Thursday, August 19, 2010

850 - Every Believer Is a Minister

August 22, 2010

Sermon #850

Every Believer Is a Minister

Ephesians 4:11 - 16 (NKJV) 11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.


 

Introduction:
The full-time, professional, staff of Jesus Christ is:

  1. Apostles
  2. Prophets
  3. Evangelists
  4. Pastor/Teachers

What is their job description?

  1. To equip the church
  2. To edify the body of Christ
  3. To bring the Church into maturity


 

John 14:12 - 14 (NKJV) 12"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.


 

Question: Are you a believer?

  1. Believers are to have supernatural ministry

Luke 4:16 - 19 (NKJV) 16So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."


 

  1. Jesus walked in supernatural power

    Luke 5:17 - 28 (NKJV) 17Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
    20When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."


     

    21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
    22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
    23    Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?
    24    But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
    25Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"
    27After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me."
    28So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.


     

  2. All the disciples were commissioned to minister in supernatural power

    Luke 10:1 - 24 (NKJV) 1After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
    2Then He said to them,     "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
    3    Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
    4    Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
    5    But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'
    6    And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
    7    And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.


     

    8Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
    9    And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
    10    But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
    11    'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'
    12    But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
    13"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
    14    But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
    15    And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
    16    He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."


     

    17Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
    18And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
    19    Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
    20    Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
    21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
    22    All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
    23Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;
    24    for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

  • They placed their hands on the sick and healed them!
  • They cast out demons in His name!


     

  1. The early Church was supernaturally equipped

    Acts 8:4 - 8 (NKJV) 4Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
    5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city.

    ILL: Philip was one of the seven deacons who became an evangelist.


     

    Acts 14:1 - 3 (NKJV) 1Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.
    2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.


     

  2. Supernatural ministry is part of the commission

    Mark 16:14 - 18 (NKJV) 14Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
    15And He said to them,     "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
    16    He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
    17    And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
    18    they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

    ILL: Some "Bible Scholars" say that Mark 16:14-18 was added – it was not part of the original Bible. They of course have never seen the "Original Bible". Why don't they just tear it out?


     

  3. Cast out demon spirits

  4. Infirmity – all infirmity is not caused by a demon but it might be!

    Luke 13:10 - 13 (NKJV) 10Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
    11And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her,     "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."
    13And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

    ILL: If the doctors cannot get it healed ask yourself why…


     

  5. Unclean spirit

    Mark 1:23 - 28 (NKJV) 23Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,
    24saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!"
    25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"
    26And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 28And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.


     

  6. Deaf & Dumb spirit

    Mark 9:19 - 29 (NKJV) 19He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."
    20Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
    21So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"
    And he said, "From childhood. 22And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
    23Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
    24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
    25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"
    26Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
    28And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
    29So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

    ILL: My Mother-in-law, when she was a child had epilepsy. A spirit filled woman, Maria Wodworth-Etter, said, "In the name of Jesus come out of her!" She was instantly delivered and never had another convulsion.


     

  7. Spirit of divination (familiar spirit)

    Acts 16:16 - 19 (NKJV) 16Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." 18And this she did for many days.
    But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. 19But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.


     

  8. Spirit of fear

    2 Timothy 1:3 - 7 (NKJV) 3I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

    ILL: Warning! I do not want you to get overly concerned about demons. They are real but without the gift of discernment, it is difficult to tell physical or mental illness from demonic. You do not have to get into a "deliverance ministry," but when you run into it – command it out!


     

    ILL: The woman crawling on the floor of my study and hissing like a snake was definitely demon possessed!


     

  9. Healing

Acts 9:17 - 19 (NKJV) 17And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.


 

Acts 19:11 - 20 (NKJV) 11Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
16Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.


 

17This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.


 

Acts 28:7 - 10 (NKJV) 7In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

ILL: Be careful who you lay hands on!

  • Always get permission
  • Know them
  • Understand that your hands are transmitters of the Holy Spirit

    1 Timothy 5:22 (NKJV) 22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.


     

IV. Speaking in Tongues

  1. Puts God's power into our spirit

    1 Corinthians 14:1 - 5 (NKJV) 1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.


     

  2. Allows the believer to worship God with unlimited capacity

    John 4:21 - 24 (NKJV) 21Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
    22    You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
    23    But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
    24    God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."


     

  3. Tongues release the gifts of the Spirit

    Acts 19:1 - 7 (NKJV) 1And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
    So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
    3And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?"
    So they said, "Into John's baptism."
    4Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
    5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7Now the men were about twelve in all.

    ILL: Tongues first, then prophecy!


 

Conclusion

Why the Church? Because when you show up the Holy Spirit is supposed to show up and He brings people to Christ, He heals, He delivers, and He ministers through you!

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