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Charge for Christian ministers – Part 1

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
18 June 2017   |   4:20 am
God calls and appoints believers into ministry. He expects us to abide in our respective calling in order to bear fruits. Neglect of our ministry or ignorance of the purpose of our calling will make us to be busy on non-essentials...

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

God calls and appoints believers into ministry. He expects us to abide in our respective calling in order to bear fruits. Neglect of our ministry or ignorance of the purpose of our calling will make us to be busy on non-essentials, and the enemy will take advantage of that to destroy our works. Thus, we need to concentrate and improve on what the Lord has committed into our hands lest the “enemy” comes to sow destructive “tares among the wheat” in our field of ministry.

Notable personalities in the scriptures, like Paul the apostle, Timothy and Titus and many others knew why they were called and they laboured to achieve that purpose. Thus, there was no conflict of interest, competition or carnal comparison as they discharged their duties. While Timothy was asked “…to abide still at Ephesus… that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine…”, Titus was “left… in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting…”. To succeed in ministry, we must understand our calling, appreciate it and remain steadfast in whatever the Lord has appointed us to do.

The word “charge” implies a divine, constant, compelling, lifetime command to all ministers, leaders, workers, disciples, pilgrims and sons and daughters of the Lord to continue in the sound doctrine of the word of God. A charge is a duty and responsibility that must be obeyed. “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus… That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Lord wants all His children to be faithful to His command to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Before we can effectively “charge some that they teach no other doctrine,” we must have proper understanding of the central, fundamental and essential doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. As fundamental teachers, we must emulate Christ, our Master, who taught the people the words of eternal life. People who claim to be ministers of the gospel but still teach the traditions of men and false doctrines are not servants of Christ.

We have a duty to teach others the doctrine that offers hope of eternal life. Our calling and commission is to preach the gospel; we must preach Christ as our Sufficiency and Saviour. Therefore, we should not allow Satan, the society and current economic challenges to distract us from focusing on this all-important task.

To get people into the kingdom of God, we must teach them the Word faithfully, fearlessly, fully, and without compromise, corruption or contradiction. “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear… doing nothing by partiality.” We must be committed to teaching the whole truth of God’s word about salvation, restitution, sanctification and steadfastness in order to produce personal conviction, transparent holiness and passionate desire for heaven.
Further Reading (King James Version): 1 Timothy 1:3; 1 Kings 20:39,40; Matthew 13:24,25; Acts 26:16; Galatians 1:11,12; Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 6:13,14; 2 Timothy 4:1,2; 1 Timothy 1:3; Matthew 22:16; 28:20; Acts 5:19-23,25,42; Colossians 1:28; 1 Timothy 1:18,19; 2:7; 3:9; 4:6,13,15,16; 5:20,21; 6:13,14,20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13,14; 2:15; 3:12-14; 4:1-5; Titus 1:9; 2:1,7; 3:8,14.

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