Today, I want to share some thoughts on ministry and leadership that come from Scripture. The Message of the Gospel must be the focus of our Christian life and ministry. That is, that God’s love is extended towards all people, and that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. This is the theme that must run through everything we do. Paul talks about the difference between man’s persuasive words and those anointed by the Spirit of God. Our testimony must be one of power in the Spirit. (See 1Cor 2:4-5, 12 NIV) 1 Cor 2:13 “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”

The Motivation for Ministry is not to impress people with our gifts and talent, but to demonstrate God’s power and love. We serve the Lord and the message, not ourselves. Do we feel called by God, or are we simply volunteering? Are we looking for a spotlight? We need to share the truth in humility, not out of our ambition or pride. (Phil 2:3) Phil 2:5-7 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

Maturity reflects an attitude of service, and Godly character. The focus is on the Lord. There is a deeper level of commitment, but also of joy, and reward for those recognizing their calling. We share ourselves as testimony to the power of the Gospel. It is the call of ministry to serve others. Eph.4:12-13 “… to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

The Christian life and ministry should flow out of a need to respond to the Lord with adoration for what He’s done in our own lives, and the desire to see others liberated in their relationship with the Lord. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free! (Gal 5:1) 1 Pet 2:4-5 “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Ambassadors for Christ. We are called to model the Kingdom as God’s representatives. 2 Cor 3:3-5 “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. We are God’s workmanship. He has reconciled us to Himself because of love. And, He has given us the message and ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:17-19)

Prayer of Blessing: As you contemplate the significance of these words in your own life, I pray that God may use them to strengthen and encourage you according to this prayer.

Eph 3:16-18 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”

Now let’s go out and be the Church that displays the glory of the King and His Kingdom