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.