"And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, THAT YOU MAY FULFIL IT."
Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)
• The Ministry work is thirty percent of preaching and seventy percent of other things, says somebody.
APART from preaching, there are areas of the ministry work that one needs to pay attentions, for the ministry to stand.
Preachings and teachings will build the people up and cause them to grow spiritually, nevertheless there are other areas that needed attention as well.
-> Give attention to:
I. Understanding of the People
- Be patient with the people, know that people submit willingly
THOSE who will submit to you will do without being forced Or coerced. - Pray with the people, counsel them, and allow them to make choices on the matters of their lives.
- Let God convince and train the people by the help of the Holy Spirit after you have done your part in teaching, counselling, and praying.
- Some people under your leadership would have to learn by experience, it is not everyone who relates with you that would be willing to learn by the Word you teach, give such a person the opportunity and time to learn through experience.
- Do not run after people, they may misinterpret your good intention.
- Give God a chance to work in the life of the people, do not do the work of the Holy Spirit.
YOU do this by praying for them—talk less, and pray more, do not argue with the people.
- "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
- And a servant of the Lord must not QUARREL but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
- in humility correcting those who are in opposition, IF GOD PERHAPS WILL GRANT THEM REPENTANCE, SO THAT THEY MAY KNOW THE TRUTH,
- and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."
2 Timothy 2:23-26 (NKJV)
- Learn to watch and allow God to have His way in the LIVES of those WHO are committed to your hands, after all they are not your people, they belong to Him (1 Peter 5:2).
FOR EXAMPLES: You may be praying with Someone on a particular matter, God may choose not to answer the prayer as you have expected.
HE may delay the answer, Or answered the PRAYER in another form apart from the way you have thought, the reason is best known to Him.
II. The Leaders around you: Associates, Workers, Unit Leaders and Others
- When raising leaders around you, that is, committing people to work, you have to be sensitive to God.
PRAY and receive direction from God before you take any step on it (Luke 6:12,13). - Study the people under your leadership and understand what each person is temperamentally suited for.
KNOW their weaknesses and strengths.
DO not give titles and ordain those who are not qualified to the offices of ministry.
DO not appoint or ordain WITHOUT proving or testing the the potential persons: "BUT LET THESE ALSO FIRST BE TESTED; THEN LET THEM SERVE AS DEACONS, BEING FOUND BLAMELESS" (1 Timothy 3:10).
"Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; KEEP YOURSELF PURE."
1 Timothy 5:22 (NKJV)
- Power is intoxicating, it can destroy the person whom you empower without proper grooming and prayer.
IN fact, it can be used against you if you empowered Or put a novice to work.
- "A bishop must be blameless...
- NOT a novice [new convert], lest being puffed up with pride he falls into the same condemnation as the devil."
1 Timothy 3:2,6 (NKJV)
- Let the people you are putting to work know that it is not a permanent position.
DO not tie people down with titles.
DO not give titles to people because of money or any worldly attainment.
PROOF their faithfulness!
• Take note:Train the people before you put them to work and do train them after you have put them to work, that is, on-the-job trainings (2 Timothy 2:2).
- Pray earnestly before you put the people to work.
JESUS prayed all night before He chose His twelve APOSTLES.
- "Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, AND CONTINUED ALL NIGHT IN PRAYER TO GOD.
- And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles."
Luke 6:12,13 (NKJV)
III. Finances
- Tithe the income of your Ministry, sow seed, do not let everything end up with you.
IF you do not relate with anybody on finances, your ministry and the people under you will suffer for it. - Be financially accountable.
HAVE a GOOD financial system. - Deal with the strongman of the City where you ARE over the finances of your ministry and that of the people.
- Understand who your father is and relate properly with such, with YOUR money.
SOMEONE whom you are Relating with as a spiritual father MAY not know anything about principles of financial prosperity, thus you need a financial mentor.
MANY missed it in the place of relationship.
IV. The place of wisdom, power, and administration
a. Wisdom
- Ask God to give you wisdom (James 1:5).
- Read the Bible, books of proven authors, attend seminars, walk with the wise men (Daniel 9:2; Proverbs 13:20).
- Receive impartation from those who are ahead of you in the work of ministry—those who have the grace for wisdom: "Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel HEEDED him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses" (Deuteronomy 34:9).
b. Power
- Know that without the demonstration of power, signs and wonders, your ministry may not be relevant to people: "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, BUT IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND POWER" (1 Corinthians 2:4).
PRAY and fast to receive power—the anointing to function.
RECEIVE fire 🔥, power from the those who are ahead of you in the work—and have the anointing you crave for.
• Take note: As God started using you to minister and bless other people, do not allow pride because of manifestations of power you have witnessed in your ministry.
DO not think you have arrived because you PRAYED for someone who has an headache and the person got healed.MAY the Lord give you understanding.
c. Administration
- You should have an office where you counsel, pray with people, and do your paper work.
- Observe the office hours.
- Have files and document things. Let there be records for all you do and the income.
BE disciplined to report at the office as scheduled. - Have an organized body of persons, do this with prayers, and proof the people you intend to put to work: "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3).
"But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless" (1 Timothy 3:10).
BE highly sensitive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit as you do it.
• As your work grows, put the people in units and groups and set up or appoint leaders over them: "Moreover YOU SHALL SELECT FROM ALL THE PEOPLE ABLE MEN, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; AND PLACE SUCH OVER THEM TO BE RULERS OF THOUSANDS, RULERS OF HUNDREDS, RULERS OF FIFTIES, AND RULERS OF TENS" (Exodus 18:21).
READ: Exodus 18:13-23
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED