"Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], TO PREACHING AND TO TEACHING [the sound doctrine of God’s word]."
1 Timothy 4:13 (AMP)
"Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. PATIENTLY CORRECT, REBUKE, AND ENCOURAGE YOUR PEOPLE WITH GOOD TEACHING."
2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)
• God would take you, whoever is leading OR being used as a leader, through some experiences that you may be effective in their ministerial assignment.
- Whatever you have passed through, or you are passing through presently, and the ones you are yet pass through; would help you in the assignment—ministry work.
- Ministers learn from challenges of life, which they are confronted with in their works (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4).
- Every problem you encountered adds to your knowledge of the Kingdom principles. Through such knowledge, you get to know how to live as a Believer and overcome challenges, in this world of darkness.
- You will be tested! God will allow you to be tested in different departments, areas, of your Life (James 1:2-4).
- Most importantly, He would want to prove your heart in the area He wanted to use you most. Challenges of life would make you strong as a leader!
• You are taught to teach.
- God will teach you that you may teach others. Whatever you learned in your Christian journey would be required to be taught to others (2 Timothy 2:2).
- God does not duplicate His efforts, thus, whatever you have been taught by Him would be required to be taught to others:
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, NOR was I TAUGHT IT [by Man or human], BUT IT CAME THROUGH THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST" (Galatians 1:11;12 NKJV). - And things you learned from those ahead of you in Christian journey, or the Ministry work, are to be taught to others as well:
"AND THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME AMONG MANY WITNESSES, COMMIT THESE TO FAITHFUL MEN who will be able to TEACH OTHERS also" (2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV).
READ: Ephesians 3:3-5
• You are being raised to raise others.
- God will use you to raise other leaders—workers in His vineyard. Thus, there is a need to document things you learned through the Word of God, and the ones you have practically passed through, that is, your experiences in the Christian life and ministry.
- The responsibility of teaching others should not be shied away from. Do not hesitate to do it. Do not assume that the people whom God has brought your way know what you are to teach them.
- Teach and pray that the Word would have lasting effect in the lives of those who are taught. It is the teaching that edifies, therefore, give priority to it (2 Timothy 4:2).
• People's lives are shaped through the teaching of the Word of God
- When you teach the people who are brought under your leadership, you give God the opportunity to work in their lives—through the Word you are teaching them.
- God's Word is anointed, and He works through it. The mind of God is communicated, made known, through the teaching of His Word.
- As a leader, be consistent in the teaching of the Word of God. When you do, you give directions to the people, because it is through the Word that people get to know the purpose of living. THE reason why they are on planet earth is made known to them through the knowledge of the Word of God (Ephesians 1:17,18).
- Some who are called to the ministry work wanted to build their ministries on their gifts—charisma.
- I have seen ministers who focused mainly on prayer and using their prophetic gifted to minister to the people who come under them.
- Using your gifts to minister to the people, to meet their needs, is good and commendable; however, a good number of them, those who are under your leadership, would be shallow in the understanding of the Kingdom principles.
- They may have their material needs met through your giftedness and the anointing of God on your life, but their souls would be leaned—famished spiritually.
- It is the ministry of the Word that lasts! The ministry built on the Word of God will stand the test of time.
• That said, If you are not called a teacher, your ability to teach might not be strong; however, the little you can do through the experiences you have acquired in your Christian journey, should be taught to the people.
- You pray that God would raise teachers among those who are working under your leadership.
- Another plausible option is, you can invite those who are called to teach, that is, those who are teachers by calling; to partner with you in the building and equipping of your people (Ephesians 4:11,12).
- I have seen a number of those who are in the prophetic ministry, who do believe they are greater than every other person in the ministry work.
- There are five ministry offices given by Jesus Christ to the church, which are listed in the book of Ephesians:
11 "AND He [Jesus] Himself gave some to be APOSTLES, some PROPHETS, some EVANGELISTS, and some PASTORS and TEACHERS." 12 "FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS for THE WORK OF MINISTRY, for the EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST" (Ephesians 4:11,12 NKJV). - In the passage above, the Bible does not tell us that one ministry GIFT is higher than others. They are ALL, the five ministry GIFTS, given the assignment to equip the saints, the people of God (Ephesians 4:12).
- Teaching is needed for the edification, building up, and the steadfastness, of the people of God. And God does know it, thus, He raised teachers for the body of Christ.
- How would a ministry gift arrogate the
authority or power to himself that he is higher than others. - If you are called a prophet, and you do NOT have the ability or grace to teach, you would do well to allow the teachers, those who are called to teach, whom God has raised for the Body of Christ, to partner with you and equip your people.
• Note: Be consistent in the teaching of the Word of God. It is not what you do occasionally, It has to be consistently and progressively done.
- The teaching pattern of God is precept upon precept and line upon line:
"He [God] tells us everything OVER AND OVER—ONE LINE AT A TIME, ONE LINE AT A TIME, A LITTLE HERE, AND A LITTLE THERE!” (Isaiah 28:10 NLT).
READ: 2 Timothy 4:2 - The effects or impacts of what you are teaching might not be seen instantly, but after a period of time, you will begin to see the fruits of it—in the lives of the people you are teaching.
- That being said, you, the teacher, has to practice—be a doer of what you are teaching:
22 BUT BE DOERS OF THE WORD, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, AND IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS ONE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES" (James 1:22,25 NKJV). - Also, you should be a good example to the people you are leading:
3 DON'T LORD it over the people assigned to your care, BUT LEAD THEM BY YOUR OWN GOOD EXAMPLE. 4 And when the GREAT SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CROWN OF NEVER-ENDING GLORY AND HONOUR" (1 Peter 5:3,4 NLT). - What you teach them can only be effective and productive, when they see you doing what you have taught them: "FOR I [Jesus] HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, that YOU should DO as I have DONE to you" (John 13:15 NKJV).
- The Scripture says the teachers of the Word will receive a stricter Judgement, thus, you should be a DOER of whatever you teach: "MY brethren, LET NOT MANY OF YOU BECOME TEACHERS, KNOWING THAT WE SHALL RECEIVE A STRICTER JUDGMENT" (James 4:1 NKJV).
• God wants to use you to raise a company of people. And God counts on you for the assignment, thus, you must not let Him down.
- The assignment given to you is great and awesome. Therefore, value the importance of what you are called to do.
- What is given you to do, is precious in the sight of God, thus, value it and do not take it for granted.
- Know that you will be required to give an account of it on the last Day:
2 SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD which is among you, SERVING AS OVERSEERS, NOT BY COMPULSION BUT WILLINGLY, NOT for DISHONEST GAIN but EAGERLY; 3 nor as being LORDS over those entrusted to you, BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK; 4 AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF GLORY THAT DOES NOT FADE AWAY" (1 Peter 5:2-4 NKJV).
"THEREFORE TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES AND TO ALL THE FLOCK, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, TO SHEPHERD THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH HE PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD" (Acts 20:28 NKJV).
"... FOR THEY WATCH OUT FOR [the people under their leadership] YOUR SOULS, AS THOSE WHO MUST GIVE ACCOUNT."
Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV)
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!