Tags
discerning the spirits, experience, fellowship, following Jesus, Growing in Christ, spiritual growth, T.A. Sparks, true ministry
This blog post should give some food for thought, I hope. Q: How can we discern true from false ministry? A: If we look closer at it, we should ask ourselves whether the ministry concerned is focused on a person or a group ministering to (mainly passive) believers or is the minister busily trying to change the audience, i.e. the human beings, instead of pointing to the Holy Spirit who alone can change us. Both ministries would represent a horizontal gospel of sorts while vertical gospel preaching usually looks first to God and then to man! If we have a true ministry, then we bring Christ to the believer, hoping and praying that everybody who hears us will discover the most intimate relationship possible – with God, our Father, and with Jesus Christ.
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that [y]our joy may be full.” (1 Jn 1:3-4 KJV)
Only then is our fellowship with one another a true, spiritual fellowship if we are all focused on God in Jesus Christ. We cannot have real fellowship with one another without being related to and led by God through Jesus Christ.
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor 3:17-18 KJV)
Any effort to create fellowship with other believers on a horizontal level will sooner or later lead to disappointment or even to struggle and strife as nobody can get closer to God without being drawn by Him. Or even worse, we get drawn back into the world as we focus on other, more worldly things while meeting with others. Jesus promised us,
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20 KJV)
We must be cautious to not get unequally yoked with unbelievers who are disguised as believers, i.e. as Christians. We need to only look at their fruits since what is on their heart will come out of their mouths pretty soon also. If they are interested in anything else but God, we can be ‘unkind’ and leave them. God even urges us to do so! The apostle Paul reminds us,
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor 6:14-18 KJV)
Below I offer you a short excerpt from one of TAS articles on this issue (emphasis added).
“The Motive of MinistryThere is one other aspect of this matter to which we will point before we close. It is in relation to ministry and fellowship. What should be the predominant motive and aim of ministry, whether to us or through us? It most certainly should be with God’s one end in view, and everything should be sacrificed for, or brought into line with that. God’s one end is likeness to His Son. In ministry everything must be subjected to the test as to how far it is calculated to reach that end. With God Himself the value of anything and everything is determined by this. Methods, materials, manner, personal presence, and everything are to come under this test. Only the Holy Spirit can bring to Christ and conform to Christ. Hence ministry is of value according as it is in the Holy Spirit. Not only does this apply to our ministry, but it must influence us in the matter of what we accept and where we go.
Are we being built up in Christ? Does what we receive really tend to inwardly increase Him? Is it Christ being ministered to us in the Holy Spirit? If not, then no matter how interesting, brilliant, informing, or attractive, we are wasting our time, the eternal thing is not being done, and God’s end is being missed. This principle must also apply to the fellowship of believers. It is so easy to fall into the trap of talking on all sorts of commonplaces, matters of interest, and often into a spiritually dissipating jocularity and frivolity, and then when the time is gone to realise that the heart cries out in hunger for that which alone is its Bread – even Christ. Fellowship should be unto mutual upbuilding and definitely to impart Christ to one another.”
https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/001518.html
“In keeping with T. Austin-Sparks’ wishes that what was freely received should be freely given and not sold for profit, and that his messages be reproduced word for word, we ask if you choose to share these messages with others, to please respect his wishes and offer them freely – free of any changes, free of any charge (except necessary distribution costs) and with this statment included.”
All images by Susanne Schuberth 2020
Entering the Promised Land 
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately with some things we’ve been learning in the school of hard knocks. One of the markers of authentic ministry is genuine, God-originated love. Jesus according to Hebrews, though he lived a perfect life as a man, with no sin, had a deep awareness of human suffering and a compassion without bounds. Indeed He lives and intercedes for us. We need that kind of love for our fellow sojourners if we have truly known God’s love, as John’s first epistle makes abundantly clear. Cry with those who cry. Not just a pat in the back and Bible verses concerning the situation. Sit down and cry with me like Jesus cried for the Jerusalem He loved or His dear friend Lazarus when he died.
I received a couple of Psalms about the deep communion when we have this kind of love for God and for others. Psalm 122, 133 and 137. In the latter, in the words if I forget you, Jerusalem, I find a warning to us if we think of godliness as a means to personal gain and forget that God’s purpose for the church is that we’ll be a blessing for others. True ministry is considering others as more important than myself, in a sense. While taking care to rest and find time alone with God, as Jesus did! But self-care is one thing and selfishness another. I hope I’m making sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You make sense, of course, Carina! Love is the most important thing of all! ❤️
While writing I was thinking about those believers who are naturally drawn to nice people (church or cult members) who, aware of it or not, approach them with ‘love bombing’. Especially those who suffer are looking for compassion and comfort. Therefore, they are in danger to be deceived by this false kind of love through which they can be recruited eventually.
