Lecture Two: I Grow Into Ministry, it is not Tailored to Me.

Exodus 29:35 NKJV

35 “Thus you shall do to Aaron and his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Seven days you shall consecrate them.

1. We Do Not Cut Ministry Down to Fit Us, We Grow to Fit It.

in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. we see a list of character markers that none of us are perfectly holding too, but these are the fruits we are striving for.

as we move into Ministry there is not a single area in our life that wont be touched.

this is why we are told not to allow novices to hold the office of preaching. 1 Timothy 3:6.

The bible teaches us that teachers are given to a “stricter judgement. James 3:1.

the point is not I don’t want you to preach because I do. the point is I want you to understand that what you have been called to is huge. it’s going to cost you everything. it is at this point that we want you to understand the word of is calling you to die that christ might live through you.

i’m not trying to scare you out of Ministry. I want you to understand that the Lord is going to tear you down and build you back up.

God did not make the ministry to fit you, he builds you to fit it.

This is what happens when you are called to the ministry God calls you into sacrifice. this sacrifice that he calls us into, teaches us how to grow. this call to growth is the source of what we minister from.

Ministry cannot be formed in our image, it has to be in the image of God.

bible truth is often hard truth.

I know the bible is true.

I sometimes struggle with how to share that truth in love.

2. As we learn to wear these garments we carry the weight of the truth and the needs of people.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

We are called for the equipping of the Body of Christ for the work of the ministry.

When we look at the five fold ministry we learn for the purpose of this conference please know if you have a call, then God is readying you for a ministry.

no one can give you a ministry but you can hurt a ministry if you are not prepared.

Our goal is to prepare you.

a lot of people struggle with the hard truths people cant come to repentance.

a lot of people don't want to tell people the truth because the way we’ve seen it done has not been not in love. after some time of presenting the gospel in love.

as we present the gospel the truth of Gods love brings Correction.

Ephesians 4:15 NKJV

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

3. The calling comes before the equipping, equipping comes before deployment.

1 Samuel 3:1–11 NKJV

1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

Answering the call is the place we start.

When you are called to Preach you are called to serve.

2 Kings 3:11 NKJV

11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

Joshua 1:5 NKJV

5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

1 Timothy 1:2 NKJV

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Titus 1:13 NKJV

13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,