THE PREACHER BY JOHN BROWN

THE MAN OF GOD

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

WE are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, and new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel.

The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.
Men are God’s method.
Ps 89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The dispensation that heralded and prepared the way for Christ was bound up in that man John.

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”
The world’s salvation comes out of that cradled Son.
The glory and efficiency of the gospel is staked on the men who proclaim it.
When God declares in 2Chron18:9 that “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him,” he declares the necessity of men and his dependence on them as a channel through which to exert his power upon the world.

What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use — men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men — men of prayer.

Ps 89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

THE PREACHER

The character as well as the fortunes of the gospel is committed to the preacher. He makes or mars the message from God to man. The preacher is the golden pipe through which the divine oil flows. The pipe must not only be golden, but open and flawless, that the oil may have a full, unhindered, unwasted flow.
The man makes the preacher. God must make the man. The messenger is more important than the message. The preacher is more important than the sermon. The preacher makes the sermon.

The treasure is in earthen vessels, and the taste of the vessel impregnates and may discolor. The man, the whole man, lies behind the sermon. Preaching is not the performance of an hour. It is the outflow of a life. It takes twenty years to make a sermon, because it takes twenty years to make the man. The true sermon is a thing of life. The sermon grows because the man grows. The sermon is forceful because the man is forceful. The sermon is holy because the man is holy. The sermon is full of the divine unction because the man is full of the divine unction.
Paul termed it “My gospel;” not that he had degraded it by his personal peculiarities or diverted it by selfish appropriation, but the gospel was put into the heart and lifeblood of the man Paul, as a personal trust to be executed by his Pauline traits, to be set aflame and empowered by the fiery energy of his fiery soul. Paul’s sermons

The sermon cannot rise in its life-giving forces above the man. Dead men give out dead sermons, and dead sermons kill. Everything depends on the spiritual character of the preacher.

Under the Jewish dispensation the high priest had inscribed in jeweled letters on a golden frontlet: “Holiness to the Lord.” So every preacher in Christ’s ministry must be molded into and mastered by this same holy motto. It is a crying shame for the Christian ministry to fall lower in holiness of character and holiness of aim than the Jewish priesthood. Jonathan Edwards said: “I went on with my eager pursuit after more holiness and conformity to Christ. The heaven I desired was a heaven of holiness.” The gospel of Christ does not move by popular waves. It has no self-propagating power. It moves as the men who have charge of it move. The preacher must impersonate the gospel. Its divine, most distinctive features must be embodied in him. The constraining power of love must be in the preacher as a projecting, eccentric, an all-commanding, self-oblivious force. The energy of self-denial must be his being, his heart and blood and bones. He must go forth as a man among men, clothed with humility, abiding in meekness, wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove; the bonds of a servant with the spirit of a king, a king in high, royal, in dependent bearing, with the simplicity and sweetness of a child. The preacher must throw himself, with all the abandon of a perfect, self-emptying faith and a self-consuming zeal, into his work for the salvation of men. Hearty, heroic, compassionate, fearless martyrs must the men be who take hold of and shape a generation for God. If they be timid time servers, place seekers, if they be men pleasers or men fearers, if their faith has a weak hold on God or his Word, if their denial be broken by any phase of self or the world, they cannot take hold of the Church nor the world for God.
The preacher’s sharpest and strongest preaching should be to himself. His most difficult, delicate, laborious, and thorough work must be with himself. The training of the twelve was the great, difficult, and enduring work of Christ. Preachers are not sermon makers, but men makers and saint makers, and he only is well-trained for this business who has made himself a man and a saint. It is not great talents nor great learning nor great preachers that God needs, but men great in holiness, great in faith, great in love, great in fidelity, great for God — men always preaching by holy sermons in the pulpit, by holy lives out of it. These can mold a generation for God.

Prayer makes the man; prayer makes the preacher; prayer makes the pastor.
The pulpit of this day is weak in praying. The pride of learning is against the dependent humility of prayer. Prayer is with the pulpit too often only official — a performance for the routine of service. Prayer is not to the modern pulpit the mighty force it was in Paul’s life or Paul’s ministry.

