GIVE GOD THE CHANCE AND LET HIM BUILD 1

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)

• Jesus said He will build His church and the gate of hell shall not prevail (Matthew 16:18).

• As a minister, you have to give God His place in building the ministry He committed to your hand.
• Know that you cannot build men successfully without God.
• You need know that you are not the Holy Spirit and you can not do the work of the Holy Spirit.
• If you attempted to do His work, you may hinder His move and that will hamper the growth of the work committed to your hands.

• Take note:A number of ministers are doing the work of ministry with the arms of flesh.

• Remember by strength shall no man prevail, you cannot prevail or succeed in the work of Ministry by human wisdom—your personal ability and strength (1 Samuel 2:9).
• God is the Owner of the people which are given to you, allow Him to build them in His own way and pattern; when you did allow God, He will train and build them to be loyal and committed to the work—the vision given to you.
• Know that you cannot force the people to be loyal to you.
  DO not take the place of the Holy Spirit in their lives, allow Him do His work in the training and building of the people.

• The truth is:God will use the people who are under you to test and build your patience.

• He will use the most difficult people you have around you, in your team, to mature or grow you.
• God will use them to test your loyalty to Him.
• He will use them to train you on how to walk in love—how to walk or relate with the unlovable: "The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, SUPPOSING TO ADD AFFLICTION TO MY CHAIN; What then? Only that in every way, WHETHER IN PRETENSE OR IN TRUTH, CHRIST IS PREACHED; AND IN THIS I REJOICE, YES, AND WILL REJOICE" (Philippians 1:16,18).
• They would be used to test and build your faith.
• Your discipline level would also be tested through them.

• Take note:God may allow some of the people to disappoint you, that you may learn how to rely on God alone, and not to put your trust in any man: "AT MY FIRST DEFENSE NO ONE STOOD WITH ME [Paul], BUT ALL FORSOOK ME, May it not be charged against them" (2 Timothy 4:16).

1. "BUT JESUS DID NOT COMMIT HIMSELF TO THEM, BECAUSE HE KNEW ALL MEN,
2. and had no need that anyone should testify of man, FOR HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN "
   John 2:24,25 (NKJV)

• God may allow some to withdraw from you, if you are getting attached with such emotionally.
• He may permit disloyalty from some under your leadership: "FOR DEMAS HAS FORSAKEN ME, HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD, and has departed for Thessalonica..." (2 Timothy 4:10).
• He may permit some not to give money and other material things to you or your work, yet they have been blessed through your ministry (1 Corinthians 9:11,12; 2 Corinthians 11:9).
• He may allow some to rebel and backstab you (Luke 22:1-6).
• God is not the One who made them do evil, the devil and the flesh are, but He does allow them anyway, to make perfect what is imperfect in you (1 Corinthians 14:33).
• The purpose is to smooth your rough edges, you should know that it is a test that you must pass to move forward in the ladder of leadership.
• If you failed the test on anyone, whoever He uses as a test for you, you will eventually lose that person.
• If you passed the test, you will experience promotion; bigger assignment would be given to you and more souls would be committed to you, plus those whom you have passed the test on.

• Note these points:

• Know that the people who come to your ministry, or those whom you have a privilege to minister to, are not your people.
  THEY belong to God, leave them in God’s hand and let Him train them, cease from your labour, enter His rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).
• Focus on God as a leader and let God test and train the people—those who work with you, even your spouse and children.
• Learn to talk to God about the people much more.
• If your have had any problem with anyone, someone who is not doing what you expected him or her to do, talk to God about it and receive direction on how to handle the matter.
  NOTE: It does not mean you should not correct or rebuke when needed, but do things as you are instructed by God—do as He leads.

1. "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.
2. THOSE WHO ARE SINNING REBUKE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL, THAT THE REST ALSO MAY FEAR."
   1 Timothy 5:19,20 (NKJV)

• Do not correct, rebuke in annoyance. ASK God what to do on every occasion.
• Know from God whether He wants you to: counsel, correct, rebuke, chastise, scold, or not; in every matter at hand.
• When you allowed God to take the lead and direct in everything in your life and ministry, you will get better results without stress.

• Understand the Ethics of the work of ministry.

• Stop running after the people, run after God.
• Do not allow familiarity through too much closeness.
• Let God determine whoever will follow you and WHOEVER will not.
  WHO to be in your church or not.
  WHO to be loyal to you and your ministry, and who will not.
• Let God determine people who will attend a programme, come for prayer and counseling, and those who will not.
  ALBEIT publicity is necessary!
• Let God determine the size—numerical strength of your church.
  DO not use human arrangements or gimmicks to gather crowd.

• Let God set the pattern and the uniqueness of your ministry.

• Let Him give you the style and the pattern, do not copy others.
• Let God determine where your ministry is located.
• Do not manipulate things or try to force things to be done in your own way, it may weary you if you do.
• Do not do things with human knowledge in the Ministry, human logic and cleverness do fail, let God be the initiator and director of all you do in the ministry work (Proverbs 3:5,6).
• Idea used in the secular world May not work in the ministry, if it was not originated and instructed by God.
• Do not copy other people's ministry PATTERN, although you may learn from others and ask the Holy Spirit whether what you have learnt is applicable to your ministry or not.
• If it could be applied, you need to know about how to do it, and the necessary adjustment needed in your work.

• In order to balance the message:

• You can do publicity to invite people for programmes, but you allow God to determine who to attend.
  PRAY, plan, prepare and leave God with the rest.
  BELIEVE that those whom you see in your programme are the ones He has stirred to come, and thank Him for them.

"THEN EVERYONE CAME WHOSE HEART WAS STIRRED, AND EVERYONE WHOSE SPIRIT WAS WILLING, and they brought the LORD'S offering for the work of the Tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments."
Exodus 35:21 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED