Ephesians 3:7
Of this [gospel] I was made a minister by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.
This gospel makes ministers, servants according to the gift of the grace of God. It make ministers, servants, willing workers in the kingdom of God.
This gospel inspires us to want to work for God in whatever capacity He places us in. We are all called to work in His fields: sowing seeds of faith, watering the wilting, strengthening (fertilizing) the growing, and prepping the people around us for the time of God's harvesting.
This gospel promotes servanthood, instilling within the believer a measure of faith that the believer exercises the more we trust in God. In His timing, in His promises to us, in His faithfulness to us, in His Word to us, in the power of His Spirit to mold us into His image: we trust in God.
Servanthood is submission to God's will. We choose to be obedient to the will of God in our lives. And in our willingness to serve Him, He makes us His servants. It is the power of The Holy Spirit that inspires us to study God's Word and know it for ourselves that we may speak the gospel Truth with love and compassion.
It is the power of The Holy Spirit that enables the servant of God to grow in The Word and The Word to grow in the servant's heart. A servant's heart is malleable. God can squish it and shape it and form it to His pleasure. And we let Him. In fact, we want Him to do that to us. It might hurt at times, for trials and tests will do that. But those times are meant to prove our faith in Him that He may see His reflection when He shines His Light on us.
It is the power of God that fills His ministers, His servants, with wisdom and understanding, with knowledge and learning. We crave a closer relationship in our God and we will go through fire and deep water if we have to to prove our faith in Him is valid.
This gospel commissions servants in God's kingdom. To commission us is to give us a task, a job to do. And there are many tasks, many offices, where a servant may find him or herself.
There is the Five-Fold Ministry which describes five task fields where a servant may be sent: [Ephesians 4:11-13]: (11) apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. These tasks are to "equip the saints" (verse 12) until we are "unified in our faith and matured in Christ" (verse 13).
And there are additional fields where God may assign His servants. In addition to apostles, prophets, and teachers, in Christ some of us are miracle-workers; some of us are given gifts of healings, helping, administration, and a diversity of tongues. [1 Corinthians 12:28].
{I've always thought it was amazing how some people are so fluent in more than one language. I think it would be pretty cool to converse in more than one language, not just know a few words here and there, but be able to have a meaningful conversation.}
I write. I write my thoughts, my devotions, my studies. I write songs that express my faith in God and Christ; songs that I sometimes sing in church; songs that I write for other people while I am thinking of them. I write to encourage and uplift. I write to promote the gospel "until the whole world hears".
That's my gift. And I'm using it as a servant, a minister of God for God's glory, not my own. I seek to glorify God for He is my Praise. [Jeremiah 17:14].
2 Corinthians 9:12
For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
