1 Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

The purpose of this page is to provide training for men who are called of God to the ministry, and to testify the gospel of the grace of God. The following topics are covered by our pastor in text format:

Training for the Ministry

I. Philosophy of the Ministry
A. To Glorify God

Great men of God are consumed with the glory of God, imitators are consumed with being great men of God! They do not know what really makes a great man in the sight of God!

A great man of God is not concerned about what you think of him, but rather what you think about his God! In Luke 7:28 our Lord says, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: and yet John the Baptist said in John 3:30 He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease. When God promised to establish David's house and throne forever, David said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 2 Samuel 7:18. David did not think highly of himself but was consumed with God's glory. Therefore, God, not David, made David a great man of God!

The greatest example is our Lord Himself who in Philippians 2:7 made himself of no reputation, but rather prayed John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me. Because our Lord was consumed with the glory of the Father, He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross Philippians 2:8.

When He came to the temple and saw the animals and money changers, He was offended for the Fathers glory. He said John 2:16 make not my Father's house an house of merchandise and yet when our Lord was falsely accused, Isaiah 53:7 he opened not his mouth. He was consumed with the Father's glory, not His own. Philippians 2:9 says, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Was our Lord glorifying the Father when He fed 5000 people? Of course. Was He still glorifying the Father when He told the same people who were now following Him no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father John 6:65? Of course, even though upon hearing that doctrine, the five thousand walked no more with him (Christ) John 6:66, our Lord never compromised His Father's glory or truth for a crowd.

2 Corinthians 4:5 says, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus'sake. When we are consumed with God's glory, we think of ourselves as servants. Our Lord said, Matthew 20:25-28 Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them... But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (servant); And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Our Lord said, Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. We need to be consumed with God's glory so that we are not lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock 1 Peter 5:3. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Being consumed with God's glory, we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for the spiritual maturity of the saints to glorify God, and not that we should appear approved 2 Corinthians 13:7. In Philippians 2:17, Paul says, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. Whatever it takes in sacrifice so that God's people abound in faith, and thus glorify God, we should rejoice.
The glory of the apostles was never how big is my congregation or building, but rather, how is God being glorified by souls coming to Christ and saints maturing in their faith!

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12

A perfect example of someone who lost sight of God's glory, was King Saul. God said that when Saul wast little in thine own sight God made him the first King of Israel
1 Samuel 15:17, but Saul got so caught up in his own ministry and self glory that he ran his ministry his own way (rather than simply obeying God) and became extremely jealous of another man (David) whom God raised up and used mightily. Even to the point if seeking to kill the man with a "heart after God", David. Had Saul been consumed with God's glory, he would have rejoiced that God was glorified by David! But, being consumed with his own position, he was jealous of anyone else who could do something better than himself.

B. Glorifying God in His strength

The more you seek to glorify God, the more you learn of your own weaknesses and failures in the flesh. Paul said in Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: In Romans 7:24 he says, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? The closer you draw nigh unto God, the more you know that you cannot glorify God in the flesh. In Romans 8:8, the Bible says, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Likewise, the more you are consumed with the glory of God, the more you learn of the Lord Jesus Christ's sufficiency! Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. God told the apostle Paul, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Paul's response was Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... for when I am weak, then am I strong.

We glorify God most when we serve God in His power, with His message! Before God could really use Peter, he needed to be stripped of his self confidence. Peter told the Lord he would never deny Him, though all men forsook Christ, he would not. Our Lord told Peter that he would deny Christ three times before the cock crowed. But our Lord also told Peter I have prayed for thee, that thy faith (Peter had saving faith) fail not: and when thou art converted (from dependence upon the flesh to God dependence), strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:32. A man who knows his own nothingness will depend upon Christ's all sufficiency!

