Ministering the Word of God to Others

Ministering the Word of God to Others

(Mat 10:18-20 KJV)
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake,
for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
{19} But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak:
for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
{20} For it is not ye that speak,
but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

(2 Pet 1:20-21 KJV)
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
{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.

(Isa 55:10-11 KJV)
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
{11} So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.


HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT PREPARING SERMONS, DEVOTIONALS OR BIBLE STUIDIES?

1) DO NOT ADD TO NOR DETRACT FROM THE WORD OF GOD

Do not write a sermon or devotional using your own opinions , but limit your study to what the Word of God actually says, and do not add anything to it or take anything away from it. Let your opinion be what is altered, let the immutable Word of God be unaltered.

(Prov 30:5-6 KJV)
Every word of God is pure:
he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
{6} Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Deu 4:1-2 KJV)
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes
and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them,
that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
{2} Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you,
neither shall ye diminish ought from it,
that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Deu 12:32 KJV)
What thing soever I command you,
observe to do it:
thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

(Rev 22:18-19 KJV)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
{19} And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life,
and out of the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this book.


2) LET THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAK OR WRITE THROUGH YOU

Let the Lord speak through you, moving you along by the Holy Spirit. One could write any number of your own opinions or clever poems or editorials or spiritual advice, but is that something that will really change a sinners life? Rather, seek to be a messenger of the Lord's teaching to those He has given you to minister unto. God looks into each person's heart and knows what that person needs. He has His own agenda of what they need to hear, and when they need to hear it. It is up to the minster or teacher to follow the Spirit's leading, and give out what He tells you to. Let Him be the Shepherd and the Teacher, and you be the scribe.

(Heb 4:12 KJV)
For the word of God is quick{Grk=living}, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

So here are a few more principles which a christian minister or teacher can add to their life and christian experience to be able to minister the Word of God to others, either by speaking or writing or by living the Christian life:

3) READ, MARK LEARN AND INWARDLY DIGEST THE SCRIPTURES

Read the Word in every spare moment of time that you have..lunch time, break time, bed time, quiet time...give up time from amusements or tv to study it. Listen to tapes or Christian radio preachers while driving or working. Read the Word in other translations. Get dictionaries, concordances, Bible commentaries. Listen to excellent radio and TV preachers. Use Bible searching software and any other Bible study helps that are available on the internet. Take classes at your church or elsewhere to help you learn more about the Word. Ask God for wisdom to tell you what the difficult passages mean, ask Him to explain scripture with scripture, so you get it as correct as possible. Let the understanding of God's word be your hobby, your obsession, your food, your life.

(Psa 119:11-16 KJV)
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
{12} Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
{13} With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
{14} I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
{15} I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
{16} I will delight myself in thy statutes:
I will not forget thy word.

4) PRAY FOR IMPROVED MEMORY TO RECALL THE SCRIPTURES YOU HAVE MEMORIZED

Claim this promise for yourself, which the Lord gave to the disciples:

(John 14:26 KJV)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
This promise was given to the apostles for the purpose of remembering what Jesus taught so that they could write down the Gospels; but it is given to all of us to claim when we are studying, witnessing, writing, or just meditating about God's Word atny time. Claim it as your own, and expect God to honor it. And remember, the Word has to be IN your soul, so that the Holy Spirit can bring it to your remembrance.
5) ASK FOR WISDOM...AS MUCH AS IT TAKES AND EVEN MORE THAN IT TAKES

Ask God for as much wisdom as He will pour into your hungry soul. The Bible says, Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived or ever would live. However, what's wrong with being number 2, or number 3, or number 100? How big is your faith? How much wisdom is enough for you? How much faith do you have to seek wisdom? This is a very important promise:

(James 1:5 KJV)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
Who giveth to all men liberally, and will not criticize;
and it shall be given him.

6) PRAY THAT GOD WOULD REVEAL TO YOU WHAT IS YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT(S) SO YOU MAY USE IT TO DO GOD'S SPIRITUAL WORK

a) prophecy (in the sense of forth-telling God's Word and will),
b) teaching (instruction in sound doctrine, both for yourself and your hearers)
c) wisdom (application of truth to individual circumstances),
d) consolation, (empathy with the pain of another, showing genuine concern)
e) exhortation (calling near or encouraging people to hear God's message),
f) any other gifts the Lord may lay on your heart to ask for as described in these passages:
Romans 12: 6-18; 1 Cor 12: 1-31; 1 Cor 14: 1-33; Eph 4: 8-16

(Mat 25:14-15 KJV)
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country,
who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
{15} And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one;
to every man according to his several ability;
and straightway took his journey.

