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. Living
Hope Fellowship Church
Church Study Course
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
Lesson 5
CHURCH (#5)
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
When Jesus speaks of sheep in Matthew 25, he isn't just
speaking to shepherds (pastors and other leaders in the
church). All true believers in Jesus are God's sheep. That
means we are included in the responsibility of the duties
listed in that chapter. The believers make up the body of
the church. Jesus is the head, and each part of that body
has its work to do. Ministries mentioned are:
1. FEED THE HUNGRY
2. GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY
3. HELP THE STRANGER
4. CLOTHE THE NAKED
5. VISIT THE SICK
6. VISIT THOSE IN PRISON
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In ministry are we sheep or goats? Read all of Matthew
Chapter 25. Read about the parable of the talents. Then read
about the sheep and the goats. Jesus listed very important
duties. The sheep that did the will of God were rewarded.
The goats, who did not do these duties, went to everlasting
punishment.
(30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer
darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (31)
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the
holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of
his glory: (32) And before him shall be gathered all
nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: (33) And he
shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left. (34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right
hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) For
I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and
ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (36)
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I
was in prison, and ye came unto me. Matthew 25:30-36.
(37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when
saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave
thee drink? (38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee
in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) Or when saw we thee
sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King
shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:37-40.
(41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels: (42) For I was an hungered,
and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no
drink: (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked,
and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited
me not. (44) Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord,
when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or
naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto
thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say
unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of
these, ye did it not to me. (46) And these shall go away
into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal. Matthew 25:41-46.
1. FEED THE HUNGRY
God created us and is concerned with all parts of our being.
In Matthew 14:14-21 Jesus healed the sick and then fed the
multitude bread and fish. Jesus told the disciples in Verse
16, ". . . give ye them to eat." The disciples told him how
much food they had. Jesus took WHAT THEY HAD and multiplied
it. In Matthew 15:30-38 Jesus healed the lame, blind, dumb,
maimed, and many others. Then Jesus said he would not send
them away fasting lest they faint. Jesus took seven loaves
and the fishes and they all did eat and were filled and took
up seven baskets full of the broken meat that was left.
Verse 38 says there were four thousand men, beside women and
children that ate. God cares for our body, mind, and soul.
Spiritually: The Word refers to God's people as sheep (Mark
6:34, Psalm 100:3, John 10:14-15). Jesus is the Lamb of God
(John 1:29) and was made like his brethren (Hebrews 2:17).
We are the sheep of God's fold (John 21:16, 1 Peter 2:25).
Read 1 Peter 5:2. It tells us to feed the flock of God which
is among us.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath
made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due
season? Matthew 24:45. Read also Luke 12:42.
Try feeding someone that is not hungry. Try feeding someone
that IS hungry. Notice the difference. Some are not hungry
because they feel they have everything they need. Read
Revelation 3:16-18!
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto
you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Luke 6:25.
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul
every bitter thing is sweet. Proverbs 27:7.
Read Acts Chapter 10. Cornelius was hungry for more of God
and hadn't come to know Jesus, but served God in every way
he knew was right. God made Peter very hungry, and he fell
into a trance. Then God showed Peter a vision. He sent Peter
to Cornelius to explain the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he
and his household received the Holy Ghost. When people are
hungry and seek God, they will find him (Deuteronomy 4:29).
Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35) that we are to feed
to the hungry. We are to tell others about Jesus after we
get saved, having our feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15).
Physically: Read 2 Thessalonians 3:10 about work and eating.
Read 1 Timothy 5:16 and James 1:27. Read Proverbs 19:17
about giving to the poor. Many churches have food pantries
for the needy. This is truly a ministry if it follows God's
guidelines.
2. GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY
Physically:
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little
ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple,
verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Matthew 10:42.
Spiritually: The Holy Ghost is the living water (John 7:38)
that we are to present to the thirsty to drink. Read also
Matthew 10:42.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that
cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me
shall never thirst. John 6:35.
SOULS ARE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY
We need food and we need drink. RICH AND POOR are hungry,
thirsty, strangers, naked, needy, sick, and in prison, UNTIL
they know salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus ministered to the
rich and to the poor physically and spiritually. Read
Matthew 19:21 (Nicodemus was rich and was told to be perfect
and give to the poor). Read Isaiah 58:7-10. If we want to
help meet the needs of the hungry and thirsty, we must first
be saved ourselves, otherwise we will hinder the gospel.