1 Corinthians 1:26 says, For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: God doesn't want us to serve Him based on our worldly education, position or physical strength. For example: Moses, at the age of 40 years, had a great nobility and reputation as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He was wise after the flesh; Acts 7:22 says, And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds... v. 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: But at that time, God sent Moses to the backside of the wilderness to dwell with sheep for the next 40 years. During that time, God stripped away all Moses' confidence in his reputation, education and strength. God wanted to be the strength and confidence of Moses. When God finally called him, Moses said, Exodus 4:10-12 O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (God had him right where he wanted him now). And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth?... have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

God chose to strip Moses of all his confidence in the flesh before God raised him up to be one of the greatest men of God, and one of the greatest leaders this world has ever seen! Let us take our place in the dust of the earth and give God the glory! In Psalms 113:7-8, the psalmist says, He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

C. How to Glorify God

Colossians 1:18 says, that in all things he (Christ) might have the preeminence. That simply means that Christ ought to be first place in your life. Revelation 2:4 says that the Lord Jesus Christ should be our first love. It needs to be our consuming passion to know who we believe in and why we believe in Him. Delight yourself in the knowledge of the person of Christ, His character, attributes, life, wisdom and power. Love Him, praise Him, rejoice in Him. Seek to understand more of His saving grace, His transforming grace and the grace He gives to enable us to serve Him! Then, remember what He told his apostles when He called them to a life of service, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24.

Deny self; cast aside desire for greatness for self.
Take up your cross; die to the praise of men and the criticism of men.
Follow me; follow Christ in a life of sacrifice and service for the glory of God.
Let us be consumed with the glory of God!

Finally, 1 Corinthians 15:10 says, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. We are saved by God's AMAZING grace. God's grace is His unmerited favor to us who believe. We don't deserve to be God's children nor to have eternal life, but God in His grace has saved us and made us His own. Likewise, we don't deserve to be in the ministry, it is only by the grace of God. God doesn't need us; He could have used angels or even caused the rocks to cry out, but God has chosen to give us the privilege of proclaiming His everlasting Gospel and the unsearchable riches of Christ.

God has washed us from our sins in the body of Christ, equipped us with the Spirit of God, and given us His infallible Word to serve Him. Your desire to turn others to righteousness, bring souls to the Savior, and perfect the saints is the grace of God to you! Don't take that grace in vain, but rather labor abundantly with the grace that God gives you. When God gives you the desire, the qualifications, and the ability to do His will, that is the grace of God. Use that grace for His eternal glory.
Pastor Rick Wilder

II. Preparation of the Ministry
A. Mindset of the Minister

Our Lord says in John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Eternal life is knowing the living God through His Son Jesus Christ. In John 1:18 Jesus says: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. It is through Jesus Christ we begin to know and understand the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; Colossians 2:2.

We see God as a Holy God who must punish sin Isaiah 53:10-11 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; (Christ) he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: Romans 8:32 says, God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,

We also begin to know God as a God of love: John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, I John 4:10 says, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

We begin to know Him as a merciful God Titus 3:5, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. This is the very reason Christ and Him crucified must be preached to a lost and dying world.
Our Lord says in Jeremiah 9:24, But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

As ministers of God, we need to truly know God, His person, His character, His attributes and His heart. Unbelievers are rebellious to God and corrupt His Word because they know not God, In Exodus 5:2, when Moses told Pharaoh to let God's people go, Pharaoh responded with Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice.

Knowing our God, makes service and worship joyous and prevents us from teaching false doctrine. Preaching a false gospel, legalism or corrupt doctrine are the fruits of not knowing God. They might know about Him but they do not know Him personally and scripturally. If they knew the nature and love of God, they would never teach salvation by works or that you can loose your salvation!

We need to know who God is, how great God is and what He has done for us.
Psalms 19:7 says, the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. In order to trust someone, you need to know who they are and what they are like; in other words; their testimony. The Bible gives us the testimony of the Lord so that we can be wise and trust Him in salvation and in every area of our lives. As you read the Bible, don't just look for something to preach, know the author! Don't just know the "letter of the law", but the Spirit. Don't study famous quotes, surveys, great illustrations and famous sermons to teach the people; study the Bible so you can bring your people to know and love God. Great sermons and quotes originally come from men who know God greatly!

When God's people repent, God promises them in Jeremiah 3:15, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Remember, the more you know God, the more you can be a pastor, teacher, or missionary according to mine (God's) heart! If you study famous messages of great men, you can puppet them from the pulpit. If you really know God and His Word, you will be able to feed God's people with knowledge and understanding.

