New Testament Baptist Ministries – Pastors Blog

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Introduction:
“A Christian who has no commitment to the ministry has not made any commitment to Christ.”

Full-time Ministers:
Full-time Evangelist
Full-time Pastor
Full-time Missionary

I. The Ministry is a Full-time Commitment

A. It Takes Full-time Study
B. It Requires Full-time Surrender.
C. It Demands Full-time Support

II. The Ministry is a Lifetime Commitment
A. It Involves Lifetime Service
B. It Calls for Lifetime Sacrifice

Conclusion:
“The ministry is a full-time commitment and a lifetime commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“On the NIV” By Sammy Tabuena

 

Traditional Fundamentalist:

“Let us sail against the wind no matter what.”

Contemporary Fundamentalist:

“That is stupid. Go with the wind by all means.”

The contemporary fundamental sailor ended up in the WRONG destination.

Bible Fundamentalist:

“Sail by the Book  no matter what.  Follow the Captain no matter what.”

By all means, the Bible fundamental sailor sails on, and sails on, and sails on, until he reaches the RIGHT destination.”

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The Ten Commandments were given to people “under the Law”, but there are also commandments given to people “under Grace” (Rom. 6:14).

There are also traditions that make the Word of God of none effect (Mark 7:13) that believers must be careful with (Col. 2:8), but there are also traditions which makes the Word of God of great “effect” that believers must constantly hold on to (2 Thess. 2:15).

Some of those commandments and traditions given under grace are found in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, and they are as follows:

1. “Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly” (v.6).

2. “Withdraw yourselves from every borther that walketh…not after the traditions which he received of us” (v. 6)

The “us” refers to Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus (2 Thessalonians 1:1).

3. “If any would not work, he should not eat.” (v. 10)

4. “Them that are such [busybodies, v.11]…with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” (v.12)

5. “Be not weary in well doing.” (v.13)

6. “If any man obey not…note that man”. (v. 14)

7. “If any man obey not… have no company with him. (v.14)

8. “If any man obey not…admonish him as a brother. (vv. 14,15)

BUSYBODIES

* Behave disorderly

* Disobey Pauline tradition

* Work not at all

* Eat someone’s bread for nothing

BUSY BODIES

* Labors night and day

* Not chargeable or burdensome to anyone

* Lives an exemplary life

* Not weary in well doing

We need some busy bodies (2 Thess. 3:10). We need no “busybodies” (2 Thess. 3:11)!

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

By Sammy G. Tabuena

Luke 12:41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

A “faithful and wise steward” is required of two things:

1. Knowing his lord’s will

2. Preparing himself for his lord’s will

3. Doing his lord’s will

In the Age of Grace, believers are God’s “stewards and they are required to be faithful until the Lord comes.

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.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

While waiting for the coming of the Lord, God’s stewards are expected to:

1. Know the will of the Lord

2. Prepare for the will of the Lord

3. Do the will of the Lord

I. KNOWING THE WILL OF THE LORD

The Will of the Flesh

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Will of Man

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Will of the Gentiles

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

The Will of Man’s Enemies

Psalms 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

The Will of God’s Enemies

Psalms 41:2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
Ezekiel 16:27 Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.

THE WILL OF GOD

Prove the Will of God

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Understand the Will of God

Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Some Examples:

Separating from Sin

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Showing Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Silencing Ignorance
1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Suffering for Well Doing
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Salvation of the Lost

Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

II. PREPARING FOR THE WILL OF GOD

Christ Gave His Life for Us According to the Will of God

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Give Ourselves to the Lord by the Will of God
2 Corinthians 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

III. DOING THE WILL OF GOD

Seeking to Do the Will of God

Psalms 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Learning to Do the Will of God

Psalms 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Sincerely Doing the Will of God

Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Striving to Do the Will of God

Romans 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
Acts 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

Standing In All the Will of God

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Suffering According to the Will of God
1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Serving by the Will of God
Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

Live the rest of our time to the will of God

1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

The reward for doing the will of God:

Sure

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Secure
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.