- “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
- and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:
- “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
- who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
- to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Galatians 1:1-5 (NKJV)
• Called into the ministry is never by human appointment, it has to be by God (Galatians 1:1).
- If you are called or chosen you by a human being, you will not receive God’s backings on whatever you do.
- God will only support what He initiated! If He has not called you, He will not attest to whatever you do!
- You cannot put the honour of being a minister on yourself, you have to be called by God: "And no man takes this honour to himself, BUT HE WHO IS CALLED BY GOD, JUST AS AARON WAS" (Hebrews 5:4).
• Jesus gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age (Galatians 1:3,4).
All Jesus did, the work of redemption through the laying down of His life for our sins; and deliverance from this evil age, that is, deliverance from the power of darkness, are according to the Will of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-8).
Jesus could have gone ahead and do whatever He chooses to do, but He did not do that.
To excel and succeed in life and the ministry work, you must always seek out to know God’s Will.
All the people who Excelled in the ministry work, both now and in the Bible Days, did, through their knowledge of the Will of God.
David would not go to any battle without asking or inquiring from God whether to go or not, likewise Moses would not embark on what God has not commanded (1 Samuel 30:8; Hebrews 8:5).
When you take time out to stay or tarry in the presence of God, He would make His Will known to you.
You also know God’s Will through His Word as you study and ponder or meditate on it.
Whenever you spend enough time in reading and studying of the Bible, the Word of God, you will receive light on whatever He would want you to do (Ephesians 1:17,18).
Everything you do as a Minister or a believer should be based on the Will of God.
Whatever you do that may not be God's Will, would not attract any reward from Him, and any minor familiar spirit can prevail over the person because such a person is on his or her own (Acts 19:13-16).
• As a leader knows the Will of God, their foremost assignment is to teach the people of God—feed them with the Word (John 21:15-17; Acts 6:2,4).
- God wants His Word to be taught to His people: "AND I WILL GIVE YOU SHEPHERDS ACCORDING TO MY HEART, WHO WILL FEED YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING" (Jeremiah 3:15).
- If a leader fails to teach the people under their leadership, while the people are in the wandering about of the people for spiritual food, they may eat poisonous food.
- There are preachers in the world today who peddle, go about with a distorted gospel (2 Peter 2:1-3).
- “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, TO A DIFFERENT GOSPEL,
- which is not another; BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO TROUBLE YOU AND WANT TO PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.”
Galatians 1:6,7 (NKJV)
- Galatians were turning away from the truth which they had known to a different Gospel, they wanted to embrace the Gospel of works and jettison the Gospel of grace; which Paul found disturbing.
THEY wanted to forsake the truth which they have been taught: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL TO YOU THAN WHAT WE HAVE PREACHED TO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED" (Galatians 1:8 NKJV). - The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is not two, it is only one.
THE Gospel simply means the Good News. And the Good News is that Jesus Christ came to the world and die for the sin of mankind and whoever believes in Him, that Jesus died for their sins and resurrected for their justification would be saved (John 3:14-16; Romans 4:25; 10:9,10). - Note: You have a responsibility as a leader to teach the people under your leadership. Your foremost assignment which you are assigned to do as a Minister is to teach the people of God (Acts 6:2,4).
- The work in the ministry is to first of all sit at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ to learn, then feed His people with what you have learnt from Him: "FOR I [Paul] DELIVERED TO YOU FIRST OF ALL THAT WHICH I ALSO RECEIVED; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3).
- Consistent teaching of the undiluted and undisputed Word of God is an antidote to heretic teachings.
HENCE leaders should always remind their followers of the present truth (2 Peter 1:12-15).
“IF YOU INSTRUCT THE BRETHREN IN THESE THINGS, YOU WILL BE A GOOD MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
THESE THINGS COMMAND AND TEACH. Take Heed to Your Ministry.
TILL I COME, GIVE ATTENTION TO READING, TO EXHORTATION, TO DOCTRINE.
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF AND TO THE DOCTRINE. CONTINUE IN THEM, FOR IN DOING THIS YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU.”
1 Timothy 4:6,11,13,15,16 (NKJV)“PREACH THE WORD! Be ready in season and out of season. CONVINCE, REBUKE, EXHORT, WITH ALL LONG-SUFFERING AND TEACHING.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
BUT YOU BE WATCHFUL IN ALL THINGS, endure afflictions, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY.”
2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NKJV)
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!