Learn so much about God that you think like God, understand like God and love like God.

B. Eat the Book

God told Ezekiel in chapter 3:1, Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll (the Bible), and go speak unto the house of Israel. The man of God must be a "Word filled" man; Colossians 3:16 says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 15:16, Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. To eat food is to internalize it and draw nutrition and strength from it for yourself. Jeremiah ate the Word of God until he became like the LORD God of hosts, then he preached with power!
To "eat the Word" means that you hear the Word or read it and then meditate upon it until it becomes a part of your life, Psalms 1:2-3, But his (the blessed man's) delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Our Lord was the Word of God that "became flesh" John 1:14, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, we are flesh that should become the Word of God! As C.H. Spurgeon said "fill yourself with the Word of God until your brain is Bibbling!"

C. Studying the Bible

Our Lord said in John 5:39, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. In John 5:46-47 Jesus said, For had ye believed Moses (the O. T. Scriptures), ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? Though Israel had the scriptures read to them regularly at Sabbaths and Feasts, yet they did not know the Word of God. Therefore John 1:11 says He came unto his own, and his own received him not. What a tragedy to hear the Word of God and not know the God of the Word. No wonder our Lord told the people to "search the scriptures" in Acts 17:11-12; when Paul preached at Berea, the Bible says of the people, These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed;

In 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, knowing the God of the Word requires "searching and studying" the scriptures. "Study" indicates systematic reading and comparison: it requires comparing scripture with scripture. In Acts 2:42 the Bible says the new converts continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine that is the New Testament.

Study the New Testament over and over, observing the Lord Jesus Christ's deity, incarnation, humanity, sinless life, public ministry, teaching, miracles, sacrificial death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification. Learn of the grace of God and the difference between grace and law. Study how to die to self and let Christ live through you, looking for His soon appearing. Only when you have studied these truths out in the New Testament are you ready to go to the Old Testament and see these truths taught in prophecy and in types and shadows, Hebrews 8:5, 10:1.

There are sixty six books in the Bible and all are written for a specific purpose, and yet, all sixty six books fit together in perfect unity and harmony. The Bible tells us in Luke 24:27 beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. As diverse and unique as the different books of the Bible are, yet they all point us to the Lord Jesus Christ. So, don't study the Bible as though it is a school subject, study it to personally know and understand the God of the Word.

The Jews in our Lord's day knew the law but they did not understand the purpose of the law. In Romans 3:19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. If they understood by the law is the knowledge of sin Romans 3:20, they would have been humbled before the law giver and looked for a Savior of sinners; they would have understood that God does not desire sacrifice but rather mercy. But instead of being humbled before Christ seeking mercy, they crucified Him. As you can see, we cannot superficially read the Bible. Knowing right and wrong does not mean we know God.

The best way to understand the Bible is to read each book thoroughly and in context. For example, the first book a new Christian should read is the gospel of John. Read the whole book through without making any notes, just getting an overview of the book. This prevents you taking a verse out of context and building a whole doctrine out of one verse.
2 Peter 1:20 says, Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. Any individual scripture needs to be judged in the light of total scriptures.
Remember, God never contradicts himself.

Having read the book through once, for an overview of what God is trying to communicate, now read it through again seeking for understanding and application. The first book I read as a young Christian, was the book of John. I read eleven chapters one day and ten chapters the next day, finishing the book every two days. I read John for thirty days in a row, finishing the book fifteen times consecutively. The more I read this book over and over, the more the Bible interpreted itself. By the time I read this book fifteen times, I knew God's love, Christ's deity, and God's plan of salvation. John 3:17, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The gospel of John gave me an unquenchable desire to read God's Word.

I encourage my young preacher boys to read fifteen chapters of the Bible every day. As a young Christian and for many years now, I read thirty chapters of the Bible per day. One of my young preachers, David, read forty chapters per day. When he went to Nigeria, in a period of two years he lead 2,500 Moslems to Jesus Christ and started ten churches! The more of the Word of God you put in you, the more God can use you.

What God is doing in the world, God is doing through His Word!

