So Minister the Same One to Another As Good Stewards of the Manifold Grace of God - Part 956

"As every man hath received the gift, so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever, amen." (I Peter 4:10-11)

Note that the scripture above states: "As EVERY man receives the gift ..." I could be wrong on this but I am assuming that the "gift" refers to the gift of salvation. For example: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves -- the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

"But not as the offence, so also the free gift. For if through the offence of one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, by one man, Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many ... and not as by one that sinned the gift; for the judgment by one to condemnation, but the free gift of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:15-18)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17) "Thanks unto God for His unspeakable gift." (II Corinthians 9:15)

Thus, if we can associate the "gift" we receive with grace, salvation, and righteousness, perfect and good and from above, (as suggested in the cited scriptures), then let's look at the remainder of I Peter 4:10-11 and determine its overall meaning and intent.

Again, I Peter 4:10-11 states: "As every man hath received the gift, so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ ..."

Therefore, (and yes, I am "paraphrasing" to get my point across), EVERY man that has RECEIVED the perfect and good gift of grace, salvation, and righteousness from above, is similarly instructed to "minister the same one to another"  according to the abilities that God has given them. And, this same ministering is required of those that speak as the oracles of God ---"as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ ..." (I Peter 4:11)

Could this explain why Jesus never spoke of the need for a pastor at any time during His ministry here on earth? Indeed, the term "pastor" is only mentioned "once" in the New Testament, and not as pastor (singular) but it is used in the plural? How many know that the term "missionary" is not even mentioned at all in the New Testament? But I digress. 

My point is this. The "religious culture" of this day has entrenched in the hearts of believers that everyday people like you and I do not have the ability to minister, and that pastors (with specific qualifications as defined by man-made religion) are the only ones who can fulfill this special God given role. 

Moreover, in the religious culture, these pastors are considered "overseers" of the flock, and likened often to being shepherds by church clergy. But what do the scriptures say -- because His Word should be our counsel and guidance -- our foundational document -- on all matters spiritual. Certainly, Jesus never called His disciples/apostles pastors or shepherds. He did not send out pastors when He said the harvest was ripe. He pointed to labourers -- those who will labour to enter into His rest.

Therefore said [Jesus] unto them, "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2)

But note what else Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture ... I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep ... I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine." (John 10:7-14) 

What was Jesus referring to when He said "all them that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers?" Reading from Jeremiah 23 in the old testament: 

"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture," saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people: Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings," saith the Lord. "And I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to the folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking," saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-4)

But when the former covenant was fulfilled with Jesus' shedding of His holy Spirit blood on the cross, He ushered in a new dispensation of grace -- the last will and testament of our Lord God and Saviour -- that does not include appointing pastors as overseers of believers in the congregational sense. Why? Because Jesus the Christ told us that when the Comforter came (which would come in His name), He would guide us into all truth.

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." (John 16:13)

For example,  Paul wrote: "for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ -- that in everything ye are enriched by Him in all utterance and all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; so that ye come behind in no gift -- waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall also confirm you unto the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 1:4-8)

Did you catch that? "That in every [single] thing ye are enriched by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that ye come behind in no gift." Wow! And how does this translate into ministering to one another?

Remember, what Jesus said to the woman at the well? Jesus answered and said unto her, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, "Give me to drink" thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water." (John 4:10) And what did this Samaritan woman do? She ran through the streets telling everyone of Jesus, and notice that she was so convincing in her presentation that the people couldn't wait to come see Him -- Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

I am sure we would all agree that this woman was far from qualified if we used today's religious standards, and yet she ministered sufficiently well to peak the curiosity of those who had previously wanted nothing to do with her. And as well, some of the disciples were fishermen, who spent their days on the water, not in an institution of the learned. Therefore, each of these would have failed on the list of qualifications that ministers require in traditional church organizations today.

But Jesus was ushering in a better way for His church -- the body of Christ to come together and worship Him. That is, "As every man hath received the gift, so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (I Peter 4:10-11)

However, similar to the old covenant law -- that seeks to keep believers in bondage, today's religious culture with their long-standing traditions -- has failed to fully engage believers in ministering the good news gospel of Jesus the Christ to one another. (Luke 16:1-31) I remember reading the following passage in Ezekiel. Note that it is quite telling of our willingness to sprinkle the gospel upon our life, rather than making Jesus our sole life focus. It states:

"And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee -- My people and they hear thy words, but they will not do them, for with their mouth they show much love [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness. And lo, [thou art] unto them a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument, for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass (lo, it will come) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them." (Ezekiel 33:31-33)

Is this not what is happening in our churches today? We go and listen to someone else preach His Word, "for with their mouth they show much love [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness." This might be why Jesus tells us that "not every one that saith unto Me, "Lord, Lord" shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-22)

By now, I am sure you understand the problem. Our religiosity and long standing traditions have blinded us to the real truth of His Word. So, the question is this. If, according to His Word (under the new covenant in this current dispensation of grace), a pastor (or priest) is not considered an integral part of the ministry, how should a fellowship of believers come together so that our Lord receives all of His deserved honour, glory, and praises?

Well, Paul gave us an example. He wrote: "When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying ... for God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. " (I Corinthians 14:26-33) 

When we adhere to the instructions and guidance in His Word, and listen intently for His instructions, even as the body does, we realize that when "every man hath received the gift" they will minister the same one to another, "as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (I Peter 4:10-11)

So where does this leave the one single inclusion of the word "pastors" in the new testament? At this point, for another blog -- only because the message therein deserves its own space. The message in this blog is simple. If we as believers in Jesus Christ are not attuned to His Word, (and the scriptural content therein), we will soon be the ones "wandering from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east" seeking the Word of the Lord, but sadly, unable to find it. (Amos 8:12)

Our personal relationship cannot be about listening to someone else preaching His Word on the weekend, and then going about our business for the rest of the week. Our Lord God and Saviour called those who have received the gift to minister the same to one another. To sharpen one another in doctrine, and in psalms so that every believer can be edified. Sadly, the body of Christ can't do this within a one-man ministry culture, which is the point here. If Jesus did not call His apostles pastors, then why are we?

Take hold of His promises today. Be encouraged in your faith journey by reading His Word daily. Stand in the offering plate.