Where are the Fellow Servants?
03/17/2019

At this high watch time, where we are expecting to meet our King, I want to address and challenge you with a very provoking and unpopular subject that Christ specifically mentioned will come up when He returns: our accountability as stewards of His instructions. We will all give a reckoning of what He entrusted to us while He was away.

One of the most neglected commands and ordinances of Christ is that the servants that minister in the Word should be upheld by the servants who benefit from their labours:

"For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes?
For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."
- 1Co 9:9-14

I grew up in a missionary pastor’s home, and was constantly around pastors and missionaries. Most of these will rarely tell outsiders how bad they are financially hurting. Usually ministry needs come directly out of the missionary’s meager grocery, medicine, rent, or gas money. The sad truth is that most ministers of Christ are not supported, they are muzzled. Even more so for internet ministries, the participation rate is usually in the lower single digits, or close to zero. For most missionaries, this is a very uncomfortable subject to bring up, or have others understand.

I have certainly seen this firsthand in my own ministry. For over the past year and a half, the number of fellow servants who have helped support this ministry has been able to be counted on one hand each month - usually with fingers left over. Yet this happens at the same time that viewer counts have stayed the same, and actually grown; people are interested in receiving of the corn that is treaded out, but not so much for taking care of the oxen. I can easily name several other Youtube ministries (watchmen and Bible teachers) that practically have to beg for support or meager patrons – yet have large viewership. Brethren, this should not be.

“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” – James 2:15-17

Many true teachers labour many long hours, only to have next to zero fellowservants put so much as a dime in the offering plate. Of course, this then affects those ministers who then have to attain to more secular work away from ministry study and presentation. For example, with our ministry, this has resulted in many hardships, and my having to take much time away from ministry focus, just to keep the proverbial lights on. Ministry work with the Brook Cherith medical work was effectively shelved months ago (although it is still ready to go, as much as has been possible). I praise the Lord for the very few servants who came alongside, and received this ministry work by their support; may the Lord abundantly bring forth much eternal fruit on their behalf.

Why is it that Christians will willingly go to a church or prophecy conference, attentively listen to a Brother’s 45 minute prepared presentation, and then contribute toward a love offering when the plate is passed – yet if they listen to a Christian Brother give a 45 minute prepared presentation on a Youtube prophecy/watchman channel, the reaction is usually opposite???

Why is the participation rate so close to zero toward believers who have labored in the Word??

If it seems cruel to muzzle an ox while they produce food for man, it is just as cruel to deprive a servant from partaking in the fruits of their labours, also (Lev 19:13; Deut 24:14-15; Mal 3:8-10; James 5:4).

Jesus Christ gave specific instructions that if His disciples were not given at least the basic provisions (food, housing, hospitality, etc.) as reception/receiving, when they ministered, then His disciples should just go somewhere else.

"And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."
- Matthew 10:11-15 (and Mark 6:10-11 and Luke 9:3-5)

"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward."
- I Timothy 5:16-7

When the Lord brings us across the paths of those who feed us from His Word, it is the King's ordinance that we should receive them and help them with their needs; to do so honours the King Who sent them. When the sent servants are not received, then the King takes it personally, and tells His labourers to go elsewhere.

Now is the time to review where we have been feeding, and whether we have honoured those that our King sent across our way. One day the King will require us to give account.
He knows what each of our ability was and is – even if just a widow’s mite. Were we faithful to His ordinances - to feed and provide for those that feed us, to the best of our ability? If not, we should not be surprised that the King has harsh words for those who feasted, and tells the faithful servants to labour elsewhere. The King has plenty of other corners in His vineyard to send His labourers.

No servant of Christ will have an excuse as to why they kept His assets wrapped in a napkin (Luke 19:12-26); the King, Himself, will frankly ask why the least investments in eternity were not taken. Notice that the King’s retort was specifically asking why the talents were not given to someone else who could have brought forth interest on their behalf, as an investment.

Ministers that labour will oftentimes remind our fellowservants to help receive us and provide for our journey's needs. Our requests often in the video description boxes, our channel About pages, briefly in the videos, or on their websites (such as ours informedchristians.com). Granted, in our case, we do not constantly dwell on this well-known commandment to not muzzle the ox – but we must remind our fellow servants that this is still required as an ordinance of the Lord.

This post is to update you somewhat about our ministry, and others; but it also a sober warning. Now at this high watch time, when we are expecting to meet our King, make sure you review your answer when the King asks you whether you received the servants that He sent your way. Christ has entrusted His servants with talents (assets), and He will have a reckoning of what we did with all of it when He returns. He expects His servants to encourage and feed each other - not be one way taking-only.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

We are at the threshold when the King will ask us if we bought gold. If we bought white raiment. If we bought eyesalve. If we bought oil. If we received the ministers that He sent us.

Take this time to review the top three ministries that you have regularly fed from (that labor in the Word, and provide spiritual meat), and that have been the greatest blessing to you spiritually (whether it be on Youtube, radio, television, or one-on-one) and ask the Lord for wisdom to give to the best of your ability as a sweet smelling offering to the Lord, for the provision that He has deliberately sent you.

Seek the Lord for wisdom; but ask yourself if you heard that same internet brother live-in-person, and an offering plate was passed, how much would you normally try to give them for their labour that they have given you. Be a partner with what the Lord is doing, faithfully responding to those He brings across your path.

"Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God."
- Philippians 4:15-18

We see the day approaching; let us do a late-hour pre-check, and strive to be found as a wise and faithful servant of the King - coupling works with faith.

Maranatha,
Brother Daniel