Read Isaiah 32:6 and 2 Corinthians 6:3.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruised. Luke 4:18.
3. HELP THE STRANGER
Spiritually: Many of us want to stay at the family table,
but Jesus has invited many to the great marriage supper
(Luke 14:16-23). We are to go out and invite people to come
to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Jesus wants all to be
saved. Many were called, but many excuses were given (Verse
18). God told the servant to go into the highways and the
hedges and compel them to come in (Verse 23). We must seek
out even the strangers to come and be saved. We must even
want our enemies to be saved.
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he
be thirsty, give him water to drink: Proverbs 25:21. (Apply
this physically also.)
Physically: We are commanded to preach the gospel to every
one. Prejudice is wrong. Denominations and organizations
that separate God's people are wrong (Hebrews 12:23). Read
Acts 17:26.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15.
Read and study the parable in Luke 10:29-37 about the
Samaritan and about who is your neighbor. Read also Romans
13:9 about your neighbor. In Acts 10:28 Peter said that ". .
. God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common
or unclean."
(34) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I
perceive that God is no respecter of persons: (35) But in
every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness,
is accepted with him. Acts 10:34-35.
4. NAKED AND YE CLOTHED ME NOT
Spiritually speaking:
(2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed
upon with our house which is from heaven: (3) If so be that
being clothed we shall not be found naked. (4) For we that
are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for
that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality
might be swallowed up of life. 2 Corinthians 5:2-4.
Ministers of God try to get you to put on that robe of
righteousness. Then they encourage you to keep the spots and
wrinkles out of it (Ephesians 5:27). You must stay washed in
the blood of Jesus. Read Psalm 51:7, 2 Corinthians 11:2,
Isaiah 1:18, and Colossians 1:22-23.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful
in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with
ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10.
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in
all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ
Jesus: Colossians 1:28.
(22) And of some have compassion, making a difference: (23)
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;
hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (24) Now unto
him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with
exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be
glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.
Amen. Jude 1:22-25.
Physically speaking:
(14) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he
hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If
a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
(16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those
things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
(17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have
works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew
thee my faith by my works. James 2:14-18.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:14.
5. VISIT THE SICK
Physically and spiritually speaking:
(13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry?
let him sing psalms. (14) Is any sick among you? let him
call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15)
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they
shall be forgiven him. (16) Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much. James 5:13-16.
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal
the sick. Luke 9:2.
There are devils that can bind you in many ways. They can
make you sick, either by oppression or by possession. In
ministry, Jesus cast out devils. He delivered many that were
oppressed and possessed of the devil. God's Word cannot lie
(Numbers 23:19) and is written for our admonition (1
Corinthians 10:11). You can be sick in body or in mind;
Jesus healed both in Matthew 4:24. Sometimes the cause of
the sickness needs to be spiritually discerned before
deliverance (1 Corinthians 12:10). Perhaps there is a devil
there that needs to be cast out. Much can be said about the
causes of sickness and disease. When the cause is
determined, you will know how to pray, and if you are
walking righteous before God, you can get deliverance for
others. Jesus paid the price for your salvation and for your
healing in the atonement at Calvary.
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind,
and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and
dumb both spake and saw. Matthew 12:22.
And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the
multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in
Israel. Matthew 9:33.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24.
The church is supposed to obey the command that Christ made
in Matthew 10:8. We are to do this in Jesus' name by his
power working mightily in us (Colossians 1:29, Ephesians
3:7, Ephesians 3:20). Read all of Mark 16, and reread verses
15-20. After Jesus was received up into heaven, he still
worked with his disciples with the signs in verses 17 & 18.
This is one confirmation that these things happen
today—Jesus was working with them AFTER he ascended.
Physically: You can help meet the needs of a sick person by
helping with their families, showing concern, and doing for
them what they cannot do while sick. Jesus had compassion
and we are his disciples.
