EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP 3
(week 08/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON
This week, we will see how integrity of heart enables us to have excellence in 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 exercise excellence in prayer and the ministry of the Word.
Acts 6:2-4 KJV: Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. (3) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (4) But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Practically, how do we do this?
FIRSTLY, pray DAILY for HUMIILITY, the spirit of wisdom and revelation and to keep yourself in the love of God. (About 15 minutes).
Then:
Pray 1 hour in the Spirit with ALL kinds of prayer and travail (Eph. 6.18, Rom. 8.26, Gal. 4.19) for yourself personally EVERY DAY to enforce the Kingdom (Mt. 11.12, Rom. 14.17), perfect your obedience and for the Christ’s character to be formed in your soul (will, mind and emotions) and body, so causing you to become more conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8.29) DAILY (Lk. 9.23).
Pray 1 hour in the same manner EACH WEEK for your spouse (or for God to give you a spouse).
Pray 1 hour in the same manner EACH WEEK for your children (or God to give you godly children).
Pray 1 hour in the same manner EACH WEEK for your finances and vocation.
Pray 1 hour in the same manner EACH WEEK for your health and protection.
Pray 1 hour in the same manner EACH WEEK for your nation (1 Tim.2.1-4).
Pray 1 hour in the same manner EACH WEEK for every church service.
Observe the ORDER here is FIRST, God and yourself, wife, children, THEN ministry and NOT MINISTRY FIRST!
This makes an average of about 2 HOURS OF CONCENTRATED PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT DAILY.
In addition to this, watch and pray to wash feet and perfect obedience at least once every 6 hours praying briefly in the Spirit for about 1-2 minutes and then CONTINUALLY commune with God with your thoughts so praying without ceasing (1 Th. 5.17).
In conjunction with these prayers, practice daily balanced bible reading and study (about 20-30 minutes) and hear/read anointed PROPHETIC AND APOSTOLIC preaching and teaching of God’s Word ONCE A WEEK to SUPPLEMENT (e.g. my weekly rhema) what you are receiving from your personal bible reading and local church, so you can grow spiritually into the perfection and fulness of Christ.
We need to do this because ‘’man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mt.4.4).
While regular food intake nourishes the body for growth and strength, consistent bible reading nourishes and strengthens the spirit man thereby promoting spiritual growth.
Now, just as unbalanced eating habits cause health problems, so does reading from only your favorite portions of the bible causes spiritual problems.
Furthermore, God’s plan and purpose for every individual life (Rev.22: 19; Col.3: 3) is hidden in the scriptures; also the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in the scriptures (Col.2: 3).
You get this hidden wisdom by:
1. Personal revelation of scripture in your heart through prayer in the Spirit.
2. Confirmation of this revelation in your heart through scriptures revealed by INDEPENDENT prophetic and apostolic revelation or teaching.
3. Corresponding supernatural physical circumstances.
So, we see that the more faithfully you read and understand the scriptures, the more the Holy Spirit can reveal hidden truths to you.
It is universally accepted that physical food, whose main constitutes are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, must be taken in balanced proportions to foster normal physical growth. This is also true of God’s word such that balanced reading of the bible facilitates consistent spiritual growth. The component parts of the word of God and their corresponding spiritual nutritional value.
a. New Testament (Acts to Revelation) – corresponds to ‘Protein’. Provides saints with the principles of God’s Word that are essential building blocks for spiritual growth and development.
b. Gospels (Matthew to John) – correspond to the ‘Fats’. Contain complementary detailed accounts on the life of Jesus that highlight principles and instructions of how Jesus the pattern Son walked on the Earth. This will enable the New Testament Christian to walk as Jesus walked being more conformed to His image.
c. Old Testament (Genesis to Malachi) – correspond to ‘Carbohydrates’. Reveal principles of the New Testament in types and shadows and also highlights prophetic timing thereby strongly motivating the saints to act on these to increase and prosper spiritually and physically.
d. Proverbs – correspond to the ‘Vitamins’. Needed in relatively smaller quantities daily, but vital for providing wisdom and instruction to enable the saint practice principles of the word of God.
e. Psalms – correspond to ‘Minerals’ These are also necessary only in small quantities but are extremely important for spiritual well being as they inspire, comfort and encourage the saints because the New Testament church is called the tabernacle of David. So the psalms contain vital quantities of prophetic truth that are presently applicable to the New Testament Christian.
In the light of the above, we strongly recommend that Christians use this balanced daily bible reading guide, reading and so feed on the Word of God from EACH of these 5 areas DAILY: New Testament, Old Testament, Gospels, Proverbs and the Psalms.
Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
2Timothy 3:16-17 KJV: ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Acts 20:32 KJV: And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to THE WORD of his grace, which IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP, AND to GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE among all them which are sanctified.