Read each book and see who God is writing to, Israel, the Church, the lost or saved. What is the theme and purpose of that book in particular. For example: Romans teaches Justification in the eyes of God by faith without works. Romans 3:28 says, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 4:5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. At the same time, the book of James' theme deals with the practical affects of justifying faith. James teaches Justification in the eye of man. James 2:18 says, Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

We are justified in the eyes of God the moment we believe. He that believeth on him is not condemned: John 3:18, because God can see our heart. But, since man cannot see our heart, the only way they can know we are righteous, is by our works. The moment Abraham believed God, God declared him righteous. But, people believed he was justified when he offered his son, Isaac. |

The only way the spies knew that Rahab the harlot believed was because she protected the spies! If someone read James superficially, they could think the "justification" spoken of in James is talking about salvation by works and condemn themselves.

D. Prayer

Proper study of the Word will lead to true prayer. When the lights of the city go out, the lights in the pastor's study go on. Before the people of the city go to work, the pastor dwells deeply in his prayer closet! John 15:7 says, If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. God communes with us through His Word; we commune with God through prayer.

Pray that God teaches you His Word. Ps 119:33-34, Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Jesus said in Luke 22:46, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Pray for provision, salvation, protection, and spiritual growth for your family and church. Pray that God meets with your congregation when you meet to worship. Learn to pray from Christ's pattern of prayer (Luke 11:1-13), His intercessory prayer in John 17, Daniel's intercessory prayer for his people and God's will (Daniel 9). Pray daily for the people of your congregation. Pray for boldness, Acts 4:29, And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, James 5:16 says, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Don't go through the form of prayer, but fervently pray to our God believing!

Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.

E. Practical Application

Most importantly, don't seek to teach the Bible if it has no practical application to your life. Do not think that becoming a pastor, missionary, etc. will suddenly make you godly. Paul tells pastors, And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also 2 Timothy 2:2.

2 Timothy 2:21 says, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Peter 1:5-8 says, And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (moral excellence); and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance (restraint); and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness (God manifesting Himself through you); And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (unconditional love). For if these things be in you, and abound (grow rapidly), they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember, practical godliness is not your doing something for God, but rather, you living the "exchange life". Galatians 2:20 says, I am crucified with Christ (I have reckoned myself dead): nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: True godliness comes from believing what God says and then dying to self and asking Christ to do the will of God through you. This is the only way we can love the unlovely, love our enemies, forgive those who trespass against us, and boldly proclaim the gospel to a lost world. Whatever God asks you to do in His Word that you cannot do, Christ can do it through you!

F. Evangelism

Finally, evangelism is not something you start to do when you get into the ministry, it is the fruit of being "right" with God. Proverbs 11:30 says, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life (spiritual children); and he that winneth souls is wise. Our Lord said, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men Matthew 4:19. Romans 10:13,14 says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? (they need to know God is Holy, His love, His Son, and the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to believe) and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

People all around you are dying without the Lord, not knowing the plan of salvation. Don't wait for a title or position to "GO"! Be faithful to God today and you will know God's will tomorrow. Be faithful in the little things today, and God will be able to trust you with bigger things tomorrow.

Train today for a life of service.
Pastor Rick Wilder

III. Method of the Ministry

A. Love People

Without love we are not ministers of Christ, just noise makers, 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

The first impression the world will have of the God we preach, is what they see in our lives. The world does not read the Bible, they read our lives! 2 Corinthians 3:3 says, ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle (letter) of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. The world ought to see in us that God loves them. Actually, God loves the world through His ministers. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, the love of Christ constraineth us; that is the love of Christ to us, in us and through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us... in Christ's stead. 2 Corinthians 4:5 says, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. We are simply God's servants presenting Jesus Christ our Lord. In Hosea 11:4 God says, I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love. God draws people to Himself by His love through His ministers and message.

God used the apostle Paul mightily as he ministered to people with the love of Christ. Paul did not say "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God is that I might have a big church." But he did say, in Romans 10:1 that it was his heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel... that they might be saved. In Romans 9:3 Paul says, For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Imagine, Paul was willing to be cut off from Christ and literally go to hell for ever, if doing so he could save his kinsmen, the Jews. These were the same people he preached to, that expelled him out of their cities, scourged him and stoned him. If Paul was in the ministry to be successful, he would have quit with so much opposition. But, since love never fails, Paul continued to minister and finished his course.

