During February and March I was reading The Holy Spirit: A Pentecostal Perspective by Dr. Anthony Palma for a class at the Arkansas District School of Ministry (AR-SOM). Right now I'm reading Dr. Stanley Horton's commentary on Acts for this month's class. A word that keeps appearing in both books and grabed my attention is homothumadon, the Greek word meaning "with one purpose." I thought it would make a cool name for a church or other ministry; it would certainly make people stop and ask questions about what it means.
But the more I think about homothumadon, the more important I see it as being.
In the church of Jesus Christ, we're all different. We come from different cultural backgrounds. We have different life experiences that form our character. We have different talents and gifts. We like different styles of music, and have different styles of worshipping God (from quiet contemplation to jumping and shouting).
But if we want to see a move of God in our midst, we must have one purpose.
It's not about seeking our own benefit, but the good of others.
It's not "Look how big our church is." It is "Look how many people still need to encounter the love of God in Christ?"
It's not "How many people see what I do for God?" It is "How can I help build up others?"
Ministry means "serving." Specifically, serving God by serving others, not self-serving. I can't do ministry with a personal agenda. I can only have one agenda -- our Lord's -- that all should come to repentance.
It's not about what I can get out of it. It's about what I can give to others from what God has given me. God doesn't give us spiritual gifts for our personal benefit, but for the building up of the church, the body of Christ.
Homothumadon. With one purpose: to lift up Jesus Christ so He may draw all men to Himself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durante Febrero y Marzo estaba leyendo The Holy Spirit: A Pentecostal Perspective por Dr. Anthony Palma para una clase en la Escula del Ministerio del Districto de Arkansas de las Asambleas de Dios (AR-SOM). Ahora estoy leyendo el comentario del Dr. Stanley Horton para la clase de este mes. Una palabra que recurre en ambos libros y me llamó la atención es homothumadon, la palabra griega que significa "con un propósito." Pensaba que sería un nombre padre para una iglesia u otro ministerio; por lo menos haría que la gente parara y preguntara ¿qué significa?
Pero cuanto más pienso en homothumadon, más importancia veo en ella.
En la iglesia de Cristo Jesûs, todos somos diferentes. Venimos de distintos transfondos culturales. Hemos vivido diferentes experiencias que formaron nuestro carácter. Tenemos diferentes dones y talentos. Nos gustan distintas clases de mûsica, y tenemos diferentes estilos de adorar a Dios (desde contemplación silenciosa hasta saltar y gritar).
Pero si queremos ver un mover de Dios en medio nuestro, debemos tener un propósito.
No se trata de buscar nuestro propio beneficio, sino el bien de los demás.
No se trata de "Miren que grande es nuestra iglesia." Sí se trata de "¿Cuántas personas todavía necesitan encontrarse con el emor de Dios en Jesucristo?"
No se trata de "¿Cuántas personas ven lo que hago yo para Dios? Sí se trata de "¿Cómo puedo edificar a otros?
Ministerio significa "servir." Especificamente, sirviendo a Dios a través de servir a otros, no por servirnos a nosotros mismos. No puedo ministrar con una agenda personal. Sólo puedo tener una agenda -- la de nuestro Señor -- que todos lleguen al arrepentimiento.
No se trata de lo que yo puedo recibir. Se trata de lo que yo pueda dar a otros de lo que Dios ya me ha dado. Dios no nos da dones espirituales para nuestro propio beneficio, sino para la edificación de la iglesia, el cuerpo de Cristo.
Homothumadon. Con un propósito: levantar a Cristo Jesûs para que Él puede atraer a todos a sí mismo.
Love your blog. My hubby and I are both AG and he is also from AR. We both attended AG bible colleges and both attended AGTS in Springfield. I also speak Spanish as I worked as a short-term missionary in Paraguay a long time ago. Thanks for the read and will continue to follow!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement. What's your husband's name? I may know him from youth camp or something.
Great blog it is very interesting blog. Just continue posting articles that could help other people change thier life.
ReplyDelete