The Support of God's Ministry
Ordained of God
by
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We have all seen beggars sitting on the side of the road with their signs in their hands which read: “Will work for food.” From this we have read others written for the sake of humor by those who love their hobbies “Will golf for food”; “Will fish for food”; Will hunt for food.” The true gospel minister could hold up his sign which would say, “Will preach for food.” As a matter of fact, to enjoy the blessings which come from the ministry, we might hold one up which would say, “Will preach for nothing,” or, “I will pay you to let me preach to you!”
This, I believe, is the heart, and soul, of the man who is truly called of God to preach. It is probably the heart of your own pastor. This man is the one that Jeremiah has described as, “pastors according to mine heart.” He will preach for food, or without it!
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We would wonder what kind of soldiers we would have fighting for our country today if they had to run back and forth to their jobs at home. What kind of soldiers would we have had in WWII if they had to fly to battle one week, and fly back to the farm the next week to make a living for their families? We can be sure that the enemy would have come in like a flood, and captured our land, our homes, and our families.
Soldiers must be engaged in battle without worrying about keeping a job on the side. They must be dedicated to the cause while they are in battle. They must have their eye upon the enemy. They should be loved, and cared for by the citizens of their home country. As in any war, the general welfare of the soldier is subject to the integrity of the country they serve!
As we read the New Testament we readily discover the early Christians all served one another. They loved their brethren so much that they were willing to die, not only for Christ, but for one another. The preachers loved the elect so much they were willing to die just to carry the gospel to them. The members of churches were willing to die to care for these men. Therefore, in its very beginning, the Christian church did not look upon this charge as a legal contract. They looked upon it as a contract of love!
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The office of the gospel minister is a most difficult one to understand because it is a rare calling. Free a man so that he can pray! Support a man so he can read! Support a man so that he can meditate! Feed him so that he can visit the sick! This is, indeed, a rare request.
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About the Book
This book concerns the loving care that churches should exercise toward their pastors, and elders. The financial support of the ministry is a recurring theme in every congregation, just as salaries, and wages are recurring themes in every household. Churches are to love, and care for their God-called men. According to the Bible, it is the pattern that the Lord “ordained” for His church.
In this book, you are going to meet some very interesting people. You are going to meet the soldier, the vinedresser, the shepherd, the farmer, some priests—even a cow (an ox in that day). All of these biblical characters will be used by the Apostle in a most powerful way to describe God’s men who serve His church so faithfully. You will even meet the hireling!
I have had church members ask me what kind of lifestyle a church should provide for their pastor. This book will hopefully answer that question as well as many others that deal with the relationship of churches, and pastors.
This book will present a challenge to many. Those who desire to follow this God-ordained pattern will find this book very informative.
About the Author
Elder Phelan was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry in 1990. He currently pastors Harmony Primitive Baptist Church, at Donaldson, AR. For those unfamiliar with the Primitive Baptists, they are a people who hold firmly to the doctrines of God's grace, the to inability of man to recover himself from his fallen condition, and the triumphant success of Jesus Christ.
Prior to his call to the gospel ministry, Elder Phelan owned his own pharmacy, having graduated from pharmacy school in 1975.
Elder Phelan, and his wife of 28 years currently reside in Malvern, AR. They have four children, Kelli, Ryan, Neil III., and Bryant.
Elder Phelan presently writes a weekly articl for the local newspaper, "The Malvern Daily Record". This is his third book.