If we don't love our congregation, we don't love God as much as we should. The more you love God, the more you will love people! I John 3:16 says, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. The ministry is the sacrifice of our lives on the altar for God's glory and people's good. To have the love of God for our congregation we need to consider our Lord's words to the apostles: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24). Self love makes it impossible to really love God and love people. That is why before Jesus tells us to "follow Him", he tells us to "deny self and take up our cross daily". We need to be careful that while we are in the ministry and have some success, that we don't forget to take up our cross daily. Our Lord said in Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. If we are in the ministry because we love God, we will love people.

The ministry of the Word is a ministry of love. Why? Because God is love I John 4:8. In
I John 4:7 John says, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. God does not just love, but it is His nature to love. If we are born again, it is our new nature to love with God's love, the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). Romans 5:5 says, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Our Lord said in John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this (love) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

B. Jesus Christ builds the Church

In Matthew 16:18 our Lord said, upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The church belongs to Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, Christ is the head over all things to the church, Which is his body. Our Lord said the Church is my Church (Matthew 16:18) and Scripture calls the Church: the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). In 1 Corinthians 3:11 God says, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Our Lord has given "gifts" (gifted men) to the "body" to edify (build up) and perfect the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). These gifted men are to build on the foundation (Christ) following the head of the body (Christ) for the glory of God. The Church does not belong to these gifted men, but rather Christ our Lord. Therefore, the doctrine, practices, worship and leadership should be directed by the true builder and head, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. The Call of God to the Ministry

As the builder of the Church, our Lord "calls" men into the ministry. Seeing a famous preacher and wanting to be like him is not a call to the ministry. A call to the ministry is when you cannot imagine doing anything but serving the Lord full-time, winning souls and building up saints for the rest of your life. Anything less than this to a God called man seems to be a waste of life. But, you must also meet the qualifications in 1 Timothy chapter 3 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil, and Titus chapter 1 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Also, your Pastor ought to be able to recognize your call to the ministry and spiritual gifts; (discernment and teaching ability) and be willing to set you apart for the ministry.

D. The Example of the Pastor

The Biblical Pastor recognizes that he is not a lord over God's heritage, but rather an ensample to the flock (1 Peter 5:3). The Pharisees were lords over God's people but our Lord said in Matthew 23:3-4, but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. In Matthew 23:13 Jesus said to the Pharisees, ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Contrast this with what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:24, Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. Paul recognizes that he is not a lord over the body but a helper to believers. In 2 Thessalonians 3:7, Paul says, For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; and in
1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul said, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Paul is an example, not a lord!

E. The Authority of the Ministry

While the Pastor is not a lord but an example, he must also exercise authority in the Church. 1 Peter 5:2 says Pastors, Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, (not forced) but willingly; (lovingly guarding the body of Christ). In Acts 20:28 Paul tells the elders to Take heed therefore unto yourselves, (if you don't guard your own life, how or why would you want to guard the lives of the brethren) and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. The Pastor needs to use his God given authority to guard against false teachers, false doctrine, impurity in the church and to set apart as leaders only those with biblical qualifications. Hebrews 13:17 says, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, (for you to God) that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. This authority is not something to be coveted, but rather used only for God's glory and the good of His people. Our Lord said in Matthew 20:25-26 Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. Don't confuse authority with greatness. Use authority only for God's glory. Pastoral authority is used for God's glory and the protection and edification of the saints.

F. The Call of God to Evangelism

The Pastor is called by God to do the work of an evangelist 2 Timothy 4:5. Our Lord was involved in evangelism, He told His disciples in Matthew 4:19, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. He commanded us in Mark 16:15 to Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. In John 4:34-35 our Lord says, Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: (people live forever because we evangelize) that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Proverbs 11:30 says, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. In other words, the result of being "Right with God" is that you will have spiritual children, grand-children, etc., in the Lord! If you don't win souls to Christ, you will have no flock to feed or guard. David said in Psalms 51:12-13, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit (grace). Then will I teach transgressors (the lost) thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. If you are glad you are saved, you should want others to know God's wonderful plan of salvation.

