IF YOU SENSE THE CALL TO MINISTRY 8
That night, my friend told me that he would love me to meet with a pastor who had started a fresh work in the city. He convinced me. We took a long walk through the usual night bustling of the metropolis until we got into that beautiful auditorium.
It was dark but it was obvious that some worthy investment had gone into the work. Then I asked this pastor just one question: “In one word, tell me: ‘How do you feel at the moment about the work?'” His answer came out with gentle force, “Frustrating”.
I did my best to encourage a brother. As we left, my friend said, “I think he has invested in the secondary things—his posters are the top of the class, he even has protocol who stands by the altar when he teaches, and the equipment is also top-of-the-range.”
I understood.
Dear called one, desire excellence. Cultivate the attitude of excellence but this cannot take the place of the preparation of the heart and process. The heaviest burden in ministry is an unprepared heart. It will break down when the demand of the call beckons.
To partake in ministry, your heart must be right.
Acts 8:21 NIV
[21] You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
Acts 8:21 GW
[21] You won’t have any share in this because God can see how twisted your thinking is.
Dear called one, there is such a thing as the preparation of the heart. The Scribe, Ezra, showed us the pattern.
Ezra 7:10 NKJV
[10] For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Prepare Your Heart to seek the Lord (not sermons first). Sometimes, we are looking for a sermon to preach while God is looking for a man to use. Until our desire is the same as His, we cannot truly be his vessel.
Prepare your Heart to seek and do the Word. It is not first about preaching it.
Is your heart in the right place?
temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa