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

  • The law of harvest and multiplication

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    As a base we will use a passage from Mark chapter 4, where Jesus Himself was speaking in parables. In this chapter there are three parables, through which Jesus explains the power and the potential hidden in a small seed. First I would like to simply recount these parables, but later we will look at each of them in more detail. The first parable that Jesus talked about is the parable of the sower. This parable shows that there is a whole list of obstacles that make it difficult for seeds to grow and bear fruit. In this parable, Jesus went ahead to show us three types of obstacles which can impede the growth of the seeds that we sow. (Mark 4:3-20)

    As a base we will use a passage from Mark chapter 4, where Jesus Himself was speaking in parables. In this...

  • Without God I cannot, but with Him I can do all!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    We can not do the works of God without God. Very often in our own strength, we try to do what God requires us to do with Him. Often we rely on ourselves and on things we already know. Often we rely on our experience. But when the prayer is our priority we understand that when relying on ourselves and doing the job without prayer, we are wasting time and energy. Without a strong prayer movement in the church, the church vision cannot be accomplished. It´s just not possible!

    We can not do the works of God without God. Very often in our own strength, we try to do what God requires us to...

  • We multiply our talents by using them and putting them to practise

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    We have to apply our gifts. We must find for ourselves a place in church, in God’s Kingdom. Your barrenness is nobody’s fault, but yours. Learn to apply your talents and do it well. Whatever you do, do it well to be called a good and faithful servant. The word „faithful” contains deep meaning. You can depend on a faithful servant; he is reliable; he never lets down.

    We have to apply our gifts. We must find for ourselves a place in church, in God’s Kingdom. Your barrenness is...

  • There are three main types of believers: observers, consumers/users and servants!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 5 minutes
    What type of a believer are you? What are you: an observer, a user or a servant? Today we will attempt to establish what distinguishes observers and consumers from servants.Observes do not care for what goes on around them; they demonstrate indifference. What happens in church does not concern him; he thinks that he only needs to attend Sunday services. He is there for the worship and the sermon and it is enough for him. Such a believer has no problems; he is doing fine at work and at home. He simply observes the events around him and he is happy.

    What type of a believer are you? What are you: an observer, a user or a servant? Today we will attempt to...

  • God doesn’t want us to give up! II

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    Yesterday we started talking about how not to give up, when problems and trials are all around us. Today we are going to continue about it and I would like to share with you where we can find the strength for it. In order for us not to give up when dealing with hardships and challenges we must know that problems are a common thing and a part of life. Nobody is secured against them no matter how big your love for God is. If you think that you are the only one with problems and the others don’t have any, then you set yourself up for failure.

    Yesterday we started talking about how not to give up, when problems and trials are all around us. Today we are...

  • Any change in our life is done by the Holy Spirit, who transforms us and moves us from glory to glory

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    Are you able to accomplish something only the Holy Spirit can do? Surely not! However, by constantly watching the glory of the Lord with open face the Holy Spirit can transform us into the same image, from glory to glory.I noticed there is a problem with persistence in our fellowship with God not with coming before Him. You probably experience the time when inspiration visits you and you are willing to get closer to God and have fellowship with Him. While those moments come rather rarely or very rarely they do not change anything in essence. We all need persistence! During fellowship with God Holy Spirit will work at your heart, at your character, at your relationships, at your way of thinking that, in turn, will transform you.

    Are you able to accomplish something only the Holy Spirit can do? Surely not! However, by constantly watching the...