10/01/25 TWO VITAL QUALIFICATIONS

10/01/25 TWO VITAL QUALIFICATIONS

Though the Bible gives us several qualifications for ministry people in the local church, what are the two fundamental qualifications for leadership ministry (i.e. Pastor, Evangelist, Teacher, Elder, Deacon)?

The person must be a believer (saved, born again, converted, justified).
The person must have his heart purified by the fulness of the Holy Spirit.

There are several qualifications which require personal obedience, submission, denial, self-discipline and self-control, in other words, obedience and growth. Qualification for service is not only what God does in us at the moment of our conversion and the moment of our Holy Spirit Baptism; it is related to our continued surrender and pursuit of God's presence and blessing.

The two fundamental qualifications are faith-related to the saving work of God. Being regenerated and receiving newness of life by the Holy Spirit and having our hearts purified by the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Being born of the Spirit and being infilled with the Holy Spirit is not a matter of spiritual works or personal accomplishments, but it is the result of trusting God to accomplish in us, works of grace, which are essential to our salvation.
Christians are not fit to "go into all the world" until we tarry in Jerusalem to be endued with power from on high," which happens when the Holy Spirit purifies our hearts by faith, as He did on the Day of Pentecost. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is not evidenced with speaking with a new tongue, but it is evidenced by a heart purified from all sin.

Be sure to call on God for your justification and your sanctification and then be sure to walk in the light He gives you, so that you might grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. After our regeneration and our purification, we are being conformed to the image of God's own Son.

10/01/25 DON'T BE AN ELF ON A SHELF

10/01/25 DON'T BE AN ELF ON A SHELF

If it was not for active "elves" (i.e. Christians who humbly do the needed work of the church in the quiet of night, behind the scenes and without fanfare), some of God's work would not get done.

In fact, there is much of God's work that does not get done.
There are too many "elves on shelves,"
too many "benchwarmers,"
too many "commentators" sitting in the broadcast booth,
too many "self-appointed (unofficial) referees" running on the field,
too many "spectators" tunning-in to be entertained,
too many "guests who are sitting back," wanting to be served by the "help,"
too many "on the dole," letting someone else foot the bill,
too many "fans, who cheer and whine" about the performance of the actual players.

Anyone and everyone can be and can do what God wants them to. God does not require more from us than we are able to give (since with His calling comes His enabling). God will enable us to do His will and when we do His will, He will impart greater opportunities and responsibilities, accompanied with greater power, wisdom and grace.

Occasionally God either assigns someone or allows someone to serve in a less active condition (because of health or age), but He has a purpose, even for this. Do not miss your opportunity to be active in Divine service. Do not miss the adventure of being a co-worker with Jesus.

The local church was (and is) God's intended channel to reach this world and to build believers, but nominal "Christians" (in name only) have caused parachurch ministries to rise up and do the work of the local church. If it is a ministry, which God gave to the local church, then your church should be able to do it independently or in cooperation with another likeminded body of believers.

God's will has always been to use the local church, His Body, His Building, His Bride, but often the local pastor is not leading, or the church is not following Jesus, and sadly the work is left to an individual, which (at best) results in the formation of a parachurch organization. Sometimes those parachurch organizations become local churches. The work of parachurch organizations is a good work, but it is not the original plan of God, and therefore it is inherently limited. The one behind local church failure is the Prince of Darkness. He knows how effective a Biblical church can be, and he would rather deal with anything than the perfect plan of God.

I have much more to say about the positive and the negative aspects of parachurch organizations. But my intent in this post is to point believers back to Biblical ministry, Biblical Christianity, Biblical relationships, Biblical responsibilities, Biblical accountability, Biblical opportunity.

Make sure you are the part of the body God wants you to be. Don't be apart from the body.

10/01/25 CHECK OUT SEPTEMBER POSTS

10/01/25 CHECK OUT SEPTEMBER POSTS

If you are interested, you can find my twenty FB ministry posts for the month of September on my 2025 blog (linked below). I hope my writings are helpful. My blog lets you access my ministry posts without you or your friends needing to go to FB. If you find something, which blesses you, and you think would be a blessing to another person, it is easy to give them my blog address, whether they are on FB or not. And, of course, it is ministry, therefore it is free.

Along with my 2025 postings you will also find my ministry posts from 2009 through 2024 (more than 15,000 ministry posts), concerning Bible doctrines, practical Christian living, churchmanship, social action, Church/State relations and principles.

I have invested 60 years of intensive study as a preacher, pastor, counselor, studying the Bible and applying it to my own personal life and the lives of the folks to which I minister. Nothing takes the place of God's word, but Biblical training in Scripture and practical Christian living (Biblical counsel) is part of the Christian experience.

No one speaks in the place of God, but we can speak God's word. I do not speak in order to replace God's word, but I try to share God's word in a faithful and clear fashion. I never tell people to "swallow" what I say, but rather to "chew on" what I say (study it) and to see if what I say agrees with what the Bible says.

In my pastoral ministry (preaching/teaching) I address a wide range of subjects, applying the whole counsel of God to our daily living. I hope my writings will help you (your family and friends) draw closer to God and to do that which is pleasing in His sight.