Re: FW: THE MINISTRY OF THE UNKNOWN OR UN-NAMED
Posted by: cmaganga7 <cmaganga7@...>
Ministry of the unknown and in named
Very powerful teaching and encouraging. People who are not mentioned many times in the Bible and those even didn't mentioned did a lot in the ministry.
How i wish not to be known or mentioned but do great work for the lord. I am very inspired and encouraged by the outline.
Be blessed
Pastor Charles
From: Jimmy Chapman [mailto:preacher30673@nu-z.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2016 7:48 PM
To: 'JUSTBAPTISTOUTLINES@yahoogroups.com'; 'BaptistOutlineSharing@yahoogroups.com'; 'justbaptistoutlines@googlegroups.com'
Subject: THE MINISTRY OF THE UNKNOWN OR UN-NAMED
LUKE 22:7-13
THE MINISTRY OF THE UNKNOWN OR UN-NAMED
I find myself asking questions when I read of this incident: what man ... whose room ... whose hands furnished it?
And then I realize that I have stumbled across one of the facts true both of the New Testament and the history of the church since then, that a great deal of vital work is done by folk whose names are never heard or mentioned - the ministry of the unknown OR UN-NAMED.
There are several persons in the Scriptures whose names are not given to us, but the encouragement of whose service remains until today. They are mentioned but once in the Bible; they are found in unusual and even unpleasant uncongenial circumstances, but the service they rendered in obscurity has been a source of cheer and strength to many.
One such incident is recorded in 2 Kings 5, "The Syrians . . had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid." She was in enemy land; she was a slave, probably she had lost her loved ones and may have seen her home destroyed. But the firmness of her faith and the affection of her heart gave power to her testimony, with the result that Naaman was cleansed. The little maid passes from the page of Scripture, still unnamed — but the result of her service was commented upon by the Lord Himself (Luke 4:27). It was not the little maid He spoke of — but what her testimony had produced.
In 2 Samuel 17 we have the account of a plot against David's life in which Ahithophel and Absalom were involved. God so ordered that, through Hushai's counsel, word as to his danger should be sent to the king. In the face of the treachery seen in verse 18, we have the action of the unnamed woman in verse 19. We read no more of her, but loyalty to her rejected king resulted in every one of his people being found in safety ( 22) and the complete overthrow of the enemy ( 23). Let us be assured that every act of loyalty to Christ in this day of His rejection by men has a lasting, though perhaps for the moment unseen, effect upon His interests here.
In 2 Kings 11 we have recorded the conspiracy of Athaliah, called in 2 Chron. 24:7, "that wicked woman." For six years Israel was subjected to her frightful rule (v. 3). In verse 1 we see that the object of her enmity was `the royal seed,' the line from which, in manhood, our Lord came. Thus, behind this wicked queen's actions we see the malice and hatred of Satan the arch-enemy of Christ. The position, outwardly, was desperate, and the continuance of the 'royal seed' hung upon the slender thread of one boy — Joash. The name Athaliah means 'whom Jehovah restrained,' and we are truly thankful for the way in which the mighty hand of God is apparent in the restraint of evil designs. But again God is pleased to use an un-named nurse. She, together with the wife of Jehoiada the priest, took Joash and hid him from Athaliah for six years, until the moment when he was presented to the people as the "king's son." Six years of obscurity (and doubtless of some danger) marked the service of that devoted un-named nurse. She is not heard of again, but the results of her service were immense. The house of the Lord was repaired, and a king who "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" sat upon the throne.
These three devoted women supply sufficient material from the Old Testament to show the subject in mind, and if we turn to the New Testament we shall see the same features there.
In John 6:9, we read, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many?" Now Matthew, Mark and Luke in recording this incident do not even mention the lad at all, and yet it was he who had the provision which under the Lord's hand could feed the multitude!
Brethren, let us be content to be thought little of, even perhaps completely overlooked, but let us place that which we have, however small, at the disposal of the Lord. It is not the name of the servant that matters; the lad is unnamed. The lad disappears, but he provided that which God used to feed the multitude.
Acts 23 records the plot of the Jews to slay Paul, the outstanding servant of his day. More than forty men bound themselves with an oath to neither eat nor drink until they had slain the apostle. The position outwardly was loaded with danger, but God had another unnamed person available, Paul's sister's son. It required courage, as well as affection for Paul, on the part of that boy to enter "into the castle," the stronghold where Paul was. The plot was discovered, and the servant of the Lord preserved. No more is heard of this boy, but what tremendous results ensue from his devoted service. The wonderful truths contained in the Pauline epistles were written after this incident, and who can measure the blessing to the saints and the praise to God which the reception of these truths has brought about.
