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How Do You Measure Up As One Of God's Ministers?
Are you a minister of God? What are your
qualifications?
Most would respond by saying that they
graduated from a reputable Bible School and/or Seminary with a degree in
Theology, for example, supposing that this accomplishment qualifies them
to be an able minister.
Others might attest that they have a Church or a preaching/teaching
ministry to the Body of Christ which classifies them as ministers. But
what criteria does the Bible set forth for us today?
Here is a Self Test, based on the Word of God, which everyone, who
ministers in some degree for the Lord or feels that He is leading them in
this direction, should take to evaluate their spiritual competency before
God and men.
May all submit, in a spirit of humility, to the piercing Light of the Holy
Spirit, allowing Him to reveal their true weaknesses and strengths.
1. Pure
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Isaiah 52:11 - "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye
out from thence, touch no unclean thing: go ye out of the midst of her; be
ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD."
-
1 Timothy 3:9 - "Holding the mystery of the
faith in a pure conscience."
Have you separated yourself from idols,
especially the Idol of Self?
How much does the world influence you and your ministry?
As a spiritual priest, are you keeping yourself pure from that which God
considers as wicked and evil?
Do you have a pure conscience - a conscience void of offense toward God
and men?
Are you on a perpetual watch for that which would debauch your conscience,
corrupt your heart, or draw you away from the Lord?
2. Holy
-
Exodus 28:36,38 - "And thou shalt make a plate
of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS
TO THE LORD...And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead..."
-
Leviticus 21:6 - "They shall be holy unto
their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the
LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore
they shall be holy."
-
Titus 1:8 - "...holy..."
Are you aware that, as God's priest, you are
consecrated to the Lord and His service and honor?
Do you have "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" engraven on your forehead at all
times and in every place that you venture forth? In other words, are your
keeping your thought life pure and holy before the Lord?
Are you teaching others the ways of righteousness and true holiness?
Preaching righteousness in your congregation?
Have you - who offers the "bread" of God to
the people - become defiled in any way by yielding to fleshly appetites,
passions, or lusts?
3. Humble
How do you conduct yourself before the people?
Are you an arrogant and proud person with a spirit of dictation? Do you
"lord it over God's heritage"?
Or are you modest, self-abasing, and willing to stoop to any service for
the Kingdom of God's sake?
4. Patient
-
2 Corinthians 6:4 - "But in all things
approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience..."
-
2 Timothy 2:24 - "And the servant of the Lord
must not strive; but be...patient."
Do you display a right spirit while undergoing
sufferings, afflictions, persecutions, and great difficulties?
Do you show forth a patient endurance of hardships, or do you complain and
appear unsubmissive?
Are you faithful to the Lord and His people whatever comes your way - in
troublesome times as well as in times of peace and comfort? Are you
forbearing unto others in the midst of evils and injuries which attack
your character and reputation?
5. Blameless
Is your conduct at all times and in every
place irreproachable - void of any guilt or shame?
Are you free from any charge of immorality or scandalous behavior?
Are you keeping yourself free from all false doctrine?
What are others saying about your overall character and demeanor?
6. Willing
-
Isaiah 6:8 - "...Whom shall I send, and who
will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
-
1 Peter 5:2 - "Feed the flock of God...taking
the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly..."
Are you prompt to deliver any message that God
gives you for His people?
Are you ready and willing to engage in any service that you are called
upon to perform?
Are you singular for the Lord? Have you "set your face like a flint" in
doing His will no matter what sacrifices and hardships it requires?
Do you consider the work of the Lord as a burden? Or do you perform your
duties cheerfully?
7. Detached
Are you more interested in obtaining the
purses of God's people than their souls?
What is more important in your estimation - building up your bank account
or establishing others in the faith?
Are you one that is guilty of fleecing the sheep?
Is the ministry a business, profession, or a money-making deal to you?
What occupies your mind - thoughts of offerings and building projects or
winning your community for Jesus?
8. Impartial
Do you conduct your affairs, having no respect
of persons?
Are you impartial? Or are you inclined to favor some because of their
position, wealth, or friendship?
Are you prejudiced in any way - toward a certain group, race, nationality,
or denomination?
9. Gentle
Do you approach others in a condescending and
authoritative way or in a meek and mild manner?
Do you rule others with rigor or treat them with tenderness and
gentleness?
10. Dedicated
-
Acts 20:24 - "But none of these things move
me, neither count I my life dear unto myself..."
-
Philippians 1:20-21 - "...Christ shall be
magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to
live is Christ, and to die is gain."
How do you handle difficulties,
discouragements, and oppositions for the Gospel's sake?
Do they, in any way, deter you from the call of God on your life?
To the Apostle Paul, duty was more important than life. If one had to be
sacrificed, it would always be his life. What about you? Are you that
dedicated to your God-ordained mission?
What is your sole aim or supreme end in life? Is it to glorify Christ or
Self?
What is more important to you - prestige, position, wealth, pleasure,
comfort, and learning, or that Jesus would be exalted and magnified in
your life?
