This is Church.

One of the most difficult aspects of Christianity, in my opinion, is attempting to figure out what ministry looks like. As believers, we sometimes tend to overthink things and on occasions go in depth on something God intended for us to take literal, as well as taking something literal that is much more profound.

When we attempt to wrap our minds around what ministry really is, we have a hard time understanding how to take it from a desire to an action. There is a very common misconception that ministry is being part of a church and attending church 6 days a week. Let me tell you this, anybody can attend church 6 days a week and still have a corrupt heart. The reason why we go to church is so that we may have the ability to be around people who have the same beliefs as us, learn from their wisdom, pray for each other so that we may be healed, and plain out have fun. Paul explained it best when he said:

“Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”(Hebrews 10:25)

Therefore, go to church, learn, pray, enjoy the family of believers and make the best of the time together. But, God has not called us to be light in the midst of the light. If I am right, I believe that the verse goes a little something like this:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

(Matthew 5:14-16)

As God has made us to be the light, we must shine in all the dark places. This world, in general, is full of darkness. In this case, darkness is best explained in Galatians 5:19-21

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like...”

Rather than taking part in the acts of the flesh, God has called us to minister through our lives and our actions. The famous saying, “actions speak louder than words” is a very valid statement and actions do carry more power than words might. The reasoning is because now in age, people open their mouth so much and they end up overpromising and under delivering. The way we ought to live our lives according to the bible is:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

(Galatians 5:22)

As we walk around showing this fruit, others will begin to spot us out and question why we walk with joy and confidence. Which is when we let the Spirit doing the talking for us. In the gospel of Luke we are able to see the evidence:

“For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

(Luke 12:12)

When we allow the Spirit to speak through us is when life begins to happen. Chains are broken, lives are restored, breakthroughs appear, and God moves!

Church also happens in different shapes and forms. For example, God has called us to do specific jobs and make certain acts a habit of ours as we display the love of God. Below are a few examples of what we are called to do as the church.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

The Sheep and the Goats

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

(Matthew 25:31-46)

These are some examples of what ministry can look like and the hopes of this post were to help motivate you to go out and live out your life as the church. I hope your thoughts are a little easier now on what to do when going out to do kingdom work.

Before you go, there is one last point I would like to make. I know that as believers when going out to be the church, there is a doubt about whether or not we have the power to bring salvation or Christ’s love out. The thing is, scripture tells us in Matthew 7:7 and hints at it in Acts 4:29 that if we ask, we shall receive as long as we ask with the right heart (James 4:3). But, when it comes to ministry, God is the one that does all the work: He heals, performs signs and performs wonders (Acts 4:30). He is the one to make things happen! Therefore, if you pray for someone while living out as the church and healing happens, glorify God. If nothing happens, still glorify God. Because if we are able to take the blame for a specific act, that means we are just as much able to take the credit for it also!

I will leave you with this:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:19-20).