Study To Show Thyself Approved

Eight days from now, June 1, graduation of the 2010-2013 Doctor of Ministry cohort group is scheduled to take place (10 am - 12 noon) at Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, TN.  I  (Milton) am scheduled to be in that group.  This is a milestone in my studies and ministry and has been of great benefit in many ways.  I must confess, I am bit worn out with formal studies since this is my fourth post-secondary earned degree to be awarded.  The writer of Ecclesiastes expresses my sentiment in 12:12 (KJV) "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh."  After writing dozens of papers, reading dozens of books, sitting in hours of classes and covenant group meetings, doing the practical ministry aspect of the program and completing my dissertation of 247 pages over the past three years, I am ready for some mental and physical rest.  Yet, I realize that study for approval of God continues and is more than reading books, writing papers and sitting in class.  The Apostle Paul admonished Timothy to, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

The doctor of ministry degree that I earned and will be awarded is secondary to my desire to be approved of God.  Although, the doctoral degree is part of the lifetime learning experience that I believe God is pleased with, it is not the primary reason for studying and learning.  The Apostle Paul advised the Corinthians "For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth."  2 Corinthians 10:18 (KJV)  His Apostleship was constantly being challenged by the so-called "super apostles" who disparaged his ministry and ability to be a dynamic orator.  He did not let that distract and deter him from the call that Christ placed on his life.  His call was about reaching people, mostly the Gentile people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He did not shun any people group.

I believe, it is the desire of every God-called minister/preacher/teacher to fulfill the work that God has designed for them.  Most all ministry of the church is directed to people.  Some of the helping ministries is indirect to people but people is what ministry is about.  I ask my congregation two times a while back to give me one word that describes or defines Christ's practical ministry on this earth when He was here and what ministry is about now.  I waited for a couple minutes and the congregation looked at me puzzled with no answer.  Do you know what the word is?

The past thirty three years of my pastoral ministry has brought many challenges and many opportunities for ministry to people.  There are many spiritual needs in and among people today.  Ministers who fail to gain skills in relating to people will find themselves struggling to have the teamwork, participation and backing to see a fruitful ministry.  Jesus looked over the multitudes of people as sheep scattered without a shepherd.  Did you catch that one word yet?  One of the first requisites for being in ministry, I believe, is to love and get along people.  If people get on a ministers nerves or if people's ways, statements, struggles, personalities, idiosyncrasies, needs, attitudes or any other peculiarities of people bother a minister - better find some other vocation.  Oh, I don't mean to say that I have never had a problem with some of these things but anyone who lets these things be a constant snare to them is in the wrong vocation.  One of the greatest ways for a minister to study to show himself or herself approved to God is to study people, learn to love them, care for them, pray for them and be there for them as much as possible.  This more often comes from God's call, being among people and learning through practical ministry.  So, the admonishment to "study to show thyself approved to God" continues......

Pentecost - Glorifying & Exalting Jesus

Tomorrow, Sunday May18, is what is called Pentecost Sunday.  The word Pentecost is a Greek derivative word which has reference to fifty.  Fifty is the number of days from the time of the passover to the feast of Pentecost.  It is the Sunday that Christians recognize and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as recorded in the book of Acts.  Some Christians get uneasy when a preacher preaches a message on the Holy Spirit.  There is mystery in the Holy Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit.  People don't understand the tongues and are often mystified by those who speak in tongues. 

I remember when I worked in youth camp several years ago.  The Holy Spirit was moving is a magnificent way.  People were worshipping God in the Spirit through the gift of unknown tongues.  Campers were praying in the altar and staff was praying and counseling with them to share the gospel and help lead them to Christ.  Most everyone was moving around worshipping and praising the Lord.  I was in one of the corners of the chapel worshipping the Lord speaking in unknown tongues while praying for the campers.  After the service, a young boy camper came up to me and said, "Jabber me some more of them words."  At first I was surprised, then it was a point of humor for me.  I smiled and shared with the young man, that the tongues were a form of worship, prayer and speaking to the Father through the Holy Spirit.  He smiled and nodded but I'm sure, as it is with most, it was a mystical thing for him to hear me and others speaking in unknown tongues.  Yet, we have clarity from Jesus in John 16:13-15 as to why the Holy Spirit has come.  Tongues accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to empower and enable the disciples to witness the gospel of Christ in several dialects or languages of the people who had come for the feast of Pentecost but there is more that Jesus tells His disciples about the Holy Spirit

Listen to John 16:13-15 (KJV)  [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.[14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. [15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

The Holy Spirit is One of the Trinity.  He is to be revered, honored and worshipped as God.  God is Trinity.  God is Trinity in unity.  These three are one.  The Holy Spirit is one of the Trinity.  1 John 5:7 (KJV)  [7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  It is vital that we give due respect, place and reverence to the Holy Spirit.  Jesus says here in John 16:13, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."   We do not to have to be in the dark, confused, or frustrated about truth.  Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us and guide us into all truth.  The Bible, God's holy Word is truth.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."  Not only will the Holy Spirit lead us into the truth of the Word,  He will lead us into the truth of Jesus and truths about Jesus.  He wants disciples of Christ to have a close interactive, intimate relationship with Jesus and He will lead the disciple into that relationship.

