God's Definition of Ministry

The Bible says in Ephesians 4 that the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists were placed in the body of Christ for the perfecting of the saints. Perfecting simply means training. Once we receive the Holy Ghost at salvation, there still are things that we have to learn of Him. Look at a small child, when they are a baby, they are still fully human, but they have to be trained how to operate in the world in which they were born into. Remember brethren, all truth is parallel. God has placed leaders in our lives to teach us more perfectly the ways of God. Take for example, a “not so good” unsaved husband. When He receives the Holy Ghost, it is now the responsibility of the Holy Ghost, through the leaders, to teach him how to be first, a son of God and secondly a better husband. Perfecting as a son enables us to live the rest of our lives as God see fit.

What is ministry? Many have learned to associate the term ministry with “church” and the day to day services and activities of church, but have you ever stopped and wondered what does God deem as ministry? God defines ministry as a chance to glorify Him. It is an opportunity to glorify Him in the lives of others. Now in order for us to further understand this lesson, I need to define the term glorify. To glorify means to reveal or make known. With that said, ministry is an opportunity to reveal God working in someone’s life. St. John 8 deals with a situation that involves the woman in a crowd who was about to be stoned and they brought her to Jesus to see what He would do about the issue. But I want us to really dissect this scripture to learn everything that took place and all of the variables involved in the situation.

John 8:1-6

1.Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4. They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

Scripture always interprets life. Life does not interpret the scriptures. In other words, if we be honest, many times we were in the same position as the Pharisees. We were the bearer of bad news. We were the ones wanting to see someone else judged. We were the ones gossiping or the people saying, “they were caught in the very act”. The Pharisees came to Jesus to tempt Him but I want you to notice that He did not immediately respond.

6. This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

In this simple verse is a very big principle of how a son of God must operate. Many people come to me with issues wanting me to make decisions about their lives. But I have come to understand the importance of hearing from God because my knowledge is limited. In every situation, I need to pause to hear from God. Notice this is what Jesus did. We do not know everything and although we may mean well in our counsel we may be wrong if we have not heard from the Father. Let’s further examine why it was so important for Jesus to hear from the Father in this particular situation. The Pharisees brought a lady who was not being falsely accused but actually who was caught in the very act of adultery. Therefore, they had a legitimate statement. To add to their argument, the Law of Moses declared that she should have been stoned. But one thing that you have to remember is the purpose why Jesus came to the earth. Notice the verse below.

John 3:16-17

16. 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.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Even though their argument was legitimate, Jesus’ focus was always on ministry. While the Pharisees sought to pass judgement, Jesus sought to win her soul.

John 8:7-11

7. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11. She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Notice Jesus’ response in verse 7. Can you imagine being a Pharisee asking Jesus what should happen and He makes a statement like this? I am sure everyone began to reminisce on his or her own sin and the rocks began to hit the ground. Look at the irony of this circumstance; the only one that had no sin was willing to let her live. Here we see yet another important principle. The heart and mind of God is revealed when we forgive and have mercy on our brother or sister when we know of their sin. Jesus also made a significant statement to the woman. He told her to go and sin no more. Often times when this scripture is taught the focus is on what the Scribes and Pharisees did but I want to focus on what Jesus’ response. Do you really believe that all knowing Jesus was unaware that this lady was a sinner? Of course not. Jesus knew that the Pharisees had a legitimate aught against her but even in all of this, He had come to work ministry. He came to reveal God’s heart and mind. Not only did Jesus have to deal with the crowd’s unwillingness to show her mercy but he also had to speak the truth in love to the woman.

Jesus was giving this lady a new beginning. Although He knew her past failures and shortcomings, He wanted her to live from that moment on in that new beginning. “For the rest of your days, go and sin no more”, is what He was essentially saying to her. Putting myself in her shoes, there is so much I have done. There is so much in my past that I am embarrassed of but I have witnessed God give me a new beginning. There is no one good but the Father and if we are good it is because we are found in Him. Sometimes people have sin that is more visible than ours and we judge them and talk about them as if we have no sin. This forces God to set up a situation to reveal our sin. I remember saying something in my heart about a person’s wrong and before I knew it, I was doing the same thing that I was judging the other person for doing. This taught me to be merciful. Many times we may know what to preach but God knows how to save a life. We may know how to confront but God knows how to save a soul.