Chapter 8

Ministering Effectively

It is important for those who are called by God into Ministry, to be effective.

To be effective in ministry, there are six important things we need to consider and experience, namely:

1.We need a Godly vision.
2. We need to walk circumspectly.
3.We need a Godly program.
4.We need to always stay on course.
5.From time to time, we need to be refreshed.
6.We need to have Christian Ministry ethics.

We need a Godly vision.

It is very important for a person in the Ministry of the Church of Jesus Christ, to have a vision.

A person without a vision:

- Has no direction and doesn't know where to go.

- Is going in the wrong direction.

Those who have no vision ultimately perish.

Proverbs 29:18

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:"

There are seven important aspects of a vision found in:

Habakkuk 2:2-4

"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry ... but the just shall live by his faith.

These seven aspects are:

1. God will give us a vision.

2. God´s vision is important enough for us to write down.

3. We should make it plain in order to clearly understand it.

4. We should continue to pursue our vision.

5. The vision will come to pass in Gods timing.

6. God's vision will ultimately be successful.

7. We who live by faith, should wait for it in faith.

Ecclesiastes 5:3

"For a dream cometh through the multitude of business;"

We need to walk circumspectly.

Those in Ministry need to maintain a high standard of excellence. What they do, needs to be done right, with precision and success. This is the Godly way doing things and God sets us an example of doing things in excellence:

Genesis 1:31

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."

   

    The Apostle Paul walked in excellence and taught us to followhis example.

Ephesians 5:15

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise."

Paul challenges us to walk circumspectly. The Greek word for circumspectly is "alribos" and means "accurately."

Each day is made up of 24 hours in which many decisions are made and many activities are accomplished. Our decisions and activities may be wise and fruitful or foolish and unprofitable.

To experience excellence and success in Ministry, we need to do the following, namely:

1. We need to acquire all the knowledge possible, to base our decisions upon.

2. This knowledge needs to be a Godly knowledge.

3. Whatever knowledge we apply in these decisions needs to de done with wisdom.

4. Our activities need to be well planned and organized.

We should not waste time or resources in accomplishing our task.

Psalm 90:12

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

The Hebrew word number is "Manah" >and means "to assess and organize."

Psalm 112:5-6

"A good man ... will guide his affairs with discretion.

 Surely he shall not be moved for ever:"

Our Lord Jesus Christ walked with measured steps and had a well-planned program. Everyday He would complete His program and make statements like -

"It is not yet time."

"The time is come."

He never allowed anyone to deviate Him from His program, including King Herod.

Luke 13:32

"And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."

He had a well organized, Ministry Team -

Jesus had 12 Apostles and 70 Witnesses who were sent before him to minister in cities and prepare them for His coming.

Luke 10:1

"After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come."

There were a group of woman who travel with the Ministry Team of Jesus.

Jesus wanted all things to be done in excellence.

Luke 8:2-3

"And certain women ...  and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance."

The Apostle Paul advises us to do everything we do, well.

1 Corinthians 14:40

"Let all things be done decently and in order."

We need a Godly program.

An effective program is made up of three parts namely:

Those in Ministry need to develop the skill of organizing their program successfully.

The activities of our program need to well-pleasing to God.

Our enemy satan tries everything to cause us to waste time and do unimportant and ineffective things. He sends people our way who waste our valuable time. He gets us involved in programs and activities that have nothing to do with Gods purpose for our life. While pursuing these things we have the illusion of being very busy, doing much for God. How wrong we are. The hours of our daily program should be filled with activities that are not a waste.

These activities should include:

When a person has only a few activities, it is not difficult for them to organize and do it themselves.

When a person has reached the point where they need additional help or that of a secretary, they should not hesitate to do so. A secretary could be helpful, doing a lot of the work, making the program more effective and alleviating problems. A secretary should never be allowed to be manipulative or controlling.

It is important for a person in ministry to have a daily planner to help in at least two ways:

Most important of all, never let a program be cold and calculated. Let it be warm, loving, caring, friendly and person centered.

We need to always stay on course.

Paul the Apostle penned these dramatic words:

2 Timothy 4:7

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

Paul knew what it was stay on course and finish the work that God had given him to do. It is important for us to know Gods will in our lives and what He wants us to do. Satan should not be allowed to take us one degree off course. If a plane veers only one degree off course, it will never reach its destination.

We should be very careful and prayerful, staying on course to complete the details of our task everyday.

There are three things that satan does to get us off course, namely:

When this takes place we need to spend time in prayer before God, seeking His clear direction and help.

From time to time we need to be refreshed and renewed.

There are three parts of our being that need to be refreshed and renewed from time to time, namely:


1. Our Spirit.

There are four ways in which our spirit may be refreshed:

1. We can be refreshed by the Holy Spirit, when our spirit prays in Tongues, in a Heavenly language.

Isaiah 28:11-12

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

To whom he said, this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing:"

2. We can also be refreshed in spirit by the fellowship of Saints.

2 Corinthians 7:13

"Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all."

3. Our spirit can be refreshed by special Divine intervention.

We can be refreshed by a dream, a vision, an Angelic visitation or a supernatural visitation from God.

     4. Our spirit can also be refreshed through another anointed  ministry.

     One of Gods delegated ministries can pray for us, lay hands upon us or speak a word from God to us, refreshing us.

2. Our Soul.

There are two areas of the Soul that need a refreshing:

1. Those in Ministry need to be mentally refreshed.

Continuous mental activity and strain upon our minds can cause weariness, stress and burnout. Time in Gods presence and Word brings about a refreshing and washing of the mind.

Psalm 16:11

"In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Ephesians 5:26

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

2. Those in Ministry need to be emotionally refreshed.

According to Paul, our emotions are always active in ministry.

Romans 12:15

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

When so much demand is made upon us, our emotions may become exhausted, insensitive and need a refreshing.

3. Our Body.

There are three ways in which our body may be refreshed:

Those in ministry need to take care for their physical body. This can be done, by maintaining a good healthy diet, exercising and enough sleep.

Every human body has limitations, including those in ministry and they should never be over-extended.

When someone in ministry feels that they need to take a break from work, they need to do so. Often it becomes obvious by the way we minister or work, that we are slowing down or becoming weary. We need to be alert and sensitive to this. After we take time off for a refreshing, we will be so much more effective when we return back to work.

3. By taking a vacation.

     At least once a year, those in ministry need to take a vacation to

     be physically refreshed. Jesus knew this and told His disciples 

     to rest a while.

     Mark 6:31

     "And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart

     into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many    

     coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to 

     eat."

We need to have Christian Ministry ethics.

Every profession has a code of ethics.

Throughout history, there have been different schools of thought, on ethical behavior, namely:

Epicurus taught that pleasure is the chief good and that men should eat, drink and be merry.

Hedonism taught that men should have physical and sensual enjoyment.

The Bible teaches the highest code of ethics introduced by Jesus Christ himself.

It is based on righteousness and causes the highest degree of morality and christian character, in the lives of Christians. They experience this by acquiring virtues, shunning vices and pursuing the high and holy calling of God.

This ethical pattern of life is:

The Kingdom of God has a much higher culture and code of ethics than any other earthly Kingdom. Those in ministry, need to allow Gods Kingdom to be manifest through their lives and should pray that it comes on earth as in Heaven.

Those who have been called by God in ministry, have a greater responsibility to demonstrate the character and high code of ethics of Gods Kingdom.