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Thursday,
June 4,
2020
Susquehanna
River near Marietta, PA
Click
to enlarge
"The
Ministry of Enablement"
Note: We remain deeply burdened and in prayer concerning the turmoil taking place in our country. But above all we need the timeless truths of God's Word and to realize the blessing of advancing God's kingdom by working cooperatively together and enabling others.
Message
summary: May the Lord help each of us to practice
the ministry of enablement!
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.
"I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name" (1 Corinthians 1:14,15).
One of the things I miss most about pastoral ministry is water baptisms. I really enjoyed this particular church ordinance. Not only is it a joyful time to participate in this aspect of discipleship and obedience, but with over 25 years of pastoral service more than a few times I've had some funny experiences in water baptisms:
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name" (1 Corinthians 1:14,15).
One of the things I miss most about pastoral ministry is water baptisms. I really enjoyed this particular church ordinance. Not only is it a joyful time to participate in this aspect of discipleship and obedience, but with over 25 years of pastoral service more than a few times I've had some funny experiences in water baptisms:
- I recall a large rather simple-minded type believer (he was about six foot six and surely weighed over three hundred pounds). We were using a mountain stream in north central PA and as we stepped into the icy cold spring runoff I still tried to maintain some dignity to the service. But I can still hear that loud commanding and rather gravelly voice, "This ain't gonna take very long is it Reverend?"
- Or the man that I had out in a similar type stream with a deep pool. I didn't ask him if he knew how to swim but just assumed he did. He had a bit of a fright as the current started to take him and he didn't know how to swim. Thankfully I have Red Cross lifesaving, which should probably be a requirement for every pastor! I can literally speak of saving a man at his own baptism.
- Finally there was the rather large, buoyant lady that I just couldn't seem to plunge below the water line. This was in a church baptismal tank and care had to be taken regarding the amount of water placed in the tank prior to the baptism. Too little and I wouldn't be able to completely submerge her. Too much, well, you can imagine the problem with all the displaced water!
Yes, water baptisms are a very rewarding
part of pastoral ministry and I think most pastors
would agree. That's why the Apostle Paul's statement
in the daily text is so interesting. Now I would
suppose that being baptized by the apostle Paul
would be pretty neat and I believe he would have had
plenty of requests. But he states, "I am
thankful that I did not baptize any of you except
Crispus and Gaius". So what gives here? Why is
he thankful that he did not do the
baptizing?
In part it was due to his desire not to get a fan base or following. His interest was that people follow Christ, not man. There were divisions in the church in Corinth related to personalities. Paul was not interested in being the most popular, with the most followers. He wanted it to be known that he was a part of a ministry team.
Following our daily text Paul went on to state: "(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power" (1 Corinthians 1:16,17). The point is that his main mission was "to preach the gospel". He was not discounting the importance of baptism but others could do it equally well.
Paul is
also demonstrating a powerful quality of effective
ministry called enablement. This is finding
fulfillment as we enable others to carry on ministry
that we ourselves could do. By having a ministry of
enablement we see our ministry impact extended
greatly. I consider the late Billy Graham and how
many evangelists he encouraged and enabled. I just
can't imagine Billy worrying that someone he enabled
was going to cut into his crowd size!
There is no room for selfish possessiveness in the Work of Christ. Great ministries are enabling ministries. Petty ministries seek to limit and control.
Let us rejoice when we see another believer finding fulfillment in ministry. We must avoid territorial control. We rejoice when a life is helped in Christ whether we are the direct instrument used of God or not. May the Lord help each of us to practice the ministry of enablement!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we have the privilege of being taught and influenced
by many believers with varying degrees of education,
talent, personality, biblical knowledge and
commitment. Though we may find ourselves attracted
to certain personalities within the body of Christ
who are most like us, we're also grateful for people
unlike ourselves. Thank You for those who
come alongside and enable us to be used by You in
ways that we had never envisioned before. Thank for
the variety of leaders and disciples You blend
together for Your purpose and the empowerment of the
gospel through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
In part it was due to his desire not to get a fan base or following. His interest was that people follow Christ, not man. There were divisions in the church in Corinth related to personalities. Paul was not interested in being the most popular, with the most followers. He wanted it to be known that he was a part of a ministry team.
Following our daily text Paul went on to state: "(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power" (1 Corinthians 1:16,17). The point is that his main mission was "to preach the gospel". He was not discounting the importance of baptism but others could do it equally well.
There is no room for selfish possessiveness in the Work of Christ. Great ministries are enabling ministries. Petty ministries seek to limit and control.
Let us rejoice when we see another believer finding fulfillment in ministry. We must avoid territorial control. We rejoice when a life is helped in Christ whether we are the direct instrument used of God or not. May the Lord help each of us to practice the ministry of enablement!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we have the privilege of being taught and influenced
by many believers with varying degrees of education,
talent, personality, biblical knowledge and
commitment. Though we may find ourselves attracted
to certain personalities within the body of Christ
who are most like us, we're also grateful for people
unlike ourselves. Thank You for those who
come alongside and enable us to be used by You in
ways that we had never envisioned before. Thank for
the variety of leaders and disciples You blend
together for Your purpose and the empowerment of the
gospel through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"The
Blessing Nigeria" Video I don't believe I know anyone
in Nigeria but parts of that country have faced horrific
persecution by Muslim terror groups. May God strengthen
the Church in Nigeria and protect them.
Yesterday
we had our longest bike ride of the year so far on the
Northwest Lancaster River Trail from Riverfront Park
above Marietta all the way to Columbia PA over 14 miles
round trip. We feel pretty good for our age but will
confess to some soreness here and there!
Susquehanna
River from Columbia, PA
Click
to enlarge
It was a
hot day and a nice time to be in the water in Chiques
Creek.
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to enlarge
Train
through Marietta going past Front Street that has houses
dating back to the 1700's.
Click to enlarge
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA