When You Make Your Life Your Ministry

In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus gave the marching orders for the church.

Matthew 28:19-20, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

That commission has never been revised or rescinded. It’s still as relevant as it ever was. So, Jesus is very clear about our purpose for being on planet earth. He’s left us here to make more and better disciples.

But my question is “HOW?” How are we to go about doing that? When I’ve posed that question to many, many Christians through the years, the responses are all over the map.

On one extreme are those who suggest that we be loud and proud. They believe a bombastic, in-your-face, aggressive approach is the best. Might makes right! Strong-arm people into the Kingdom. Let people know what you believe at every turn and witness to everything that moves! ☺ When you hear anyone state a false belief, set them straight immediately in no uncertain terms. Anything less, they assert, is to be ashamed of the gospel.

On the opposite extreme, when asked “how do we make more and better disciples,” some suggest we do it quietly and humbly, hardly saying a word. Maybe at the most we invite someone to come to church with us, but we should seldom if ever engage in robust dialogue because that might possibly lead to conflict and disagreements. So, just sort of fly under the radar, and hope that people will figure out you’re a Christian by your loving deeds.

Perhaps you know people who would represent both of these extreme categories. Well, I believe there’s a better way to make more and better disciples than those extremes. And “the better way” is what we call at Grace: “Making your life your ministry.” Let’s explain what that means.

People who make their life their ministry, are pretty rare. But these are the people that God uses to change the world. They are the kinds of disciples we’re about to see as we continue through the Book of Acts. These are the people God used to literally turn the world upside down and change it for the better. These people are tapped into the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit moment-by-moment, day-by-day, and every day they are on mission for God.

They don’t need a program or some slick church strategy to get them to do it. They don’t even need much encouragement from a pastor to do it. No way. They are internally motivated, wake up every day on mission for God. They wake up every day and pray, “Father, I know you are working today. And I want to join You in Your work. I want to partner with You to impact lives and change this world for Your glory.” That’s a person whose life is their ministry. And they represent Jesus well and faithfully wherever they go, whatever they’re doing.

Those are the kinds of disciples we’re trying to build at Grace Fellowship. We’re looking for more and better mature disciples who understand that their life is their ministry. It’s the way the Apostle Paul, and so many of the early disciples lived. They got up every day and saw their life on mission for God.

So, today I want to talk with you about what you can anticipate when you live this way. I want you to see several things you can surely expect when you make your life your ministry.

First …

I. YOU WILL FACE VARYING LEVELS OF OPPOSITION.

The first place to make your life your ministry is with your family and the people you know well. That’s why Paul and Barnabas started on the island of Cyprus, because that’s where Barnabas was from. And immediately they ran into opposition.

We read in Acts 13:6-7 …

Acts 13:6-7, “They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.”

A sorcerer is one who calls on the powers of darkness to perform supernatural manifestations. He apparently had influence with the proconsul, who was kind of like a mayor, of Paphos. And when the proconsul showed interest in Christianity Elymas saw the gospel as a threat to his power and influence. So, Acts 13:8 says …

Acts 13:8, “But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.”

And when you truly make your life your ministry, you’re going to get some strong opposition at times, also. And some of that opposition will be satanically inspired. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” So says the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12. That’s what’s happening here with Elymas the sorcerer. This is literally a clash of light and darkness, of truth and lies.

I’m not being melodramatic when I say, sometimes you will experience hostile pushback to the truth you believe and the values you hold. Some may withdraw and give you the silent treatment. Others may ridicule or insult you. Jesus said it would happen. He even said, “All people will hate you because of me. But by standing firm you will gain life.” Jesus said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you.”

And I say it gently, but if you never get pushback from unbelievers, you’re probably not making your life your ministry.

Now, what should we do when that happens? Well, in this case, Paul confronted his opponent without apology. Acts 13:9 says …

Acts 13:9-11, Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10“You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Usually the apostolic miracles were positive, healing acts. But in this very rare occasion the miracle was temporarily crippling. But it confirmed that Paul’s message was from God. So, when you face opposition for making your life your ministry, don’t cower in fear, don’t shrink back, just keep letting your light shine.

Second, while you will experience some opposition, when you make your life your ministry …
II. YOU WILL ALSO HAVE A RECEPTIVE RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE WHOSE HEARTS ARE OPEN.

Acts 13:12 reads …
Acts 13:12, “When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”

The proconsul of Paphos invited Paul and Barnabas to share their faith with him. He was an intelligent man. And intelligent people are usually curious people. They know that they don’t know everything. And Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Paphos is hungry to get some answers to life’s biggest questions.

I think our Capital District is full of people like that. Several days ago, I heard a story that illustrates this point, and I wanted all of you to hear it. So, I want to invite Kathleen Kiernan up on the platform now and we’re going to share an encouraging incident that God orchestrated recently in her life. Kathleen come on up to the platform. Congregation, would you join me in welcoming Kathleen as she joins me? {Applause}

Kathleen, you and Rich lived in the city for many years, but decided to seek a little less hectic life in the Capital District. You settled in downtown Troy, New York (quite a great place, I might add!) and you recently began working on the Staff at Joseph’s House, a place that provides overnight housing and meals for some of the homeless, hungry and hurting people of Troy who might otherwise be sleeping on the streets. It’s a wonderful and caring place.

