How to Have a Powerful Personal Ministry

Introduction:

According to the word of God, the ministry of the church is the sum total of the collective ministries of each member of the body (). The fellowship is healthy in ministry only as long as each of us is. The power of the collective body is strengthened or weakened as we are personally.

In order for powerful ministry to take place, certain things must be true of members of the body. The question boils down to a personal one:

“Am I in a position for Christ to use me in a powerful way?”

Notice some factors that determine if we are in the usable position.

I- You must have a life that has been changed by Christ ().

A- Changed through the new birth experience.

1- The new birth makes you a new creature ().

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

B- Changed as he works on and in you day by day ().

Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1- Through the renewing of the mind.

2- By the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the word of God (; ).

Ephesians 5:26 NLT

to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

Titus 3:5 NLT

he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

You should not be the same as you were when you first believed.

attitudes changed

motivations changed

actions changed

desires changed

II- You must be sold out to Christ ().

A- A disciple (Acts 9:10 a).

1- Willing to learn.

2- willing to obey

B- listens to God for instructions ().

1- Willing to listen to personal instructions.

C- Obedient ().

1- even when the task can be personally costly.

2- Obedience is a matter of faith.

III- You must be in a growing relationship with Christ ().

A- It must be an open relationship in order to be a growing one ().

1- No relationship can grow if it is secret.

a- Jesus does not allow for secret discipleship ().

Matthew 10:32 NLT

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

B- Growth will produce an increase in spiritual strength and understanding ().

1- The more we grow, the more our strength grows.

like physical growth

can handle more in terms of responsibility and adversity.

2- The more we grow, the deeper is our understanding of Christ and his word grows.

* like physical growth

if your understanding has not grown, you have grown.

IV- You must be willing to go beyond the call of duty to help other believers ().

A- New believers or new members may need some help.

1- To feel accepted.

2- To find support and love.

B- Fellow believers need the fellowship.

1- Many feel alone.

2- Some have serious trials.

3- All need undergirding, love and acceptance.

C- The only way for this to occur is to go beyond the call of duty to be that friend.

1- We are to love one another with a self-sacrificing love.

()

1 John 3:16–19 NLT

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

()

1 John 4:7–11 NLT

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

V- You must make yourself available for God’s use ().

A- Minister in the name of Christ to those who need Christ ().

1- Times of extreme need provide opportunities to reach people.

As in the text

Peter and John healed a lame man ()

Acts 3:1–10 NLT

1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

Paul ministered to Publius’ father ().

Acts 28:7–10 NLT

7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 8 As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

B- Minister to fellow believers in need ().

1- Doing so opens doors in the unbelieving world ().

Acts 9:42 NLT

42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.

a- Shows that what we have is real.

b- True love proves to the world that we are Christ’s disciples ().

John 13:35 NLT

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Conclusion:

when we engage in powerful personal ministries, we will find a powerful collective ministry. To do this we must:

have been changed by Christ

be sold out to Christ

be in a growing relationship with Christ

be willing to go beyond the call of duty to help fellow believers.

Be available for God’s use. A