"AND NO MAN TAKE THIS HONOUR TO HIMSELF, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was."
Hebrews 5:4 (NKJV)
• We have shared three stages which a minister who pioneered a new work of ministry passes through: the stage of not enough, just enough, and more than enough.
• What are the things to do to get to the stage of rest, stage of abundance or more than enough, in the work of ministry:
A. Stick to the Word of God.
Do not do whatever that is not in line with the Word of God (Acts 6:2,4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE in it day and night, THAT YOU MAY OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT. For then you will make your way PROSPEROUS, AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD SUCCESS."
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
"in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; IN DOCTRINE SHOWING INTEGRITY, reverence, incorruptibility."
Titus 2:7 (NKJV)
B. Fast and pray often because the champions use these weapons: "in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, IN FASTINGS OFTEN, in cold and nakedness" (2 Corinthians 11:27).
C. Let your fellowship with God be strong, and do only what He instructed you to do.
WHATEVER He has not commanded and approved should not be done: "SEE that you MAKE all THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN SHOWN YOU on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5).
- If He has not approved what you are about to do, has not given you go ahead on it, then wait until He gives you an approval.
- Most importantly, always listen to His instructions and inquire from Him what to do at every stage of your work—this is possible if your fellowship with Him is strong and cordial.
D. Make yourself available to bless the people you are assigned and should let your message be relevant to their needs (1 Peter 5:2-4; 2 Timothy 4:2).
- You have an assignment to bless the people and raise them to be what God wants them to be.
- "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
- FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING [building up] OF THE BODY OF CHRIST."
Ephesians 4:11,12 (NKJV)
- You also have an assignment to watch over their souls in prayer (Hebrews 13:17).
YOU need to humble yourself and have a heart to learn more in order to minister effectively to the people: "The humble He [God] guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way" (Psalm 25:9).
E. Look not onto man, you will be disappointed if you do (Psalm 121:1,2).
DO not run after human beings to meet your needs, but rather look to God for He has promised not to leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
MAN may leave you, disappoint you, but God will not.
"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. FOR HE HIMSELF HAS SAID, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU."
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)
F. Focus on your assignment and bewared of discouragement from the so-called sons of the prophets (2 Kings 2:2-7).
- They may tell you Why are you focusing on the work so much, you had better take it easy?
IT is a strategy of the enemy, the devil, to break your focus. - When Elijah was to be taken away from the earth to HEAVEN, Elisha followed him with singleness of mind, he wanted to collect double portions of his anointing; but the sons of the prophets wanted to dissuade him, he however did not allow them (2 Kings 2:1-15).
G. Be Patience, you will not get all you want in a day.
YOU have to run the race set before you with patience-endurance (Hebrews 12:1).
- God does things systematically and progressively: "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land" (Exodus 23:30).
- Ministry is not an 100-meter dash, but a marathon race.
THE work of MINISTRY is for painstaking people.
H. Be persistent: consistency and endurance are needed to do the work.
YOU keep at it until you get results.
"You therefore must ENDURE [persevere] HARDSHIP AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST."
2 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV)
- Remember, the results will not come overnight, it takes time; however, do not give up.
I. Thanksgiving and praise—thank God and praise Him for every result, no matter how minute or small the result might be, always appreciate Him for His goodness.
- If you can praise Him for two or three people in your Church or Ministry, very soon He will increase the number to ten.
- Do not murmur and complain, because murmurings and complaints will break your speed, it will hinder the move of God in your work: "nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10:10).
- Praise and thank Him for every result.
J. Do not despise your little beginning or the day of small things.
"THOUGH YOUR BEGINNING WAS SMALL, YET YOUR LATTER END WOULD INCREASE ABUNDANTLY."
Job 8:7 (NKJV)
- Do not despise the people God has given you to watch over and minister to—thank God for everything (1 Peter 5:3,4).
• Some who started a ministry wanted to run after those who are rich and despise the people whom God has given them.
- If your motive in the ministry work is all about money, God would allow you to be disappointed—you will not get it.
- It is what God releases that you get.
THEREFORE, learn to praise Him and be content with whatever He has given you, and believe Him for more as you progress in the works.
- "NOW GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.
- BUT THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
- FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- But you, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS AND PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, GENTLENESS."
1 Timothy 6:6,9,10,11 (NKJV)
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
THE Lord will establish the work in your hand.
YOU will flourish in the assignment in the mighty name of Jesus.
Peace!