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Ministers of the gospel are not only preachers of the word of truth for the salvation of souls, but also servants who communicate the deep things of God for the conviction of sin, for edification and comfort.
They are Christian leaders set into the Church as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). They are not superstars but servants. They do not regard themselves as superior believers who cannot be questioned, but as humble stewards of the mysteries of God subject to accountability (1 Corinthians 4:1).
Unfortunately, not everyone who preaches the gospel is true; many are false. Words in their hearts revealed by their mouths set them apart. Those who are genuine make a confession which separates them from those who are counterfeit.
The apostle Paul belongs to those who are genuine ministers of the gospel. On their behalf, Paul made a formal confession in his second letter to the church in Corinth. He wrote, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
This is not a statement to be trivialized. It is a confession that calls for deeper reflection, understanding and consideration.
Genuine ministers know who they are. They are men and women of discernment which helps them to identify those who are genuine and those who are fake.
Though they are all called preachers, they are not the same. First, those who are genuine are few, but the fake ones are many. In Ghana and several other countries in Africa, many preachers do not serve the purpose of Christ by preaching the gospel in truth for the salvation of souls. They simply peddle it, which means they minister for the main purpose of making money for themselves.
Money is very important for most things in the world, but true ministers of the gospel do not preach to amass wealth through deception or exploitation. They are content with the support they receive from those who freely and willingly give from their heart.
Besides, they boldly confess that they are sincere ministers who have no records of dishonest gains, considering the fact that they are sent by God to serve Him and humanity. And they are conscious that God watches and examines their motives and the content of their messages.
Finally, they confess that they speak in Christ. They stand on the power and authority of Christ Jesus to preach the gospel which is about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. The love of Christ Jesus in them compels them to preach and teach about nothing except the world’s Saviour.
As you read this article, remember that you have the responsibility of knowing these two groups of ministers to help you follow genuine apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in this generation for your eternal salvation, spiritual growth and preparation for ministry.
By James Quansah
