EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP 2
(week 07/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON
This week, we will see how integrity of heart enables us to be honest with men, money, prayer and the ministry of the Word.
As we maintain INTEGRITY OF HEART BY SPEAKING THE TRUTH TO OURSELVES IN OUR HEARTS, God will release grace and mercy to us in SUFFICIENT measure to cause us to be honest with:
1. Men
2Corinthians 8:21 AMP: For we take thought beforehand and aim to be honest and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.
2. Money
Luke 16:9-12 NIV: I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (10) “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (11) So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (12) And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
In this regard, we as ministers should be faithful in another man’s ministry, before God will give us our own; in fact, in many cases, you do not have to be the ‘President and Founder’ of a ministry or church before you can fulfill your destiny.
YOU CAN FULFILL YOUR DESTINY WHILE SERVING IN A MINISTRY STARTED BY SOME ONE ELSE.
FOR INSTANCE, CALEB FULFILLED HIS DESTINY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOSHUA (JOSH. 14.6-15); NATHAN FULFILLED HIS DESTINY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DAVID (1 CHR. 29.29). LUKE FULFILLED HIS DESTINY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PAUL (LK.1.1-4; ACT. 1.1).
Also, as the Senior Pastor or Founder of a ministry, you should tithe the tithe of the tithes coming to you and send them (weekly or monthly) to your spiritual fathers (people or ministries through whom you received the Word of God (instructors) and WHOSE EXAMPLE YOU HAVE IMITATED (Fathers) that has caused you to grow spiritually to where you are today).
Nehemiah 10:38 KJV: And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
1Corinthians 4:15-17 NKJV: for though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. (16) Therefore I urge you, imitate me. (17) For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
If you do this, God will open to you the ‘windows of heaven’ (Mal. 3.10) and give you ‘new wine’ (Prov. 3.10, 9.1,5): the true riches of revelation knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
Colossians 2:2-3 NIV: My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, (3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
So, as we MAINTAIN HONESTY OF HEART and speaking the truth to ourselves in our hearts, God will show Himself strong on our behalf, causing us to have excellence of ministry by integrity of heart: honesty, reliability and consistency!
2Chronicles 16:9 KJV: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them WHOSE HEART IS PERFECT toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Psalms 15:2 AMP: He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, WHO works rightness and justice and SPEAKS AND THINKS THE TRUTH IN HIS HEART,
Next week, we will look at excellence in prayer and the ministry of the Word.
