THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY

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                            THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY
        
        This morning I awakened with 2 Cor 4 on my mind.  I have long known
that Paul, in most of this epistle, is explaining and defending his ministry,
and the ministry of other Apostles.
        
        But,  this  morning,  it came together in a different way than usual.
 I first  thought  of  where Paul  said  he  had  BEEN MADE an able
minister-- both of the Word and  of  the  Spirit.   II Corinthians  3:5 Not
that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves;  but
our  sufficiency  [is]  of God;   Who also HATH MADE US  ABLE  MINISTERS  OF
 THE NEW  TESTAMENT;  not  of the letter (LAW OF MOSES), but of the spirit:
 for  the  letter killeth,  but  the  spirit  giveth  life.  
        
        Paul  is NOT contrasting the Word against the Spirit.  RATHER, the
contrast is  between  the LAW  OF MOSES and the LAW OF THE SPIRIT.  MOSES
KILLS-- THE SPIRIT  MAKES ALIVE.
        
        Paul  recognized that--  I Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God
I am what I am: and  his grace  which  [was bestowed] upon me was not in
vain; but I laboured more  abundantly  than they all: yet not I, but the
grace of God which was with me. 
        
        Paul,  like  Noah,  had "found grace in the eyes of the Lord".
 Genesis 6:8  But  Noah  found grace  in  the  eyes of the LORD.  The reason
for this-- Genesis 6:9 -- Noah was  a  just  man [and] perfect in his
generations, [and] Noah walked with God. 
        
        Paul begins chapter 4 with-- II Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we
have this ministry, as  we have received mercy, we faint not;
        
        In  verses 6 and 7 Paul gives the source of his ability to do what
God intended for him to  do.  Listen to him as he says--
        
        II  Corinthians  4:6  For  God, who commanded the LIGHT to  shine
 out  of  darkness,  hath SHINED  IN  OUR  HEARTS, to [give] the LIGHT of
 the  KNOWLEDGE  (recognize  and COMPREHEND) of the GLORY OF GOD in the face
of Jesus Christ. 
        
        II  Corinthians 4:7 But we have THIS TREASURE (speaking of MINISTRY
here) in  earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God,
and not of us. 
        
        We  who minister the Word of God should do our utmost to maintain
such a relationship  with Jesus  that  He  can cause HIS LIGHT to shine in
our hearts, in order  that  we  may  minister LIFE and UNDERSTANDING to those
we minister to.
        
        One  man  said one time, "Use whatever language you wish, you can
only minister  what  you ARE."   Another  has said, "It takes 20 years to
make a sermon, because it takes 20  years  to make a MAN,"  This is
especially true of TRUE MINISTRIES.
        
        A few months ago, a young minister told me that he played a lot of
GAMES with his computer.  Since he had a BIBLE program, he would go down on
Sunday morning and extract a  few scriptures.   He was then ready to preach
to his congregation.  Well, I appreciate  my  BIBLE program  also, but I
doubt that the Lord is pleased with that sort of attitude toward our
 ministry.  Would it be any wonder if he were to utterly fail as a true
minister?
        
        Are  our  congregations  lifeless and worldly?  Are they struggling
to  keep  the  victory,  and failing many times?  Are the saints discouraged
and disheartened?
        
        The  cause  could  well  be that the Minister's LIGHT  is getting
dim,  or  has  GONE  OUT.  Maybe  we  are too occupied with affairs of State
and Politic, and not busy  enough  with  the WORD OF GOD and the SPIRIT OF
GOD.  Could we be "playing" too long?
        
        Five  of  the Virgins suffered great loss because their LIGHT would
only take them as  far  as the  MIDNIGHT  HOUR.  They were still fully as
"virgin" as the others.   The  SHORTAGE OF  LIGHT  made  the difference.
 They HAD POSSESSED LIGHT at one  time,  but  NOT ENOUGH OF IT.
        
        Psalms 119:130 The ENTRANCE OF THY WORDS GIVETH LIGHT; it giveth
 understanding unto the simple. 
        
        II  Timothy  2:15 Study (give diligence) to shew thyself approved
unto God, a  workman  that needeth not to be ashamed (God to be ashamed of),
rightly dividing the word of truth. 
        
        II Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the
Lord; and ourselves  your servants for Jesus' sake. 
        
        The ministry of the Pastor is the pivot point of the whole
congregation.  His personal relation-ship  with Jesus flavors his ministry in
the pulpit.  He will produce in the  congregation  what he, himself, is.
        
        "We have THIS TREASURE in earthen vessels.  
        
        Oh, how we need to repent, and walk softly before the God who has
called us.