Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 23.

Editorial

By Editor

Ministers of God.—Minister means servant, one who serves. Minister of God means one who serves God, and ministers the things of God to others.

The Chief Minister.—The Chief Minister of God to men is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who, tho "being originally in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, becoming in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross." Phil. 2:6-8, R. V., margin. He came from the highest position to the very lowest. He emptied himself that God might fill him, and in all the way, down to the death of the cross, he ministered for God. He came to earth "not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." He emptied himself, but in his ministration of God's fulness, down to the lowest depths, he filled all things with the fragrance and power of his blessedness.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Heb. 1:14. "Ministers of His that do His pleasure." Ps. 103:21.

Angelic Ministers.—

The angels of God are ministers or servants of God. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" "Ministers of His, that do His pleasure." "Thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him." They "do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word." "Whither the Spirit was [is] to go, they went [go]." "And the living creatures ran [go] and returned [return] as the flash of lightning." These are a few of the expressions of the Word of God which reveal the loving ministry of God to men through these shining creatures who listen attent to hear and glad to obey every wish of the Father. They are God's blessed ministers to man, ever ascending and descending, ever protecting and guarding, ever instructing and leading, the humble child of God. All through the blessed Word from Genesis to Revelation are the records of angelic ministration, of which Modern Spiritualism is Satan's counterfeit. For angels are not

disembodied spirits of the dead, but are a distinct order of beings, antedating man, ministering between God and the children of earth.

All their service we can not here tell. It would be to record much of what God has given us in his Word. His providential working, the records of his goodness and love, the protection of his children, the destruction of his enemies, the records of men's lives in heaven, are the work of God through angels. Moved by the love of Christ, they have emptied themselves that God may fill them, in order that they might minister to others.

Human Ministers.—But God does not give this blessed privilege of serving in his holy work to angels alone. He has called all of the children of men to his service. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; [what for?] that ye should show forth the praises [virtues, excellences] of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." "Ye are the salt of the earth;" "ye are the light of the world," "workers together with him," "ministers of God," are among the expressions used by the Lord in his Word to show our blessed privilege.

God's Power and Nature.—God does not work thus through angels and men because he needs their physical help or number. He could speak so all could hear. He could reveal himself so all would see and tremble. But in his very nature God could not work alone. God is love; and love seeks the greatest good and greatest happiness of the greatest number. Love does not wish to share its blessing alone. The unshared blessing becomes a curse. The shut-up water becomes stagnant. The unwound watch corrodes. The unused arm withers. The heart shut up to itself dies. This is the lesson in all uncorrupted nature. So God the Father rejoices with God the Son; but not with this could Deity be content. Innumerable intelligences were created to share with the Godhead the joy. The blessed Spirit of life from God flows out into all those who choose his service. The "anointed ones" who stand in the presence of God receive of this golden oil, this Spirit, this life, this power, this fulness of God, and go forth and empty it out of themselves to others, who in turn empty out of themselves into the lamps of the children of men; and these by sacrifice give light to others in darkness.

Rejoicing Together.—God loves all; he would have all rejoice with him. He calls all to his loving service, even the lowest sinner. All those who will accept his call he fits for service, and among them shares the privilege of labor and the blessing of fruitage. There will not be one soul saved in the kingdom of God who will not share in that rejoicing. There will be no soul saved by the labor of only one other. No one will say—angel or man—I saved this soul; he is mine. Only God could say this, but he shares it with all. He poured out his fulness in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ pours out his in his angels, perfect in consecration to receive and use it. But the angels may not minister alone. They pour out of that fulness to the church of Jesus Christ; and the church of Jesus Christ are to build one another up and minister to a sin-sick, dying, darkened world. The angel could tell Cornelius that his alms were accepted, but Peter must teach him the Gospel. Jesus Christ and the angels could appear to Saul, and check his career, but Ananias and others must share with them in completing the work. Before those glorious beings man has bowed in worship, but with holy rebuke they say, "See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow servant." Rev. 22:9. Both angel and man are servants of the one true God. Before some great men, pope, king, or priest, other men have bowed in homage. There should have come the same message, "See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow servant." How glorious and honorable the service! How mighty and adorable the One we serve! How tenderly, lovingly, he teaches us that we may serve him acceptably! How wonderful the example he has given of unselfish love in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which made captives of love forever the holy angels, and which ought to melt into glad, humble, submissive, loving service all human hearts, for whom the sacrifice was made, for whom this service is open, and who may share in the great rejoicing.

O brother, or sister, or soul for whom Christ died, will you not share in this work, in the boundless blessings of the service and reward of love? Laborer in the vineyard of God, be not discouraged. Gird yourself anew. Trim the lamp brighter. Give the Lord through the angel an opportunity to replenish the oil. Let the Spirit in. Your work may seem to be fruitless; but shine on, sow on, reap on, gather the sheaves or the stray ears that have fallen. The Master knows. The preacher will not alone be blessed. The one who sacrificed to send him may receive the greater blessing. Leave it all with God. Let the one blessed Spirit of Life bind your heart, your work, to the great heart of Infinite Love. "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." Then, in that day, will Jesus say, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," and angels and men will unite in saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever."

Not Men, but God.—We are not saved by men. The statement of the psalmist is, "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." Ps. 49:7. God gave his Word through men. He still gives men the privilege of bearing his Word to the children of earth. But if the Word be received as from man it will do no good. If man's word be received as the Word of God, it will do no good. God's Word must be received as coming from him. We may honor the channel through which it came for the Word's sake, but not the Word for the channel's sake. The true way to receive God's Word is the way the Thessalonians received it: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." 1 Thess. 2:13.