Notice the next part of verse 13, "for he will not speak of himself."  The Holy Spirit is not here to make a name for himself, just as Jesus was not here to make a name for himself.  He is not here to make any name great or famous but One - that is Jesus.  He is here to empower and enable Christ's disciples to finish the work of the Great Commission.  He is here to equip Christ's disciples to finish the work of the Great Commission through the ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  The completeness of the Holy Spirit's work does not include speaking of himself.  The Amplified Bible translates it like this, But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. (John 16:13 AMP)  The Holy Spirit will guide into all truth and show things to come.

Finally Jesus says,  "He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify me (Jesus): for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. This clarifies more specifically what the Holy Spirit will bring to us of Christ.  He then says, "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you."   Jesus shows the unity of the Trinity here - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He honors His Father as he did all through His earthly ministry as we are expected to do.  The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Jesus.  The Spirit Filled Life Bible says, "The Spirit’s ministry is not only directed to believers and to the world, but also to Christ. What the Spirit teaches He draws from and conveys in the authority of Christ, and glorifies Christ in all that He does. True ministry in the Holy Spirit never serves a private agenda. Rather, working in us and through us, He never exalts Himself, but He continually glorifies Christ who glorifies the Father."  Neither does the Holy Spirit glorify human ministry.

We need the guidance, teaching and forth-telling of the Holy Spirit in our time.  There are many voices in the world but one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We must listen and hear the Holy Spirit.  He will not lead us wrong.  He is here to lift up Jesus and glorify Him.  He is here to speak of Jesus.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in unity.  We must come into unity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and as we submit He will bring us into that unity.  Thank God for the Holy Spirit and His work in the last days.

Pentecost - Greater Is He

After Jesus' resurrection He appeared to the disciples at least three times (John 21:14).  During one of His appearances to His disciples, he said these words, "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).  Jesus encouraged the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the power of the promise.  We need this power more than ever today to be effective as His witnesses.

The coming of the Promise on the day of Pentecost (50 days after the resurrection of Christ) was to endue them with power or cause them, the disciples, to be effective witnesses.  We understand that most of the people were Galileans who lacked higher academic education and were not learned in speaking other dialects.  Yet, when the Promise came upon them they began to speak various dialects of the people who came to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.  When the Holy Spirit came upon them, the disciples spoke the praises and wonderful words and works of God in several different dialects or languages.  The basic thrust of the disciples speaking the various dialects was to be witnesses for Christ and His finished work on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.  The Scripture validates this, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The disciples of that time continued sharing, speaking, living and witnessing to others the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They went to the known world and spread the glorious gospel.  From that day of Pentecost when thousands were witnessed to and added to the kingdom of God and Christ's church, many others were witnessed to throughout the known world of that day as the disciples dispersed throughout the land and other countries.  Today the gospel is continuing to the "uttermost part of the earth."  Our challenge, as His disciples, is to share the gospel daily with every person in our world.  Just as the disciples of that day needed to be "endued with power from on high," so do we the disciples of this day need to be "endued with power from on high," to witness to those we meet each day who need the Savior.

My mother shared with me of the time when my grandmother, Hettie (Hill) Thompson, was ministering with a group on the streets in Chicago back in the early 1900's and the Holy Spirit spoke through her.  A Chinese man came up to the group and in broken English said, "Your God say to me to be saved."  The group prayed with him and the joy of Christ's salvation came over the man as he joyfully lifted his hands to worship God.  The miracle of salvation in Christ was not hindered by lack of my grandmother's knowledge of speaking the man's dialect because the Holy Spirit knew how to speak to him.

Today, as disciples of Christ, we need the Holy Spirit as much or more than ever in our witnessing.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit for witnessing for Christ are as real today as ever.  The battle to discount Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh to live, die and rise again are prevalent against His disciples today.  The book of 1 John encourages us with these words, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (the spirits of anti-Christ): because greater is he (the Holy Spirit to witness for Christ) that is in you, than he (the anti-Christ) that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  Let us be encouraged to be involved in witnessing for Christ.  The Holy Spirit in us is greater than all opposing forces of anti-Christ and we have been given the charge to witness for Christ.  Stand strong and rest assured in the One that is greater than any others that would hinder or stop the witness of Christ.  He lived, laid down His life on the cross for the sins of the world, rose from the tomb and is alive forever more interceding for His disciples and those who need to trust Him to be saved.  TRUST HIM NOW!