Page 17 - THE MISIONARY 2

BE UNFIT AND DISQUALIFIED
FOR THE WORK OF THE LORD candlestick removed and cease to exist as a
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27). true church, a minister called of God can
become “Ichabod,” unprofitable in, and
disqualified from the ministry (Revelation
The spiritual vigilance exercised by the 2:5; 1Samuel 4:21). For this reason, every
minister is so that God will be glorified, he minister must carefully walk in the Spirit so
will maintan his usefulness in the work of as to not satisfy the desires of his flesh; he
the Lord, and that he will not be disquali- must always be guided by and filled with
fied or become a castaway. In 1 Corint- the Spirit, taught by the Spirit, controlled
hians 9:24-27, the Apostle Paul addresses by the Spirit and enabled and strengthened
the issue of self-discipline, self-control, and by the Spirit of the living God. Only then
self-government in the life of the minister. will he be able to overcome his natural,
The athlete, the boxer, the wrestler, and the fleshly tendencies and persevere in the high
runner employ the most strict standards in calling of God.
their personal lives in order to compete at
the highest level and to gain the most glo-
rious award. Paul exhorts ministers to take
heed to themselves and to live under strict Preacher, with holy abandon and
personal discipline so that they may effecti- zeal, rejoice in your calling, take dilli-
vely run, fulfill their ministry to the end, gent heed to yourself, your study, and
and obtain an eternal reward. Paul encou-
rage the ministers of God to not disqualify your doctrine. Do not be distracted by
themselves by sloppiness, laziness, or lack the affairs of this world or the serving
of self-governing. A minister who falls of tables. Give yourself to prayer and
into the habit of intemperance, selfindul- the Word. Be an example to the flock.
gence, in the pleasing of his flesh, or being Model the teachings, life, spirit and mi-
soft and without the capacity to endure nistry of Christ. Be a humble servant
hardness and suffering, is threatening to like Christ and not a dictator. Be ge-
disqualify himself from the ministry and to nuinely spiritual and holy in your con-
be ineffective in the work of the Lord. The duct. Cultivate your private life of pra-
experienced preacher, Paul, exhorts young yer and your relationship with the Word
Timothy concerning the ministry: “Be of God. Exercise godly zeal in your
strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus the watchcare over your marriage and ho-
Lord,” “Endure hardness as a good soldier me, and over the flock which He has
of Jesus Christ,” “No man that warreth en- made you overseer. Suffer afflictions
tangleth himself with the affairs of this life, with joy, in faith, and with the confiden-
that he may please Him who hath chosen ce that you shall come forth as gold ac-
him to be a soldier,” that he strive for mas- cording to His sovereign purpose.
teries lawfully, that he labor beforehand so Guard yourself against greed, covetous-
that he can be a partaker of the fruits there- ness and worldly mindedness. Be con-
after, and that he “endure all things for the sumed with your privileged and high
elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the ministerial calling in your spiritual
salvation which is in Christ Je- youth, in your mature years, and even
sus” (2Timothy 2:1-10). Hence a minister in your latter days. Strive to honorably
of the Gospel must be committed to gain fulfill your ministry, run the race set
his eternal reward through the exercise of before you, keep the faith without com-
strict discipline in his personal life. He promise and wavering, and be thou
must beat and subject his body in all of his faithful unto death and Christ will give
temptations, weaknesses and frailties. As a you the crown of life. AMEN!
genuine church of the Lord can have her
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