Actually, what makes it so difficult to leave a church or a cult, finally, are the relationships we have had with others there.
True divine love, instead, never wants to possess anyone or recruit them. True love always sets us free!
Thank you very much for your inspiring comment, Carina! 🕊️🤗❤️👍🏼
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much for your sweet words, my dear friend.
Yes, this superficial, human and religious kind of love is indeed the very reason we stay at places we should be leaving. Right now God is plainly showing me the difference. In the midst of a horrific storm (I wasn’t this stressed out even when I was in charge of urgent translation projects and doing 12 hours per day of work) all I’ve received are 5-step fixes. Same old religious formulas that may work when your faith has a cold but definitely not when it should be in life support. The only good tip I got was, Well, this is between you and God, so you should go to Him. Well, I know that very well, but sometimes you just need to hear a fellow believer say, Oh, yes, I have been there and I know how tough and terrifying it can be! I certainly didn’t need to hear what I already know (in theory) about God. I need someone who has been deeply entrenched in the prayer closet and deeply entrapped in the long, dark night of the soul, to minister a bit of God’s heart to me. I need someone who can translate the beautiful and the poignant words in the Bible, who can truly say they know that God loves me and not make it sound like they’ve found a nice verse that may help.
The righteous, God-fearing Job needed an unbelievably painful practical lesson to go from “I’d heard about You, God” to “Now I know you. I see you.”
Well, I don’t want to be like Job’s friends, that’s for sure. And I know I need to be well-versed in pain so I can help those who suffer. Not very nice when God allows that but certain lessons cannot be learned any other way.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are very welcome, dear Carina. ❤️
I am sorry for the delay in responding but meanwhile I get more than 1,000 spam mails in my spam folder on WordPress every day. Thankfully, I found your comment in my trash folder where not sooo many spam mails had been.
Yes, Carina, these lessons are very hard at times, especially when you see other people who do not know God and who do not suffer that much (if at all). Often times they have a much easier life than we do, right? 🙄 God alone knows why we have to go through so many valleys and trials. The only thing I know is that He is the only real comforter when things go really bad, i.e., when no one can help you anymore.
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Dt 31:8 ESV)
In His love for you,
Susanne 🤗❤️🙏
LikeLike
Susanne, this is a great post and it reminds me of many of my own mistakes. You and I know from experience what a trap that seeking fellowship with other Christians can be and how false shepherds can deceive. We have been drawn into Christian cults only to have Jesus deliver us later after much suffering. In Pilgrims Progress ch. 9 we read:
So they went on, and IGNORANCE followed. They went then till they came to a place where they saw a way put itself into their way, and seemed withal to lie as straight as the way which they should go; and here they knew not which of the two to take, for both seemed straight before them; therefore here they stood still to consider. And as they were thinking about the way, behold a man, black of flesh, but covered with a very light robe, came to them and asked them, “Why they stood there?” They answered, “They were going to the Celestial City, but knew not which of these ways to take.” “Follow me!” said the man; “it is thither that I am going.” So they followed him in the way that but now came into the road, which by degrees turned and turned them so from the city that they desired to go to, that in a little time their faces were turned away from it; yet they followed him. But by and by, before they were aware, he led them both within the compass of a net, in which they were both so entangled that they knew not what to do; and with that the white robe fell off the black man’s back: then they saw where they were. Wherefore there they lay crying some time; for they could not get themselves out.
Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN to his fellow, “Now do I see myself in an error. Did not the shepherds bid us beware of the flatterers? As is the saying of the wise man, so we have found it this day: ‘A man that flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet'”.
“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” Proverbs 29:5
Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they espied a shining one coming towards them, with a whip of small cord in his hand.
When he was come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came? and what they did there? They told him, “That they were poor pilgrims going to Zion; but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, who bid us,” said they, “follow him; for he was going thither too.” Then said he with the whip, “It is FLATTERER, a false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light”.
“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13, 14
So he rent the net, and let the men out Then said he to them, “Follow me, that I may set you in your way again.” So he led them back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying, “Where did you lie the last night?” They said, “with the shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains .” He asked them then, “If they had not of those shepherds a note of direction for the way?” They answered, “Yes.” “But did you,” said he, “when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note?” They answered, “No.” He asked them why? They said they forgot. He asked, moreover, “If the shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer?” They answered, “Yes; but we did not imagine,” said they, “that this fine spoken man had been he”.
