- “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
- After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
- So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
- And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
- Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Acts 16:6-10 (NKJV)
• A MINISTER must know that he cannot prosper where God has not sent him.
- If you stray from God’s original will and plan for your life and ministry, He can use anything as a rod to chastise you, correct you, and re-order your steps back to the right path.
- If reproach, ridicule, disdain are seemed to be the order of the day in your life, it means you may have transgressed the commandment of God.
• If God instructed you to do something and you disobeyed; He may allow you to be dishonoured; your effort, work, or labour may not be rewarded, and He may allow your ministry not to be accepted.
- God may even allow calamity or predicament in your family, in the life of your spouse or children.
- God can permit unpalatable and unforgettable experiences to bring you back on the right track—path (Jonah 1:2-17).
• Note:If you are an evangelist, the itinerant minister, people invited you for programmes without any honorarium, or appreciations; it could be a sign that you have erred or derailed from God’s plan, instruction, or will.
- If you experienced calamities, either personally or any of your immediate family members, it could be a sign of derailment. GOD may be speaking to you through it.
- If no one seems to receive your ministry, it could also be a sign that God is calling your attention to something.
• If you are not at the right place that God wants you to be; you may be uncelebrated and your words will be ineffective—your words will be disdained.
- God will only honour you, your words, if you are at the place He sent you.
- Where you are not sent, you become a ridicule, reproach and a by-word.
- If God actually called you and sent you, He is concerned about where you go and what you do.
• Your itinerary has to be ordered and directed by Him.
- Every invitation has to be prayerfully considered. Remember, you are sent to a group of people known by Him alone.
- No matter how you try, those you are not sent or assigned will never accept your ministry and your person.
- The city or nation God has not sent you will never be opened to you and your ministry.
• Ministry assignment is geographical, thus you may not prosper just anywhere except where God has sent you –assigned you.
- Money should not be your goal and motive in the ministry.
- Money should not give you direction in the ministry.
- Money should not be the basis, reason why you go to minister in a place.
• Truth:If money is your goal or motive in the ministry work, you will not get it and you will miss God.
- God watches the hearts and every action is weighed by Him (1 Samuel 2:3).
- If your motive of doing something is wrong, even if it is a right thing, God will not reward you.
- God looks for sincere and loyal heart.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV)
- However, if you are sincerely wrong, He will have mercy on you, if your heart is right and flexible.
- God hates stubbornness, rigidity and being stiff-necked.
- If God is left behind in one’s assignment, one is finished.
• PRAYER:
I PRAY that you will not miss God, and you will not leave Him behind in all your endeavours in Jesus’ name.
Peace!