G. The Power of the Ministry

The ministry must be done by the filling, leading, power and energy of the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8 our Lord says, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. God the Holy Ghost gives you power when you speak to people about Jesus Christ our Lord. Power that can cause people (no matter how many years steeped in their unbelief) to give up their religion, tradition, superstition, idols, unbelief, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! Power to change a person's heart desires, worship, and direction in life permanently!

The person of the Holy Spirit is the only one who can balance the qualities that God wants in the Pastor; boldness, and meekness; contending without striving. Our Lord was very bold in cleansing the temple (twice), preaching God's Word, proclaiming truth and warning the wicked, and yet He was meek and lowly in heart Matthew 11:29. Moses was bold with Pharaoh and evil doers and yet in Numbers 12:3 the Bible says, (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) Without God's power we would be bold without meekness or meek without boldness. Jude says in verse 3, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. We are to strongly defend the gospel against false doctrine, but (2 Timothy 2:24-25) the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. We must not do the work of God in the flesh.

Continually go to God, asking Him to cleanse you, to fill you with the Spirit of the living God and seek to let Jesus Christ be Lord of your life. Only the Holy Spirit can continually give us balance for the work of the ministry.

H. The Test of the Ministry

In 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Paul says, But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. God will test you: if you are in the ministry for your own glory, you will preach to please men. But, if you are in the ministry for the glory of God, you will seek to please God. Galatians 1:10 says, For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:6, Nor of men sought we glory. Because we are seeking to please God, we do not use flattery. In 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Paul said, For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Flattering words and words pleasing to man "puff man up" and promote self love. Our Lord said in Matthew 5:3, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The gospel and words pleasing to God, humble man and help us to love God. God does not use flattery, He uses truth! Jesus said in Luke 6:26, Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

I. The Tools of the Ministry

In 1 Corinthians 1:21 Paul says, For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. The word "preaching" means: to urge someone to accept Christ, believe God! The word "teach" in scripture means: to cause to know a certain truth or doctrine. Preaching seeks to motivate you to respond to that teaching. Mark 16:15 says, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. In other words, urge every person in the world to accept Christ as Savior. Romans 16:25 says, Now to him that is of power to stablish (establish) you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ. We are saved and established in the faith by preaching, but also, Matthew 28:19-20 says, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Teaching enables us to urge people to accept Christ and grow in Him. These are two tools we are exhorted to use for God's glory, over and over in scripture. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says,
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; (teaching) but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (wanting to hear what people want them to do and say, not God) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (made up stories). God has called us to teach and preach, not make up stories, entertain or put on plays! Teaching and preaching are God's prescribed tools.

Isaiah 56:10 says, His watchmen (God's spiritual leaders) are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, (watch dogs that cannot see or cannot bark to warn of danger) they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Lazy Pastors who don't preach and teach God's Word are like blind guard dogs that cannot bark to warn of danger. Remember, in order to get the results that God wants; souls saved and Christians discipled, we must use God's tools, and methods with God's message.

J. Church Discipline

Finally, we must exercise church discipline, only when necessary. When a brother or sister in the Lord lives a wicked lifestyle and will not repent, he must be put on church discipline. 1 Corinthians 5:11 says, But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother (saved) be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. Notice, Paul does not say occasionally fell, but is "called", that means these un-biblical life styles have become their life style. They are not trying to walk in the faith. According to Matthew 18:15-19, one person would talk to them about their sinful life. If they don't repent, take one or more with you. In verse 17, if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. When the Pastor(s) put someone on church discipline, no one in the church is to have fellowship with him until he repents and comes to the Pastor, first to let him know he has repented! Then he is received back to the congregation.

