Lessons for Lasting Ministry
If given only one line to describe how to create longevity in ministry, what would yours be? “God’s Sustaining Grace” forms my answer. Hands down, no doubt about it, God’s grace grants us the supernatural ability to endure and enjoy a life of ministry. However, describing God’s sustaining grace in ministry needs further discussion. One of the advantages of 40 plus years of ministry is learning that spiritual lessons are rarely a one-and-done experience. Instead, we must revisit and relearn Biblical principles again and again.
The following provides valuable truths on maintaining lasting ministry.
Guard your heart at all costs (1 Timothy 4:16).
Heart-work is hard work (Philippians 2:12-16).
Heart-work is rewarding work (Colossians 3:23-24).
What rules your heart, rules your life (Proverbs 4:23).
Your heart is not trustworthy (Jeremiah 17:9).
Do not believe everything you think and feel (Proverbs 28:26).
Because of the fall, our thoughts and emotions are not trustworthy. Many challenges in ministry will come our way. These trials cause our thoughts and emotions to slip into disappointment, which leads to doubt, discouragement, and then despair. Additionally, the comparison game causes two sinful extremes, pride or discouragement. Re:2 Corinthians 10:12. We must guard our hearts due to the deep-rooted effects of our fallen natures. The Apostle Paul highlights this warning in Romans 7:13-25.
How do we guard our hearts?
Meditate on Biblical principles and verses.
Philippians 4:6-7 is my go-to passage. This passage does not guarantee our circumstances will be removed but guarantees that God promises to guide our thoughts and emotions. Our outward circumstances may not change, but something occurs within us that is crucial for spiritual survival and sustaining ministry.
Read as many books on “personal worship” as possible.
Read books that focus on your relationship with Jesus Christ. Plenty of books deal with ministry strategies, but we need to fill our minds and hearts with literature highlighting our immeasurable Lord and Savior. In this area, authors A.W. Tozer and Jerry Bridges have aided my walk with Christ.
Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Guarding our hearts and keeping our eyes on Christ go hand-in-hand. They are inseparable spiritual disciplines. The desire and the ability to practice these disciplines come from God. His grace grants us the ability to treasure Christ. Left to ourselves, we would fall into despair. By asking God to help us guard our hearts and keep our eyes on Christ, we position ourselves for His grace. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Taking practical steps of action helps us remain faithful. However, all of them combined would never be effective if God did not grace our lives. Therefore, guarding our hearts and keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ should be our highest priority.
The following passage highlights the reality that lasting ministry is a work of God’s sustaining grace.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Jerry Pelfrey
Grace Baptist Church | gbcmason.org