MAINTAINING SPIRITUAL FRESHNESS

BASIC THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW IN MINISTRY. BY JOHN BROWN

MINISTRY IS BY ELECTION OF GRACE

1 Corinthians 1:27 KJV [27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

The work of the ministry is by election of grace. It has nothing to do with our background, abilities, inabilities, qualifications and connections. That is why those who look unqualified and incompetent often wear the garment of ministry more than those who look more qualified. When God calls you into ministry He releases His grace to enable you to perform and when you embrace His grace signs and wonders take place and stardom takes off. I was not born A Christian, I was born a Muslim but back then in the year 2005 that Election by Grace found me. After that I went through a lot of challenges and criticisms, some said Am not called and a whole lot. Not everyone will believe in the hand of God on your life and ministry. Never allow the opinion of people to destroy the ministry God has given you.Ministry is purely an act of divine election not the opinion of other people. Be encouraged, be strengthened, be bold and receive grace to make full proof of your life and ministry.

YOU NEED THE ANOINTING

Acts 10:38 KJV [38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Every divine assignment needs divine enabling power for performance. No one can become successful in ministry without the anointing. Your qualifications, background and the people you know are not the answer to the success of your ministry because ministry is not by the strength of man. Jesus Christ could not do ministry without the anointing of the Spirit. The work of the ministry is not possible without the anointing. The anointing is the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in an individual to bring about transformation. The anointing turned Jesus Christ into another man; it moved him from the realm of the ordinary to the extraordinary. Crave for the anointing. Do everything to receive the anointing and when it comes, jealously protect it. Receive grace for a higher dimension of the anointing but remember that not everyone will believe in the anointing you carry.

ANOINTING IS NOT ENOUGH

Matthew 25:1-10 KJV [1] Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. [2] And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. [3] They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: [4] But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. [5] While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. [6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. [7] Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. [8] And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. [9] But the wise answered, saying, Not so ; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. [10] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

We see in the above scripture that what differentiates the ten virgins was wisdom. Now the oil is a symbolism of the Anointing. If we analyze the life's of these virgins we will see a lot of things they had in common but it was only wisdom that separated them. Now let's look at some of the things they had in common.

 1. They were all virgins. Virginity is a symbol of Holiness, so they were all Holy, but yet still five of them were fools. This seems to tell the minister that Holiness is not enough, and it's not all, there is more.

2. They were all waiting for the bridegroom. This shows that they were all in expectance of the second coming Of Christ. They lived their lives in expectance of Heaven. They were Holy so they were waiting for Jesus to come so that they go with Him to Heaven. This people seems very spiritual but yet still five of them were fools. It's not just enough to live your life in expectance of Heaven. Without Wisdom you will miss it.

 3. They all had lamps. Lamp is a symbolism of the word of God. Psalm 119:105 KJV[105] Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. They all had the word of God but yet still Five of them were fools.

4. They all slept. Sleeping is a sign of weakness. Ephesians 5:14 KJV [14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
 So they all had weakness.

5. Vrs 7 says They all arose. This is a sign of Revival.

Isaiah 60:1-2 KJV [1] Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. [2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Till you rise up you cannot shine.

 2 Samuel 17:21-22 KJV [21] And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you. [22] Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

So they had revival and yet still the bible calls them a fool. Now it is now clear to us what differentiated them was the wisdom the other five had to take extra oil. You don't need just the anointing but you need wisdom in addition to your anointing to function well.
Proverbs 4:7 KJV [7] Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Anointing alone is not enough for success in life and ministry. Anointing alone does not take foolishness away. When a goat is anointed it becomes an anointed goat. In the same way when a fool receives an anointing he becomes an anointed fool. Seek knowledge and go for wisdom.Pursue wisdom for it is the principal thing; It will guarantee success in life and ministry without struggle. Wisdom founded the earth and understanding established it.Without the wisdom of God, your ministry can not amount to anything. Without it, ministry becomes stressful and burdensome because wisdom is better than strength. Wisdom is a divine creative force that produces greatness out of nothing. Go for the wisdom of God.

