“… upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” – Matthew 16:18
“As for Saul, he made havock of the
church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to
prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the
word” – Acts 8:3-4
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed” – Acts 14:22-23
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus. 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.”
– II Timothy 2:1-2
When the Church of Jesus Christ started, She was met with great persecutions. It was these persecutions that helped to spread the Word. As the Church spread, there were needs for ministers to be appointed to take care of the spiritual and theological needs of these new congregations. As always, there were few preachers and many congregations. For this reason, brethren were recruited from amongst congregations to fill these needs. This was why Apostle Paul told Timothy to ensure that he passed on the things he had heard from him to “faithful men who would be able to pass the same to others” (II Timothy 2:2).
Preaching or ministry is not a tea-party and was never meant to be one. When you accept the invitation to be a preacher, you have accepted a challenging and rewarding career in the royal court of Heaven. You will automatically become the King’s Herald as well as the Enemy’s target. If you remain committed to your Calling, not only will Heaven honour you, God Himself will reward you (John 12:26).
Preaching is not a call into the paparazzi or the razzmatazz. It is a solemn call to duty, which requires uncommon courage, commitment, can-do-spirit and Sterling-worth integrity.
Preaching is the prince of all professions. Of all professions known to mankind, it is only the work of preachers that have spiritual and eternal significance (Romans 10:13-14; I Timothy 4:16). Other professions, no matter how highly placed they may seem begin and end here. Perhaps, this explains why when God sent His Son to earth and thought of the work He was to do, the only work He considered princely enough was preaching. Jesus lived and died as a preacher.
The works of preachers are of great significance: moulding characters and shaping destinies of those they preach to. Preachers are like medical doctors – always on call. They are like lawyers – always arguing cases, presenting the best sides to issues, negotiating and mediating between persons. In fact, preachers are conflict managers extraordinaire. The job descriptions of preachers are all–involving. Basically, preachers have their hands in all pies.
Preachers’ works are tasking and energy-sapping. Preachers have been described as, “Wounded healers.” They, in spite of their personal challenges must provide hope to the “hopeless” and strength to the weak. They must be at the scene where a Christian Brother or Sister is hurt, someone dies, at the hospital, at the police station, at an attorney’s, etcetera. At II Corinthians 11:27-29, Apostle Paul describes what an average preacher does in the course of carrying out his daily calling:
In weariness
and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often,
in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh
upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?
Preachers seek to build faith in people and to
prepare them for the life beyond this realm. Preachers seek to make people
earthly and heavenly useful. At II Corinthians 6:10, Paul again describes some
of the Sterling-Worth contributions of Ministers in people’s lives: “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
Preachers have invested and are investing lots of resources in people through their teachings and preaching. Often, great ideas emerge out of preachers’ teachings and preaching which the audiences apply to become great in societies. Preachers have to dig deeper to be able to make lessons applicable and achieve their intended meanings.
WHO IS A PREACHER?
Wayne Greeson (2016) defines the Greek word ‘Kerux” translated "preacher" to mean “…a herald, a public proclaimer from the king who authoritatively declares the king's law to the people which must be obeyed.” He says that there are three terms in the New Testament that describe God's worker known as a preacher. These words are not only descriptive of the worker, but the work God expects of him. These terms are: minister, preacher and evangelist.
WHAT IS THE
WORK OF A PREACHER?
The work of a preacher is short and simple: PREACH
THE WORD! His work is not to do ministry, but to prepare the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). The preacher’s God-assigned work is to guard
the Faith, command and teach the truth (I Timothy 6:20; I Timothy 4:11). He is
more of a Watchman and Coordinator.
A
preacher is not a caretaker of the church’s property. His primary constituency
is Ministration of the Word! He is
not to leave the Word to serve tables (cf. Acts 6:1-4).
In the absence of an Eldership, a preacher fills in the role of Church leader. As a leader, you must appreciate that Effective leadership in the Ministry revolves around five keys: Association, Initiation, Consultation, Delegation and Coordination.
