The Ministry of the Church

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

In my 45-year journey with Jesus, I haven't seen many true laborers. I've seen plenty of pew sitters, but not many who travel outside their religious settings. When one comes to the Lord and is filled with the Holy Spirit, his heart is stirred with compassion for the lost and downtrodden!

Today, discipleship is Sunday school, and no one ever leaves the building being taught what a disciple looks like but never being sent out! Jesus chose twelve nobodies, untrained and uneducated except Judas, to be His disciples, just common folks who would end up changing the world.

The churches today, for the most part, and their messages are geared toward the rich and not the poor, those who are sick and in need of the compassion of Christ! Health, wealth, and prosperity are preached to the masses, sparking pride, greed, and selfishness throughout the mega churches, primarily in America.

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1

POWER GIVEN

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons." Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:5-8

Twelve apostles sent to give that which they had received! Just as the church has received, we are to go into all the world to fulfill our great commission!

Twelve is the number of God's government, fulfilled by His twelve disciples, and from this, we as the body of Christ in the future represent Him in the earth! Jesus left us to finish the work of the kingdom as He intercedes for us. He promised us that we would do greater works than He did.

Church is no longer a place to go, but a Person to be, The Lord Jesus Christ in the earth! No longer bound to a building or a pew, we are free to go into all the earth and make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ!

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18

Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