Speaking about a man who was put on church discipline by Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:6-8, Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. In this man's case, church discipline led to repentance and full fellowship. Had he not repented, while he was outside of the protection of the church, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. His body would be destroyed by Satan, but he would not lose his salvation! Church discipline is extremely important because a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Corinthians 5:6. Leaven is evil practice or doctrine that will spread to the whole body if we don't Purge out therefore the old leaven, (evil influence) that ye may be a new lump 1 Corinthians 5:7. God wants church discipline exercised by the churches to keep the body pure and to get His people to turn back to Him in truth!
Pastor Rick Wilder

IV. Message of the Ministry

A. Fallen Race

When man was first created, he was placed by God in a garden that was a paradise. There was no sin, therefore there was no sickness, pain, suffering or death. Man walked with God in loving communion and fellowship. Man had no guilt, fear or condemnation. The presence of God was not dreaded when man was still sinless.

But Satan came along and put doubt in the mind of man concerning God's Word. He said to the woman "Yea, hath God said?" Genesis 3:1; or in other words "do you know for sure what God said?" or "how do you know God said it". He then contradicted God's Word, Genesis 3:4 Ye shall not surely die: When God's Word was made to appear to be unreliable, the door for sin was opened wide.

Then Satan sought to make God look unloving by making man think that God was really holding back something that would be good for the man. In Genesis 3:5 Satan said For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Man doubted God's Word and His love, and being deceived, man went ahead and sinned against God. That day, the whole human race became a "fallen race" separated from God by sin and distrust of God!

Now, because of man's sin, man is filled with guilt, condemnation, fear of death and judgment, and is fleeing from the presence of God. Right after man first sinned, man heard God's voice and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he (man) said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Genesis 3:8-10.

Since Adam, man has been hiding from the living God behind religion, idols, atheism, philosophy and good works (self righteousness); this is because man thinks that God offers a miserable life and is anxious to judge him! Man would rather make false gods or deny the existence of God rather than face the God he has sinned against.
When God came into the world in human form as the Son of God; John 1:10 says, He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Man crucified his own creator! In fact, the history of the human race since the "fall of man" has been to deny, reject, persecute and even kill the messengers of God! Because of man's sin nature, man hates the very knowledge of the living God. He will not even accept the "gift of God" which is eternal life, because he doubts and fears God's plan and presence. Consequently, the human race is living alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, Colossians 1:21.

B. The Message of Reconciliation to a Fallen Race

It is into this world God sends us to show the world that God loves us and is a "good" God. To this world, God has given to us the ministry of reconciliation II Corinthians 5:18. In II Corinthians 5:20 the Bible says, 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. The world needs to understand by our lives and witness, that God does not want to punish them, but rather to save and forgive them. They need to come to know through us, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;
Man needs to be convinced that God does not hate him, God loves him; that God is not anxious to punish man, but rather to forgive him. God is not anxious to punish man, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. A man, because of his sin nature, needs to be convinced that God is a good God: Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. John 3:17 says, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Our Lord said in Mark 16:15, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (good news) to every creature.
Tell every person the good news that God loves us, that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead so we could be saved and live with him forever! Isaiah 52:7 says, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

C. The Pattern of the Bible

God's first message to man was not one of external behavior or eternal judgment, but rather of God's love, benevolence and wisdom in creation. We see God's love and delight in the human race, as God creates a paradise for man to live in and dwell with God! A "tree of life" is placed in the garden, where man could eat and live forever! Genesis 2:18 says, And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. So God created woman for man, marriage and the family.

After all of God's love and kindness to man, man chose to take from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil" in disobedience to God's one law. God had encouraged man to take from the "tree of life" and warned him not to take from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil," lest man die. But, as soon as man defied his God and sinned, God came seeking to reconcile the two rebels to himself. Man did not seek God, but god came seeking, to save that which was now lost. God spoke to the two new sinners about their sin and the consequences of their disobedience. Then, God instituted His plan of salvation as God allowed an innocent substitute to die for the guilty sinner, bearing the shame and punishment due to the guilty party!

Right from the first two sinners God showed that justification was through substitutionary atonement, by the blood. From that time God started choosing people out of the human race that would believe God and come to God for justification through substitutionary sacrifice. This substitutionary sacrifice by an animal only acted as a temporary covering for man's sin until God sent His Son to be the substitutionary sacrifice for the whole world. Christ Jesus our Lord was the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

After God establishes the message of salvation, God goes on to show His people that we are a "set apart" people from the world. That God's people are to become like their God in holiness. That the world ought to know that they need the salvation of our God by our testimony and witness. God should be glorified by the way we worship the "living God", and by the way we live by faith in this world!

