UNDERSTANDING MINISTRY: SETTING THE STANDARDS

"Now it came to pass, afterwards, THAT HE [Jesus] WENT THROUGH EVERY CITY AND VILLAGE, PREACHING AND BRINGING THE GLAD TIDINGS [proclaiming the good news] OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And the twelve were with Him,
and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene...,
and Joanna the wife of Chuza..., and Susanna, AND MANY OTHERS WHO PROVIDED FOR HIM FROM THEIR SUBSTANCE [possessions]."
Luke 8:1-3 (NKJV)

• If you discovered purpose, God gave a vision to you; then you have a responsibility to make the vision work.

Your vision will make you. And if you failed to pay attention to your vision, the plan of God for your life, and work on it, you will bear the blame.
For the people to buy into your vision, they must have seen your commitment to the vision.
IF your vision is not a thing of importance to you, no one will consider it necessary to give their substance, possessions, to it (Luke 8:1-3).
Those who sold their lands and houses and brought the proceeds to lay at the apostles feet had seen their commitment—the commitment of the apostles (Acts 4:32-37).
The truth is that no one else will work to bring your vision to fulfilment, if you do not take the lead.
If your God-given vision will stand, materialize, become a reality, all depends on you (Colossians 4:17).

-> It depends on you

• Some pastors who pioneered new ministries have the thought that the Church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, they do not have any responsibility to make it stand.

If your ministry will stand, you as the founding minister needed to pay the price, give everything it takes for you to get it work, for the vision to speak.
I have seen ministers, pastors, who are not ready to sacrifice their personal money and comfort to build their ministries.
Their personal comfort take precedence over their ministries.
As the Pioneer of the work, your ministry should take precedence over your private life or comfort.
If there is a need in your life as well as ministry, ministry’s need should take precedence—you should meet the need in the ministry first before your personal or family needs.
Solomon built the house of God before he did build his own house.

"So Solomon built the temple and finished it.
In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid...
And in the eleventh year... the house was finished... so he was seven years in building it.
But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house."
1 Kings 6:14,37,38; 7:1 (NKJV)

• A Pastor
I met a Pastor a couple of years ago who had three cars, but the Church had not a single parcel of land.
THE Pastor believes that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ, if the members refused to bring the money💰 needed to purchase a Land, it is their problems.

The truth is that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ, yet the Pastor has been given the vision and the responsibility to build the Church with the resources given to him.
If Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, He should be the Lord of your money, cars, and houses.
Who blessed you with the cars in the first place?
ALL you have are given to you by God and they are given for a purpose, to glorify Him and expand His Kingdom on earth.
IF you cannot give your property: cars or whatever to your vision, Who will do it?
If you can take the lead in doing such a thing, giving your possessions, others will follow suit.

• Pay the necessary price to get your vision established.

"Moreover, because I [David] have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:
three thousand talents of gold....
Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?"
Then the leaders of the fathers' houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the King's work, offered willingly."
1 Chronicles 29:3-6 (NKJV up)

David set the pace, the standard, in giving, so that other people under his leadership could copy him.
If the people under your leadership will give, you as a leader will take the lead.
If you have valuable possessions and you cannot offer them for your vision, the assignment given you by God; you should not be surprised, those under your leadership may not offer their possessions as well.

• May the Lord give you understanding in Jesus' name.
Peace!