By Associating yourself with members of the Church where you minister, you will be able to discover both real and felt needs of the Church, which will help you to Initiate programs of action to meet those needs either for spiritual or numerical growth. You will then Consult with the Congregation after which brethren are Delegated to points of needs while you Coordinate the various activities of the Church. In the Church, everyone is a “minister.” That is to say that everyone must fill a need of and in the ministry. Your ability to provide value-added leadership will be determined by your willingness to know how to use human instruments to meet given needs at given times.
PREACHING WORK IS DEMANDING
By default, preaching is not for lazy people. If you are spiritually, intellectually and physically lazy, Ministry is not for you. You must be spiritually at alert 24/7, physically active and intellectually sound and engaging.
See, a preacher is expected to be a Know-it-all person. Because a preacher ministers to variegated classes of people, cutting across all professional divides, you are expected to personally minister to each of them. You are expected to be at home with history, economics, politics, law, current affairs, education, philosophy, theology, just name them. You are expected to know at least a little of everything and everything about the Bible.
To function effectively, you must have an open mind and be teachable. You must have a voracious appetite for knowledge. Aside making in-depth Bible studies a daily routine, you must read widely. Read scholarly works, autobiographies, newspapers, magazines, just name them. Endeavour to familiarize yourself with Brotherhood publications. To remain relevant, you MUST go for higher studies. You must continually upgrade your knowledge and qualifications. You must not allow the knowledge margin between the Pew and the Pulpit to be too wide in favour of the pew. You must as a matter of necessity empower yourself, educationally and skill-wise. My personal experiences in the quarter of a century I was in active pulpit work shows that any preacher who must survive, especially in Nigeria must have a skill. You have to earn your own money (be a tent maker, Acts 20:33-35) to be able to meet personal and family needs.
GUIDEPOSTS FOR SUCCESS IN MINISTRY
There are numbers of guideposts that I want to share with you as you go into the field. My recommendations might differ from another older preacher’s, however, each man has his own experiences and speaks from his own perspectives. My recommended guideposts are:
1.
Be
a Man of the Book
Your Authority as a preacher is The Book – The Bible. Your knowledge of the Bible is what gives you power and authority. You must study it to master it because that is what will prevent you from being embarrassed amongst Brethren and those outside the Faith (II Timothy 2:15; II Timothy 3:16-17; cf. Acts 26:24; Daniel 9:2).
You
must be a man of Book, Chapter and Verse
(Isaiah 8:20; I Peter 3:15; I Peter 4:11).
2.
Feed
The Flock
This was Jesus’ instruction to Peter at John 21:15-17. Your work is simple: Feed God’s people! Teach them the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). You must be careful with the kind of spiritual food you feed the Church (Hebrews 13:9).
Your work as a preacher is that of Technical Adviser. Your work is not to do Ministry. Ministry is the work that God has entrusted into the care of the Church because the Church is His Divine Orientation Agency (Ephesians 3:10). The impression that has been created in the minds of many for a long time now is that the work of Ministry is that of the exclusive preserve of preachers and Church leadership. This is totally wrong. The Scripture reveals that the work of the preacher is that of “Technical Adviser” (Ephesians 4:11) while the actual work of the Ministry is left into the hands of the “Saints” (Ephesians 4:12).
Ministry thrives when God’s people are adequately oriented, encouraged and equipped for the work of service coupled with the willingness of every member of the Body of Christ to volunteer himself/herself (Psalms 110:3; Psalms 68:11). What the Minister and the Eldership should do to ensure effective leadership in their given localities is to employ Samsonic principle of setting his instruments on fire to set the community afire (Judges 15:5).
To obtain enough resources to feed the Church, apart from studying the Bible, read good books written by Brethren. Look for good sermon and Bible Study outlines on doctrinal issues as well as those that will encourage the Church. Each time you listen to a good message, get a copy of it. Do not be ashamed to request for Bible study and sermon outlines from experienced preachers in the field.
3.
