This Ministry

John Mark

Eph. 4:11-13 "...for the work of the ministry..."

I was reading T. Austin-Sparks' "The Anointing of the Holy Spirit" this morning which really spoke to me. Speaking of the early church, Sparks writes: "That was the meaning of the laying on of hands as they sent them forth; they said, 'We are going with you, this is not your ministry it is ours.' It is a Divine order, a heavenly order, and we have to look back of things for spiritual principles; and here is the principle of the oneness of the Body back of all. As we recognize that, and come into line with it, then the anointing is manifested."

I thought about Book Ministry. Is it my ministry? That has crossed my mind from time to time, but I always thought it would be a wrong thing to say. Yesterday, a precious saint sent a contribution. As I thought about that, along with the others who have sacrificially given, it became crystal clear. No, it isn't my ministry ... it's our ministry. And in reality, there is only one ministry if it truly is ministry: that which is birthed and governed by Jesus Christ, the Head of the church.

As people contribute finances and materials to be included in the ministry, it demonstrates it's not about me. It's a corporate venture, "the work of the ministry," that which we in the body of Christ are being equipped to do until we arrive at the goal: "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."

As we join together in "the work of the ministry," we can rest in the understanding it isn't my ministry, your ministry, his or her ministry. It is the ministry of Christ - and we are workers together with Him (2 Cor. 6:1).

Your Fellow Worker

John Mark