"AND GOD HAS APPOINTED THESE IN THE CHURCH: first APOSTLES, second PROPHETS, third TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then gifts of healings, HELPS, ADMINISTRATIONS, varieties of tongues."
1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV)
• You had to know God's vision or plan for your life (Acts 22:18,21; Galatians 1:7,8)).
- It is not everyone who would be in the five fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11). Some are to be in the help ministries (1 Corinthians 12:28).
- Wherever your calling or gift lies, you would have to discover it and work towards the fulfilment, be It in the group of help ministries: administrations, music ministry, children or youth ministry, women ministry, and whatever (1 Corinthians 12:28).
- In other words, Get to know about the specific area of your assignment and know the nitty-gritty of it.
- After you have gotten to know and be convinced that you are assigned or called to such work or assignment, you would have to start something along that line.
- If your assignment is about the youths or the children, you can start by working in the youth or children department or ministry in the local church you attend.
- And, If yours is about music or singing ministry; you can also start by being part of the worship team or the choir, or choristers, in the local church of yours.
- With time, you might be led or inspired to gather some people who would work with you as a team.
• What are the basic things you would need to do before the commencement of the work or assignment—the ministry.
I. You would need to fast and pray to clarify things and seek the face of God for how to go by the assignment (Galatians 1:15-17; Luke 4:1,14,15).
II. The vision or the plan which God has made known to you would have to be shared with the people who would work with you in fulfilling the vision—the assignment (Nehemiah 2:17,18; Mark 3:13-15; Luke 6:12,13).
- This strictly should be with those whom you perceived and convinced that they believed in the vision. A number of such people would be those you had ministered to, those who had partaken in the Grace of God on your life and ministry (Mark 3:13,15; Luke 8:1-3).
III. Be bold and courageous in whatever step you are taking. Do not allow fear, and you should not allow any sense of inadequacy or unworthiness—whereby you see yourself unqualified or incompetent for the work or assignment (Joshua 1:6,7,9; 2 Timothy 1:7,8).
- God knows you and things He deposited in you, He knows you are able to do it, that is why He has assigned you to do it. God usually chooses the weak things to confound the wise:
26 FOR YOU SEE YOUR CALLING, BRETHREN, THAT NOT MANY WISE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, Not many MIGHTY, Not many NOBLE, ARE CALLED. 27 BUT GOD HAS CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO PUT TO SHAME THE WISE, And God has CHOSEN THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD TO PUT TO SHAME THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY; 28 And THE BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED GOD HAS CHOSEN, AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT, TO BRING TO NOTHING THE THINGS THAT ARE, 29 THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NKJV). - If you allowed any sense of inadequacy, It would limit your potential, what God has deposited in you, and you would not be able to produce maximally (2 Timothy 1:7,8).
- In people's eyes or views, It might look as If there were some other people who are more competent and qualified than you do—but God had chosen you anyway (2 Corinthians 11:5,6; Galatians 2:6-8). Do not allow the presence of such people to intimidate you: "DON'T LET ANYONE THINK LITTLE OF YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE YOUNG. BE THEIR IDEAL; let them follow the way you teach and live; BE A PATTERN FOR THEM IN YOUR LOVE, YOUR FAITH, AND YOUR CLEAN THOUGHTS" (1 Timothy 4:12 the Living Bible).
- God does not look as Man, human, looks. Humans look at the outward appearances, whilst God looks at the Heart (1 Samuel 16:6,7).
- Those whom you think are more qualified and competent than you do, might not be in the sight of God; they may not have the right Heart, or the kind of Heart required for the assignment at hand:
6 WHEN THEY ARRIVED, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “SURELY THIS IS THE LORD'S ANOINTED!” 7 BUT THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, “DON'T JUDGE BY HIS APPEARANCE OR HEIGHT, FOR I HAVE REJECTED HIM. THE LORD DOESN'T SEE THINGS THE WAY YOU SEE THEM. PEOPLE JUDGE BY OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART"" (1 Samuel 16:6,7 NLT).
IV. Do not listen to those who might be despising you and what you are about to do; looking down on you thinking you would not be able to do it (Nehemiah 4:1,2).
- Sanballat and Tobias wanted to frustrate Nehemiah, they were taunting and making mockery of what they were doing, but Nehemiah did not allow that to stop him—he was undeterred and remained focus (Nehemiah 4:1-3).
V. Do not give place or room to distractions. Such might come through the naysayers, obstructionists and the thwarter or resisters; those who would not want the success of what you are asked to do.
- The truth is, such people would always surface when an assignment commanded or instructed by God is to be embarked on. It is not New, neither is it peculiar to you. Leave them and be focused on what you are doing, they would soon change their minds and come to celebrate you.
VI. You would have to be courageous and resilient because of the challenges. One of the initial challenges that you might be confronted with is, the lack of faithful and committed people to work with you.
- Money might also be a big challenge. A Vision without a provision would be suffocated!
VII. Your focus should not be about what you would get or gain. Rewards would come, If you are faithful in the assignment.
- You main focus should be service. How the people brought your way would be blessed by God. If your faithfulness and commitment is seen by God, He would surely reward you. God is not a User, but a Rewarder (Hebrews 11:6).
VIII. Be consistent in the face of the adversities. When challenges and oppositions arose, keep at it, keep doing the work, do not quit.
IX. Cultivate the habit of thanking God for the trickle results you are getting.
- The glory of every success, or accomplishment, should be given to God the Father.
- This is very important, and it is one of the things that would make you last long in the assignment.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever is contrary to your health is rebuked and uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- Hold of sickness is completely broken in Jesus' name. And Afflictions will not rise again in Jesus' name.
Peace!
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!