The 10 M's of Ministry (Part One)
In this series of messages I want to focus on ways to mature and maintain ministries. There are ten areas that I want to focus on to help us in this endeavor:
1.) Manhood/Womanhood
2.) Ministry
3.) Message
4.) Maturity
5.) Marriage
6.) Methods
7.) Manners
8.) Money
9.) Morality
10) Motive
1.) Manhood/Womanhood- The personal character of any minister is the foundation of his or her ministry. Ministers must build their works on a solid base of personal purity and maturity. God makes a man before He manifests a mighty ministry. (Gen. 1 verse 26-27) God created man in His own image. God wants us to conform to the image of His Son. (Rom. 8 verse 29) Paul didn’t boast in his position as an Apostle but boasted of his being changed into the same image of Jesus from glory to glory (2Cor. 3 verse 18). The “bad” times that you may go through may be the best times for eternal gain because it maybe moving you closer to the image of Jesus. Christ likeness comes through the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12 verse 2).
2.) Ministry- The second area that we must give attention to if we are to mature in ministry is the fruits of that ministry. Here are some points to remember: a.) Give no offense in the ministry (2 Cor. 6 verse 3). b.) Our ministries must be full of power and demonstration (1 Cor. 2 verses 4-5). c.) Our preaching or prophesying must be proven, pure, productive, anointed and generate results, d.) There is no excuse for not moving in the gifts of the Holy Ghost in ministering. This is why Paul commanded the Corinthian church to desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14 verse 1) and covet to prophesy (verse 39). We should be able to move in ministering in the gifts as easily as preaching the word. e.) We should only suffer for the sake of truth and righteousness, not for the sake of putting unnecessary stumbling blocks by causing offense on our part (1 Peter 4 verse 15). Therefore we should make full proof of our ministry by properly ministering the word and moving in the Spirit, in His gifts.
3.) Message- “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4 verse 2). The word says that we must preach the truth in love (Eph 4 verse 15). We must present the word of God in a way that is scripturally sound and the message must be a life-giving “present” truth. It can’t be some message that you just dug up from a file that you preached before. Also, we can’t preach a word that is doctrinally sound but not minister in the right tone and motivation. The Pharisees had the right doctrine but they were full of pride, narrow mindedness, and self righteous (Rom. 10 verse 2-3). Preaching of the word must be accompanied with signs and wonders. God confirms His word with signs and wonders. (Mark 16 verse 20). God doesn’t confirm the life of the preacher but confirms His word. The gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation, not the person who preaches it. We should not be surprised on judgment day when he says that He never knew some of His ministers who did miracles in His name (Mt. 7 verse 23) because their lives didn’t line up with the character of Jesus (See my messages on the Fruit of the Spirit Series).
In the next message we will continue with more of the 10 M’s of ministry. Please remember that we can minister to many people, but we can only really please the LORD when we allow Him to conform us into the image of Jesus!