The Ministry Belongs to the Lord
Occasionally, someone asks, “Who is in charge around here?” Now, I never mind the question; the problem lies when troubled people do not like the answer when I say with a smile, “Oh, Jesus is!” Believe it or not, some struggle with the concept that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, is the ever-present leader guiding the church today. The church and the ministry do not belong to us; they are blood-bought by Jesus and Jesus alone. Our brother Paul told the Ephesian elders, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
It is also clear that Jesus is the head of the church, not a man or group of men, but Jesus alone is the head. Jesus, who willingly died for His church on the cross, rose from the dead and is now seated and ruling at the right hand of God in Heaven. He is, as Ephesians 1:21-23 says, “…far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Jesus is our leader.
Now, we can, unfortunately, as fallible humans, mess things up, especially when we allow pride, prejudice, or partiality to reign in our hearts and minds. Now, we do not have to make a mess of ministry if we seek to fully submit to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” Therefore, we must steer clear of worldly ideas, programs, and techniques regarding the ministry. Instead, we should desire to be led by God’s Holy Spirit. We are His church and must diligently seek to do things His way. Paul poses a question to the churches in Galatia, “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) The same question must be answered by us today in all that we seek to accomplish for the kingdom of God.