What is Your Ministry - Bola Olu-Jordan
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‘For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.’ (1Cor.1:17-18). Paul recognized clearly what God called him to do: ‘not to baptize, but to preach the gospel’. This should be the hallmark of every body’s ministry and calling; recognizing what God called you to do. ‘Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.’ (2Pet.1:10) (1Cor. 7:20,24). Do you know what God is calling you to do or you are part of those that believe that it is only pastors and others in the pulpit ministry that are called? Know that there is no single person that does not have a calling, no matter how small. Have you taken time to locate yours? You may not be called as a pastor, but you may be called into a support, help, government, administration, exhortation or intercessory ministry, etc. Many, however, neglect their calling because it is not a popular one like that of the pastor, teacher, prophet, etc. Yet, ‘unpopular’ ministry like that that carry no smaller reward, because without it, others cannot function properly. ‘Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.’ (1Cor.12:22-24). Without some people financing Reinhard Bonnke Ministry, for instance, we may not hear of him. We however, know Reinhard Bonnke very well, but we don’t know those who support him! May be you are called into such a ministry! “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, … to keep himself unspotted from the world” James 1:27.
It is not success in your vocation or what you like that God will ask for in heaven, it is faithfulness in what He has committed into your hands, no matter how little or big. Have you taken time to even discover what it is? Remember the parable of the talent: He gave every one something; ‘to every man according to his several ability’ (Mt.25:15). There is no one he has not given any; the least, he gave one and He said ‘occupy till I come(Lk.19:13). The reason many have not been occupied is because they don’t even know what ministry God has given them. Others know it, but hid it in a ‘napkin’ (Lk.19:20) because they are waiting for an opportuned time which may never be better than the present time. Others are waiting for the right time and a condusive atmosphere. Unfortunately, the Church pattern today, unlike the apostles’ time, does not encourage body ministry, where individual’s ministry is discovered in small gatherings of house cells where everyone is free to participate. It is not the pastor alone doing all the talking and only inviting the congregation to participate during ‘offering time’. But there is always room for people to ask questions, speak out their opinion and contribute their idea, even if it is wrong. If anyone attempts such during church service these days, the ushers will bundle him to the vestry where warfare prayers will be showered on him so as to be delivered. If he is someone who has been faithful in tithes and offering to the church, he would be respected a bit and asked to come and see the ‘man of God during the week’ in the counselling time. The body (the true church of Christ is thus not edified by that person’s knowledge or ignorance. The church today, aptly call it ‘order of service’, but it was the New Testament Church pattern for almost 300 years before they were scattered by the Roman Government through persecution. Order of Service in our churches boxes the Holy Spirit, who cannot move as He wills because every thing has been timed. Although the Holy Spirit would want to move for ten minutes but because the G.O has ordered the brother to speak for only 2 minutes, just to psyche the people up and water their soulish appetite in preparation for acrobatic display and quotable quotes and words of philosophy which, although, contain many financial, societal and religious facts, but not an iota of spiritual truth. The man of God passionately and psychedelically warm up himself into the lean pockets of the spiritually impoverished and innocent congregation, and get returns for his labour for the day, through offerings which is primarily meant to build the church (i.e. the people) but is instead used to build monuments and acquire instrument of music which takes them farther away from God dancing to satanic songs with religious rhythm . This is still in a better place where such monies do not go to the G.O’s account. The Holy Spirit cannot be boxed or timed. He would rather leave than to watch as people take turns to satisfy their religious sense, devoid of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. God will simply ask you, if it is proper to obey man more than Him if you continue to hide under the untenable excuse that it is because your pastor or your church does not give you opportunity to use your gift or calling, that is why you intern it. When the big and religious title holders, and commanders of the temple and well respected clergies asked Peter and John not to speak any longer in the name of Jesus; they immediately ‘answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye’. (Acts 4:19). So what is your excuse.
Your delay in knowing your ministry and functioning in it is costing God too great a loss. Have you taken time to ask God what He want from you? If you have not, it perhaps, means that you have never had a personal, one-on-one encounter with the person of Jesus. As bad as Saul was, when he had such encounter on the way to Damascus, he asked about his ministry: ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’ And immediately Jesus told him what to do. To every one that asketh receiveth. Have you asked or you just assume. That is even worse! Many people find themselves doing a particular thing over a period of time and they just continue without asking if that is exactly what God want them to do. Kenneth Hagin was in this shoe before. For twelve years he pastored until God asked him when he would start the ministry he has given unto him. He told God that was his twelfth year and he shared with God many testimonies and the large congregation, etc. God was surprised and told him he was not aware of that. As far as He was concerned, he hadn’t began his ministry. Her abandoned it and started afresh. That’s why we hear the name today. Otherwise, He would have spent about 60 years in ministry and every one would have said he was a success in ministry. Service of songs and commendation would have been held in his memorial and encomium would have been showered on him as regards the ministry. But is would be a different ball game in heaven Aren’t there so many like that today? They are even more than those who actually located their ministry and functioned there. Make your calling and election sure so that you don’t run another man’s race. For the fact that you are assisting a pastor does not make you one. Know your calling! Make sure. There are so many ‘G.O’s’ who, because of the love they have for some people would not want to release them to pursue their own ministry. They are too useful for them and they can’t lose them. So they give them a portfolio as the personal assistant to the G.O. or some other enviable position and title. No sooner would such forget they have a calling as the G.O encourages him with many things, including money. God will not only judge the indolent servant but the wicked and selfish G.O. What is your ministry? Do you sing or write? Are you called simply to pray or give to the course of the gospel? Is yours administration or organization? Perhaps yours is to visit, encourage or identify with people in their affliction. Or to encourage the downcast and the broken hearted. The worst, however, is if you are called into a ministry, (especially the five fold) and you are not functioning! It is more like a suicide for ‘that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes’ (Lk.12:47). Paul says I am not called to baptize but to preach. What are you called to do? |
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