SPIRITUAL GUIDELINES FOR MINISTERS OF FIRE BOOK

Why has God called you to be a minister? What are His purposes for calling you? God has several very specific purposes He wants to accomplish through you. Scripture is clear in describing just what these purposes are.

1. You are to be a pattern of the glorious truth that God saves sinners-a living example of God’s mercy.

I Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Titus 2:6-8 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

You are God’s minister to the world; therefore, you are to be the first-the foremost-example of God’s longsuffering and mercy. You are to be the first to live and proclaim the longsuffering and mercy of God. You are to be an example to all believers (1) in word, (2) in purity, (3) in love, (4) in the Holy Spirit, (5) in behavior, and (6) in faith.

You are to be a pattern-an example of good works in doctrine and teaching: (1) in proclaiming a pure doctrine, (2) in proclaiming the message sincerely and with dignity, and (3) in proclaiming the message with sound words.

2. You are to go and make disciples of all nations.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching (making disciples of) them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

In the book of Joshua chapter three those priests represent today’s ministers. They carried God’s presence. You carry God’s presence. When you pick up the ark (God’s commandments, statutes, and judgments) the waters will part. Be a pattern for God in teaching and in preaching His word. Go and make disciples of all nations.

• Your purpose as a minister of God is to disciple others: pick out several believers who are willing to commit all they are and have to Jesus Christ and attach yourself to them. Pick out as many as you can handle.

• Your purpose as a minister of God is to teach the willing believer all you know: let him/her walk and talk with you and see you live, pray, teach, minister, eat, and relax. Let him/her observe you day by day as much as possible and absorb Christ in you.

• Your purpose as a minister of God is to always be discipling some believers, and then turning them loose to disciple others. Set a goal as to how long you think it will take to train each disciple, and then turn each one loose to disciple others. As you turn each one lose, the pick out another committed believer to replace him/her in your group of disciples.

Make disciples and mentor them until you can see them stand on their own for Jesus Christ. Disciple others-for it is the great commission of Christ, the very method He used. You can reach the world if you and all other ministers will follow this simple instruction of Christ: disciple-pick out and attach yourself to all who are willing to commit their lives to the ministry.

Ministers will visit the sick and do acts of charity.

James 5:13-14 Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil.

Ministers submit to authority.

Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

False teachers and false doctrines will abound in your sphere of spiritual influence. They are corrupt, evil ministers falsely representing Jesus Christ and God the Father.

II John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, This is a deceiver and an an-ti-christ.

Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: (Jews)

You, as a minister of God, will not be accepted in certain churches or places. You may even be thrown out of some churches. Don’t fret. The Lord is with you. Those who bless you, bless Him. Those who curse you, curse Him. Those who despitefully use you, use Him. Those who persecute you, persecutes the Son of God.

III John 9-10 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence (be the leader) among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Ministers are to be an example of righteousness and holiness to others.

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Ministers must be all things to all men. While in Rome do as the Romans do. While in the Middle East do as the Middle Easterners do. Become a servant unto all men that you may gain their confidence and lead them to Christ Jesus.

I Corinthians 9:19,22-23 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Ministers need to love the people who follow them.

I Thessalonians 2:7-8,11 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Ministers need to exhort and comfort others.

I Thessalonians 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.Ministers are to be workers with God.

II Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Ministers are to rebuke believers when they see sin in their lives such as unsound doctrine or unsound teachings.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Ministers have benefits in God.

Phil. 4:12-13 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Ministers are to be provided for through the local church and other believers. Ministers are to be honored and respected by others because of the work they do for the Lord Jesus Christ and for the kingdom of God.

I Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

3. You are to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Col. 1:28 Christ whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

You are to (1) preach, (2) teach, (3) warn, and (4) pray. Sinners get the benefits of your prayers.

4. You are to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to earth that you might have life, both abundant and eternal life. He came to save you from the enslavement of sin, death, and judgment to come. You have been called by Christ to be a witness of His salvation. Your very purpose fro existing-for being a minister-is to be a witness for Christ.

5. You are not to be an unashamed witness for Christ.

II Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.

Psalm 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

II Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

You are not to be ashamed of the gospel nor of strong believers who are living and witnessing for Christ. You are not to shrink from identifying with the gospel and the Lord of the gospel. You are not to shrink from identifying with strong believers who are sharing and living for Christ. People are ashamed of the gospel only because there is no power of God in the church or in their own life.

You have discovered the cure for the cancer of sins. You are indebted to share this cure which is the gospel of Christ. You can cure others diseases of sin through the power of your witness to the lost.

