TOPIC:"The Revolutionary Minister and His Redeeming Message"
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Colossians 1:23-28
"I Paul am made a minister...Whereof I am made a minister" (1:23, 25).
There are many men today who have placed themselves into the ministry. This must never be done. And yet, scores of so-called ministers are standing behind American pulpits who have never been called by God to preach. They live off the revenue of the church without believing the unchanging truths of the Word of God. They are peddlers of their own opinions.
But not so of Paul the Apostle. This first-century Christian stated both in verses 23 and 25: "I am made a minister." The NLT has Paul saying, "I Paul, have been appointed by God." In other words, he did not choose this calling. The calling of God chose him. Listen to me: Nobody on their own decides to be a minister. Just the opposite! God decides for you. A minister is not self-selected, but God-appointed. He is called by God.
Dr. Donald G. Barnhouse, well-known Presbyterian minister of the 20th century, in his commentary on Romans, tells of a backwoods preacher who was not very eloquent bur often right on the mark. God definitely called him into the ministry. Though he was not very educated, he was deeply devoted to his calling. On one occasion he listened to a proud young preacher - well educated but very impressed with his own background and skills, evidencing little power of God at work in his life and ministry. When the sermon was over and most people had left, the old preacher walked up to him and said, "Young man, was you sent or did you just went?"
I like what it says of John the Baptist in John chapter1 verse 6: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." We must never overlook those words "sent from God." That's precisely what a minister is: "God-sent." So Paul cries out, "I am made a minister," and as such my primary business declares Paul in verse 25 is "to fulfill the Word of God," or as the NIV renders it: "to present to you the Word of God in its fullness."
I tell you, as a minister of Christ I have no other business that could ever serve as a substitute for preaching. Not counseling! Not music! Not administration! Not organization! But like Christ of whom it was said: "Jesus traveled about...preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God" (Luke 8:1). Or listen to the words of Paul when he declared to the people of Lystra: "We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God" (Acts 14:15, NLT).
It was the message of the liberating Christ in all of its splendor that Paul passionately desired to preach. Give . . .