Characteristics of Effective Ministers: (Paul as our example)
1) Effective Ministers are willing to suffer for the church (Colossians. 1:24)
Question: What do we mean suffer for the church? It could mean not easy and
convenient to come to church and perform your duty but because of Christ you do.
One thing to note is that suffering is unavoidable in bringing or maintaining
the good news of Christ to the world.
- It will never be easy because Satan is doing everything to make it impossible.
Imagine the power that will be in the house if us as ministers pray and fast in
one accord regularly? Heavens will descend in the church and things will
begin to happen but guess what? - If you pray, Satan will make sure you don’t fast.
- If you do, he will stop you from meeting with the brethren to pray.
- But I encourage you, this suffering can be endured joyfully because people’s
lives are changed – 2 Timothy 2:3, 1 Peter 4:1-2 (read).
2) Effective Ministers are servants of the church – Colossians 1:25.
- Apostle Paul said he had become the church’s servant by God’s commission,
guess what? This is true of all ministers who are effective. - In fact, the word minister means servant and this Jesus identified with (Mark
10:45) - The Question now is who are we serving?
- In what capacity are we serving?
- Are we truly offering our services to God?
- When you work in an office, where you get paid at the end of the month, you
render service isn’t it? (Yes) that means you are serving? Is it because we
think we don’t get cash at the end of the month that we serve haphazardly in
the church?
- How many people agree that we get paid wages in our service to God?
Yes/No. - Yes, we do, it’s just not in cash value.
- So, let’s do His work if we are getting salary, after all some of us endure our
jobs. Whether you like it or not, you must be in your office daily at certain
time, in fact church time is far less than work—few hours a day. - I encourage you with Christ words in the book of Luke 22:25-27.
- Even Apostle Peter said same in (1 Peter 5:2-3).
How do you know you are a good servant?
I) Seeking the interest of others before his own (Phillipians2:4).
II) Willing to perform menial or despised tasks (Matthew 25:23).
III) Willing to serve in secret without applause (Matthew 6:3-4).
IV) Knows and uses his spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11).
3) Effective Ministers are faithful stewards of God’s Word (Colossians. 1:25-
27)
Question: How much of God’s word do we know?
We can’t give what we don’t have, do you know that this same word we are talking
about is still a secret to a lot of people? But if we as ministers search out the word,
we can be of great service to others around us in the kingdom.
- No wonder 2 Timothy. 2:15 says to study to show yourself approved of God;
a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the
word of truth. This puts a burden on every Christian to know the whole word
of God and teach them in church, Sunday school, etc. or small groups.
4) Effective Ministers are saddled with the responsibility of seeing everyone
mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28). This should be a burden!!!
– What do we do with the people that give their lives week after week? I know
we used to share cards to ministers to follow up but that has died gradually.
- Ephesians. 4:11-14 says read
- Apostle Paul describes the church as infants tossed to and fro by every wind
of teaching. - We need to teach the infants to adulthood so that the church will not be full of
infant adult!!! - It is the responsibility of ministers to help people mature in church. This
means ministers themselves must be matured.
5) Effective Ministers are hard workers, willing to work hard not mediocre –
Colossians 1:29. Some other translation says “labor” which means to work to
exhaustion. Paul pressed or labored for others to reach perfection. My
question is: what is your calling in God’s kingdom, what are you called to be?
Are you a teacher, help, encourager, counsellor, multiplier? There are so many
works to be done in the kingdom apart from the 5-fold ministry, because some
people will say, I don’t fall into any category. Na lie. You have a purpose. You
have been called to work.
Paul’s ministerial drive is a model for us all. We will never have an authentic,
apostolic ministry unless we are willing to work to the point of exhaustion.
D. L. Moody worked so hard one day he cut his bedtime prayer on one
occasion as he rolled into bed was, “Lord, I am tired!! Amen.”
6) Effective Ministry rely on God’s power – Colossians. 1:29 (read). Jesus said
“Without me you can do nothing” – John 15:4–5.
I thank God for pastor Egra’s new dimension that you must be in fasting and
prayer whenever you are doing any spiritual work in church, Faith clinic.
This work is not by might or by power but by God’s spirit. Zechariah 4:6.
Not relying on God’s power brings about struggles and doesn’t make it
interesting for you to do, since results are lacking. If it is about Jesus, he
must be sought after for direction as to how you will do His work.
Power flows out of an intimate relationship with God.
Prayer for Ministers:
We are going to pray as ministers that God should give us the grace, word, glory,
power, purpose, people, prayer.
7) Effective Ministers are prayer warriors (Ephesians 6:10–18; Matthew 6:9–
13): – If you must be effective in ministry, you must be a warrior in prayer.
Can’t afford to be lackadaisical, sleep through the night and all day — NO —
not acceptable. Your antenna must be up to intercept any ungodly movement
in the spiritual realm. The Bible said while men slept, the enemy came to sow
tar.
– Revere God
– Be thankful.
– Praise God.
– Forgive others.
– Obey God.
– Believe, never doubt God.
– See results and be inspired.
– Be sure you are praying His will.
– Don’t give up in prayer.
– Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Written By: Yetunde Oriolowo