“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your word. When we apply Your word to our lives, we can see immediate results. Our life becomes full, rich, and complete as we live by Your word. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:23-26 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (24) And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen (25) to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” (26) And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The two disciples, whom the others proposed were, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed, Justus, and Matthias. We see that Matthias was chosen to be numbered with the other eleven to be one of the apostles. We do not know much about these two disciples, just as we also do not know much about what happened with most of the other apostles, after the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yet, when we look back over history, we see the impact that these apostles have brought about for the people, over generations, to come to faith in Jesus. We can be sure that they all had lived effective and powerful lives in the enablement of the Holy Spirit. All the apostles were faithful to the task that was entrusted to them.
This is the principle that we need to bring into application in each of our ministries. The ministry that we do is not done to register before people, what we have accomplished, but our ministry is always done to be approved by the Lord. I Thessalonians 2:4 “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts”. Our ministry is before the Lord and the Lord tests our hearts. As we do the ministry, the Lord knows, if, in our hearts, we are desiring anything for ourselves. Are we living and serving out of our flesh or is it of the Holy Spirit?
As we minister by being faithful to God, in the enablement of the Holy Spirit, the Lord will bring growth in the ministry. Our attention should be on ensuring that we are right before God in our ministry. The Lord will give us His love for people and we will be found faithful before Him. Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Our ministry must be done faithfully and heartily to the Lord and not for men. This was how the ministry was done by Matthias and the other apostles and disciples. The proof of history affirms that these were faithful ministers of the word. When we are faithful in the ministry that the Lord has given to us, He will reward us in His wonderful ways and in His time.
I Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2) Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. God has entrusted His mysteries to us. We are therefore to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God. We must be cautious with the word, for we are handling God’s mysteries and this is not for private interpretation. The Holy Spirit must lead us in our handling of the mysteries of God and we must seek godly counsel from those who have shown maturity in the interpretation and application of God’s word, over time.
Luke 12:42-44 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? (43) Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (44) Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has”. As faithful stewards before God, of His mysteries, our task is to build up and strengthen the body of Christ. We build up the church so that we together will strive to bring people to faith in Jesus. When we fulfil the task as faithful stewards before God of His mysteries, the Lord will reward us and make us be His rulers in this age and in the age which is to come. Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ The apostles were all faithful to the task that was entrusted to them. We are here today because they were faithful.
In the same way, “we too must be faithful ministers before God, of His mysteries, so that we will build the church to strive together for the people to come to faith in Jesus”