3 Mighty Mandates of Ministry

[disciple]

Chapter 4: 3 Essential Things in Ministry
(Jn. 4:35-38, 1 Pet. 1:13, Matt. 16:24)

I. “Lift up your eyes” (the importance of vision—Jn. 4)
- Shows we must have vision, see from God’s point of view. What you see > what you become. Perception > Process > Product.
- Our vision will always be different from God’s (“don’t you say” v. “I say to you”)
1) See the masses—Jesus’ disciples went to the city (Jn. 4:8) but did not make an impact. Jesus and (after believing) the Samaritan woman had vision, but they did not. Reasons they may not have seen the need: preoccupation with their own needs, prejudices or false assumptions about the people, and/or procrastination.
2) Seize the moment—harvests don’t wait, we must be urgent about fulfilling Jesus’ commission.
3) Share our ministry—v. 36-38. Must work together with others instead of comparing or competing (1 Cor. 4:5, 2 Cor. 10:12). Lk. 5:1-11—Jesus’ presence & mission required them to work together with others. Must also share our ministry with our disciple(s) and consider them above ourselves.
4) Speak the message—v. 39-42. Our witness involves both God’s words and ours, both our example and our testimony.

II. “Gird up your loins” (the importance of creative planning—1 Pet. 1)
- Concept of girding up one’s loins: p. 66
- Loins of our MIND (Gr. = to “think things through”). We must think things through for the good of others and the glory of God. Rom. 12:2, 1 Cor. 10:5.
- LOINS of our mind (creative & reproductive aspect). We must be creative and spiritually reproductive in our thinking and preparing.
- One did not need to gird up their loins to sit around, but it was essential for walking, working, or warring. We must focus our minds on the commission, disciplines, process, & goal of total world impact.

III. “Take up your cross” (the importance of dying to self—Matt. 16)
- We are saved by and into the cross. Taking your cross is the outward expression of dying to self.
1) Is prescribed—your cross is whatever it costs you to serve Christ and be involved in the salvation of others. Produces self-denial, rejection from the world, understanding of Christ, revelation of the gospel to sinners, and a great reward.
2) Is personal—is offered universally and must be accepted individually
3) Is public—no one ever crucified privately. When we take up our cross, Jesus will be seen and people will be drawn to Him.
4) Is an ongoing choice—“daily” Lk. 9: 23
5) Has a clear purpose—reaching people who are far from God (Jn. 12:24) and bringing them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). Story of potatoes: p. 76.