GOD'S MINISTERS AND THE PEOPLE UNDER THEIR LEADERSHIP 2

15 MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY TO THEM, that your progress may be evident to all.
16 TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF AND TO THE DOCTRINE [teaching]. Continue in them, FOR IN DOING THIS YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU."
1 Timothy 4:15,16 (NKJV)

• Your relationship as God's minister with those who are considered to be Big in the secular world should be with godly wisdom.

• When God wanted you to minister to someone who has influence in the world, a public figure; someone in politics, a wealthy person, or whoever, do not make yourself cheap for such.
• Do not give or confer a title on such a person who come to your church that he or she might not leave. Instead, let him or her be taught the Word of God. Through the Word of God they would know how to behave in the church of God: "BUT IF I AM DELAYED, I WRITE SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HOW YOU OUGHT TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH" (1 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV).

17 COMMAND THOSE WHO ARE RICH IN THIS PRESENT AGE NOT TO BE HAUGHTY, NOR TO TRUST IN UNCERTAIN RICHES BUT IN THE LIVING GOD, WHO GIVES US RICHLY ALL THINGS TO ENJOY.
18 LET THEM DO GOOD, THAT THEY BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO GIVE, WILLING TO SHARE,
19 STORING UP FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE TIME TO COME, THAT THEY MAY LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE."
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NKJV)

• Do not parade—present so as to invite notice or attention—such a person and give undue recognition to him or her. Let it be known through the Word of God that whatever a person is, in the secular world, he or she has to submit to the authority of the church and learn God's Word.
• Do not beg for money to meet your personal needs, that may demean you. However, the needs of the church or ministry should be made known to them and the entire congregation.
• Be a man or woman of integrity; be straightforward and truthful, when relating with such.
• Look descent and presentable, If you are going to be a spiritual father or parent to such a person, you should be descent and presentable.
• Being descent does not mean being expensive. We are not teaching you to live above your size, because you wanted to pastor a socialite or someone who is big in the society.
• Let such a person be taught or trained, before any responsibility or work is given to him or her in the house of God. Let them go through the normal procedure of becoming a worker in the church.
• If the Heart of such a person is at home in a place, they usually want to be involved in whatever is being done there. Thus, If they are taught, you should go ahead and give them a responsibility or work to do in the church.

• Some of the common problems of those who are big in the society:

• A number of them usually battle with marital issues. Some are having crises in their marriages; separations and divorces.
• Some have challenges on their children. Some of their children are wayward; being a drug addict or a cultist, and the like.
• Some are battling with sicknesses and diseases. And they live on medications. The money is there, that is, they are in money, but they have come to realize they could only get solutions to their challenges or problems through God.
• Some are being attacked and oppressed, demonically. In most cases, their problems are not always about basic needs of life or problems that money can solve.

• Admonishments or warnings.

• Be careful with those who are females among them; those who are of such status in the society, especially the single parents or baby-mamas. Such might want to be emotionally attached to you as you begin to counsel and pray with them.
• Such would usually want or need someone she could cry in his presence, someone who can console, encourage, and care for her.
• The emotional attachment could lead to immorality, thus, be circumspect and careful. May the LORD help you in Jesus' name.

• Other things that should be noted as a minister, in relating with the sheep—the people under your leadership.

• Mostly, some of the things being shared here, are peculiar to the ministers in the charismatic and pentecostal churches or ministries.
  a. When you attended a wedding ceremony, do not go for the reception and be eating with the crowd. Although, some denominational churches ministers might not do this, but It happens in the charismatic circles.
  b. Do not borrow money from your members, or buy Ware on credit (1 Corinthians 9:14,15; 1 Thessalonians 2:5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
  ALTHOUGH, It is ethical and biblical for the people you are pastoring to give material things to you, either money or whatever, but you should not be the one begging for it (1 Corinthians 9:11,12; Philippians 4:14-19).
  c. You should teach them how to give to their pastor or the minister who feed them with God's Word—who is ministering spiritual things to them (1 Corinthians 9:7-14; Philippians 4:14-19). Albeit, do not cheapens yourself by begging for things. Let your needs be made known to God, and allow Him to stir or touch their hearts to give to you (Exodus 35:21; Philippians 4:11-13).

• You will not miss it in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• As the hold is broken, the affliction will never rise again in Jesus' mighty name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!