22 Excelling In Ministry

Rejoice Essential Magazine December 2020

EXCELLING IN MINISTRY

[Even as my preaching has been accompanied] with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] by the power of the Holy Spirit. [The result is] that starting from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel [faithfully executing, accomplishing, carrying out to the full the good news] of Christ (the Messiah) in its en-

BY PASTOR BRIAN MACHACHE

tirety (Romans 15:19 AMP)

(Philippians 1:21-26 KJV)

Def: To excel means to do extremely well, to shine, to stand out, to surpass

Excelling in ministry has to be the desire of every child of God There is no limit to what God can do through you in ministry You have a unique assignment upon your life and for that specific assignment; there is no one who can do it better than you

ACHIEVEMENTS OF PAUL THE APOSTLE

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1

Corinthians 15:10 KJV)

We can learn a lot of lessons from the life and ministry of Apostle Paul because he achieved great things

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6.

7. He healed the sick He cast out demons He wrote epistles He raised the dead He mentored many people He overcame temptations, trials, and tribulations He survived after being stoned

IMPORTANT LESSONS TO LEARN FROM HOW APOSTLE PAUL STARTED OFF IN MINISTRY

1. You can start from where you are. God started with the Apostle Paul from where he was.

(Acts 9:3-4)

Where you are is a good starting point Your past will not limit you Your background will not limit you Your age will not limit you

2. You need to accept the call of God upon your life. Apostle Paul hearkened to the voice of Jesus though he still could have decided to walk away.

(Acts 9:8)

Jesus is calling you. He is counting on you. Don’t ignore his voice It is a great honor to have Jesus calling you

3. You need to pay attention to details. Apostle Paul listened to all that God had for him.

(Acts 9:6)

The one who called you knows how to make you succeed in this journey Everything that God tells you to do is good for you.

4. You need to treasure divine visitations. Apostle Paul maximized his encounter with Jesus and it turned his life around.

It does not matter how many divine visitations that you have in life. Your life will only change if you choose to value the visitations. You need to fear God; never take God lightly.

Rejoice Essential Magazine December 2020

“We can learn a lot of lessons from the life and ministry of Apostle Paul because he achieved great things. He healed the sick. He cast out demons. He wrote epistles. He raised the dead. He mentored many people. He overcame temptations, trials, and tribulations. He survived after being stoned.

5. You need to humble yourself. Apostle Paul fell to the ground when he had a divine visitation.

(Acts 9:4)

God raises the humble God can do great things with those who are humble

6. You need to be ready to follow. Apostle Paul got blind and he followed those who were leading him where he was going.

Rejoice Essential Magazine December 2020

“Jesus is calling you. He is counting on you. Don’t ignore his voice. It is a great honor to have Jesus calling you. You need to pay attention to details. Apostle Paul listened to all that God had for him. (Acts 9:6) The one who called you knows how to make you succeed in this journey. Everything that God tells you to do is good for you.

(Acts 9:8)

If you are ready to follow, then you are ready to go up. Following is not an easy thing, but it is a sign that you are ready for the next level.

7. You need to separate yourself. Apostle Paul began his ministry with a fast. (Acts 9:9)

You need to be ready to separate yourself from everything that might want to hold you back . Learn to sacrifice some of your appetites.

8. You need to value the servants of God that have been placed in your life. God sent Ananias to the life of Paul.

Honor the people that God puts in your life Servants of God are a great gift

9. You should give yourself to prayer. Soon after the visitation, the Apostle Paul began to pray.

(Acts 9:11)

Prayer is the best way to start and sustain any ministry It should not be a difficult thing to pick up the spirit of prayer

10.You need baptism in the

Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul received the baptism in the Holy Spirit before he started in ministry.

(Acts 9:17-18)

You cannot excel in ministry without the help of the Holy Spirit Success in ministry is guaranteed when the Holy Spirit is given his place

RADICAL CHANGE

There was a radical change in the life of Paul when he met Jesus.

Almost everyone was surprised by a sudden turnaround in the life of Paul. From a chief sinner, he became one of the chief apostles.

Desire to see a radical transformation in your life and ministry Desire to see God turning your life to be a blessing to many. The apostle Paul became a blessing to many soon after his conversation

OVERCOMING COMMON HINDRANCES

Apostle Paul excelled in ministry because he was able to overcome most of the common ministry hindrances.

1. Don’t allow your occupation/education/profession/family to hinder you from serving God. Paul did not allow his tent ministry to override his call to ministry.

and found out that they were tent makers. Paul was a tent

Rejoice Essential Magazine December 2020

maker too. So he stayed with them, and they worked together (Acts 18:3 CEV)

2. Don’t be satisfied with past achievements. Apostle Paul continued to press towards what was ahead.

(Philippians 3:13-14)

3. Don’t allow your fleshly desires to dominate you. Apostle Paul excelled in ministry because he disciplined his body.

(1 Corinthians 9:27)

4. Don’t allow persecution, trials and temptation to divert your attention. Paul went through a lot in ministry but he overcame.

(2 Corinthians 6:4-5)

Take advantage of every challenge to go to the next level See every challenge as a testimony in the making

5. Don’t allow people to determine what you become in life and ministry. Paul listened to God and not people.

Friends, parents, workmates can be a hindrance to what God wants to do in your life It is better to obey God than to obey man

6. Don’t allow selfish desires to hinder you and stop what God is trying to do through you. Paul had the right motives.

Ministry has to be done out of love for God and love for people Be ready to work for God even if you don’t get anything out of it

7. Don’t take the glory of God to yourself. Apostle Paul always returned the glory to God.

(Acts 14:13-15)

8. Don’t depend on your own strength. Apostle Paul always depended on divine strength.

(1 Corinthians 15:10)

STARTING AND FINISHING STRONG

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1Timothy 6:12 KJV)

This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way (2 Timothy 4:7 MSG)

(Philemon 1:9 KJV)

Apostle Paul started well and finished strong. Apostle Paul was fruitful even up to his old age Desire to get to the finishing line

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Don’t allow persecution, trials and temptation to divert your attention. Paul went through a lot in ministry but he overcame. (2 Corinthians 6:4-5) Take advantage of every challenge to go to the next level See every challenge as a testimony in the making.

Rejoice Essential Magazine December 2020

Rejoice Essential Magazine December 2020