How to Minister to the Minister(s)

1. Know Them.

    "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;" (1Thessalonians 5:12)

• Are you familiar with your pastors?
  
• Do you know their real needs?
  
• Are you indifferent towards their needs?
  
• Are you a friend to them?
  

2. Esteem Them.

    "And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." (1Thessalonians 5:13)

• Do you view them with respect?
  
• Do you appreciate them or take them for granted?
  
• Do you genuinely love them, or are you a fake?
  

3. Remember Them.

    "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Hebrews 13:7)

• Do you keep them in mind?
  
• Do you remember their "special days?"
  
• Do you jot them a thank you card, or send them a birthday card?
  

4. Follow their faith.

    "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Hebrews 13:7)

• Are you as serious about the ministry as your pastor is serious about his ministry?
  
• Are you as faithful to prayer and Bible study as your pastor is to his?
  
• Do you strive to follow their example?
  

5. Consider the end of their conversation.

    "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Hebrews 13:7)

• Do you observe how they live, their mannerisms, behavior, and how they set priorities?
  
• Do you strive to pattern your life after their life of faith and service?
  

6. Obey Them.

    "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17)

• Do you follow their counsel?
  
• Are you obedient to their teaching, preaching, and leading?
  
• This is perhaps the best way to minister to them. After all, what good is teaching when there is no learning?
  

7. Pray for Them.

    "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly." (Hebrews 13:18)

• Do you pray for them?
  
• Do you ask God for His power or wisdom and strength for them?
  

8. Greet Them.

    "Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you." (Hebrews 13:24)

• Talk to them. Always be on speaking terms with your spiritual leaders.
  
• Say "hi" and/or "hello." Don't ever ignore them and what they preach about.
  

A blessed thought from Matthew Henry

No doubt one of the greatest of the commentators of the Scriptures is Matthew Henry (1662-1714).  He began working on his commentary on Nov. of 1704, and ten years later, by the time of his death, he was able to go as far as the book of Acts. The rest (Romans-Revelation) were completed by other ministers and edited by George Burder and John Hughes in 1811.

The main thrust of his commentary seems to be more devotional rather than critical, not that he doesn’t employ some form of criticism or another – but his commentary is unencumbered by such observation and methodology.  He delivers great thoughts that most certainly comes from a heart and mind that is fixed on the Lord and His Word.

As I was reading Henry this morning on Gen. 3:17-19, here is what he said:

“How admirably the satisfaction our Lord Jesus made by his death and sufferings answered to the sentence here passed upon our first parents.  (1.)  Did travailing pains come in with sin?  We read of the travail of Christ’s soul (Isa. 53:11); and the pains of death he was held by are called odinai (Acts 2:24), the pains of a woman in travail.  (2.)  Did subjection come with sin?  Christ was made under the law, Gal. 4:4.  (3.)  Did the curse come in with sin?  Christ was made a curse for us, died a cursed death, Gal. 3:13.  (4.)  Did thorns come in with sin?  He was crowned with thorns for us.  (5.)  Did sweat come in with sin?  He for us did sweat as it were great drops of blood.  (6.)  Did sorrow come in with sin?  He was a man of sorrows, his soul was, in his agony, exceedingly sorrowful.  (7.)  Did death come in with sin?  He became obedient unto death.  This is the plaster as wide as the wound.  Blessed be God for Jesus Christ!”

Now, after reading something like that, I say, wow that was a good read from Matthew Henry.  And somehow in my heart, a prayer flies to Heaven, and with words of gratitude placed upon the Heavenly throne of God, “Amen! Father, Blessed be God for our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Names of God (The Lord of hosts)

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” (Psalm 24:10)

A closer look:

Host – army or company.

The word “Sabaoth” is transliterated from the Hebrew word “tsebaoth,” which means armies, and is also translated “hosts.”  We find this title “Lord of hosts” abundantly in the Old Testament, and twice in the New Testament (as “Lord of Sabaoth”) in Romans 9:29 and James 5:4.  The word “hosts” may refer to three separate items:  nature (Genesis 2:1; 2 Kings 21:3; Joel  2:15), or angels (1 Kings 22:19; Psalm 34:7; 103:21; Luke 2:13), and armies (2 Samuel 8:16; Revelations 9:14).  The name “Lord of Sabaoth” should not be confused with the name “Lord of the Sabbath.”  The name Lord of hosts teaches us that God is a fighter who will go to war on our behalf.  He will fight for us (Isaiah 31:4).  His name Lord of Sabaoth suggests two things:

1.  He is in control over all things (all the hosts of Heaven and Earth).

2.  He alone is worthy of worship, and not the hosts of which He created.  Nehemiah 9:6 says:  “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.”