GOD'S MINISTERS AND THE PEOPLE UNDER THEIR LEADERSHIP 1

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)

• In this piece, I would be sharing some basic things about ministry which would be beneficial to anyone who serves in the church or ministry leadership.

• Endeavour to meditate on whatever is read here and do not trivialize it.

• As a minister of God, do not run after men, humans, but after God:
1 I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS—FROM WHENCE COMES MY HELP? 2 MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH" (Psalm 121:1 NKJV).

• Do not let the wealthy be your focus, but God. If you did focus on humans, you would be disappointed:
  3 DON'T PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN POWERFUL PEOPLE; THERE IS NO HELP FOR YOU THERE. 4 WHEN THEY BREATHE THEIR LAST, THEY RETURN TO THE EARTH, AND ALL THEIR PLANS DIE WITH THEM" (Psalm 146:3,4 NLT).
• Let there be a gap between you and the people (Joshua 3:3,4). Keep your privacy, as a minister of God, and you should beware of the opposite sex.
• A male minister should not allow emotional attachment, especially the mature singles; the marriageable, or nubile beauties, or baby-mamas.
• Carry your wife along in all you do, that you may have peace in the pursuit of the assignment. Expose your spouse to the things you know, and help in building her up, and the gifts in her (1 Timothy 4:14).
• If you did not build her up and give her any responsibility, the devil might take advantage of that; borrow her and Use her as an instrument against you and the work you do.
• Women are good instruments, If you know how to handle them and build them up for the purpose of God. However, If you let them loose and allow them to do whatever they want, that is, you lost the leadership control in the home; they can easily be influenced and manipulated by the devil.
• They can get carried away and be used as instrument against you and the work (1 Peter 3:7).
• Take time to pray for your wife and other women under your leadership, and build them up as a vessel of Gold (2 Timothy 2:20,21); that they might be used for the expansion of the Kingdom of God—mostly the visions given to you.

• If your calling is pastoral, and your work is not under the denominational churches, possibly, you are the founder or pioneer of the church; you would need to discipline yourself to observe the office hours.

• You should have an office where you report to daily, where you do your administrative work; where you also attend to the people who may want to see you—either for counseling.
• If your work is shepherding, pastoral, you have to stay with the sheep and build your spirit in them; through the teaching of the Word of God and training.
• Ministry work is not about running around, If your primary assignment is pastoral. An Apostle, or an evangelist, or a teacher, can travel from place to place in fulfilling their assignments or callings; but a pastor should stay with the sheep—his or her traveling should be seldom.
• Ministry work is not about the number of places you are able to preach, but the numbers of people you are able to impact—affect positively with the Grace of God on your life.
• It is important that you:
  a. Teach the people that God has given to you (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).
  b. Train them and build them up, both spiritually and numerically (1 Timothy 4:15,16).
  c. Be identify with them and their needs (Acts 20:27,31; 2 Corinthians 11:29).
  d. Take them and their needs to God in prayers:
  19 LISTEN NOW TO MY [Jethro, Moses' father in-law] VOICE; I WILL GIVE YOU COUNSEL, AND GOD WILL BE WITH YOU: STAND BEFORE GOD FOR THE PEOPLE, SO THAT YOU MAY BRING THE DIFFICULTIES TO GOD. 20 AND YOU SHALL TEACH THEM THE STATUTES AND THE LAWS, AND SHOW THEM THE WAY IN WHICH THEY MUST WALK AND THE WORK THEY MUST DO" (Exodus 18:19,20 NKJV).
  READ: Hebrews 13:17
• The people you did not stay with, as a pastor primarily, whom you were not committed to, would equally not be committed to you and the work.

• It is my prayer you will not miss it in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' mighty name.
• Whatever is contrary to your health is rebuked and rooted out completely 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!