Tuesday | 23 April 2024
In this present season, the Spirit has been urging us to move beyond the ministry of the word for illumination, to be the bread to one another. This is fundamental to our participation in the agape meal as part of the body of Christ. 1Co 10:14-17. We minister the word, as the bread to our hearers, through testimony. In doing so, we are not presuming to be the exemplars of the word that we preach. Rather, we are sharing our repentance and faith in response to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
That is, we are bearing witness to the word as it processes us individually, in our marriages, and in our families. Paul often shared in this way. Instead of speaking as one who was successful, he described himself as the chief of sinners, as a man of weak speech, and as a wretched man who was finding deliverance and life through fellowship in Christ’s offering and sufferings. 1Ti 1:15. 1Co 2:3. 2Co 11:6. Rom 7:24-25. Php 3:7-11.
Testifying in this manner is foundational to the ministry of Elijah in the presbytery and in the church. Furthermore, it is a defining expression of eldership. Jas 5:13-18. As James, the brother of Jesus, instructed, ‘Is anyone among you sick? 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 … the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.’ Jas 5:14-17.
Rather than presuming to speak from expertise or accomplishments, true elders acknowledge that they are men of ‘like passions’ with their hearers. They are, themselves, joined to a process through which they are being enabled to walk blamelessly by the Spirit. Through their ministry, they extend this fellowship to their hearers. 1Jn 1:1-3.
Further Study:
JAMES 5
References:
1Co 10:14-17
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
1Ti 1:15
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1Co 2:3
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
2Co 11:6
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
Rom 7:24-25
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Php 3:7-11
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Jas 5:13-18
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
1Jn 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us — that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.