There is the unnamed "brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches," (2 Cor. 8:18). Some have conjectured as to who he might have been, but let us leave him where this verse puts him — un-named. It was doubtless the ability and power with which he exalted the Name which is the very essence of the gospel — the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for which he was praised.
It is comforting to realize that although multitudes of workers are “unknown” they are “yet well known.” They are known of God,” who sees that which is hidden from the human eye, and whose approval is the highest reward.
Let us now consider this un-named man in our text. His being unknown or un-named starts a suggestive line of thought.
I. How frequently this ministry was relied upon
The boy with his lunch, the child taken up into the arms of the Saviour, and the woman at the well are just a few.
In our text we see the owner of the upper-room. How many there are whose names are never mentioned in the New Testament.
This ministry of the un-named covers many lives and many services. As I pondered over it two further thoughts came to mind.
A. There was never any doubt in the mind of Christ.
Jesus never doubted that the service asked would be rendered. He said here in our text `you will' not `you may' find. The ministry of the un-named has a quality of reliability about it.
How wonderful to be able to count on people without any doubt in our minds as to whether or not they would do what was expected of them!
B. There was never any delay in the work of Christ.
The Last Supper did not start late .It did not start late because of the ministry of the un- named. This kind of secret service was frequently relied upon in the Bible and is still relied upon today. I wonder if we are among those enlisted in its ranks.
I. How frequently this ministry was relied upon
II. How faithfully this ministry was RENDERED UP
I think there are things that can be said about . this `ministry of the un-named.'
A. There was a willingness about it.
Peter and John would have no trouble locating this man with the water pitcher, because men rarely carried pitchers of water. This was the task of the women in that day. This task was not below his dignity.
I don't get the impression that there was any reluctance, any hesitation on his part. There were no excuses offered! There was a happy, glad, willingness. Is it not true that some service is rendered so grudgingly that all the pleasure is drained out of it? Have you ever had to say to a reluctant worker, `Well, if that's how you feel about it, then don't do it!"
B. There was a thoroughness about it - "a large upper room furnished."
There was never a room prepared like this room. The servant would have been in and out of that room a hundred times during the day to make quite certain that everything that the Master could require was there.
Thoroughness-what a wonderful quality this is.
1. He gave his house
He probably could have made a nice sum of money by renting that large upper room to any number of people. Thousands of pilgrims—some very wealthy, would gladly have paid a great sum for the exclusive use of that place. The man was not even tempted; it was enough for him to know the Master wanted it. Therefore when the disciples came on their appointed errand, the home was ready; the room awaited the guests.
2. He gave his heart
This surely is obvious. There were no questions asked; no conditions laid down; no payment demanded. Let it be carefully considered again that this was the large upper room; the guest- chamber. This was the choice part of the building. The man was giving to the Lord the best place he possessed. An innkeeper at Bethlehem once stayed in his own hotel and offered to the parents of Jesus a stable! Now things were reversed. This man gave the best to Jesus, and remained content with anything that happened to be left.
3. He gave his hands
The room was already furnished! the coming of thirteen men would necessitate extra furniture; this had been obtained and placed in position. Water would be needed for the celebration of the feast; the man therefore went to the well so that the Master would not have to interrupt proceedings to obtain supplies.
He did what he could to make all the preparations for the Lord.
I. How frequently this ministry was relied upon
II. How faithfully this ministry was RENDERED UP
III. How favorably this ministry was rewarded By
What was the reward that came the way of those who served in the ministry of the un-named?
It was not the reward that some seek, prominence for themselves in the records of the church - an important position that kept them before the eyes of men - applause from the church. How often those who serve Christ do so to get just these very things.
Instead we see two things this ministry of the un-named was reward d by.
A. The presence That was secured was the reward.
To him it was enough that he gained the presence of the Master he loved and whom he sought to serve. "A large upper room furnished" would be forever hallowed because Jesus had been there.
B. The purpose that was served was the reward
This was his reward, to have furthered the purposes of his Master, to have helped Him.
This unknown ministry draws-its dignity, its meaning only from this one fact, it furthers the cause of the Master, of the Church of Jesus Christ.
The dignity from his ministry is that he was helping the Master.
Conclusion
The Ministry of the Unknown or the Un-named-are you in this crowd?
If so...great will your reward be one day when the Master names you before the angels and men.
IN HIS ETERNAL GRIP,
Pastor Jimmy Chapman
Victory Baptist Church
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