Implant
Jesus
The greatest responsibility of a preacher is to make Jesus known; to implant Jesus in the hearts of those he ministers to. Apostle Paul’s heart-touching message at Galatians 4:19 remains every preacher's challenge:
“My little children, of whom I
travail in birth again UNTIL CHRIST BE
FORMED IN YOU.”
God’s ultimate desire is to see that every believer conforms to the Image of His Son (Romans 8:29b). Your goal, therefore, is to see that Christians die to themselves daily (I Corinthians 15:31) and that Jesus increases in them as they decrease in themselves (John 3:30).
If you succeed in this assignment, you will have no problem in your work as a preacher because each person would be “established and rooted” in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). When this happens, there will be less infighting, less lethargy and more commitments in the things of the Lord. How would you be able to do this? By expounding to them the “Whole counsel of God” (Acts 20: 27).
4.
Avoid
The Pitfalls of Encomiums
Close your ears to accolades and focus on your calling. Often, the mistakes preachers make is to allow themselves to be carried away by commendations. Some will say that you are a “powerful man of God.” Thank them, but do not let such statements get into your head. You must remember that God did not call you to be “powerful,” but to be a “faithful” man of God (II Timothy 2:2; Luke 17:10). It is this faithfulness to His Word that He rewards.
5.
Strike a Balance Between
Doctrinal Integrity And Moral Purity
I Timothy 4:16 should be your motto. One of the greatest assets of a preacher is a thorough knowledge of God’s Word. You must be a Book, Chapter and Verse preacher. Your teachings and ministrations should be in accordance with the Law and Testimony (Isaiah 8:20; I Peter 4:11). You must hold forth the mystery of the Faith (I Timothy 3:9). You must abide by the Doctrines of Jesus Christ without which everything you do would become pure balderdash (II John verses 9- 11). You must be doctrinally sound. Arm yourself to the teeth with Restoration Movement principles of New Testament Christianity.
Closely associated with doctrinal integrity is moral purity. Holiness is the beauty of the believer. You must remind yourself daily of I Timothy 4:12.
To maintain moral purity, you must rein in your hormone. Moral prodigality will remain a stain on your Christian and ministerial garments. Maintaining moral purity on a daily basis must remain your prime goal daily. When you soil your moral garment or compromise your morality, you will succeed in destroying a beautiful career ahead of you. Therefore, avoid compromising relationships with female members. Even if you are made of steel, do not pray or counsel any Christian Sister alone or in private except you are accompanied.
6.
Focus on Your Call, Not On The
Pecks of Your Office
You are God’s Mouthpiece where you are. You are called to sound the trumpet, to preach the Word. Therefore, be instant in season and out of season, to rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering (II Timothy 4:2).
You
are not called to pamper people to hell,
but to push them into Heaven. How can you accomplish this? Someone
affirmed: “Let your sermons be bullets, not buckle shots.” There should be no
“What went wrong” sermons – every sermon must be a message.
Remember that you are called to feed the flock, not to feed on the flock.
7.
Magnify
Your Ministry
At Romans 11:13, Apostle Paul affirmed, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I MAGNIFY MY MINISTRY.” What does this say to you, servant of God? – You must go about your duty with dignity! Do not make mockery of your calling and office by engaging in any kind of pettiness. You must not allow anyone to undermine your work. Titus 2:15 says, "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." How do you magnify your ministry? Your life, carriage and commitments will.
8.
Have
a Working Knowledge Of Those You Minister To
Know
your members. Know where they live and what they do to earn their living. Do
not be standoffish. Visit them in their houses, farms, workshops and stalls.
Apostle Paul’s statement at II Corinthians 11:23-28 suggests that he had a working knowledge of the people he ministered to.
9.
Draw
a Work Plan (Proverbs 24:27)
Plan your work and work your plan. You should have a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly plan of work. These plans should include targeted number of conversions, restorations, teachings and projects to initiate and execute.
CONCLUSION
If you do these, you can be sure that your progress in
Ministry will become evident to all. God
bless you all.
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