The New Testament Ministry

Lesson Content

The ministry of Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, accompanied by signs and wonders, finally brought deliverance to the children of Israel from their bondage. This is a shadow of the first aspect of the New Testament ministry, a ministry of deliverance — to heal the broken hearted and to set the captives free from their bondage to sin, sickness, Satan, fear of death etc. (Lk.4:18; Mk.3:14,15). The children of Israel were le d through the Red Sea and brought to the foot of mount Sinai. This speaks of souls being added to the church after their deliverance, being baptized in water and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:41,47). The ministry which led the children of Israel from the foot of mount Sinai to Canaan is a shadow of the second aspect of the New Testament ministry, a glorious ministry — to lead the Spirit -baptized Church to perfection (II Cor.3:8; 4:1). To do this glorious ministry, called, anointed and consecrated ser vants of God who have forsaken their all, are needed (Lk.14:26,33; Mk.10:28,29). “No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron” (Heb.5:4; Rom.1:1). The need for consecration:

1. Jesus told His disciples, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (Jn.20:21). In order to do the perfect will of the Father, Jesus forsook all the glories of heaven and emptied Himself taking the form of a servant (Phil.2:5-8). He expects the same from His servants.

2. This consecration keeps them from being entangled with the affairs of this life and helps them to live by faith, relying upon God for all their needs (II Tim.2:4).

3. It helps them to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth (Rev.14:4).

4. Even as St. Paul testifies about hi mslf, that he, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ suffered the loss of all things and counted them as dung, this consecration helps them to attain the excellency of this knowledge (Phil.3:7-11).

5. All the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed only to the consecrated servants of God (Matt.13:10,11). The deeper truths which were not revealed to the sons of men in other ages are now revealed to the holy apostles and prophets in the New Testament (Eph.3:5,6).

6. Through this consecration, they unconditionally give themselves to Christ. In turn they become the gifts of Christ to the Church, to bring it to perfection, as it is written that He gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints (Eph.4:7-13). Other names given to the New Testament servants of God: Such New Testament servants of God are known by various names, such as masterbuilders (I Cor.3:10), the ambassadors for Christ (II Cor.5:20), stewards of the mysteries of God (I Cor.4:1), a father and mother to the church (I Thess.2:7,11), those who have the rule over the church (Heb.13:17), those who

watch for the souls in the church as they that must give account (Heb.13:17), overseers (Acts 20:28), shepherds (I Pet.5:1-4), elders (I Pet.5:1), labourers in the vineyard (Matt.20:1), ministers of the New Testament (II Cor.3:6) and labourers together with God (I Cor.3:9).