The Inestimable Value of a Good MinisterIf you were asked the question, “Who is the most valuable person in your life?” Chances are you might choose a spouse or a parent or even a child or a neighbor or a friend. Yes these are all very valuable relationships indeed. But what about the principle person who is held responsible by God to provide you spiritual guidance? Just what is his value? Listen in today as Pastor Landis Fisher teaches a message during an appreciation service being held in honor of Senior Pastor Harold Jeffries of the Dickerson Memorial Community Church that offers a biblical perspective on this vital topic that you surely do not want to miss that he has chosen to title: “The Inestimable Value of a Good Minister”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Jerimiah 3:12 – 18 (KJV)
Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jer 3:16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
Jer 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Jer 3:18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 3:14 – 4:6 (KJV)
1 Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Tim 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 Tim 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1 Tim 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1 Tim 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
1 Tim 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.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) Quality leadership is the means by which God has determined to guide people who believe in Him by faith to nurture, admonish, or rebuke, and correct them toward godly living rather than allowing His flock to walk in the paths of wickedness as do those who do not believe in the true God, who walk after their own desires and therefore serve false gods which are the product of the devil.
2) People are all born with a sinful nature therefore, shepherding is the means that God has chosen to guide and direct His flock through out all times, such as with Moses, Joshua, the Judges, David, Solomon, the priests, Levites etc.
3) The value of a “Good Minister” is therefore priceless since it is by them that God educates, warns, instructs, and disciplines those who are His as well as comforts, intercedes for, and oversees them toward biblical compliance.
