Revive Your Ministry

Trevor S. Ferguson
June 17, 2010

2nd Timothy 4:10-11
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.


The Story of John Mark
John Mark was a young associate of the apostle Paul, but is better known to us as the author of the gospel of Mark. He is first mentioned in Acts 12 where it was said that the saints had gather at the house of the mother of John whose surname was Mark, as they prayed for Peter’s release from prison. In Acts 12:25 we are told that Barnabas and Paul took Mark with them on their missionary journey(Barnabas was Mark’s cousin). In Acts 13:5 we are also told “…they had also John as their minister”. Mark is next mentioned in Acts 15:37-39. Here we are told that Mark had left the missionary journey at Pamphylia. The reasons for him leaving were not given but we can guess that it might have been related to the hazards of missionary activity or the desire to pursue temporal goals.

When Paul and Barnabas were planning to set out for their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them but Paul was adamant that he would not. This resulted in a separation between Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas took Mark with him and went to Cyprus while Paul took Silas with him. Nothing further is said of Mark until Paul mentions him in 2nd Timothy 4. Here we note it is just one statement but it is loaded with information - “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry”.

Lessons from Mark
Looking at the story of John Mark we can learn the following lessons which may be applicable to our lives today:

The best of us may falter in our walk or our work with the Lord, but this does not mean it is the end of our ministry. Many of us may start working for God with youthful exuberance, not having counted the cost, but when the realities of ministry set in, we may be tempted to throw in the towel. Let me encourage you: Don’t leave your ministry – It may be hard but keep on going. Get will help if needed, but keep on going. Some persons may have already stopped working for God. The reasons may vary, probably due to stress, the cares of this life, deceit by the devil, persons may have fallen into sin or it could be that “the work is too hard”. However you can learn from John Mark and get your ministry going again.

To falter is not to fail. You can get up and start again - Although Mark had faltered and left the ministry by the time of the second journey he was available again. Note that the return may not always be easy – Paul was adamant that he was not taking him back but Barnabas was willing to give him as second chance. As we see in today’s text Paul later accepted however that he was profitable for the ministry - "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry".

Application
Today I am challenging persons who once worked for God but now find themselves no longer working in ministry. It’s time to revive your ministry. Make yourself available to God again. It may not be easy; you may not regain immediate acceptance, but if you stick to the task you will be declared profitable. Some persons might have never started working for God; now is a good time to start. God can only work through our hands. The harvest is plentiful but labourers are few. Let us revive our ministry. Our reward is sure!!