,Lessons For Life and Ministry

– written by W.N. Vincent

While many people are very eager to launch out and do ministry, only a few take time to ask relevant questions and seek the knowledge that will help them to be successful in life and in ministry. No wonder so many fall into error or make mistakes that could have been avoided.

Are you on a new project? Or you just received instructions from God on how to go about a new project?

I want to share with you five (5) lessons for life and ministry which I believe will help you if you want to succeed in whatever ministry God has called you to serve.

Since I learned these lessons, my efficiency and proficiency in my ministry increased greatly with the help of God.

1. It’s Ok When God Shakes Things Up

God will always interrupt the flow of things when you take your eyes off Him and focus on something or someone else.

This is one of the powerful lessons for life and ministry I have gotten along the way.

Sometimes this interruption is characterized by a sudden feeling of being left alone by those who have always been there for you.

You need to understand that God wants you more than you think you want him. He wants to share stuff with you more than you even want him to share them, and those other things you give your attention to cannot take you as high and as far as His reach.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

He knows you’re limited with them, but limitless with Him, even if all you can see now is the lack of manpower and financial support to push that vision, and how you feel about the present situation.

Sometimes, God hears you say you depend on Him, but your actions betray your words, as many times you may find yourself waiting on the promises of man, so much that you do not even notice you have taken your eyes off God until he taps you on your shoulder.

God wants to be your only option because everything you need is in Him. He wants to be the one you will depend on ABSOLUTELY.

For this reason, sometimes He’ll just step in and shake things up.
At those times, you must be sensitive to know what is happening.

Prov 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

2. It’s Ok To Start Small

Greatness is not a large harvest. Greatness is a small seed. If you despise the seed of greatness in you in your quest (drive, desire) to be great, you’ll never be great.

You must understand that starting small is never bad. In fact, it is a kingdom principle that you must embrace.

As the journey of a thousand miles has several single (small) steps in it, so does the greatness you so eagerly seek have several small seeds that should never be despised.
Seeds like Honour, to mention one out of many.

Also, most times we misinterpret the concept of Speed. We so readily despise our process, but we want to eat the fruits that stem from a successfully completed process.
No friend, it doesn’t work like that.

You must understand and embrace the place of God, Process, Time, and Seasons.

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

3. It’s Ok To Start Alone

Sometimes people won’t want to be part of the vision UNTIL IT BEGINS TO BEAR FRUITS; until the results are seen.

I know how frustrating it can be to start a journey and be the only one on that road for a long time.

You may have shared your vision with people, yet they’ve left you stranded, unwilling to join you or help.

Don’t go about hating on them because they didn’t support you when you started.

Be a man of understanding. It’s all part of your process.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Watch it! When you begin to have results, they will come to join the train. For now, keep building.

When they come to join, don’t stop them out of anger that they didn’t start with you. And they are not all seeking to reap where they didn’t sow! NO.

Understand that, at several points, people will play their specific roles as designed by God for the fulfillment of that vision.
Only be sensitive to know who you should let on-board later and who you should not.

4. It’s Ok When Your Own Rejects You

Your greatest support will not always come from your own. Most times it will be strangers that will bless you FIRST!

In fact, your own will tell you, ‘You can’t make it. What do you even know?‘ or ‘This thing you’re doing is not for you and it won’t pay you‘.

Some will even tell you they can’t put their resources into it because THEY CAN’T SEE ANY GOOD COMING OUT OF IT. They said this to Jesus in his home town.

But oh! You have seen something they haven’t seen. Press on!
Oftentimes than not, home support always comes as you keep growing and having results.

Again, be a man of understanding. Do not hate them.

If your greatest support is from your own, I tell you, you’re blessed and highly favored.

Habakkuk 2:2-3

Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Keep building. It will surely speak.

5. It’s Ok If You Feel Pain Sometimes

Of all the lessons for life and ministry, I saved this for the last.

Childbirth is never a painless process. But if you never push, you’ll never birth what you carry.

Gold is never pure until it passes through fire.

Hebrews 5:8 says, Jesus, although he was the Son of God, learned obedience through the things that he suffered.

Your pain-FULL seasons are great tools if only you’ll wipe the tears off your eyes and look beyond the physical happenings. Your pain-FULL seasons are useful if only you’ll use them to Become.

You must learn to see pain differently if it will profit you in any way.

You’re never disadvantaged with God, no matter the odds against you. If you can think, you can always come out of anything.

John 16:21

Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

The greatest gift God gave to the believer after salvation is the Holy Spirit. With him, you can birth every seed you carry.

Engage him in your ministry. You can’t do ministry without him!

Which of these lessons for life and ministry blessed you the most? Please let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

#ForLifeandMinistry

Regards,

Vincent.