebuke, and exhort through patience and true teachings of the Lord.

Sixth, linked with the last point, as preachers we have to teach, instruct, root, and ground people in the word of God. What we have to remember is that it is all about the Lord, not us. Who cares what we think about the issues of life? Who cares what we think about the hot topics of life? What matters is that we teach what the Lord says and why He says to do it. In a recent Bible study I posed a question about the role of a preacher. I asked, “how do we know what the roles and responsibilities of a preacher are?” The students began to give some different answers as to what they thought the preacher should be doing. After they finished, I had them turn to Ephesians 4:11-16.

Ephesians 4:11-16, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till 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: That 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From 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.”

You see, God has given us all of the answers as to what the preacher should be doing. However, here is the problem, if you don’t take in consideration and actually apply the previous point then you have truly missed you role and responsibility as a preacher/minister. We are to lead the people and edify the people so that they would not be as children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

Seventh, as ministers we are to warn believers of impending danger.

Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

We as ministers have to give an account for the people that God has given us. That being said, it is time for us warn the people of false doctrine and teachings that are running rampant through our world. Again, I cant say it enough, we have to call a spade a spade and stop being afraid of stepping on peoples toes. If we know that there is false teachings out there, which we do, then we have to warn the people. If we don’t then beware for two things will happen. First, they will die. Second, their blood will be on your hands.

Ezekiel 33:6-9, “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

Eighth, we are reminded through the scriptures that we should be doing the work of an evangelist.

2nd Timothy 4:5, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Many times as ministers we seem to forget that we are to continually evangelize (witness, teach reconciliation) among the unsaved people. We can never forget that our work is not only in the confines of the church but also beyond the church walls. We must demonstrate through our lives that there is a Savior that not only is able to save from the clutches of Hell but also to keep us from falling (Jude verse 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”). Our witnessing to the people is not just going from door-to-door or passing out tracks but also living God’s word out among the people.

Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

We should demonstrate through our lives that we are a great example of how God can turn the life of someone around.

Ninth, ministers should oversee the administration of the church. The minister should set in order the affairs and organization of the church.

Titus 1:5, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”

Acts 6:2-4, “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

Through these verses we not only see the organization of the churches but also we find that these people were set in place to help shoulder the burden. Many times ministers take on too much and try to do everyone’s work which will lead to burnout. In order to run an efficient church, the way that the Lord would have us to do, we have to utilize the gifts and talents that God has given to each believer.

In conclusion, we must remember to follow the instructions from God to us, the Bible. We do not need to ponder how do things but rather open the Bible and let the Lord talk to you. Let the Lord show you exactly what is expected and required. The Lord does not keep us in the dark so understand this, He will show you how to do the things He has called you to do. After all, God saved you to fulfill His purpose.

References

• What the Bible Says to the Minister: The Minister‘s Personal Handbook. (1996). Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.