6. You are to be a strong, bold witness.

Titus 2:14-15; Titus 2:11-13 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Acts 18:9-10 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

Titus 2:14-15 declares that the death of Jesus Christ is to be proclaimed with all authority-strongly and boldly.

You are to speak about the death of Christ, that His death redeems man. There is no argument about the grace of God, no argument about the Lord Jesus Christ and His death. Unquestionably, God loves the world. He has demonstrated His love by sending His Son into the world to redeem man. You are, therefore, to proclaim the death of Christ for the sins of the world. You are to use every method of speech and communication there is. You are to declare the grace of God and the death of His Son for the sins of the world.

You are to exhort people in the death of Christ, how His death redeems man. The word "exhort" means to encourage. People are lonely, empty, without purpose, discouraged, distressed, and without hope. They need to hear the glorious message of God’s grace, of the Lord Jesus Christ. They need to hear about the wonderful life God gives us now and eternally-all through the Lord Jesus Christ and His death.

You are to rebuke people in the death of Christ. There is no excuse for men living in sin and rejecting the grace of God. God has done too much for us in Christ Jesus, His Son. A man is a fool to reject eternal life, the glorious redemption and hope which Christ gives. Men need to be told the truth, rebuked, and put under conviction by your proclaiming the grace of God and the death of Jesus Christ.

7. You are to be Christ’s witness.

II Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

You are part of God’s family so you are obligated to Him. It’s time that you go back to the basics in Christ Jesus because the church has become formal.

You-the Lord’s ambassador-belong to Christ, the One who has sent you out to the world. You-the Lord’s ambassador-are commissioned to be sent out. You now exist only for the purpose for which you were sent out. You-the Lord’s ambassador-possess all the authority and power of Christ, of the One who has sent you out into the world. You-the Lord’s ambassador-are sent forth with the message of Christ, the Lord of the universe. You are not free to deliver your own message, nor the message of anyone else. You have been appointed by Christ as His ambassador to deliver His message and His message alone. You have been given the greatest of messages to deliver-"Be reconciled to God."

An ambassador builds an embassy under a king. You are an ambassador over a particular land that belongs to God. He gives you a special code (tongues) that others can’t understand.

8. You are to be a family and community witness.

Mark 5:19 Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

In Acts 1:8 Christ has given you the method to follow as you bear witness for Him. You are to witness where you are (Jerusalem) and move progressively outward (Judaea and Samaria) until you have a part in reaching the uttermost parts of the earth. You are to go-personally go-as far as you can. You are to give as sacrificially as you can so that others can go. You are to use every method and ministry you can to reach the world.

You are to witness where you are first. See to it that Christ is well known throughout your home and community before moving on. Once Christ is well known, you are to move out, ever pressing outward from where you are. Your first witness is to be (1) in Jerusalem: where you are, your home and local community. Your next witness is to be

(2) in all Judaea: other communities and areas and states. Your next witness is to be (3) in Samaria: other nations and countries. There was bitter hatred between the Jews and Samaritans yet Christ tells His witnesses to carry the message of salvation even to their enemies. Your next witness is to be (4) to the uttermost parts of the earth: to the unknown countries and regions of the world.

9. You are to be an obedient witness.

Acts 5:20-21 Go, stand, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.

Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (refused to witness any longer).

Witnessing is often difficult. There are many reasons why it is difficult. (1) You may be busy or rushed. (2) You may be tired and exhausted; you may need rest. (3) You may face opposition, ridicule, imprisonment, or outright persecution. (4) You may have other pressing duties demanding your immediate attention. (5) You may have to go out and visit and witness alone. There may be no one available or willing to go with you. God’s commission to you, His minister, is clear: "Go, stand and speak to the people."

The Greek word for "Go" is strong, demanding boldness and courage. In other words, "Go": go now, go immediately. "Stand": take your stand; stand forth without reservation or hesitation. "Speak": proclaim, preach, teach-courageously, boldly, without fear. "All the words of this life": the whole gospel of salvation; the glorious message of the death and resurrection of Christ; not watering down or changing anything; not holding back; not trying to soften the message to make it more acceptable.

10. You are to be a constant witness.

Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

Psalm 71:15 My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers (of my days) thereof.

Isaiah 62 6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.

11. You are to be a Spirit-filled witness.

John 15:26-27 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

You are to be a Spirit-filled witness to speak and share the gospel and to pray and trust God’s Spirit to work through you. When you do this then God’s Spirit does just that.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God’s Spirit takes your witness, prayer, and trust, and He convicts the souls of people. He convicts and saves all who willingly receive Christ as their Savior.

12. You are to be a believing witness, a witness who is a true believer.

John 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

II Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.

Psalm 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.