Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent. …

They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they present to the LORD the food offerings, the food of their God, they must be holy.

Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites, but you are seeking the priesthood as well.

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. …

Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. And I will build for him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed one for all time.

Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.

Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, and enter Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and may Your godly ones rejoice in goodness.

Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” …

Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters, who let the ox and donkey range freely.

Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, …

True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. …

At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.

Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. …

But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. …

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?

Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? …

For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. …

But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. …

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. …

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. …

Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. …

I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them

…and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. …

…you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? …

…but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. …

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. …

We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. …

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! …

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. …

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. …

Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart. …

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: …

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry. …

Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.

I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.

For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. …

This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. …

Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”

…which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. …

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. …

Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin. …

A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. …

But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

…so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. …

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith

…and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.

But as for you, speak the things that are consistent with sound doctrine.

In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,

…and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

…to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.

Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. …

Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! …

So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.