James 1:5 KJV [5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

THE NEED OF MENTORS

Proverbs 27:17 KJV [17] Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Someone is always doing whatever you have been called to do in life and ministry. Those who have successfully done what you are about to do or are doing are pictures of what you can do in life and ministry. These are people who are above you in your area of calling, not necessarily by reason of age but proven results. The impacts and the examples of those higher than you are to lead you to higher grounds in life and ministry. One of the easiest ways to accomplish anything great in ministry and arrive at the ultimate is to locate and follow the footprints of those who have done what you are about to do and have proven track records and results. When you locate them follow them to learn what you need. Your responsibility is to follow and not to run them down. Can you imagine Joshua without Moses, Elisha without Elijah and Samuel without Eli?
I Thank God for the life of my mentor.  The Reverend Emmanuel Forson of Fountain Gate Chapel - Refreshing Pastures
A gift personally to me.
Your ministry touched my life and it added a certain touch to it. You inspire me as a young person. When others downplay my ability to work for God, you make it the otherwise. When others do not value how much my efforts mean a lot to ministry as a youngster, you prove them wrong. You open my eyes as young person  to see the light. If I have been able to stand this long to work for the Lord, it is because of your efforts too. I have been able to embrace my call majorly because of you.
THANK YOU DADY. I want to use this opportunity to say THANK YOU  to you and your family.
Hebrews 6:12 KJV [12] That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

YOUR CALLING AND TEAM

Acts 13:2 KJV [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

 Paul was the main Focus but He could not make it alone so He needed Barnabas. When God gives you Moses, he adds to you Aaron, when He gives you Elijah He adds to you Elisha. You have what it takes to make it in life and ministry. God has deposited in you everything you need to make a full proof of your calling. Do not get trapped and enveloped in the folly of comparing yourself with others. Discover your individuality and accept responsibility to pursue the ministry God has given you with excellence and commitment.Understand that your calling is unique.Your calling is bigger than you. What God wants you to do cannot be done alone. You will need a team to be successful. Surround yourself with the right people. Jesus' Christ had the disciples as members of His team. Train your team to buy into your vision and see their future and purpose within what God has given you. Remember the essence of ministry is raising people who are relevant to Heaven and relevant to their community. You shall succeed in Jesus name. I believe in you.

LOCATE YOURSELF IN GOD'S VISION

Proverbs 29:18 KJV [18] Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

 Your success in life and ministry is connected with locating yourself in God's vision. Vision is a supernatural discovery and insight into one's placement in life and a discovery of God's plan for you.Vision clearly defines where you are heading for and how to get there. Having discovered your calling in God's plan, stick to it till you become a star. Be consistent in your calling.Every calling culminates in greatness, but there is a demand to pursue and make full proof of your calling. Do you feel like giving up? Are you discouraged and discontented? Keep on pressing on for I see glory in the future.

THE SPIRIT OF DILIGENCE

Great success in life and ministry lies in the call of God on your life and your diligence in the pursuit of that which God has committed into your hands.When the pursuit of your God-given ministry becomes an obsession, success becomes a manifestation. Diligence involves investing your strengths, time,talents, abilities and all you have into the pursuit of your ministry.Ministry is not for lazy people. A lazy minister will end up as a beggar because he has neglected God's system for success in life and ministry-diligence. The labourer is worthy of his wages so all you have to do to receive wages is to labour. With diligence and God anyone can make meaning out of life and ministry.

 Ecclesiastes 10:18 KJV [18] By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

Proverbs 22:29 KJV [29] Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men .
Receive the spirit of diligence in Jesus name.

ACCUSATIONS AND CRITICISMS

Matthew 24:9 KJV [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Ministry attracts all manner of people. Your calling and ministry will attract divine support, human approval and other people who will not believe in you and your ministry.You will have your share of accusation,criticism and persecution in ministry because even Jesus had, and a servant is not greater than His master. Success in life and ministry brings fame, glory, fulfillment accompanied with persecutions.Persecutions are tools of destructions and traps of the enemy to keep you from fulfilling your calling and ministry.They are weapons of defense used by failures, the defeated, the discontented, the backward and the unfulfilled to justify their positions. They are tools used by those who are caught in the vehicle of comparison to stop you from fulfilling your purpose. Persecution is part of the program for a faithful believer and sometimes criticisms, accusations and persecutions are appropriate because we have made a bad decision. Other times the persecutions, accusations and criticisms we face are of a more aggressive kind, and involves a person or group going out of their way to fight the purpose of God for our lives.How do you handle criticisms, accusations and persecutions in ministry? Stay focused on what God called and gifted you to do. Use criticisms, accusations and persecutions to your advantage. Learn from them and move on with your life.Expect them and handle them when they come. Silence is powerful.

Romans 8:18-19 KJV [18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.