Trending
[Editor's Note: This is part two of a two-part article by Dr. James Barnes]
Number 5. Be committed to hard work. V.10 Labor and strive. It means to agonize in a struggle or a sweating labor. It is hard work preparing sermons or a new lesson in a clear and accurate and insightful and fresh way every week. In a sense it is a bondage, it is a work of labor. Work because our hope is fixed on the living God who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. V.10 Labor because we are involved in serving the living God in his saving enterprise.
Number 6. Teach with authority v.11 Command and teach these things. Direct, order, charge, actually keep teaching these things. What things? Anything related to divine truth and virtue. Authority comes from handling the scriptures accurately. Culture will change, but the word of God does not.
Number 7. Be a model of virtue v.12 Thomas Brooks said, "Example is the most powerful rhetoric." Example is what makes what you preach credible. Thomas Fuller, another Puritan, said, "Though the words of the wise be as nails fastened by the master of assemblies, yet their examples are the hammer to drive the nails in to take a deeper hold. One of the ways to discredit those that say you are too young or too old is to try to live what you preach or teach.
Number 8. Maintain a Biblical ministry v.13 Devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to preaching and to teaching. That suns up what you are supposed to do, read the scriptures, explain the scriptures, and apply the scriptures. To read the scriptures does not simply mean to read them but to give your attention to it. It is the same word used in Heb. 7:13 of a priest fully absorbed in his work at the altar. David Martyn Lloyd preached the book of Romans for 12 years and never got past chapter 14. Do you know what the secret is to good preaching or teaching? It is to keep your rear end in the chair till you finish your work and don't come out till you have something well prepared to say. XIV.
Number 9. Employ your spiritual gift v.14 Do not neglect your gift. Don't neglect what was given to you by the Holy Spirit. Be faithful to the usefulness of that gift. It is a gift for life, it is not temporary; it is permanent.
Number 10. Be passionate regarding your work v.15 Be diligent in these matters, give yourself wholly to them. This should not be just a job but your life. I don't want to do anything else if I can’t minister to others through preaching or teaching.
Number 11. Continue to grow spiritually. V. 18b Let others see your progress. We are all a work in progress. I don't think I need to tell you this; but I haven't arrived yet. But I hope I am marching forward or moving ahead. I think people can live with imperfection. I think people need to see our weaknesses and still love us so that they know when we see their weakness we will still love them.
Number 12. Persevere v.16 Hang in there. Plan to stay. Perseverance is a necessary element to an effective ministry. What are the elements of an effective ministry? Warn people of error, devote yourself to the study of scripture, avoid the influence of unholy teachings, discipline, work hard, teach with authority, be a model, maintain a biblical ministry, use your spiritual gifts, be passionate, progress and persevere. Do you know what the best thing we are going to get as a reward – heaven. Do you know the second best thing we are going to get as a reward? Being the agent by which God used to save other people for heaven.
•••
Dr. James Barnes has pastored the White Memorial Church in Milroy for 25 years. The church is located on 68 S. Main St., Milroy.