EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST LEARN FROM JESUS’ PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY (1)

By James Quansah, Pastor

JESUS CHRIST did not just get up one day and start ministering; He was adequately prepared for it. That the eternal Son of God was prepared for ministry tells us how important it is to be adequately equipped for divine assignments.

But it is important to stress that Christ was not trained in righteousness because He is the Author of righteousness of God. He had no sin, but He was baptised to fulfill all righteousness in humility by the will of God.

The Bible helps us to learn how our Lord Jesus came into the world, how He was prepared for ministry. It is widely agreed that Jesus was trained for 18 years before starting His public ministry.

There is no doubt that Jesus received preparation from the Father, His parents and the teachers of the Law. First, I would like to state that when Christians especially pastors diligently learn from Christ, they will sit down, listen to the teachings and preaching of other ministers and ask questions to prepare and train them for effective and efficient ministry.

Sitting down to personally study, and listen to other ministers preach and teach and asking questions increase understanding, knowledge and wisdom. This is what Jesus Christ began to do at age 12 before He began His public ministry (Luke 2: 46, 52).

Now, why should Jesus Christ be trained in the Word of God when He is the Word of God as recorded in John 1:1 and Revelation 19: 13? The answer to this question is rooted in Scripture.

Christ came to the earth, took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men to dwell among men. He was found in every fashion as a man (Philippians 2: 6- 8). The ESV says Christ Jesus by becoming a man emptied Himself.

Yes, He emptied Himself of His Godly nature or divine privileges and attributes in order to be born a man to dwell among men. This explains why He had to increase in wisdom and stature and had favour with the Father and men (Luke 2:52). And the Father had to anoint Him with the Spirit before He could start His ministry.

Moreover, Jesus Christ had to study to receive the Word of God as an example of preparation for ministry to us. Now, not only will we sit down for men to teach us, but also allow the Spirit of God to teach us.

The narration above shows that to be a useful vessel in the hands of God, one needs to be humbled before he or she can minister to God and for God. Ministering for God is tantamount to ministering to human beings.

Humility is an important quality in the life of a servant of God. Very often God takes his appointed servant through hard times to humble him. To be humble is to see yourself as equal to other people you associate with. And this quality is developed in a man when he casts down his crowns, titles of nobility and positions of honour.

Again, to be a vessel in the hands of God, one needs to be taught by both man and the Spirit of God. From the Bible, we see that men teach the Word of God and the Spirit of God teaches also (John 14: 26).

Jesus Himself was taught by men mostly the teachers of the Law, obviously His parents and God the Father who is a Spirit. The Bible is silent on Christ Jesus receiving a formal rabbinical training as Gamaliel and Nicodemus might have had. Clearly, He learnt the hard way through informal education.

But the Bible says His Father taught Him. “…I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me” (John 8: 28). Yes, Jesus Christ came to see and study the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms written as the Word of God, yet the Father continuously taught Him.

Indeed, today’s ministers cannot be different. Of course, we have the 66 books of the Bible and men to study from, but we must also yearn and avail ourselves to be taught by the Holy Spirit. We must open up our hearts to receive and enjoy the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the greatest Teacher. He teaches and reveals the deep things of God to the servants of Christ, who learn to superimpose the will of God upon their personal will. To be continued…

James Quansah is the Executive Director of Christ-Conscious Leadership Centre (CLC) and lead Pastor of End-Time Christ’s Commissioners (ECC), Kumasi, Ghana. James is also a journalist by profession. He is married with four children.