When others meet you, do you want them to be impressed with or moved by
the greatness of God in your life and ministry or your so-called
greatness?
11. Strong In Grace
Whose strength are you leaning on - yours or
God's?
Is the grace of God the motivating factor in your life and ministry?
Are you constantly aware of your need for it in order to persevere in the
work assigned you?
Throughout the day, how often do you call upon the Lord for His enabling
grace?
12. Self-Denying
How strong is your flesh?
Which is stronger - your spirit or your flesh? Which do you feed the most?
Do you consider your body as a servant in subjection to the Holy Spirit?
Do you deny yourself in order to obey His Word?
13. Sober, Just, Temperate
-
Leviticus 10:9 - "Do not drink wine nor strong
drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the
congregation, lest ye die..."
-
Titus 1:8 - "...sober, just...temperate."
The Word of the Lord to Aaron and his sons was
that they were to refrain from all inebriating and fermented beverages. As
the priests of the Lord, they were to be "sober" at all times so that they
could properly carry out their duties before God and the people.
Since all Christians are called to be "Priests of the Lord," the same word
of admonition applies to us today.
How about it - has the devil deceived you into becoming a "sipping Saint"?
Do you drink alcoholic beverages like the devil's children in the name of
"Christian liberty"?
Are you just in all of your dealings with others?
Do you have control over your passions, affections, and appetites?
14. Hospitable
How ready are you to receive and entertain
strangers in your home?
Can those who are in distress and without family and friends call on you
for help in a time of need?
15. Apt To Teach
Are you willing and able, at any given moment,
to communicate to others the knowledge and wisdom that God has given to
you through His Word?
Are you constantly seeking to increase in knowledge so that you are
"instant in season" - ready whenever God calls upon you or needs you to
inform and direct another from His Word?
Do you deny yourself the pleasures and comforts of life so that you can
study to be a "workman" for the Lord?
16. Studious & Meditative
-
1 Timothy 4:13,15 - "Till I come, give
attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine... Meditate upon these
things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to
all."
Paul exhorted Timothy to study - to study hard
- to especially become familiar with the Old Testament books. He
instructed him to read them privately and then be ready to read and
expound them publicly.
Many are familiar with the New Testament books of the Bible and seem to
skip over the Old Testament.
How about you? Are you a student of the entire Bible? Do you have a
knowledge of God's Word from cover to cover, not excluding any books
whatsoever for whatever reasons?
How much thought have you given to the work of the ministry?
How much value and worth do you place on immortal souls?
Are you fully aware of the grave responsibility entrusted unto you?
How important is your calling to you? Is it your sole concern?
Have you devoted your life to it? Are you absorbed by it?
Is it your principal work and business? Do you devote all of your time,
talents, and attention to it?
Can others see your progress, advancement, and zeal for the Lord?
Or are you distracted by the pursuit of money, pleasure, or fame?
17. Watchful
Are you keeping a vigilant watch over your own
soul as well as the souls over which the Lord has made you an overseer?
Are you constantly on guard against the temptations of Satan, fully aware
that you can be overtaken in a fault and lose your soul if you should
neglect your duty?
Are you keeping a constant watch for false doctrine or error?
18. Prayerful
The Apostle Paul continuously remembered in
prayer all the Churches which God had given him.
He was always bringing them before the Throne of Grace, petitioning the
Lord for His Grace so that the saints would not faint but persevere in the
race set before them.
How about you? How is your Prayer Life?
How important is Prayer in your life and ministry?
Are you faithful to daily remember in prayer all those over which the Lord
has given you charge?
Or are you too busy conducting the affairs of your ministry? Then you are
TOO BUSY!
19. Rules Own Family
How do you conduct your affairs at home? Is
your home a picture of peace or utter chaos and confusion?
Do you govern your household well? Is your family in order?
Is everyone in their proper place, doing what is required of them by God?
Do they understand their place as designated by the Holy Scriptures?
Do you enforce the rules of God's Word in your household?
To the best of your ability, are you seeing that all, under the roof of
your home, are walking in accordance with the Holy Bible?
20. Affectionate
-
Philippians 1:7 - "Even as it is meet for me
to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart..."
-
1 Thessalonians 2:8,11 - "So being
affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you,
not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear
unto us...As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one
of you, as a father doth his children."
Do you love the people over which the Lord has
placed you?
Do you have a heartfelt concern at all times for their spiritual welfare?
How strong is your attachment to them?
Would you be willing to lay down your life, if need be, for each and every
one of them?
After examining these 20 Scriptural characteristics which describe a
minister of the Gospel, how did you do on your Self Test? What kind of
grade would the Holy Spirit place on your life and ministry today?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What major changes do you feel the Lord prompting you to make?
According to this evaluation, how would your Pastor score?
Let's use this message as a springboard of prayer for all of the
God-appointed Preachers throughout the world so that they will all score
100% for the Glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.
May God Hear And Answer Our Prayers.
Connie
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