Fall 1991

The Purpose of Ministry
Wade E Taylor

All authentic ministry is a gift from the Lord, and is given for the edifying and building up of His Body, the Church.

"Wherefore He saith, when He ascended up on high,
He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men" Eph 4:8.

Each time the word "ministry" appears in Scripture, it is coupled with the word, "gift" in some manner. Some examples of this are:

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" Eph 4:11;
"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power" Eph 3:7;
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" I Peter4:10.

The Lord has made ample provision for ministry to His Body. He has not left the provision of ministry to His Body dependent upon some arbitrary, or meritorious seeking on the part of man. Rather, He has freely given adequate ministry gifts for the building up of His Body, the Church.

"For every high priest (minister) taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, AS WAS Aaron "Hebrews 5:1-4. (Or, "as is ..." - Your name, if it fits here).

Many different levels of ministry are needed to build up and bring the Body of Christ to maturity. The order of these ministries is listed in I Corinthians 12:28. "And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."

Those who are functioning in these ministries should have the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation in their ministry. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will" I Cor 12:11. These gifts are listed in I Cor12:8-10. They are; The Word of Wisdom; The Word of Knowledge; Faith; Gifts of Healing; Working of Miracles; Prophecy; Discerning of Spirits; Tongues; and the Interpretation of Tongues.

These ministry gifts are to be sought after and used. "But covet earnestly the best gifts" I Cor 12:31a. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY man to profit withal" I Cor 12:7. "How is it then, brethren? when you come together, EVERY ONE of you HATH ..." I Cor 14:26a. It can be said that the "best gifts, "which are to be sought after, are those that are not available at the time of need.

It is essential that each one of us spend time in the presence of the Lord to find OUR PLACE of ministry in the Body of Christ. Then, we are to "wait upon the Lord" for the right time and opening for its expression. This latter part is very important, and many miss here.

Notice that I Cor 14:26 tells us that "every one of you HATH," rather than "sayeth." If the "ministry" that is moving within us will meet a present need, or lift up the spirit of the meeting, and is edifying; then, with the approval and cooperation of the leadership, it should be shared.

As we actively look to the Lord and wait upon Him, expecting to receive our portion of ministry, He will impart a ministry to us and provide the enabling anointing for its expression. Then, no matter how limited or unqualified we may feel, as we are obedient in its use, the Lord will develop and perfect this ministry within us.

The Lord's part is to provide us with a ministry gift. Our part is to be faithful in the outworking of the ministry gift which has been given to us. This principle is confirmed in Matthew 25:14-30 in the parable of the talents.

"And unto one He gave five talents, to another
two, and to another one; to every man according to
his several ability.

When those who had received the five talents returned with ten, the Lord said: "Well done (not much done), thou good (Godly) and aithful servant" Matt 25:21. A careful reading of this passage shows that the Lord required the return of the gift to Him with increase, and that He also expected, "faithfulness" in the outworking of what He had given to them.

Notice that His emphasis is on their "faithfulness" rather than o the increase that a ministry may produce. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" I Cor 4:1-2.

He was telling them that the functioning of their ministry ("well done") had produced "Godliness" (His image and likeness) in their lives. Therefore, the real and lasting reward was in what they had BECOME as a result. "Thou good (godly) and faithful servant."

What we "do" in ministry, is given to us as a "ministry gift." We cannot be rewarded for what the Lord has accomplished through us. But, we can be rewarded for our "faithfulness" in being obedient to the outworking of the ministry He has given us, and for what it has produced in our lives as a result.

Thus, discovering and coming into the full expression of our ministry is not the final purpose of our having a ministry. There is something more. In Romans 8:28-29 we are told that we are "to be conformed to the image of His Son" and that He takes all things in our lives and then works them together toward this goal.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

As we are faithful to the gift of ministry that He has given us, He will faithfully use all of our efforts in the outworking of our ministry, to build up and edify His Body and as a means to change us into the image and likeness of His Son.
, but along with this, His purposes will be accomplished in the Body of Christ and among the un-saved, as the Gospel is proclaimed.

"His intention was the perfecting and the full
equipping of the saints, that they should do the work
of ministering toward the building up of Christ's Body,
the Church" Eph 4:12 Amplified.

"Ministry" is a vital part of the Lord's deposit of Himself in the members of His Body. Have you discovered your ministry? Are you functioning in it? Can it be said by the Lord that you are being a faithful steward of the ministry gift you have received?

If not, delay no longer. Accept the ministry gift that is waiting for you, and begin to function in His Body. Your eternal state, as well as the lives of many others are dependent upon this.