Greater Faith: Greater Minister

When we consider why our faith may be waning it could be that we have placed it in a savior who in our heart and mind does not match His supremacy that is described in the book of Hebrews. Jesus says that your faith needs to only be the size of a mustard seed to be great. To have a greater faith you don’t focus on describing your faith but in describing the object of our faith, Jesus.  A greater faith is found in believing in the One who is greater.

Jesus is the Greater Word because his word is what our faith is built on and it is what gets the final say in our lives.

Jesus is the author and perfect of our faith not only through his word but in his service to us. Jesus serves us sacrificially from a place of authority, humility, and strength.

Jesus was not selected from among the people. His origin is eternal and he was placed among the people. Having authority from God he is above all, yet he made himself lower than all and served humanity selflessly.

Jesus is like other priests and ministers in that he was called by God. He acts on behalf of mankind. He is sympathetic to our temptation, sin, and hardships. He deals with our ignorance and waywardness gently. He is aware of his own dependence on God and gives his life to prayer and the pursuit of God’s will.

As a minister called by God, I am to follow the way of Christ.

Minister’s administer God’s work here on earth but sometimes they fail. They can fail to minister out of weakness and humility but instead out of power and manipulation bringing abuses upon the people they are to provide care.

Where some minister’s fail and ultimately all ministers of God fall short, Jesus succeeds.

My obedience is not perfect but Jesus’ is. My church doesn’t need a perfect minister they need The Perfect Minister. What they need from me is that I am reliant on him in my weaknesses.

My “weaknesses” are not an excuse to overlook any of my shortcomings or any minister’s shortcomings. It is the reality of my flesh and how we all are on our journey in becoming more like Christ.  I use the word journey because Jesus too had his own. During his journey of life he suffered greatly and the Hebrew writer says that he learned obedience through what he suffered.

With his faith being tested in obedience while suffering, Jesus was perfected and became the salvation for all who choose to obey him. Jesus was always morally perfect but through his perfect obedience he became more than qualified to represent all of mankind as mediator in the presence of the Father.

Like the Levitical High Priest who would make atonement for his fellow Israelites once a year. Jesus’ sacrifice was for others. But unlike a Levitical high priest he did not offer a sacrifice for his own sin and the sins of others repeatedly, he offered himself as the perfect lamb, the “once for all” sacrifice.

Jesus’ authority comes from God. The Hebrew writer describes Jesus as the Great High Priest. He is the high priest forever under the order of Melchizedek. The priest Melchizedek was given a tithe from Abraham in the book of Genesis. His priesthood preexisted that of Aaron and his sons and therefore has supremacy and longevity. He is priest forever. Like Melchizedek, Jesus’ priesthood has supremacy and his priesthood never ends.

Minister’s and priests come and go but Jesus remains.

But sometimes I think the church really needs me. I am tempted to have an inflated self-importance. When I think that way what God shows me is what I really need, Jesus. I am to humble myself and rely on the Spirit of Christ.

What the church and community needs is Jesus. What the world needs is people who choose to never give up their pursuit of growing more in their love and knowledge of Jesus.

Some in the book of Hebrews were in danger of leaving the faith. They were choosing not to seek a greater understanding of Jesus. Some were standing still and the wisdom and righteousness of Jesus were passing them by.

Some were refusing to yield to the study of God’s word. They were turning their noses up at God’s gifts of the Spirit and ultimately it led some to fully reject God’s Son.

It can happen to the best of people. Casting Crowns calls it the “Slow Fade.”

People never crumble in a day. It’s a slow fade. 

Casting Crowns

These people had gotten lazy with their relationship with God and it showed.

I was once in a conversation with someone about a current issue and they said, “The average person doesn’t have time to educate themselves on that…” And I said, “but you’re not the average person.”

You don’t have to settle for being average. You can choose to follow Jesus with intentionality and passion. 

The Hebrew writer is calling Jesus followers back into the path that leads to maturity.

God is calling you to spiritual maturity. That’s His desire for your life.

God’s word is dependable. Read it. Meditate on it. God’s Son is dependable. Trust him. God himself is dependable. Pray to him. Listen to him. The Holy Spirit is dependable. Be empowered by Him.

God is dependable and when you choose to stick with him, he will see you through this life with an ever increasing glory.

There is nothing that God cannot do in you and through you. The life that you want cannot be attained through you own works but only with Him. 

You need a greater minister who has completed the work of salvation and is seated in the heavenly realm beside the Father. That person is Jesus. Trust in him.

Let him guide you. Let him lead you to a Greater Faith.

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Jovan preaches for the Littleton Church of Christ near Denver, Colorado. Visit here to listen to sermons preached at the Littleton Church.