IF YOU SENSE THE CALL TO MINISTRY (5)

After about a year in the land of Eruwa pursuing the call of God, I had an amazing offer to pioneer a youth church for a church. It was a great offer at face value. I would be more comfortable. I would also be pastoring in a high-network area in a city. 

Some of my loved ones also saw it as a great opportunity since I was still single and looking forward to marriage. They even asked me to go and pray about it. I knew it was not the way to go. I did not spend time praying about it at all. My “No” was resolute. 

Beloved, in your preparation for ministry, you must settle on what your definition of success in ministry is. Why? You will encounter different definitions, and you may start getting swayed, but one definition must never change. It is the definition that becomes the litmus test for any other thing:

Success in ministry is doing what God would have you do and where God would have you be. Progress in ministry is being exactly where God would have you be per time, even if it is to stay in one spot. If your assignment is to wait but you run around in haste, in the sight of the Lord, all that energy is a waste. 

Beloved, success is the applause of the sender and not the encomium of men. A thousand men applauding you in disobedience does not amount to obedience.  

When the Lord asked Moses to speak to the rock but he struck it instead, water still flowed. Those who do not know his instructions would applaud the result of bringing water out of the rock. What a miracle they will say. 

Numbers 20:7-8 NKJV

[7] Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [8] “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 

Numbers 20:11 NKJV

[11] Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.

However, the one who instructed would see the water and respond differently. The conclusion would be, “What a great mistake.”

Numbers 20:12 NKJV

[12] Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

What is your definition of success? Is it doing what God wants you to do? Is it being where God wants you to be? Or is there any other you have? 

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