THE MINISTRY LIFE [Galatians 2c]

1. “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I [Paul] WITHSTOOD HIM TO HIS FACE, because he was to be blamed;
2. for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
3. AND THE REST OF THE JEWS ALSO PLAYED THE HYPOCRITE WITH HIM, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
4. BUT WHEN I SAW THAT THEY WERE NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?”
   Galatians 2:11-14 (NKJV)

• Temperament is defined by a Dictionary As a person's nature that is shown in the way they behave or react to situations or people.

• Your temperament is the combination of traits you inherited from your parents.
  A person's temperament makes him or her outgoing and extroverted, or shy and introverted.
• In the temperamental groups; every human being is said to have the combinations of two or more out of the four: Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic, or Phlegmatic.
• A Sanguine is a warm, buoyant, lively, and enjoying person.
  A Sanguine is also considered a super extrovert.
  HOWEVER, one of the Sanguines' weaknesses is the tendency to be weak-willed and undisciplined. A Sanguine also lacks emotional consistency.
• Reading through the Gospel one would discover and conclude that Apostle Peter is a Sanguine.
  SOMEONE said Simon Peter talked more than all the other disciples put together.
• Peter's inconsistency was displayed by being hypocritical!
• Paul did not hesitate to correct Peter, because failure to do so poses a danger to the work they [Paul and his team] have been building among the Gentiles (Galatians 2:11).

• Note: You need to know your strengths and your weaknesses that the Holy Spirit may help you: "LIKEWISE THE [Holy] SPIRIT ALSO HELPS IN OUR WEAKNESSES" (Romans 8:26).

• He helps, empowers, and enables you in the area of your weaknesses, in order to be a vessel of honour in the hand of God (2 Timothy 2:20,21).
• Peter's instability and inconsistency came to the limelight when he tried to be diplomatic, but hypocritical in his dealings with the Gentiles.
• When you know YOUR temperamental strengths and weaknesses, you will be able to allow the Holy Spirit to work through your strengths and augment your weaknesses.

• It is not a good thing if a Minister is not consistent, in which the word of such cannot be trusted.
IF your word cannot be taken as you said it, it means you lack integrity.
IF your actions cannot be predicted, or vouch for, it shows you lack discipline.

• Leaders influence those who are following them.
  ANY weakness or character defect in your Life which you failed to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to correct in your Life, will later bring dishonour, disdain, denigration, or defamation on your character—the person of you.
• Peter's action influenced other Jews to withdraw from the Gentiles, including Barnabas who did work with Paul to win these Gentiles for Christ: "12 … for before certain men came from James, HE [Peter] WOULD EAT WITH THE GENTILES; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 AND THE REST OF THE JEWS ALSO PLAYED THE HYPOCRITE WITH HIM, SO THAT EVEN BARNABAS WAS CARRIED AWAY WITH THEIR HYPOCRISY” (Galatians 2:12,13 NKJV).

• A leader must be proactive, especially in the situation where your work, assignment, is at stake.

• Paul did not shy away from correcting Peter even in the presence of others (Galatians 2:11).
  IF Paul did not arrest the situation, nib the problem at the bud, Peter's action could have rubbished all their labours among the Gentiles: "THOSE WHO ARE SINNING REBUKE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL, THAT THE REST ALSO MAY FEAR" (1 Timothy 5:20 NKJV).

• If God has Set you over a Ministry, to lead His people; you have a responsibility to correct things that are wrong and could affect negatively the unity and oneness of the fold of God, that is, the people under your leadership.

• God wants every presiding Minister to take heed to himself or herself and to the doctrine. And as they continue in doing this, they will save both themselves and those who hear them (1 Timothy 4:16).
• In the ministry leadership, you watch over the people by teaching them the Word of God and praying for them: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV).
• Scripture is profitable: for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
  READ: 2 Peter 1:12-15

• Paul knew the implication of Peter’s action, what he did, and the damage it could cause in their work and ministry among the Gentiles.

• As a minister, a leader, you have to be ahead of the people, and you must have an eagle’s eyes to see farther than them; and correct whatever could jeopardize the progress of the work entrusted to your hand BY God.
• Also, you must not allow sentiment to hinder you from swinging into actions whenever correction, reproof or discipline may be needed.
• If you failed to nip a problem at the bud, it can scatter your labour of several years in the ministry.
  THE incident at Antioch, where Paul corrected Peter, is a doctrinal problem.
  YOU have to take your stand, put your foot down on what you know to be the right thing, and be balance in your opinion on doctrinal issues.
• You should have a conviction, know what God has instructed you to preach and teach, and should not allows any sentiment to cause you to deviate from it.
• God’s dealings in your life, your persuasions and convictions, should reflect in your teaching—they are the pillars of the ministry given to you.

• Stand on the truth and refuse to recant because of persecution or opposition.
IT is the ministry built on the truth of the Word of God that will stand the test of time!

• You must stand strong and firm in your doctrinal convictions: “FOR IF I BUILD AGAIN THOSE THINGS WHICH I DESTROYED, I MAKE MYSELF A TRANSGRESSOR” (Galatians 2:18).
• If you cannot boldly declare and defend what you do believe and being convinced about, it means your Life still count or matter to you, you have not been fully crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20).
  YOU are to lose your life for Him: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY [Jesus'] SAKE AND THE GOSPEL'S WILL SAVE IT" (Mark 8:35).

• A minister’s work or ministry and message stem from his convictions in Christ.

• Some are in the ministry work, leading others, but they are yet to be crucified with Christ.
  WHAT you are in Christ precedes what you do for Him!
• Until you are crucified with Christ, you cannot be a Blessing to others. Being crucified is when you no longer live but Christ lives through you; It is then you can be a Blessing to other people (Galatians 2:20).
• Fledglings and inconsistencies of many ministers is as a result of their non-crucifixion with Christ.

• What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?

• It means to be consecrated and broken.
• When you Give your life to Christ Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, you need to consecrate your life to Him.
• Consecration means to ask Jesus to take over your life and do as He pleases with it.
• If you had made the unwavering commitment to God, the Holy Spirit will start the work of brokenness in your Life—He will help to break your ego, and subdue your flesh.
• The Holy Spirit will begin to discipline your flesh by allowing circumstances, situations and challenges, that would break your ego and makes you humble and not be opinionated (James 1:3,4; Romans 5:3,4).
• Know that God will not use a self-conceited person because God looks at the proud afar off (James 4:6).

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