Changes through Ministry II

ByPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes

Welcome, dear friends!

Mercy and peace of God, Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you!

Yesterday we began to discuss the meaning of ministry and what influence it has on your life. As we clarified, that ministry is a practical way to show God’s love to the people around me. We can serve people with everything the Lord has blessed us with, e.g. finances, time, prayers, experience of life, etc. However, it’s important to remember that all these things must be based on love. Giving is the main quality of such love. The Bible says “God is love”.

 

« He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love ». (1st John 4:8).

 

If God is love it’s vitally important to know and understand how Love behaves.

 

« For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life ». (John 3:16).

 

This verse from Scripture says God gave His one and only Son for the salvation of the whole mankind not as an act of feat but because He loves people.

«For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son …» – God proved His love to us through His giving.

 

« But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ». (Romans 5:8).

 

We were dead in our sins, and desperately needed freedom from the slavery of sin and the power of satan. Regardless of our sinful status God came to help us and serve us. He sent His one and only Son to die for our freedom’s sake. Giving (His life) is the exact prove of love. That’s why God calls us to follow Him as His children. Taking into consideration that God is love in what area should we as His children follow Him first? Surely love is the first thing!

 

« Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance ». (Ephesians 5:1-2).

 

By living in love we offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God for the benefit of the other people around us.

 

« By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? My little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth ». (1st John 3:16-18).

 

Love always gives! We share our property or skills to meet the needs of people God sends on our way. It’s also possible to help other people, even sacrifice yourself, meet all people needs but have no love for them. This is what Paul’s letter to Corinthians tells us:

 

« If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing ». (1st Corinthians 13:1-3).

 

If our deeds are driven by different motives instead of love, it’s not a ministry in Biblical sense. The bible says, there is no profit for a man whose deeds are done without love. Such ministries or sacrifices do not please our God. So ministry presumes we use every blessing God has given to us to meet the needs of people around us, by expressing the love the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts.

 

« and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us ». (Romans 5:5).

 

Thus, true ministry starts with discovery of the gifts and assets I possess. After a person has determined what he has, he or she should look around in order to find the people with whom he can share his gifts and assets with. Living this way our life will be filled with joy and satisfaction because of the privilege we have to serve or help somebody else.

Let God pour His love and mercy on you to serve other people!

See you tomorrow.

Rufus Ajiboye, pastor

Similar Posts

  • It´s a huge privilege to be changed by the Almighty One!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    When Jesus said He would make us, He meant “He would make us, so that other people seeing you could say you have been made in Heaven”.If we allow God to change us His way and we follow Jesus, people around will see a reflection of Heaven in our life and in our ministry.

    When Jesus said He would make us, He meant “He would make us, so that other people seeing you could say you have...

  • In order for the light of God in our lives to shine brighter and brighter we have to consistently cleanse our lamp

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 6 minutes
    The bible said we are the light of the world, so each of us is a light bearer. And as you know, light is intended to enlighten and drive away any form of darkness. We have to realize though, that we do not have light on our own. The light we radiate is the reflection of the light we have received from God. If we have a distorted perception of God, and His ways, then the light we radiate will also be distorted. Quite often so many Christian radiate distorted light because their lamp is not clean.

    The bible said we are the light of the world, so each of us is a light bearer. And as you know, light is intended...

  • Don’t ever allow anything or anybody to stop you from serving.

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    Friends, no matter how badly people or life itself has treated you, if you want to move ahead in life you have to learn how to focus on the right thing and chose the right life position. If despite all the odds of life you can still focus on using your gifts and talents; if you can still continue to serve people, then you will soon be able to change your status. That was exactly what happened to Joseph. As he served these two officers of pharaoh instead of concentrating on the offences of others, the door to his throne opened to him easily. Pharaoh sent for Joseph and fetched him out of the prison.

    Friends, no matter how badly people or life itself has treated you, if you want to move ahead in life you have to...

  • The conclusion about potential benefit from hardship, painful times and problems

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    *) We talked about how God uses our pain and problems for our spiritual growth; *) We talked about the fact that there is benefit in our times of hardship. Problems and pain focus our attention as nothing else does. They teach us to lean on God, they test and refine our faith, form our character, prepare us for eternity and Problems give us a chance to obtain the necessary experience for ministry to other people. *) We talked about the importance of making right choices, because if we do not make the right choices, times of hardship by

    *) We talked about how God uses our pain and problems for our spiritual growth; *) We talked about the fact that...

  • Responsibility as a Key to Success! II

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 6 minutes
    You may have the throne, a title and a high position; but if you are irresponsible, you will lose authority and power. There is a reward for everything – for being responsible and for being irresponsible. Glory and authority belongs to the responsible people; the irresponsible one get disgrace and reproach.May God help you not shirk your responsibility to others! God will not give you more than you can bear. His grace is sufficient to help and to save you in every situation!

    You may have the throne, a title and a high position; but if you are irresponsible, you will lose authority and...

  • Your attitude influences your progress

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    The judgements, the beliefs, and the convictions of a person influence his attitude and this attitude has an effect on the progress we make.The man in the parable did not multiply his talent because he had the wrong attitude. This man believed lies rather than the truth. That is the lies which many people believe, which become an obstacle to their progress and development. The lies can go something like, “no one loves me”, then any attempt from people to show love towards you, will be rejected. A person believing in lies from the enemy will not be able to accept blessings, help, and advice from others, as all this would be misinterpreted.

    The judgements, the beliefs, and the convictions of a person influence his attitude and this attitude has an...