True Service in Jesus Christ

Today a friend was ordained to the Christian ministry. Paul told his beloved disciple and friend, Timothy, what it means to truly serve God through His Son.

I Timothy 4:6:
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Paul’s Example of Service

Paul continued to remind Timothy of the truth of the gospel: that God so loved the world that He sent His Son to die for us, be raised from the grave, and now sit at the Father’s right hand in glory. Through Christ we have love, light, and eternal life. That is “good news” indeed. Paul knew what he spoke of about service, having proven himself to be a minister of Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:15,16:
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
That I should be the minister [servant] of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles [nations] might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost [God, the Holy Spirit, working in Paul to serve others].

The word “minister” [diakonos] means someone who runs to serve. In Greek writings, it could refer to a waiter, serving at table. Just as a waiter serves to take down a diner’s order in detail, run to the kitchen with the order, and return with the desired food—so ministers of Christ find people’s needs in detail, go to the Father through Christ to find the “bread of life” to feed them, and offer it freely and without charge.

Paul was ministering the gospel of Christ. This verb “ministering” is hierourgeō in the Greek New Testament. It comes from the words meaning “sanctuary” and “worker.” Just as temple workers gave their all to serve God, so Paul offered the good news of Jesus Christ to all nations. We can do the same.

Paul taught Timothy about Christian service. But who taught Paul? After seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul spent time with Peter and the other apostles in Jerusalem. He learned more and more about his risen master. Paul’s growth was rapid and sincere.

Acts 9:27,28:
But Barnabas took him [Paul], and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

Paul grew as a minister of Jesus Christ because he boldly preached in the name of Jesus. He was with the apostles, who had personally known Jesus, “coming in and going out.” This is a Hebrew expression meaning to serve and lead others. Paul “jumped in” with both spiritual feet to love and serve those in the body of Christ whom he had once persecuted.

Jesus’ Example of Service

How can anyone be a minister or servant of Jesus Christ? Are we to serve our risen Lord? Does he need anything from us? Jesus doesn’t need us to serve him. In fact, the opposite is true. We are complete in him (Colossians 2:10). But what we can do is serve others in his place. We are ambassadors for Christ, taking his place to minister God’s grace to a dying world.

II Corinthians 5:19,20:
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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.

God worked in His Son to reconcile a broken world back to Himself. He did it by living and speaking His Father’s word. Jesus was God’s word in the flesh. And God has committed that word of eternal life to us. We have the privilege of bringing the lost back to our Father by coming to our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice Jesus’ example of service. He did not impute people’s trespasses to them. He didn’t beat them down with their sins. Satan, the Devil, Lucifer the fallen angel—he’s the one who gets people to sin and then tries to make them feel bad about it. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).  Jesus offered God’s goodness and loving grace. He was a true servant.

Mark 10:42-45:
But Jesus called them [his twelve apostles] to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles [other nations] exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister [diakonos]:
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant [a bonded slave] of all.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister [diakoneō], and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus did not come to be ministered to, but to serve others. The word “minister” here is the verb from of diakonos. Jesus served the bread of life to others. He did not come to have others care for him, but to go to His Father to have his own need met. Then he was filled and could “wait” on others at the table. He knew that man doesn’t live by physical bread alone. We need God’s word of life.

Unlike the Gentile leaders and rulers, Jesus showed his disciples that the “chiefest” leader must be the servant of all others. The Greek word for “servant” in verse 44 means a bonded slave, sold out to his master’s service by his own deep love. Jesus loved His Father and served Him with all his heart. Today, Christian leaders are to have that same heart of service.

Higher Powers and Overseers

Jesus said the greatest leaders must be “below” others to lift them up. Yet, Christian ministers are also called “higher” powers.

Romans 13:1:
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers [authorities]. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

The word translated “power” and “powers” in this verse is exousia in Greek. It is where we get the English word “exercise” and refers to authority or permission to do anything. It literally means to “be outside” yourself and give to others. So why are leaders to have “higher” authority in the church?

The Greek word for “higher” is huperechō and means to “hold yourself above.” That doesn’t mean in an egotistical or “holier than thou” way of living. This is the opposite of pride. It means to hold yourself to a higher standard, or to excel. Paul called Timothy a “good” minister of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for “good” means beautiful and harmonious. The epistles to Timothy and Titus are full of admonition and instruction on how to serve with godly character and a highly virtuous way of living. Christian leaders are to “practice what they preach.”

This makes sense. By holding ourselves to a high standard, we have the strength and depth of heart to “get down” and support others from beneath, where they need our help and support. It reminds me of lifeguards that I’ve seen at Bondi Beach when we lived in Sydney, or at Redondo Beach in Los Angeles. They sit on elevated platforms so that they are higher than everyone around them. Is that because they are full of pride and think they are better than others? Hopefully not.

A good “life guard” is someone who is willing to dive into the stormiest and most treacherous waters to rescue the lost and drowning. Christian leaders do the same. They are called “overseers” because they look out over the church and are ready to dive into action when needed.

I Timothy 3:1:
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop [overseer], he desireth a good [beautiful] work.

God thinks that a person who wants to be a Christian minister is a beautiful act. The word for “bishop” in this section of scripture is episkopos, from the Greek epi [over, upon] and skopeō [to look at or see]. This word refers to a shepherd or watchman in the Bible. Ezekiel knew about both of these responsibilities.

Ezekiel 33:1-7:
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

The watchman was to speak up and tell God’s people when the enemy was attacking the city. Those who listened and believed the watchman were delivered from their foes. Those who refused to trust the watchman’s warning were doomed to a bloody death. Notice that if the watchman spoke up and the people did not follow his advice, their “blood” was not on his hands. The Apostle Paul understood this.

Acts 20:26-28:
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers [episkopos], to feed the church of God, which he [Greek text reads: “the Lord” referring to Jesus Christ] hath purchased with his own blood.

Paul spoke up and told these Christian leaders meeting with him at Ephesus what they needed to hear. It was his habit as a “watchman” to warn others as God worked in him to be aware of needs and meet them. He was an ambassador for Christ and a good minister of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 34:2-5:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

Both the watchman and the shepherd were called to guard and watch over those under attack, like weak and helpless sheep. Instead, the spiritual leaders in Israel fed themselves. Like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time, they wanted the ego gratification and praise of men. They neglected their responsibility to God and were in it for themselves.

Peter was a fisherman who became a shepherd. He showed the true heart of service required to be a Christian minister.

I Peter 5:2-4:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [verb from episkopos] thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples [examples by our lifestyle] to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Unlike the shepherds of Ezekiel’s time, Peter exhorted Christian ministers to serve as true shepherds. They weren’t in it for themselves or for filthy “lucre” (financial gain and personal prestige). Instead, good ministers of Jesus Christ do it with a “ready mind” [Greek prothumos, meaning to have a loving passion to serve]. When the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, returns for his church, these leaders will receive an unfading and glorious crown for their service.

Those of us who are called as ministers of Jesus Christ have a great responsibility to our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. God has given us His spirit and power to show forth the redemption and salvation in Christ. We take each day, walking in love and “by the spirit” to bring healing wholeness to others. And we will be faithfully rewarded at Christ’s return for our hearts to give.

I Peter 1:7:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.