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:18
Then I saw in my dream that he commanded them to lie down;
“And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.” Deuteronomy 25:2
which when they did, he chastised them sore to teach them the good way wherein they should walk…
And as he chastised them, he said “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent”.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
This done, he bade them go on their way, and take good heed to the other directions of the shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness; and went softly along the right way, singing:
“Come hither, you that walk along the way;
See how the pilgrims fare that go astray!
They catched are in an entangling net,
‘Cause they good counsel lightly did forget.
‘Tis true they rescued were; but yet you see
They’re scourged to boot. Let this your caution be!”
Thanks for sharing your God given wisdom with us,
Michael
LikeLiked by 3 people
This comment by you I found later in my trash folder on WordPress, Michael. I must be cautious to not delete all the comments there automatically as my blog gets currently flooded with about 100 spam mails every day. 😛
Yes, and ouchee (!), this excerpt from the The Pilgrim’s Process by John Bunyan hits the nail on the head! I hope many will read it as it is impossible for our old nature to discern the good from the bad shepherd. May God open our ears and understanding to really hear Him and to follow His voice alone. Amen.
You are very welcome as to the sharing, my brother.
Susanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meanwhile I get several hundreds of these spam mails a day. Feels like an assault of the enemy. 😖
LikeLiked by 1 person
As I read the first part of your post I wondered, “Is this from Sparks or did Susanne write this?” Obviously you have grown in the Lord a great deal and not without overcoming many trials and deceptions of the Wicked One.
You wrote above,
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that [y]our joy may be full.” (1 Jn 1:3-4 KJV)
“Only then is our fellowship with one another a true, spiritual fellowship if we are all focused on God in Jesus Christ. We cannot have real fellowship with one another without being related to and led by God through Jesus Christ.”
There is a very important caveat in the above verse. Many a church or Christian group would draw us in so that we might have “fellowship” with them and how often they misquote that verse in Hebrews to heap guilt on us saying, “Brother/sister! Let’s not forsake the gathering of ourselves together!” Yet, John is very explicit that first of all he has seen and heard Christ and His Spirit and that his fellowship is with the Father and His Son. As you so well point out, ONLY then can our joy be made full.
Another point you brought up is this thing called “liberty” in Christ.
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor 3:17-18 KJV)
The liberty we have IN the Lord does not bind us with cords of legalism such as it was in the black man’s net which took them captive (this is what religion does) until the angel freed them. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is LIBERTY!” It is only in that liberty that we can openly see with spiritual eyes (open faces) and be changed into the image of our Lord from glory to glory… not with veiled faces like Moses who covered his face from shame because his glory was fading.
May we truly walk in the liberty. freedom and fellowship of the Spirit IN Christ more and more as we follow His voice and leading. Amen.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Amen to your prayer, Michael.
Thank you very much for your encouraging words! 🙂 Actually, one day before publishing I felt NO inclination to write anything myself and thus I only pasted this excerpt by Sparks and thought I would only add the pictures and one or two introducing sentences. Therefore I chose this title! But yesterday I began to write and you see how many sentences sprung up, eventually. 😉
I fully agree with your deliberations originating from your own experiences. Indeed, talking about the liberty we share in Him, I also thought how big the burden becomes when you finally join any kind of Christian organization where they tell you what you must do for the Lord. They keep you busy not to think about a personal relationship with Him anymore although they still talk about it at times. But what is more important to them is reminding Christians to give tithes and donations regularly so that the organization can keep on keeping on … doing Satan’s work, this anti-Christian stuff that sounds so ‘holy’ at times. As God’s voice is so small and subtle sometimes, it gets almost fully drowned out by all these many words, sermons, books, information and activities. 😦
However, if ALL joy and freedom we had known before has finally left us, that can serve as a wake-up call to leave and to seek God in Christ on our own. Real fellowship often times comes later as we have both experienced together, my brother. Thank God for this wonderful gift! 🙂 And thank you so much for weighing in, I really needed that confirmation!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You must have seen the violence here in the US, Susanne. These are deeply troubled times. Yet, somehow God has kept me in peace. I pray for all whose lives may be at risk. I pray that justice may be done. And I pray for His return.
With love,
Anna ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Anna, I am relieved to hear that God keeps you in peace since it can get very troubling to let all this cruelty shown on TV into our hearts and minds. It is an evil time we live in as Satan manifests his character more and more. So we have just prayed to God as well. 🙏 But I need to admit that sometimes I am running out of words while praying…. 🙄 However, God is in control of everything, I believe, even if we often cannot recognize it immediately.
Much love to you,
Susanne ❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people