Heart of Ministry

We must be called

A calling cannot be quenched, a fervor, a passion, something we dream about and cannot get off of our minds.

ED201 Empowering God’s People for Ministry A Context for Living a Call

One is that it’s focused on a need that we care about—that need that really touches our heart, whether it’s focused on the church or focused on the world. Then we need to get in touch with where does the compassion of Christ in us intersect that brokenness of the world, or what’s that situation or thing in the church that really draws us. What’s the positive burden, this thing I must do? What’s that issue that wells up within us, that compels us and it takes more energy to press it down than it does to allow it simply to flow through? Is there something bigger than can be accomplished in your own resources that you dreamt about being engaged in? If the fear of failure was removed, what would Christ want to do through your life? It may sound big, but at the same time, that is an indication of call. And it’s this place of energy and joy.

Ministry should bring

Joy

Fulfillment

Excitement

Ministry should be

Passionate

Compelling

Driving/Motivating

Not to say it it driven by emotion

Ministry has its ups and downs.

Not to say that it will always be easy

The Message of 2 Corinthians 3. Ministry: Summary

Sacrifice is at the heart of the gospel and also at the heart of ministry—whether it is in evangelizing unbelievers or providing pastoral care for the flock of Christ. The service of God, where it is true to him, is never easy and is frequently painful. It will be remembered that Paul wrote, earlier, ‘Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you’ (

Life and spiritual warfare will attempt to waylay you, to distract and discourage you.

Sacrifice is difficult.

When you are truly called, it is something that even in the midst of trial and tribulation, weighs so heavy on your heart that you MUST continue, submitting it to the Lord and knowing He will take care of you and your ministry.

Ministry should not be our “side hobby”

God’s calling for us should be on the forefront of our minds

It should be on our minds daily, excited for what is next.

If ministry is burdensome to you, if it is continually exhausting and you reap no joy from it.

When ministry becomes

duty

a chore

Passionless

Vision-less

This is where we need to check our hearts

Is it still our calling?

Is God moving us to something else?

It is sad to see ministry suffer at the hands of those who hold on when God is trying to move them,

I have seen it many times

Every time, when they submit to God and let go, there is life, blessing, and new vision!

God does move us throughout our lives.

we must be willing to follow Him and not try to lead the way our selves.

Sometimes we just need to get together in prayer, refresh and revitalize our vision and passion.

And sometimes we need to let God change our perception, that He might have another ministry for us to be apart of.

I for one, do not want to be stuck doing a ministry I am not called to, I want to be apart of whatever God has for me, regardless of what i THINK I need or should be.

Final thoughts

We are to represent Christ in our ministry, in all things,

Attitude

Humility

Mentality

When I am feeling “burnt out” it is ALWAYS due to my lack of reliance on Christ

It is not because ministry is not for me, or i am done,

When I surrender to Him, Every time i am revitalized, encouraged, and passionate

It is HIS ministry NOT mine

I take NO credit for anything

1 Corinthians 3:5–8 “5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”