It has always been a deep interest to me to know the secrets behind a successful life, venture or project. This led me to once ask a top Lecturer in one of my earliest Bible Schools for the secret of success in ministry. He graciously answered me in many ways, but one point stood out above others. And that has been my further study and research since the last 30 years.
Unfortunately, many Christians and gospel ministers of today have not really come to grasp with this truth, the more reason our ministry is not really flourishing according to heaven’s estimate.
It is essential that we have the basic grasp of the fact that the number one power behind a truly flourishing ministry is the life being lived by the minister. (1 Tim. 4:16). A life enabled and enobled by the Holy Spirit is the only power behind any flourishing ministry.
A. The Power of Your Life – 1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Thess. 1:5-8; Phil. 1:27; 2:12-16; 2 Cor. 1:12
1. Your person is much more important than your performance.
2. You must first live the gospel before you declare the gospel-Acts 1:1
3. Your life and your ministry are inseparable.
4. Your private life will give credibility to your ministry.
5. The examples you set with your life will empower your ministry.
6. One good example is worth much more than 10,000 sermons.
7. The enemies of the gospel are friends of the gospel but who don’t live the gospel.
8. It is not possible to live wrong and lead right.
9. Your personal growth determines your ministry’s growth your capacity determines the work load God will give to you – Matthew 11:29
It is only those who have been changed, transformed by the gospel that can truly carry out the ministry of the gospel with power and positive effect. (1 Thess. 2:8). It is only those who model the gospel that can truly preach the gospel with power.
B. Types of Ministers on The Gospel Scene Today Tim. 2:16-18 Phil. 2:18-19; 2
The Bible shows us three kinds of ministers:
i. Demas minister 2 Tim. 4:10 a backslidden
ii. Diotrephes 3 John 9, 10 a proud, money and position conscious one
iii. Demetrius – 3 John 12-a godly, growing minister
So, any minister, servant of God can choose to become anyone of these in ministry.
For one reason or the other, we have the good, the bad and the ugly in the ministry of today. Different types of ministers have emerged on the gospel scene. Check out the following:
1. The Prayer-Merchants: They visit homes, offices and various places to offer prayers for a fee. They don’t preach but just to pray, and live well by prayers.
2. The Politicians: They talk and practice politics. They mingle and dine with politicians and get political appointments or they follow, canvass and support politicians to the detriment of the gospel
3. Self-appointed Prophets: They give yearly predictions that are almost always negative. They recommend baths, fastings, works and prophetic gimmicks to people for a fee, no preaching the Bible but prophecies and prophetic works.
4. Businessmen Ministers: They are in the ministry for money. They are millionaires if not billionaires. They preach business principles and raise business seeds. They raise entrepreneurs and charge fees with lots of business empires.
5. Funky Ministers: They package and swagger. Hairdo, wristwatch, tone skin, suits, tie and latest cars are the hallmarks. They only preach the gospel of grace. The women ministers are divas with lots of gold and jewelry to show.
6. Miracle Workers: Everything is miracle, miracle and miracles, even if it involves using means, occultic stick, cross, mantle and water. It is only gospel of miracles, no more.
7. Positive Psychologist: They preach the word according to positive thinking, focus, service, sowing seeds, packaging. branding, excellence and relationships, but not according to repentance, the cross, discipleship, restitution, prayer, Holy Spirit. They get secular results but not spiritual fruits.
8. The Polygamist: Ministers who practice concurrent or simultaneous polygamy. Marital issues that negate the Bible are common with them.
9. The Godly and Growing Minister: They have been called by God, and they are growing in the grace of God. They are ministers after God’s heart.
The mostly negative lifestyle and examples being set by these types of ministers have really bastardized the gospel in our Nation today. And as long as their tribes are numerous and increasing, the true gospel of Christ is under serious threat.
Recommended Reading
EVERY CHRISTIAN A MINISTER
7 Lessons from the Life of Daniel: Excellence in Exile
Seven Habits Of A Growing Christian
C. The Holy Spirit Power to Power Your Life-Acts 1:8; Matt. 3:11
It is impossible to live right without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within you. Usually, there are three spirits that control the world:
i. Spirit of God-Gen. 1:3
ii. Spirit of Man-Prov. 20:27
iii. Spirit of the Devil – 1 Tim. 4:1
No man can live with one at least two. Either Spirit of God will possess your inner man or you allow the spirit of the devil to do it. The spirit of man cannot live alone. The spirit of man is dead in sin until conversion. At conversion, the Spirit of God comes to give life to your inner spirit, but if you backslide into sin, the spirit of the devil can stage a comeback to your life.
1. To live godly and exemplary life – you must be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
- Holy Spirit gives new life- John 3:5-6
- Holy Spirit brings God’s love to our heart-Romans 5:15,8
- Holy Spirit reveals God’s secret to us-1 Cor. 2:10-16
- Holy Spirit empowers us-Acts 1:8 Holy Spirit dwells in us John 14:16-17
- Holy Spirit convicts of sin – John 16:7-11
- Holy Spirit gives us joy and peace – Romans 14:17
- Holy Spirit draws into fellowship 2 Cor. 13:14
- Holy Spirit gives us His fruit – Gal. 5:22
2. Wrong living and examples are the outcome of demonic spirits through deception, sin in the heart, immoralities, lying, occultic involvement, and covenant with demons, bitterness, rape, unforgiving spirit and unrepented evils.
3. Genuine repentance, turning away and welcoming the Holy Spirit afresh into your heart and life is the secret of powerful living. (Acts 3:19).