6. VISIT THOSE IN PRISON
There are those in spiritual prisons and those in actual
physical prisons. Many are bound by the devil and God's
people are called to visit them. If they will accept the
message of salvation in Jesus Christ, they can be saved. If
they are possessed by devils, they can be delivered by a
true child of God, if they want to be delivered and will
live for God.
(24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging
of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out
of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at
his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
Spiritually: The Bible speaks of principalities and powers
and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).
There are different levels of bondage of the devil. Jesus
spoiled principalities and powers and triumphed over them
(Colossians 2:15). Jesus gives his disciples authority over
all the power of the devil (if they will pay the price and
become mature in the things of God). Read Luke 10:19 and
Matthew Chapter 10.
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he
gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out,
and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease. Matthew 10:1.
After Jesus called his disciples and gave them power to cast
out unclean spirits, and to heal all manner of sickness and
disease (Matthew 10:1), he went on and told them what to do
with that power.
(7) And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is
at hand. (8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:7-8.
Read Acts 8:13 where the sorcerer was in bondage to the
devil. He believed and was baptized, (Acts 8:13) but was not
delivered from the devil. He was not saved. Peter told him
he was in the bond of iniquity (Acts 8:23). Having knowledge
that Jesus is real and having water baptism is not enough.
We must continue till we are completely delivered from the
devil. Then we must continue in sanctification.
When a person is devil possessed, he needs the devil cast
out. Those who do not know God's Word and those who do not
live a holy life are critical and afraid of the devil.
Instead of being critical, people who claim to know Jesus
should study the Word and see what it says about it. We need
not fear the devil if we are FULL of God and the Holy Ghost.
Jesus cast out devils and gave his disciples the power to
cast out devils.
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with
the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in
his right mind: and they were afraid. Mark 5:15.
They also which saw it told them by what means he that was
possessed of the devils was healed. Luke 8:36.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of
many that were possessed with them: and many taken with
palsies, and that were lame, were healed. Acts 8:7.
Read about the sons of Sceva, (seven sons of one Sceva, a
Jew, and chief of the priests) (preacher's sons) who tried
to cast the devil out in Acts 19. The devil knew Jesus and
he knew Paul (a true servant of God), but the devil knew the
power of Jesus was not in Sceva's sons. They fled naked and
wounded. If you want to be able to deliver souls from
bondage, there is a price to pay for the power of God to
work in you. Read Colossians 1:29, Ephesians 3:7, and
Ephesians 3:20.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:21. Read also Mark 9:29.
When you are bound by the devil, it is like being in a
spiritual prison. Webster's dictionary acknowledges that a
devil is a supernatural being subordinate to, and the foe
of, God. A captive is a person held in confinement or
subjection, a prisoner. Therefore, a captive is a prisoner.
The devil takes people that don't know Jesus captive at his
will.
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the
devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy
2:26.
Jesus spoke in Luke 4:18-19 what had been prophesied in
Isaiah 61:1 about himself. God anointed Jesus to preach and
set people free.
Physically: Some have a specific calling to prison ministry
in actual earthly prisons. If you don't feel you have this
calling, you can pray, and fast, and support those that do.
All captives of the devil, whether in prison or not, need
deliverance. Any one wanting to help others in this area,
certainly need to be free themselves and overflowing with
the power of God. Read John 8:32.
INVOLVEMENT OF THE HOLY GHOST:
The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of truth. Be born again, filled
with the Holy Ghost, and continue to grow in Christ to
maturity (Ephesians 4:13). This will enable you to deliver
souls out of bondage.
The Holy Ghost power of God will overcome all the power of
the enemy (Luke 10:19 & Psalm 78:49). We are in a spiritual
battle. God is supernatural and all powerful.
(23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:
for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a
Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit
and in truth. John 4:23-24.
Because of rebellion against God, Satan was cast out of
heaven (Revelation 12:9). At the end of the world, he will
no longer be able to make captives of anyone because he will
be permanently CAST into the lake of fire (Revelation
20:10).
We must reach maturity ourselves in order to perform the
ministry like Jesus did. Jesus warns us in Revelation
22:18-20 not to add unto and not to take away from the words
of the book. God wants his whole word preached, and daily
there are many opportunities for you to minister to others
for Christ. The holy scriptures leave us no excuse for not
doing it. Jesus, our example, has shown us the way.
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Hope Fellowship, Inc.
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