You're Fired! Disqualified From Ministry

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)

"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

Divorced, committing sexual sins, mismanagement of funds (theft), lying and other sins falls under "blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate..." in 1 Timothy 3:2 as far as ministerial qualifications is concerned.

Many people believe that when a minister commits adultery, fornication (porn), homosexuality, or other sexual sins that's kept a secret that they could continue in ministry or when the "coast is clear," return to ministry after repentance.

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 3 "The husband of one wife." This qualification is for men in ministry, not women because there's no qualifications issued by PAUL FOR, WOMEN IN MINISTRY.

Women can share the gospel of Christ, teach and train the younger women in Scripture according to Titus chapter 2, and even share Scripture, correctly dividing the Word of truth with men, but ministry is a different ballgame.

When it comes to walking in the Lord for salvation, we see that after genuine repentance, you're forgiven by God and restored to righteousness (see Galatians 6:1 and 1 John 1:6-10, 2:1-2). But when it comes to ministry, it's a different thing.

When you're on the job and the boss fires you for under performance or violating policy, you're released from employment.

Now it's understandable that if your position is terminated for reasons that's not your fault, that's a different set of circumstances. But when you violate policy and or you've committed a crime, the termination is justified.

Why do we treat ministry different?

We confuse restoration to a right relationship with God and the qualifications of ministry.

Two different set of NT rules.

When you have sex outside of marriage, it's grounds for job or ministry termination based on 1 Corinthians 9:27 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7. You're disqualified.

In the Greek from Strong's Concordance, disqualified means....."g0096. ἀδόκιμος adokimos; from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1384; unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally): — castaway, rejected, reprobate.

AV (8) - reprobate 6, castaway 1, rejected 1;

not standing the test, not approved, properly used of metals and coins

that which does not prove itself such as it ought, unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate."

From "(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) C. Adjective.

adokimos (ἀδόκιμος, 96) signifies not standing the test, rejected..."

But when it comes to salvation, if you become an apostate, you're disqualified as a believer because you've rejected Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NKJV)

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified."

Disqualified is the same word translated in both passages.

To be disqualified implies that you were at one time qualified.

Now could a person re-qualify for ministry?

Saul was disqualified as king in the OT for disobeying God and removed. He was more concerned about being king than his relationshiop with the Lord. He ended up in hell. The Lord rejected him and David replaced Saul.

Then David committed adultery and remained king, and Solomon, birthed from the woman David committed adultery with, replaced his father.

Psalm 51 revealed that David was more concerned about his relationship with God than being king.

But this is the OT.

Let's not forget that what the Lord had done in the OT may not necessarily apply to the NT. OT templates must not, in some instances be applied to NT standards.

Remember, we're in Christ, apart from the way the Lord God operated in the OT.

Peter denied the Lord but was never denied of being an apostle but remember what the Lord said, “…when you are converted (to turn or revert), strengthen your brethren.”

Return from what?

Denying the Lord.

Denying the Lord is lying. You’re saying that you don’t know Him when you did.

That’s lying.

On the day that the Lord was raised from the dead, He returned.

On the day of Pentecost or Feast of Weeks or Shavuot, Peter began his ministry as an apostle of the Lamb to the Jews.

In the book of Revelation, in particular chapters 2 and 3, we see the Lord threaten judgment on the messengers (pastors) of 5 churches and commanded them to repent for allowing sin to run in His church.

Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamos, Laodicea, and Sardis.

It's a different ballgame in the NT and we must never confuse the OT with the NT.

When the Lord warns you to repent and you've rejected the warning, what is the Lord suppossed to do? Keep you on the job? You've knowingly violated His Word and then sneered at His warning.

Then after He "fires" you, you think that He would restore you to ministry?

Removing the "candlestick" doesn't mean replacement or restoration. Removal is permanent.

Removing the "messenger or angel" IS PERMANENT.

When you're disqualified, you're disqualified.

You could be restored to right relationship to the Lord as far as salvation is concerned so long as it's not the sin unto death or apostasy (see Hebrews 6:4-8 and 1 John 5:16-17) but ministry is a different set of rules according to 1 Corinthians 9:27 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

But rebellious people are rebellious people.

Always looking to misapply Scripture to make exceptions to the Word. We look for exceptions to the rule instead of accepting the Scriptures as the only rule.

We act like what's happening in politics. Rules for thee but not for me.

We reject the fact that they're disqualified based on Scripture and do like the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Establish our traditions above the commandments of God.

We do so at our own peril.