Based on Acts 13:1-12 (New King James Version)
“Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”
What does the true ministry in the Lord really consist of? Do you need to leave or abandon everything to be able to truly serve the Lord? Maybe yes, maybe no. Do you have to go to seminary or a special school to be able to prepare for the ministry? Maybe yes, maybe no. Does a person need to go to a faraway land to be able to truly serve the Lord? Maybe yes, maybe no. Is the only way that a person can serve the Lord is if they are recognized by some Christian institution with established credentials? Maybe yes, maybe no.
To be able to understand what true ministry really is, we need to go to the Bible and to see what God truly says about this, not what men say it is, because that is the primary problem that commonly exists, people letting themselves be guided by human opinion rather than seeing what God says through His Word. This is what the Lord Himself left established: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20. What does it mean to “make disciples”? The topic of making disciples is, first of all, taking the Gospel to people that do not know the Lord, those that have not yet been able to establish that personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That is the first step, because the second, to be able to fulfill the idea of making disciples has to do with what the word “disciple” which means: a follower. And of course, making a person a disciple of Christ is helping them not only come to believe in Christ, but also, helping them follow the Lord, that they adopt the lifestyle that the Word of God teaches. God not only desires believers, and He did not command us to just make believers only (because believing in the Lord and following Him are two completely different things). This is what the Word says about believing: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:18-20. So then, coming to believe in Christ only is not a great thing, and it is not what saves you, because otherwise, then demons could be saved (which is impossible). Salvation comes through believing and following Jesus, becoming His disciple, doing what He teaches. And so, true ministry has to do with everything that involves making disciples for the Lord, either helping people come to Christ, as well as helping people follow Christ, or both. That is true ministry, the service that the Lord is truly looking for.
It is an error to think that we must leave everything to serve the Lord. God wants for us to follow Him, and for Him to be the One that says what we should or should not do. Paul, for example, worked to sustain himself, and moreover, and he did this as an example that should be followed, for it is written: “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. So then, leaving our jobs is not a Biblical requirement. For the glory of the Lord, I keep my own secular job (that many times requires between 50-60 hours a week, and sometimes even more) to be able to follow the Biblical example and not be a burden, and not to look to make myself rich either (I am far from that).
What should in the end be true ministry? The Word explains it like this: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:13-19. True ministry consists of being available for what the Lord wants, if He really is the Lord of your life (because He is the One that should be in command, not us), and obeying Him, in making disciples for Christ where He says so, both how and when, whether it be at work, at school, with your family, with your neighbors, with your friends, with total strangers, for you to be available and obedient like those great men and women that preceded us in the faith, that thank the Lord, and thanks to them, we have what we have today. If it were not for their obedience and disposition in the Lord, I would not know the Lord like I know Him and try to follow and serve Him until He comes for me. So then, are you fulfilling a true ministry, despite the challenges that you may find along the way? Lord bless! John