Good day Saints in Christ Jesus. You are all welcome to another new day. Glory to God for the gift of life.
Here is Part 489 of our series of studying and understanding the Bible.
How does God prepare men for ministry?
From our study so far, we have learnt about how Jeremiah had an encounter with God, most especially through His Word.
It is very dangerous to claim to have heard or received God’s call and you swing into ministry work immediately.
That’s suicide!
You need to be discipled and well groomed in the Word and on how to do the work of ministry.
How do you do this? It’s simply by learning from those who have acquired enough experience on your area of calling and they have been proven to be trust worthy and have not bowed to mammon.
Timothy-Paul relationship is a very good example of good discipleship.
Paul told Timothy in 1Timothy 1:13 and says…
Keep and follow the pattern of sound teaching (doctrine), which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14. Guard with greatest care and keep unchanged, the treasure that precious truth, which has been entrusted to you (I.e the Good News about Salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus), through the help of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us.
Wow! What a great and powerful admonition for Timothy and for us end time believers.
We must be careful of whose pattern and style we follow. If their patterns or styles do not reflect the finished work of Christ, please run away from such gathering, but you must do that politely and pray for such men of God from wherever you are for them to know the Truth.
Period of preparation can make or mar young ministers. It can make a person, if he falls into good hands or mar him, if he falls into wrong hands.
This is why we must be careful about who we submit to.
Jeremiah got his preparation from God and also learned a lot of things while doing ministry work, which we are going to discover as we progress in the book.
Again, I want to re emphasize the importance of proper preparation.
Jesus knew this and that’s why it took Him 40 days between the time He resurrected and the the time He ascended in order to prepare His disciples for ministry work by teaching them the Word of God.
Let’s see proof here from Luke’s letter to Theophilus:
Acts 1:1-4 TPT To Theophilus, the lover of God. I write to you again, my dear friend, to give you further details about the life of our Lord Jesus and all the things that he did and taught.
[2] Just before he ascended into heaven, he left instructions for the apostles he had chosen by the Holy Spirit.
[3] After the sufferings of his cross, Jesus appeared alive many times to these same apostles over a forty-day period. Jesus proved to them with many convincing signs that he had been resurrected. During these encounters, he taught them the truths of God’s kingdom realm
[4] and shared meals with them. Jesus instructed them, “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait here until you receive the gift I told you about, the gift the Father has promised.
Did you know why Jesus didn’t allow them receive the Holy Spirit and begin ministry work until He had properly taught them?
The reason is because after Jesus died, all of them were scattered and most of them went hiding for fear of being killed. They have forgotten everything about Jesus and the Prophecy about His suffering, death and resurrection as documented in Moses (5 books), Prophets and in the Psalter (the Psalms).
Remember these were men who worked with Jesus and performed all kinds of miracles, but didn’t really know Jesus.
See proofs here:
Luke 24:25-27,41-45
[25]Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken…
Note: this was when He first met the two people on their way to Emmaus…He then eventually reminded them of who He was and the Prophecies about Him.
[26]Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
[27]And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Note: Thereafter, He got to the main disciples and met the same issue of not knowing Him…because of unbelief.
[41]And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
[42]And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.[43]And he took it, and did eat before them.
Note: So, it took Jesus to eat human foods as a proof that He resurrected and that He was still the same Jesus, before these people could believe Him? That’s really terrible. If you were in Jesus’ shoe, what would you have done? You would have disappeared and left them there or you would have flogged each of them…?
What would you have done? Let’s me see your response in the comment section.
[44]And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
[45]Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
Jesus had to teach them again and again and at the same time opened their understanding for them to comprehend the Scriptures.
According to what Luke wrote in Acts 1:1-4, Jesus did this for a 40-day period before He ascended.
We can now all see why God needed to touch Jeremiah’s mouth with His Word before he was allowed to begin his ministry work.
Understanding the Word of God is very crucial for ministry work, because that’s the pillar and foundation.
We will continue from here in our next post, God willing.
Stay tuned and stay blessed in Christ Jesus.
Let us pray:
I declare the Holy Spirit will continue to unveil to you all the revelation of God in Christ as you devour the Word of God, in Jesus name.
The Holy Spirit will supernaturally unlock everyone’s understanding on this platform to receive the revelation of God’s Kingdom as revealed in the Scriptures, in Jesus name.
You are favoured this month and beyond, in Jesus name.
Bible readings for today: Reflection time on all the Chapters you have read from the past six days and covering of missed Chapters.
I call you blessed now and always.
