When I started ministry afresh, I didn’t know many people already functioning in their callings. I was only passionate about making Christ known to as many people as possible online. But after years of doing this, I’ve seen at least some people start well in the ministry and end up badly.
It’s so sad seeing pastors leaving churches they started because of several issues in ministry. And since this is becoming a common happening, many young ministers question how they can sustain longevity in their divine callings because of the numerous failures they’ve been exposed to, particularly on the internet.
I’m not in my prime of ministry yet. But there are a few things God showed me from His Word that have kept me consistent. And I would like to share some with you. Perhaps, these tips can get you the desire for longevity in God’s kingdom service, especially if you’re now starting as a minister.
1. Watch your life and doctrine closely
In one of Paul’s letters to Timothy, a young pastor at the time of His writing, he gave him some advice on how he can save himself as well as his hearers. It’s in 1 Timothy 4:16.
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
When Paul was writing this, he was already old. In fact, he was on the verge of finishing his ministry. That is why in 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV), he said,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
That implies it wasn’t ‘young’ Paul speaking to Timothy but an elderly one. So what kept him strong in the faith was what he shared with Timothy. Thankfully, these principles haven’t changed.
If you’re a minister of Christ and hence, watch both your life and doctrine closely, you’ll have some benefits.
- You’ll save yourself from preaching truth while practising vices in secret.
- Your hearers, God’s sheep, will trust you because of your consistency with the Truth.
- You’ll be a respected minister because of your integrity.
I want to tell you that ministry isn’t all about public preaching. It’s everywhere, even in our homes. We need God’s Word to do marriage God’s way, to raise kids, build ministries, businesses and organisations, transform our mindsets, and even revolutionalise our societies. So watch what you read because it affects what you preach. And also, make God’s Word applicable in your private life too. Don’t lie while preaching against it. Otherwise, your audience won’t stop lying, no matter how much you preach against it.
Watch what you read because it affects what you preach.
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2. Be consistent with preaching the Truth no matter the response of people
Also, preaching the Truth is paramount to sustaining longevity in God’s kingdom service. In fact, there are numerous people with diverse attitudes in churches. I once heard Pastor Paul Enenche say “multitudes” means multiple people with many attitudes.
You cannot control the behaviour of people a hundred percent. Your job as a minister isn’t to point out evil deeds but to focus on preaching the Truth. If you must rebuke something wrong, use the Word of God, not your advice. Why? Because it’s written that God’s Word is also useable for rebuke and correction (2 Timothy 3:16).
If I want to get rid of a big tree easily, I don’t need to cut the branches; I simply need to feed the root with something to destroy it. After that, all the leaves and branches will wither with time.
Grace focuses on the root. That transformation you desire to see in God’s people won’t happen by telling them their faults. No! Preach the Word; because the Word will work out all those things away.
3. Pray consistently in the Spirit
Prayer is a necessity for every child of God. I see prayer as a significant fuel for ministry, just like communication is for married couples. If you serve a God you don’t talk to or don’t hear from, you’ll miss His path for your life.
Remember that everything you do in His kingdom belongs to Him. The Bible says in Psalm 24:1 (NIV) that,
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;”
God is the chief director of everything you’re involved in, especially the ministry. He provides vision, wisdom and strength to do His will.
So many verses in the Bible speak of the importance of prayer to God’s children. But I’d tell you that remember Luke 18:1 always.
“… men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Luke 18:1 (KJV)
If you don’t want to faint in your walk with God, pray.
God is the chief director of everything you’re involved in.
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4. Follow a mentor who has faithfully stayed focused on His calling for long
Lastly, choose at least one faithful minister of Christ who has been in ministry for a long time. He doesn’t have to be a close person to you or your family. But he must be someone with notable exploits of faith for many years. Maybe you may never meet him physically. But reading his books, listening to his sermons and following him online can do you much good. In fact, you’ll avoid so many mistakes in the ministry when you listen to them because most of them share their experiences.
I pray that you’ll not fail in fulfilling your divine mandate. The God of strength keep you strong in the faith till the finish. Amen.