(Eph 4:11-13 KJV)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
{12} For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
{13} Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:


7) BE PREPARED TO EXPERIENCE SUFFERING, AND LET GOD TURN IT INTO WISDOM

The experience of enduring suffering, sorrow, pain, discomfort, disease, or loss, is the curriculum of University of God's Practical Learning. It is what He uses to allow us to feel the pain of others in a real way, to empathize with what they are going through, to have a practical knowledge of how to endure or overcome the adversity, how to understand where they are coming from, so we know where to start to help them and pray for them. Believe that at some future time, our painful experiences will be used by God to help someone else.

(James 5:10-11 KJV)
Take, my brethren, the prophets,
who have spoken in the name of the Lord,
for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
{11} Behold, we count them happy which endure.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job,
and have seen the end of the Lord;
that the Lord is extremely compassionate, and of tender mercy.

(2 Cor 1:3-4 KJV)Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
{4} Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,
by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.


8) BE PREPARED TO BE HONEST AND OPEN ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS TAUGHT YOU.

This is related to the experience of suffering, i.e. the sharing of suffering experiences. It is not going around looking for sympathy because of what you are going through; or hiding some negative experience because it might be personally embarrassing; but be willing to open your heart and let someone peek in...at the appropriate time. Share with them how God delivered you, and how He can therefore deliver them too, then share whatever comfort you feel the Holy Spirit leads you to give.

(Luke 2:19 KJV)
But Mary kept all these things,
and pondered them in her heart.

(Mat 6:16-18 KJV)
Moreover when ye fast,
be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance:
for they disfigure their faces,
that they may appear unto men to fast.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
{17} But thou, when thou fastest,
anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
{18} That thou appear not unto men to fast,
but unto thy Father which is in secret:
and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

(2 Cor 11:29-31 KJV)
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
{30} If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
{31} The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.



9) PRAY AND ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK THROUGH YOU THE VERY WORDS YOU SHOULD SPEAK.

Ask Him to hide you behind His Word, so that the reader or listener would not see you, but Jesus only.

(2 Pet 1:20-21 KJV)
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
{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.

(John 3:27-30 KJV) John (the baptizer) answered and said,
A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
{28} Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said,
I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
{29} He that hath the bride is the bridegroom:
but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him,
rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice:
this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
{30} He must increase, but I must decrease.

(Gal 2:20 KJV)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh,
I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me.

(Mat 17:8 KJV) And when they had lifted up their eyes,
they saw no man,
save Jesus only.

10) WRITE OUT THE WHOLE BIBLE VERSE NOT JUST THE REFERENCE SHORTHAND.

Human nature, being what it is, is lazy. As such, if you just give the reference (example-Gal 2:20) instead of typing out the whole verse, you run the risk that people will just go on reading your tract with the intention to look it up later, but may just not get around to it. Also, when reading or quoting a Bible verse in a sermon, don't rapidly mumble 90% of the verse until you get to the "important stuff", It's all important! because the "unimportant stuff" is still infinitly more important and powerful than anything you or I have to say. NO MUIMBLIMG THE WORD !!!

(2 Tim 4:2-4 KJV)
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
{3} For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
{4} And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables.

11 REMEMBER, THE WORD OF GOD HAS ITS OWN INHERENT POWER ,

The Word of God is capable of convicting and changing people's minds. Our words, no matter how learned or clever they may be, are but a resultant of what we have already been taught...kind of a pre-digested form of the real food. If we consider our words are more important than God's words, we miss out on using this power to its fullest extent, and in effect demean the glory of the Word of God.

This is why we need to so extensively learn the Word, and quote it in its proper meaning and context. If we use a verse outside of the context that God has intended it to mean, we are not actually quoting the truth, and so God will not honor our words. Be sure to read some verses before and some after the verse that you quote, (ie. the context) , so that you can be sure the verse actually means what God has intended it to mean.

(Heb 4:12 KJV)
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And although the following verse is specifically warning against changing any of the content of The Book of the Revelation, you have to believe that God's Holy Zeal guards all of the scriptures with the same passion...

(Mat 5:17-19 KJV)
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
{18} For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
{19} Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so,
he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:
but whosoever shall do and teach them,
the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

(Rev 22:18-19 KJV)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
{19} And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life,
and out of the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this book.

Luke 21:33 (KJV)
Jesus said:
Heaven and earth shall pass away:
but my words shall not pass away.

12) PRAY THAT GOD WOULD BLESS EACH PERSON THAT HEARS OR READS YOUR MESSAGE IN SOME WAY

(Rev 1:3 KJV)
Blessed is he that readeth,
and they that hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written therein:
for the time is at hand.

(Num 6:24-26 KJV)
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
{25} The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
{26} The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.

God Bless you as you seek to serve the Risen Saviour.
In Christ....brother bob.......<><
For further study, Check out these archives of past devotionals:
(Note: the devotionals may be under the headings of "discussions" "files" or "pages" )
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-part-2?msg=new&lnk=gcis&hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-archives-part-3/
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-4
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