D. God's Grace and the "New Birth"

The pride of fallen man does not want to relinquish his "self-righteousness." Man wants to think that his good works, religion, or human merit will get him to heaven. But, the holiness of God revealed in His Word, Law and presence will utterly destroy such a delusion! Romans 3:19-20 says, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ... for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Isaiah, the great prophet of God when coming into God's presence cried: Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 6:5.

The evidence that we understand who God is and have worshipped in His presence is that we know we are totally unworthy of God and eternal life. We are so convinced, that we know that we must be saved by Christ's merits alone! We know that not only is salvation not of our own merit, but that, not even a part of our merit plus Christ's equals salvation. Isaiah 64:6 says, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. If someone calls on the name of the Lord and believes in Christ but still trusts in any human merit, they might start trying to live a Christian life but, they will not be born again!!

The new birth and salvation only comes when all human merit is rejected and the living Christ (not an idol Christ) is trusted fully for eternal life. Our Lord demonstrates this in Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. These people believed in Jesus, called Him Lord and yet because they trusted in their "spiritual gifts" and good works, our Lord says to them "I never knew you" (not I knew you but you lost your salvation), but "I never knew you, depart from me." It would be better to smite our breast and say "God be merciful to me a sinner" than to trust in any good work or gift as evidence of salvation. It is infinitely wiser to not have any confidence or trust in self so that all our trust is in the Lord himself!

Because all God's children worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3. In Philippians 3:7-9, Paul says, But what things were gain to me, (the good things I trusted in before salvation) those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things (any good thing I have or do, that I might trust in) but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness ...

At the same time as we have no confidence in the flesh, we have complete confidence in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In John 5:24 Jesus says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, (life that cannot end, ever!) and shall not come into condemnation; (you will never be condemned by God and loose your salvation) but is passed from death (spiritually) unto life (spiritually). The Bible says in Acts 16:31 Believe (trust in, rely upon) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 15:11 says But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Remember, God's grace is God's favor and love that He gives to us (even though we are sinners and do not deserve it) because God wants to bring us back to Himself for all eternity! Ephesians 2:8-9 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. We can never deserve "grace" because it it bestowed upon us based upon God's love not our goodness! Remember, we are a "fallen race" incapable of deserving salvation!
Then, some will say "if you accept Christ and are always saved, then you can murder someone and still go to Heaven." But, what they do not understand is that God saves you when you know you cannot save yourself, then, you are born again. When you are born again, the Spirit of Christ comes to live in you and makes you a "new creature" in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 5:17 says Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Now, no longer are you a fallen person but a redeemed, born again child of God. You have become a member of God's forever family.

E. The Message for "Born Again" Believers

In Acts 20:32 Paul says, And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. The Christian life is a life of growing in God's grace and knowledge. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:10, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. The Christian life is not what you do for God, but what God does in you and through you for our good and His glory. Galatians 2:20 says, 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.

If a Pastor does not understand how God's grace changes a person on the inside for God's glory, he will create a legalistic system that changes the outward appearance but does not fill the heart with God's grace. Our Lord said in Matthew 15:9, But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. He also said Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:6. Changing the outward appearance is not necessarily evidence of grace because the Pharisees cleansed the outside of the cup but the inside was still corrupt. Going soul winning to build a big church is not necessarily evidence of grace from God because our Lord said the Pharisees compass sea and land to make one proselyte, (convert) and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:15. Grace changes your heart to love God, His people and to have compassion on the lost and want to bring them to Christ for God's glory and their eternal good.

The purpose of preaching to Christians ought to be so they love God and love their neighbor. Galatians 5:6 says, For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision (an outward mark) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. I Corinthians 13 says that if we do not have "Charity," which is God's unconditional love, we are just making noise and what we do profits us nothing and we are nothing! This love, charity, is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5. That is why it is important for us to deny self and let God the Holy Spirit have control of our lives.
Only when our lives are filled with God and the love of God, will the world be able to realize God is a God to be trusted and is a good God!
Pastor Rick Wilder