Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston

2Corinthians: 4:1: Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

Here in this text Paul is exclusively talking to everyone that has embraced there calling as a minister that has carried the gospel of Jesus Christ as an ambassador for Christ. I believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to take the gospel to the marketplaces to reconcile man back to God! Yes, there is an exclusive office of a minister and it should be recognized as such however, I believe there is a basic standardized ministry for every believer of the New Testament the ministry of reconciliation. God has enabled you and qualified you to be a minister of the New Testament by living out your God given talents and gifts of the Holy Spirit to reconcile man back to God, 2Corinthians 3:6, 5:18. What is a minister at heart? A Minister is from the word diakonos or dee-ak'-on-os; probably from an obsolete the word diako (to run on errands); an attendant, a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess):--deacon, minister, and servant. Here is a wide range from menial duties as a servant to technical duties such as an office of a minister or servant. With this meaning of a minister anybody of the faith as a disciple of Christ can qualify to be a menial servant or minister which I call the standardized ministry for every believer to reconcile man back to God! However, there is an office of a minister that is held by the technical positions in the Kingdom of God such as, the Bishop, Pastor, Evangelist, Deacons, and Prophets and then come the ordained ministers and etc. We have this ministry as a body of believers to reconcile man back to God, 2Corinthians 5:18 and we faint not, we do not give up the gospel, we continue to fight the good fight for the Lord in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ told His disciples on the night of which He was betrayed in John 15:5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. The fruit that is to bear is it the fruits of the spirit or is it the souls of men and women? Then Jesus told his disciples that His Father is glorified that they bear much fruit in verse 18! I believe the fruit here can be applied as the fruits of the spirit but furthermore I believe it applies bearing many souls of men and women. This means to bring souls of men and women to God which is to reconcile man back to God. Therefore, is this left up to the Ministers of Office only or to the ministry of reconciliation to the account of every believer who is embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ? We faint not and we cannot do anything without Christ, apart from Him we can do nothing. Today my friend, embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ministry of reconciliation and be apart of this movement of God to reconcile man back to God in Jesus Name…

James Jr. Hairston