7
Ministering (The Foundation for the Ministry)
| Bro Kenny Simbao (Kitwe, Zambia)
W
e are all called into the ministry of taking
the gospel of the coming kingdom of our
heavenly Father to the ends of this earth: “Go
therefore and make disciples …” (Matthew
28:19-20). Psalm 139:23-24 must be a prayer
of anyone who wants to serve God. Here are
ten important steps to help us to be good
ministers of the gospel of God:
• Character is formed when we undergo
various trials.It is not something that someone
can say ‘I am through with it’ since it is a
continuing process. God does not build on a
weak character. So character is necessary for
effective ministry (Romans 5:3-4).
• Service ~ Anyone called to the ministry
must be ready to serve, that is to be a servant
of God and people. “Even the son of God did
not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark
10:45). And remember: Christ is our model.
• The motive must be to serve God out of
love, not for money. God first loved us and He
gave His only begotten son (John 3:16). God
demonstrated to us His great love towards us
in that while we were sinners, Christ died for
us (Romans 5:8). “Love suffers long and is
kind, love does not envy … of these three,
faith, love and hope, love is the greatest”
(1 Corinthians 13:1-13) thus love is essential
for ministry.
• Sacrifice ~ Christ sacrificed by serving
and compassion (Matthew 9:36; Mark 10:45).
Sacrifice demands discipline.
• Submission~Christ our model submitted to
God the Father (Philippians 2:5-9). We must
submit to God (James 4:7-8)
• Glorifying God ~ We must declare His glory
among all the nations (1 Chronicles 16:24).
• Prayers and the Word are the tools for the
ministry. “Give yourself continually to prayer
and to the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:3-4).
• Growth is the result of the ministry “And
the Lord added to the church (ecclesia) daily
those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47,
and see 2:41).
• The Holy Spirit Word is the power ~ The
power of God in our ministry is the spirit word
of the living God (Zechariah 4:6).
• Jesus Christ is our model ~ We must
always imitate the Lord Jesus Christ who is our
model in every ministry (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Bro Kenny Simbao is pictured centre front