Pastor Talbert W. Swan, II, M.Div.

Church Of God In Christ, Inc.Office of the General Secretary

Bishop Joel H. Lyles, Jr.General Secretary

 

Bishop Herbert J. Williams SeminarsTuesday, July 6, 2010, Charlotte, NC

6 “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. “

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

Vs. 1 - “Be Strong in Grace You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”

Ephesians 3:16Ephesians 3:16

16 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.

Vs. 2 - “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

"The teacher is a link in the living chain which "The teacher is a link in the living chain which stretches unbroken from this present moment stretches unbroken from this present moment back to Jesus Christ. The glory of teaching is back to Jesus Christ. The glory of teaching is that it links the present with the earthly life of that it links the present with the earthly life of Jesus Christ“Jesus Christ“

- William Barclay- William Barclay

13 “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Vs. 3 - “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

• Ready to Endure Hardship

• 24-7 Commitment

• A Desire to Please the Commander

Galatians 1:10Galatians 1:10 - - For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:92 Corinthians 5:9 - - Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

1 Thessalonians 2:41 Thessalonians 2:4 - - But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

Vs. 5 - “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules “

Vs. 6 - “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops”

““The industrious farmer starts his hard and The industrious farmer starts his hard and demanding work early and quits late. He demanding work early and quits late. He endures the cold, the heat, the rain, and the endures the cold, the heat, the rain, and the drought. He plows the soil whether it is hard or drought. He plows the soil whether it is hard or loose. He does not wait for his own loose. He does not wait for his own convenience, because the seasons do not wait convenience, because the seasons do not wait for him. When the time comes to plant, he for him. When the time comes to plant, he must plant; when weeds appear, he must must plant; when weeds appear, he must remove them; and when the crop is mature, he remove them; and when the crop is mature, he must harvest it. What drives the man to such must harvest it. What drives the man to such hard toil is the harvest.”hard toil is the harvest.”

- John MacArthur- John MacArthur

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

By Warren and David Wiersbe, in Making Sense of the Ministry.

1. The Foundation of Ministry is Character (not professional skill)

In mentoring his son in the ministry, Paul challenged young Timothy with these words, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).

Throughout his Holy Spirit-inspired counsel to this young man in the ministry, Paul stressed the need for a transparent character, an excellent reputation, a humble integrity which would allow others to see Christ in and through him.

2. The Nature of Ministry is Service (not to be served)

We often think the concept of leader is the person in front of the room barking out orders.  I have found the most highly respected and most effective leaders serve others, so that ultimately the cause they represent is best served.

From his endless mercy to the compelling story behind each disciple, there are scores of shining biblical examples of Christ as the servant of all. 

3. The Motive of Ministry is Love (not power or money)

Why we do something is just as important as what we do. Paul thought the motive of ministry was vital, particularly when you meet so much rejection. The motive is the love of Jesus revealed in his death & resurrection which transforms us.

4. The Measure of Ministry is Sacrifice (not success)

John Henry Jowett used to say, “Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing”.

Jesus: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

Sacrifice and service go together, if you have a servant’s heart.

5. The Authority of Ministry is Submission (not pulling rank)

Since Genesis 3, there have been two philosophies in the world: Take care of “number one” and walk on other people

to accomplish it if you have to Submit to God’s authority and expect to be walked

on by others on occasion “You shall be as God” - is a gigantic lie that rules the

world today, for man is serving the creature and not the Creator. Submission is not subjugation or slavery. To begin with, submission is voluntary, not forced; and it is based on love and trust, not on threats and fear.

6. The Purpose of Ministry is the Glory of God (not to glorify ourselves)

This is what helps to make ministry so exciting. We are part of an external plan that climaxes with glory, and then continues gloriously forever.

John 17:1 “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee.”

7. The Tools of Ministry are Prayer and the Word

Acts 6:4 – “But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

8. The Privilege of Ministry is Growth (personal)

Whenever we hear ministers complaining about their calling, we have doubts about their spiritual perception.

Paul cautioned Timothy, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.” (I Tim. 4:15). Progress means “pioneer advance into new territory.”

As we grow, the church will grow.

9. The Power if Ministry is the Holy Ghost (not programs)

A.W. Tozer warned that if the Lord removed the Holy Ghost from this world, much of what we are doing in the church would go right on, and nobody would know the different.

He further stated that “the spirit filled life is not a special deluxe edition of Christianity.”

10. The Model for Ministry is Jesus Christ (not a person or corporation)

Much is being said these days about “role models” for ministry.

When we idealize and imitate Jesus, we become, more of what He wants us to be, and we grow in ministry.