C T Studd

EVERY CHRISTAIN A MINISTER

(April 01, 2022) Charles Schwab shares that every Christian is a minister so let’s cut to the chase…

I feel led by the Holy Spirit to share here my long-term convictions about Christians taking up their God-given capacities to be vessels of God towards a whole range of needs in the lives of others.

Yes there can be challenges to Christians – ordinary Christians – when it comes to being mobilised in ministry. We will come to these in a moment.

Biblical truth
Since the Protestant Reformation (1517 AD – 505 years ago) which highlighted the biblical truth that justification – being made right with God – is a consequence of faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (Romans 5:1), various other biblical truths have been resurrected from relative obscurity.

One such truth is that every believer has one or more areas of ‘ministry’ or service to which the Lord has called and is equipping them. We don’t get to ‘call the shots’; God determines and in such a way that we are not consulted!

The notion that ‘the priest is the minister and does everything that is central in the life of the church’ had its ‘back broken’ in the Reformation.

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REALLY?

(March 07, 2020) Charles Schwab shares a reflection on this month’s Encouragement article, declaring that every Christian is a minister so let’s cut through the challenges…

I appreciate Dr Robert and Maureen McQuillan’s article Just Hanging Around encouraging Christians to be active in their local churches.

And as I read it I felt a quickening to share my long-term convictions about Christians taking up their God-given capacities to be vessels of God towards a whole range of needs in the lives of others.

But there can be challenges to Christians – ordinary Christians – when it comes to being mobilised in ministry. We will come to these challenges in a moment.

Highlighted biblical truth
Since the Protestant Reformation (1517 AD – 500 years ago) which highlighted the biblical truth that justification – being made right with God – is a consequence of faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (Romans 5:1), various other biblical truths have been resurrected from relative obscurity.

One such truth is that every believer has one or more areas of ‘ministry’ or service to which the Lord has called and is equipping them. We don’t get to ‘call the shots’; God determines and in such a way that we are not consulted!

The notion that ‘the priest is the minister and does everything that is central in the life of the church’ had its ‘back broken’ in the Reformation. (more…)

POSSIBILITIES UNLIMITED   

(September 20, 2019) Dr George Forbes, missionary statesman, reflects on a great biblical truth…      

The truth recorded in various verses of the Bible is that God himself is the source of possibilities that are unlimited.

From creation on through every generation God’s everlasting arms have lifted up and encouraged so many. He has been a refuge for troubled, hurting men, women and children, more times than can be numbered. The Almighty God of heaven and earth cares so much for us… all because of his love for us. 

But… sadly too often God’s love has been ignored and even rejected by proud sinful humankind – yet he made us, provided for us, patiently waited for our hearts to change and turn to him for fellowship and help. It is his unlimited love and mercy that give me hope today… and is available to all!

Possibilities are unlimited because of God’s love!

Certain moments can become opportunities for miracles
Jesus showed this to be true in his ministry, his death and his resurrection. He taught his disciples that the things that are impossible for us are possible for God.

One time he said to the father of a child dumb from birth because of demon possession, that anything was possible to a person who believes (Mark 9:20ff). Asked if he believed, the father cried out, ‘I believe, help my unbelief.’

That moment an impossibility became a miracle of healing and deliverance! And at Jesus’ command the boy was set free from the impure spirit.

Example of a hindrance
When a religious leader who diligently kept the law of Moses asked Jesus (Luke 18:22-30), ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ the answer Jesus gave him was profound! (more…)