Boasting and Ministry

I want to take more time to visit this issue of boasting. I am taking a little time to ponder each of these surrounding verses here in Romans 15 to find descriptions and associations that help me understand better what a true minister looks like and what legitimate boasting will sound like.

• Counterfeit boasting goes along with confused ideas of what it means to be a minister. Only true ministry can result in true boasting.

• A real minister is one who's focus is entirely on drawing attention to God and how good He is.

• Hope and joy and peace will be fruits produced as he reveals the truth about God.

• He will not encourage dependence on himself by those he is teaching but will affirm the talents of those he is encouraging to begin sharing truth about God as he is doing.

• He will have true boldness which overcomes fear and inhibitions because of the inner passion of God burning within his own heart to expose and tear down the lies about God that keep people from trusting Him.

• Counterfeit boldness uses shame to expose people.

  True boldness is all about undoing the lies and reconciling people's hearts to the heart of God.

• An authentic minister will convey truths about God to others with grace.

• A real minister will realize the importance of his own life being filled with God's grace.

• A true minister will act as a priest, interceding on God's behalf to people and taking onto his heart their sins and problems to pass on to God without condemnation. He takes their ignorance and lack of concern for their own souls before God and uses his own authority “in Christ” through intercessory prayer to unleash God's power to interfere with Satan's work of deception in their lives. He gives permission for God to do things in their circumstances and hearts that would not otherwise be possible.

• A true minister understands that he is not building up anything for himself but is working to attract others to fully devote their hearts and minds to God, the true Lover who only can satisfy their deepest cravings. This is the real meaning of sanctification.

• A minister of Christ Jesus will be a loyal friend of the Bridegroom.

• A real minister will abide in Christ, will live his life “in Christ” and will have Jesus living in him.

• Living from a position of being “in Christ” a minister will discover opportunities for legitimate boasting which is always and only focused on bragging about the accomplishments of God. He will do this for the purpose of attracting others to engage in the same relationship with God, to become loyal and active friends of the Bridegroom.

• But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:24)

• A true, humble minister who represents Jesus will never indulge in drawing attention to his own accomplishments because he knows that everything he does is only by the motivation and empowerment of Christ.

• The results of a true minister will be seen in the spontaneous obedience in the lives of those affected by the power of Jesus working through that minister. It will not be a self-generated obedience or a fear-based obedience trying to appease the demands of rules or a threatening deity.

• This obedience will be far deeper than just saying the right words or subscribing to a list of approved doctrines. It will be an obedience that emanates from the whole life in the things people say and feel to how they act and how they treat others. It will not be a forced obedience but will spring from a heart melting under the influence of fresh revelations of God's goodness, kindness, compassion, justice, unconditional love and forgiveness. It will be an obedience that is simply reflective of the true nature of God Himself.

• When a person really abides in Christ and God is accomplishing His work through that person, power will be seen as a result and signs and wonders will become evident. The Holy Spirit will be more free to work and convict and draw all to the revelation of the truth about God as revealed in Jesus.

• True boasting never revolves around focusing attention on the signs and wonders but on the character of the God who uses signs and wonders to draw the affections of people toward Him.

• A true minister will have a servant-spirit like Jesus.

• The people who are drawn to God through the work of God through a true minister will become unified more and more as they draw closer to the heart of God themselves.

• A real priest-like minister will present the gospel of God. That means he will expose the good news about God. The results will always be that people must decide for themselves whether to believe and embrace that life-transforming reality or to reject it and further harden their hearts.

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