Your Mission and Ministry

Your Mission and Ministry

What Is Ministry?

How To Fulfill Your Ministry

Ministering Through the Spirit

And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence (Mark 16:20 MSG).

Jesus knew He had a mission and a ministry in the earth. He was to establish the Kingdom of God in the earth with principles to live by, God’s ways of doing things, a new language, and a new mentality. Today, we’re a nation, a Kingdom of priests with a mission and ministry in the earth.

Thanks be unto God, we heeded the call when He said, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). We’re fulfilling His mandate, the continuation of the ministry of Jesus to set up a kingdom not made by hands—the Kingdom of Heaven in the earth.

To have a better grasp and understanding of this truth, let’s take a look at how Luke, who wrote the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, concluded: “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:50-53). How touching this is!

Mark in his account first reiterated what Luke said: “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). In addition, he recounted what the apostles did next in the 20th verse: “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark 16:20). They went and preached everywhere! That’s what we’re doing today as well. Don’t be left out.

Preach the Gospel with passion. Recall what the Lord charged us to do: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). He has given us both the power and authority to do mighty works in His Name and demonstrate the character of the Spirit to our world.

Therefore, take your place in the ministry of the Gospel. Never lose focus on the Master’s calling on your life. This is your mission and ministry in the earth. Serve Him selflessly with undying passion.

2 Corinthians 4:5 says, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…”; meaning that no matter what you prophesy, preach, or teach, it must be Christ Jesus, and you can’t preach or minister Christ without the power of the Spirit. It’s the reason sometimes you should pray and fast, soaking your spirit more into the Holy Spirit, so you can speak as the oracle of God.

We’re required to always walk in oneness and in sync with the Spirit, with His glory and power revealed in and through us. But that won’t be your experience until, and unless, you’re given to intense study of, and meditation on, the Word, and deep fellowship with the Spirit.

Be filled with the Spirit, again and again! Encourage the ministry of the Spirit in your personal life, and your words will be operative, effective, laden with divine power to alter situations and transform destinies.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

Someone can have a word of prophecy, and then go ahead to give it, but the words spoken come out empty, inoperative, and ineffective, even though the prophetic message is true. The reason is that the words spoken are devoid of the power of the Spirit.

This is one of the reasons we’re required to spend quality time praying in the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be (being) filled with the Spirit.”

Those words were originally written to the Christians in Ephesus, people who were already filled with the Spirit. So, it’s obvious that the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, is referring to us being constantly under the influence, control, or sway of the Spirit. That way, your message and your preaching wouldn’t be with enticing or persuasive words of man’s wisdom, or clever rhetoric, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

When you’re filled with the Spirit, you minister the Spirit; your words are impregnated with divine energy. Your communication is such that people are never able to forget or get over their encounter with you; they’re impacted greatly by the love and person of Jesus; His wisdom, power and righteousness that effuse and exude from your words.

Growth is not a miracle; it is the application of revealed principles and means. One of such principles for ministry is found in raising effective disciples. This is the heart of kingdom expansion and the key to lasting ministry growth. The scripture is explicit about this, “And their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, and as they do this, they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ”—Ephesians 4.12 TPT.

As a Minister of the gospel, you are not only called to preach the Word but also to raise disciples among your congregation, who are men and women reproducing themselves in others. Our Lord Jesus is an exemplary leader who raised effective disciples for ministry work. He successfully mentored His first disciples on Soulwinning who communicated the same teaching to others.

The Bible also records that there were times He would meet separately with them to teach them specific things about the kingdom. How often do you train your leaders? What resources do you use to train them? What leadership qualities are you instilling in them?

Effective discipleship is not merely about gathering followers; it’s about nurturing committed church members who can carry the message of Christ that you preach, influence their world, and lead others to do the same. Apostle Paul, in one of his letters to Timothy, instructs him, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” - 2 Timothy 2.2 KJV.