Well, recently your supervisor, Amy, asked you and the staff to share a bit about yourselves. Tell us about the nature of the assignment she gave.

Kathleen shares.

I’m convinced that God has divine appointments out there for you. There are people that He’s preparing, and they need to hear the good news. Their common questions and fears are almost always the same: How can I find meaning in life? How can I keep my marriage together? Is there any hope beyond this life?

How can I deal with my fears and anxieties that are plaguing me? How can I guide my children and keep them from getting destroyed by the vices of this world? Only Christ provides an abiding hope that speaks directly to these basic questions and many others. The need for the good news of the gospel has never been greater than it is today.

Third, when you make your life your ministry …

III. YOU WILL HAVE SOME FELLOW CHRISTIANS LET YOU DOWN.

Some fellow Christian soldiers will disappoint you. A short phrase in Acts 13:13 carries a dramatic story.

Acts 13:13, From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

This was not an amiable separation. John Mark deserted the missionary team without Paul’s consent or approval. And later, his desertion led to conflict between Paul and Barnabas about whether to give him a second chance.

Why Mark bailed out at this point is pure speculation. Maybe he was afraid of how dangerous this journey was becoming, he was homesick or had a girlfriend back home that he missed, or he was just feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they were doing. We simply don’t know. What we do know is that he bailed out without Paul’s consent or approval, and Paul was deeply disappointed.

Have you ever been disappointed by a fellow Christian? I’m going to ask for an honest show of hands here. And notice, my hand is already up! ☺ Now, please don’t blurt out any names. But if you’ve ever been deeply discouraged, let down or disappointed by a fellow Christian, please raise your hand up high. That’s virtually everyone.

And let’s be blunt about this, there are all kinds of reasons for disappointment. It could be they promise something and just don’t follow through. It could be they show a lack of enthusiasm for Christ and just don’t seem to be growing that much. Or maybe they are just passive and indifferent about their faith, and simply go through the motions of Christianity. Or maybe they profess to love Christ, but their church attendance is sporadic, they seldom read the Bible, and their lifestyle seems to be shallow and selfish.

Whatever the reasons, when you make your life your ministry, you are going to be disappointed that not every fellow believer seems to share your passion for God’s glory. I’ve got news for you: all Christian people are fallible. Only Christ is worthy of our complete trust. I love that old hymn that I used to sing growing up. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.

But there’s one final reality we can expect when we make our life our ministry. Here it is …
IV. YOU WILL LIKELY HAVE SOME PERSONAL CHALLENGES THAT DISCOURAGE YOU.

When Paul was at Pamphylia, he became seriously ill. Galatians 4:13 reads …
Galatians 4:13, As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

Paul left Pamphylia and went into the hill country of Galatia, Pisidia and Antioch. Many Bible scholars believe that Paul contracted Malaria in the hot lower region of the Mediterranean and went to the higher altitude for relief and recuperation. But throughout his life, Paul experienced various kinds of physical ailments and challenges.

Making your life your ministry does not exempt you from personal struggles. Here was Paul, doing exactly what God wanted done and he became sick. The Bible says in Matthew 5:45 that He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Paul here was sick, possibly with Malaria and all of this while perfectly obedient to God. His illness was not a punishment from God. No. It was simply the result of living in a fallen and contaminated world where sickness is a reality.

Making your life your ministry means you will, at times, have danger, wounds and hardships.

How are you going to respond when that happens? Your attitude is going to be the key. Listen to Paul’s attitude in Romans 14:8 …

Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

What do you think Paul sounded like when he got back from his first missionary journey? Do you think he said: “Ah, it was horrible! I got seasick on that rickety old ship. We got to Cyprus and I anticipated a positive reaction, since Barnabas was from that area. But we were opposed by a demon-driven sorcerer. That guy was a thorn in our side. And then I got deathly ill in Pamphylia and just when I needed him, John Mark bailed out.

And as if it couldn’t get any worse, I was stoned and left for dead in Lystra. I’m telling you that making your life your ministry is awful. I never want to do that again!”

That probably wasn’t his attitude, at all. I think Paul sounded more like this: “I tell you, making your life your ministry is the only way to live. What an adventure! God blessed our journey, and spared our lives. Sergius Paulus, the proconsul in Paphos, gave his life to Jesus! Hallelujah! Isn’t that awesome?

We also established churches. Great signs and miracles were performed for the glory of God. And I’m so excited about going back one day!” I think Paul sounded more like that. The difference was not in the circumstances. The difference was in his attitude and perspective toward the circumstances.

The same is true for us. Yes. Jesus gave us our marching orders to make more and better disciples for His glory. And as we do that, there will be some opposition. Don’t let it daunt you. There will also be some awesome fruit, because God’s word accomplishes what He desires. Some fellow Christians will let us down, but keep your confidence centered in Christ. And we’ll have our own set of personal challenges, but don’t lose heart.

The women and men I respect the most at Grace live this way. Every day they get up and pray something like this: “Lord, where are you working today? I want to join You in Your work! And so, I welcome Your guidance. Let my life bring glory to you today.” That’s making your life your ministry. That’s the kind of people God uses to change the world.