THE FOUNDATION OF MINISTRY IS CHARACTER
Character is more important than ministry. Ministry is a gift from God whilst character is something you are responsible for.
In Matthew 7:22-23 the bible says,” Many will say to me in that day, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” They would have been conducting ministry without character. Galatians.6:7 then says,” Whatsoever a man sows, this he will reaps.”
THE NATURE OF MINISTRY IS SERVICE
Jesus – I came not to be ministered unto but to minister. Heavens rule is when it comes to service in the house of God and the bible goes on to say do unto others as you would they do unto you. In Matthew 20: 19-28 there is the story of how one can become great through serving others. The memory of those that serve others diligently is not easily forgotten. It is not so for those that do not serve. In the words of the Jesus, He states that He took the form of a servant and did not consider equality with God to be a thing to be grasped.
THE MOTIVE OF MINISTRY IS LOVE
In John 3:16 the bible tells us that,”For God so loved the world that He gave…” He gave of His Son because of love. In the Christian World the “MOTIVE BEHIND” is the deciding factor. Consider Proverbs 16:2 which says that, “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.”
When we focus on how God operates we see the following:
1 John 4:7 God is love. Everything he does comes from a heart of love so everything we do must be in the context of God’s love.
1 Corinthians 13 “without love I am nothing”
Furthermore there are three priorities when one is in service of the church and if they are missing one needs to get themselves back to their first love:
Worship – love the Lord
Service – love the brethren
Evangelism – love the lost
When God measures a man’s ministry He puts the tape measure around his biggest muscle – the heart.
THE AUTHORITY OF MINISTRY IS SUBMISSION
Those who obey can and will be trusted with authority. The bible teaches us the same principle and one story that captures this is the story about the centurion. He says the following t
Matt 8:5-9, “And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying Lord my servant is lying paralysed at home fearfully tormented. Jesus, said to him,”I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion said Lord I am not worthy for You to come under my roof but just say the word and my servant will be healed. For so also l am under authority with soldiers under me and l say “Go” and he goes and to another come and he comes and to my slave “Do this and he does it!”
The centurion knew the hierarchy of:
That Jesus was Lord not lord,
His earthly army command,
He had a good understanding that Jesus was head of all principalities and powers.
It is far much easier to serve when there is a clear understanding of the chain of command. Consider a soldier or a policeman when they are around their superiors.
THE MEASURE OF MINISTRY IS SACRIFICE
We are told that God has given to every man a measure of faith. This faith is little and as we mature in our walk with the Lord must be growing just as a child grows on a daily basis.
Abraham’s faith was tested by God and when was asked to go and sacrifice the only son that God had promised him.
Salvation is free but discipleship is very costly. Consider the following verses that reemphasise sacrifice on the part of the disciple:
2 Samuel 24:24 “Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”
Even the Lord Jesus had to suffer, Hebrews 5:8, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”
Cheap ministry – cheap results, easy come easy go.
THE AUTHORITY OF MINISTRY IS SUBMISSION
Those who obey can and will be trusted with authority. The bible teaches us the same principle and one story that captures this is the story about the centurion. He says the following Matt 8:5-9, “And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying Lord my servant is lying paralysed at home fearfully tormented. Jesus, said to him,”I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion said Lord I am not worthy for You to come under my roof but just say the word and my servant will be healed. For so also l am under authority with soldiers under me and l say “Go” and he goes and to another come and he comes and to my slave “Do this and he does it!”
The centurion knew the hierarchy of:
That Jesus was Lord not lord,
His earthly army command,
He had a good understanding that Jesus was head of all principalities and powers.
It is far much easier to serve when there is a clear understanding of the chain of command. Consider a soldier or a policeman when they are around their superiors.
THE PURPOSE OF MINISTRY IS THE GLORY OF GOD
Myles Munroe, a preacher from the Bahamas has come up with a dictum that explains the necessity of understanding the purpose of anything. He says, “Where the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable.” If we do not know the purpose for which we minister, abuse of our God-given ministry is inevitable. When we think about God’s purpose, we need to realise that we are dealing with the thoughts and intents of God in creation.
Isaiah 43:7, “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory ;I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” It would appear that God in His sovereignty created us for His Own purposes. We ought to be careful how we live the lives that He has given us because whatever we do must bring glory to the Lord.
Isaiah 42:8,” I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.”
THE TOOLS OF MINISTRY – THE WORD & PRAYER
In all labour there is need for tools for the handyman to use in the pursuit of the task to be done. The tools for Ministry that the Lord Jesus left for us are the Word and Prayer.
In response to the devil during the temptation the Lord Jesus responded saying, “it is written.”
God speaks to those who have God’s word in them, God speaks through those who have God’s word in them. It’s not enough to own a bible and not know what in it.
The hand of God can be moved through prayer. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. Luke 18:1, “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times, they ought to pray and not to lose heart.
Are you a history reader or a history maker?
THE PRIVILEGE OF MINISTRY IS GROWTH
Along the way as you devout yourself to the things of God you being to grow just like baby who is fed they will grow every day. Seed sown today will bear fruit at a later appointed time when the fruits shall appear for all to see publicly.
In John 15:1-5 the Lord Jesus says, ”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. He that abides in me, & I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.”
So one will produce:
fruit, more fruit, and much fruit.
The secret of life is bearing fruit, The secret of bearing fruit is abiding in the Lord,
The secret of abiding is obedience,
The secret of obedience is love, and The secret of love is knowing.
We are not called to fill buildings with men but are called to fill men with God.
Are you ministering from your cup or an overflow?
THE POWER OF MINISTRY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
All the great man who have accomplished much spiritually have attested to the fact that they were not capable of having done all that they did except that the Holy Spirit energised them. This is why the Lord Jesus promised us another helper. The Holy Spirit is our helper and He is hear with us and in us.
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, He Reminds us, Helper, and He will bring the word to remembrance.
All men that God has used have been empowered by the Holy Spirit
THE MODEL OF MINISTRY IS JESUS
All the above principles can be seen throughout the life of Jesus. In the same manner He persevered live by them we too can accomplish much by applying the same principles in our ministry genuinely.
Jesus kept His focus on the main thing and to Him all else was like sinking sand. He came to die for the lost and never lost His bearings on the mandate. Being the Son of God never got to His head and in Philippians 2:5-8 the bible says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Imitate Christ as Paul did.