Through consistent mentorship, guidance, and teaching, you can shape your leaders to be grounded in their faith, strong in their convictions, and passionate about ministry. When our Lord Jesus walked the earth, He was an exemplary leader to His disciples by teaching them how to win souls and even how to pray effectively. One of the outcomes is seen in Acts 5 verse 28, “….You have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Jesus…” NLT.

“…Do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.”

For the smooth running of every institution, each member has a role to play and must do them effectively. In the family, the father, mother and children all have their individual responsibilities to perform.

The man isn’t to leave his duties and expect his wife to perform them, and vice versa. It’s the same in the school environment: the student isn’t to lecture the teacher! Similarly, in God’s House, the minister, leaders, and congregation are organised in such a way that each one is ministered to and needs are supplied (Acts 6:1-7).

You’ve got a responsibility in God’s house, and you’ve got to play your role. You’re the one to fulfil your ministry.

Many people live and never even begin what God chose them for, let alone complete it. They live and die without ever entering what God chose them to do in life. Colossians 4:17 says, “And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

Think about that! Paul writes to the Colossians and tells them to charge a certain brother in the church to pay attention to his God-given ministry, and fulfil it.

He made it clear it was Archippus’ responsibility, not only to take heed to the ministry that he had received of the Lord, but also to fulfil it. It’s your responsibility to fulfil your calling.

It’s your responsibility to put what you’ve got to work. Don’t be intimidated by circumstances in your evangelical work. Refuse to fear, because in making full proof of your ministry, you’re to be tough! Therefore, be bold and courageous always: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

The Apostle Paul took personal responsibility for the Gospel. The Gospel to him was a sacred trust. He affirmed this in his epistle to Timothy, when he said, “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:11).

In 1 Corinthians 9:16, he said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” Again, in 1 Timothy 1:12, he declared, “…I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” He knew he had to fulfil his ministry in the Gospel.

God has counted you faithful and committed the Gospel to your trust; therefore, fulfil your ministry in the Gospel. See the spread of the Gospel around the world as your sacred responsibility, and be passionate to do all it takes to fulfil it. Always remember that you’re fully responsible for those in your world, to bring them the message of salvation.

The Apostle Paul encountered several obstacles and challenges in the course of preaching the Gospel, but he remained undaunted. Even when the Holy Ghost expressly testified that he was going to suffer afflictions and be imprisoned as he preached the Gospel (Acts 20:22-23), he remained resolute and focused. His response is what we read in our opening verse. He was determined to finish his course with joy; very inspiring!

Your attitude should be the same. Refuse to be moved by the problems and the difficulties that you might face in preaching the Gospel. Always remember that God counted you faithful and that’s why He’s put you into the ministry. So, like the Apostle Paul, be determined to fulfil your ministry in the Gospel, and finish your course with joy.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Some people live their lives pursuing their own selfish interests, not aligning themselves with God’s vision of world evangelism. God wants your dreams to be connected to His dream; that way, your motives will always reflect His vision of having all men saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Soul winning should be the compelling motive and propelling force in your life. You’re first a Christian before being a politician, teacher, banker, student, etc.; therefore, fulfill your calling in the Gospel. Have the Gospel motive! Let your motivation in life be the expansion of God’s Kingdom, for therein lies true joy, fulfillment, and all the blessings you could ever desire.

Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” This was an instruction given by the Lord Jesus Christ, not just to pastors and evangelists, but to all who would believe on His Name.

You’re a minister of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6); a bearer and dispenser of the glad tidings of salvation. You’ve been commissioned to reach out to those living in darkness with the light of salvation.

Acts 13:47 says, “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” You’re a light in a dark world; therefore, be aglow with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Beam the Gospel with steady radiance to others so they can become lights as well.

Whenever you have the opportunity to preach the Gospel, do it without fear. Be bold and recognise that you’re God’s man for the hour, holding forth the word of life; opening the eyes of them that are lost, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. What a calling! What a ministry!

-GSW-