It is under times of real persecution of gospel preachers that that Paul's instruction to remember that God is concerned with care for His preachers and as such makes clear God's command not to muzzle the ox as it treads out the grain was for man more than beasts.
God honoring men who proclaim faithfully the gospel from pulpits and streets should be able to rely on the provision of the saints for them and especially their families for furtherance of the gospel.
Bivocational ministry in times of persecution is all the harder and will be almost impossible once bold preachers in pulpits, and on the streets especially, are more regularly charged and arrested for fulfilling their ministry in season and out.
God honoring men who proclaim faithfully the gospel from pulpits and streets should be able to rely on the provision of the saints for them and especially their families for furtherance of the gospel.
Bivocational ministry in times of persecution is all the harder and will be almost impossible once bold preachers in pulpits, and on the streets especially, are more regularly charged and arrested for fulfilling their ministry in season and out.
Yes, it is good to have a trade and like Paul to be able to make tents when free. But when he was imprisoned he needed help from the Body. Jail and prison for faithful preachers will be all the more likely sooner than later.
Further those apostles and preachers who were married and even had children, they all the more needed the Body caring for their family. The same is true today for faithful preachers.
The local church sending out ministers of the gospel far and wide from the local pulpit to local areas to overseas missions are vital. Faithful preachers that do so in pulpits and streets but especially those who do BOTH should be able to rely on the care of the local body, the church.
Bivocational with a trade is hard enough. But a bivocational preacher working for a company who is likely to fire them when the public opinion changes or almost surely when they end up in jail for their ministry is in real danger. They rightly may fear for their family being destitute while they unashamedly preach the gospel come what may. This should not be friends.
And in our culture we already see preachers in the United States being harassed and even charged criminally for gospel proclamation and Christian ministry on the streets! Jail has been and will continue to be a growing reality as faithful preachers are on the frontlines in the battle for God's glory, saved souls, and babies lives!
Further those apostles and preachers who were married and even had children, they all the more needed the Body caring for their family. The same is true today for faithful preachers.
The local church sending out ministers of the gospel far and wide from the local pulpit to local areas to overseas missions are vital. Faithful preachers that do so in pulpits and streets but especially those who do BOTH should be able to rely on the care of the local body, the church.
Bivocational with a trade is hard enough. But a bivocational preacher working for a company who is likely to fire them when the public opinion changes or almost surely when they end up in jail for their ministry is in real danger. They rightly may fear for their family being destitute while they unashamedly preach the gospel come what may. This should not be friends.
And in our culture we already see preachers in the United States being harassed and even charged criminally for gospel proclamation and Christian ministry on the streets! Jail has been and will continue to be a growing reality as faithful preachers are on the frontlines in the battle for God's glory, saved souls, and babies lives!
Does your local body have faithful gospel preachers in the pulpit and on the streets? Are you blessed with a rare gem of a pastor like Pastor Chuck O'Neal of Beaverton Grace Bible Church or mine Pastor Bryan Carver of Wellspring Bible Fellowship, who lead their flock out into the fray of this dark world for the lost sheep and white harvest? If so cherish those men and care for them and their families.
Do you know full time evangelists and missionaries from and still attached to your body preaching faithfully sound doctrine? Help keep them on mission!
Are there folks in your body who could be those local sent full time evangelists or possibly church planters or missionaries for far away lands in your midst? Those who are known by your church and the elders and have a sound testimony of good doctrine and a call to full time ministry? Then as your church is able, get them into fields near and far!
Are there folks in your body who could be those local sent full time evangelists or possibly church planters or missionaries for far away lands in your midst? Those who are known by your church and the elders and have a sound testimony of good doctrine and a call to full time ministry? Then as your church is able, get them into fields near and far!
Time may be short for the even more limited freedom we have today! Darker times are here and I believe it's to be far darker before the dawn.
May God be glorified in His people as they care for those on the frontlines and prepare those who need to get there. Soli Deo Gloria!
"Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." - Mark 16:15
"For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?" - 1 Cor. 9:9-11
"For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
- Rom 10:13-17
"Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Matt. 9:37-38
May God be glorified in His people as they care for those on the frontlines and prepare those who need to get there. Soli Deo Gloria!
"Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." - Mark 16:15
"For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?" - 1 Cor. 9:9-11
"For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
- Rom 10:13-17
"Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Matt. 9:37-38
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