The Importance of Personal Ministry - Hebrews 6:10
THE LORD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS COMMITS HIM TO RECOGNIZE THE
MINISTRY OF THE BELIEVER:
“For God is not unrighteous” -
Deut 32:4 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a
God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
2 Tim. 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing.
OUR MINISTRY IS BASED ON HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND CHALLENGES
US TO LABOR AND LOVE
“to forget” -
epilasesqai - neglect or no longer care for - God does not change His
ministry to His people.
your work -
ergou - done by hand, industry or mind
and labor of love -
kopou thV agaphV - beating of your chest with grief,
united intense labor.
I John 3:14,18 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we
love the brethren...My little children, let us not love in word, neither in
tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
2 Thess. 1:3 “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, because
the..charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”
Gal. 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
Acts 11:29-30 “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability,
determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:”
THE MOTIVE FOR OUR MINISTRY MUST BE TO HONOR THE LORD,
NEVER FOR PERSONAL GAIN
“which ye have shewed toward His name”
- The direction of their service was Godward, and the benefits of Godward
service is seen in their sacrifice for the brethren.
Matt. 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye
have done it unto me.”
John 13:20 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send
receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”
Phil. 4:17-18 “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my
necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to
your account...I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were
sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing
to God.”
Col. 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
OUR MINISTRY SHOULD BE CONTINUOUS
“in that ye have ministered and do
minister”/ Aor & Pres Ptc
Matt. 20:26-28 “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great
among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let
him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Eph. 3:7 “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of
God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”
Col. 1:7 “As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you
a faithful minister of Christ;”
I Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one
to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
OUR MINISTRY SHOULD BE DILIGENT
6:11 “And we desire” - crave,
long for - Pres Act Ind -
that every one of you - the whole
body of believers
“shew”/ expose, display as a
trophy
“The same diligence”/
opoudhn / earnestness, zeal to accomplish a task,due
to its importance.
OUR MINISTRY SHOULD EXHIBIT CONFIDENCE
“full assurance”/ plhroforian / fullness, complete confidence and freedom of the
mind, coupled with confidence in Christ. Lit. “The full carrying.”
Heb. 10:35 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward.
I John 3:21 “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence
toward God.”
Isaiah 32:17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of
righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”
OUR MINISTRY IS IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL
6:12 “that (ina)
ye be not slothful (noqroi)
Not sluggish or dull of hearing as they had been before. Listen to the Word.
5:11
OUR MINISTRY FOLLOWS THE FAITHFUL CHARACTER OF THOSE WHO
PRECEDED US
“But followers of them who through faith
and patience inherit the promises.” - 6:17 (oath and immutability) 10:36
(responsibility). The use of followers in the text denotes a decisive act with
permanent results - they will inherit also. I Cor. 4:16; 11:1. We follow
the previous heirs of salvation. They sacrificed, obeyed with patience, but did
not inherit the promises on this earth. However, they have inherited the
promises now by the promise of God Almighty.
What are the promises? Promises used 14X in the New Testament
1. The promise of His rest - 4:1
2. The promise of the future blessing - 6:13; 11:9
3. The promise of eternal inheritance - 9:5; 11:8
4. The promise of God’s acting upon our faith - 11:6,17