Ministry is a road to greatness and influence

 Welcome, dear friends! May grace and peace from our Father God and our Lord, Jesus Christ be multiplied unto you! We established yesterday that ministry or serving turns us into cheerful, happy, fruitful and fulfilled Christian. When God’s life flows in and through us to other people, we blossom, bear fruits, and we become more joyful and satisfied. The way God has set nature and creation to operate is that we have to always give and not just receive in order to enjoy life. That is the reason why Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. For example, we breathe in fresh air, consume oxygen needed for our life, but the exhale (give out to nature) carbon dioxide gas that is a necessary component for plants to survive. So as humans we consume or take oxygen from nature, but we also have to give something (carbon dioxide gas) back to nature. On the other hand, all plants consume (inhale or take from nature) carbon dioxide gas, but they also exhale (give out to nature) oxygen. As you can see, the carbon dioxide gas that is vitally an important source of life for plants is dangerous for our health as human so that we can only live if we give exhale it. In the same way, if plants will hoard or keep oxygen for themselves instead of exhaling it, they would die. So they had to give it out so that humans can not only live, but produce for the plants the carbon dioxide that is needed for them to survive. So, we can see that everything in nature is arranged not only to receive but also to give something to the environment. Trees receive their nutrition from animals and humans while giving something away in return to replenish the human and the animal lives. Animals and humans receive their nutrition from plants vegetation while giving something out in return to replenish the plant kingdom. If we only take something from life without giving anything back, that will break the balance result in death. This is exactly how we are to understand the function of ministry. Ministry is the way to maintain balance in our spiritual life. We do that by sharing with others and building them up through our gifts and talents. By faith in Christ we receive the source of divine life inside of us. This source resemble the oxygen we intake in order to live. We will die spiritually without it. But as I breathe in this divine life, this divine oxygen, I have to also breathe out by allowing rivers of living waters to flow out of my belly unto others. You cannot just remain on the receiving end only, without giving back anything in return. You have to share something with others. Death steps in wherever people are just receiving but refuse to share or give of themselves.Many Christians today are constantly living in the mood of apathy, boredom and dissatisfaction in life. In most cases such people have no ministry; they never apply God’s word they hear in their life, so that it becomes a ministry that will bless others around them. Ministry is what will fill your life with freshness and joy.This principle is also illustrated through the two seas in Israel, – the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Almost every tourist who visits Israel has the desires to visit both of these places. What does the Dead Sea looks like? It has no life in it. Why? There is no life because rivers only flow into that sea but none flows out of it. That is to say that this sea is only on the receiving end and there is no living water flowing from the Dead Sea. However, when we look at the Sea of Galilee, it is full of life and animation. Why is there such a big difference between the Seas? I Very simple, the Sea of Galilee is not only on the receiving end, but also on the giving end because rivers are not only flowing in to it, rivers are flowing out of it.So we can see now how God transforms us through our ministry. First of all, ministry transforms a selfish believer into a loving, compassionate and merciful servant of the Lord. Next, ministry multiplies God’s power and anointing in our life. Then, ministry makes us fresh, fruitful, satisfied, happy and fulfilled people in God. In addition to all that, ministry is a road to greatness and influence. As we have mentioned earlier, God is a God of progress, therefore, He wants us to make progress in our life and grow in our influence. One of God’s instruments of accomplishing this goal is through our ministry. Greatness and influence comes through ministry. That is why the Bible says: 

«But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bond-servant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”» (Matthew 20:25-28).

 Everyone who wants to become significant and great in the Kingdom of Heaven has to put aside his or her importance and begin to serve others in the name of the Lord. Joseph is a good example of this principle. He served God and people with all his heart everywhere he found himself– at home in his father’s house, as a slave in the house of Potiphar, in prison, as a Prime and as minister ruling over Egypt. He was always serving other people. Joseph’s zeal for ministry was the reason why God elevated him and made him great. God has prepared greatness for you also, but you can only attain to it by consistently and zealously serving God and people. Please allow God to transform you through your ministry! Ask yourself some tough and sincere questions today: “Do I really serve God and other people? I am I serious in ministry? I am I truly allowing God to transform me through my ministry? What is preventing me from doing ministry more effectively? How can I practically serve other people? How Am I drawing people to God through my ministry? How Am I glorifying God through my ministry?”  If you answer all these questions honestly and begin to minister to God and others with a different attitude, then you are headed toward some incredible changes in your life. Your life will be filled with more joy, satisfaction, influence productivity and you will encounter greatness from God. God bless you abundantly!   Rufus Ajiboye, pastor