How To Have A Ministry That Endures Series

HOW TO HAVE A MINISTRY THAT ENDURES

Acts 21:8-9

The following is a message that was delivered at a local pastors conference)

I grew up in a church that had an average pastoral tenure of less than two years. As a result, I developed relationships with many men in ministry who have had a tremendous impact on my life. Sadly, most of those men are no longer serving; some are out of church altogether and even worse they are away from the Lord. This is a very sobering reality; I fully realize that I am one sinful decision away from joining that list. I am thankful that failure is not always final, and restoration is possible; but when a pastor fails, the damage that is done to his family, the church, and the cause of Christ is immense. For this reason, it is important for us to do what is necessary to ensure that we not only finish, but that we finish well.

Today I would like to talk to you about “How To Have A Ministry That Endures”.

Though he was not a pastor, we find a great example of a man who started strong and finished well in Philip the Evangelist. We do not know much about him, but there are four areas of his life where his devotion is apparent. These truths are not exhaustive, but they are imperative if we seek to have a lasting ministry. First, I would submit to you that in order to have a ministry that endures:

I. WE MUST BE DEVOTED TO THE LORD

I know that this is elementary, but it is important for us to begin with the fundamentals. There are countless of examples of men and women who began to follow the Lord and for one reason or another turned away and ceased following Him. John tells of a time when “many of (Jesus’) disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

Later, in his first Epistle, John speaks of those false teachers who “went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” (I John 1:19). The reason that many have not endured in ministry and even in the faith is that they “are not truly of us”.

Devotion is defined as “love, loyalty or enthusiasm for a person, activity or cause.” The brief testimony that we have concerning Philip reveals that he was devoted to the Lord. He was a genuine follower who dedicated his life to serving his Master. His faith was genuine; his conversion was authentic and his relationship with the Lord was intimate and enduring. It is apparent that Philip was a man who spent time in close communion with the Savior. He was filled with the Spirit, and he spent time in prayer and in the Word of God. This is obvious by how he jumped right into Isaiah and began to expound the scriptures in his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch.

It is an astonishing reality but true nonetheless that many of those who seemed to start well, yet in time turned away from the ministry never truly knew the Lord. Furthermore, there are many who are currently in positions of leadership who are not truly converted. Therefore, it is imperative that we ensure that our faith is genuine. Peter said “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you….”

If Philip had not been a genuine Believer, none of the truths that we will consider would have been possible. The same is true for us, the only way that we can be steadfast and have ministries that endure is for us to be devoted to the Lord. We must be Spirit filled and spend ample time communing with the Lord through prayer and time in His Word. Far too many men in ministry are trying to teach people to do things that they are not doing themselves. Some are attempting to introduce others to someone that they do not know themselves. If we seek to be fruitful for the Kingdom, if we want to live and serve in a way that pleases the Lord, and if we desire to have a ministry that endures, we must be devoted to the Lord.

- Furthermore, if we seek to have a ministry that endures:

II. WE MUST BE DEVOTED TO THE CHURCH

Unfortunately, there are times when we lose sight of the fact that we are not just leaders in the church, we are members of the Church. (Universal and local). One of my greatest fears when I became a pastor was that there would come a time when I would begin to serve out of obligation rather than passion. To be honest, there have been many seasons when that fear became a reality. There are times when we just don’t want to make a hospital visit. Often the doorbell or the phone rings and we cringe. We dread certain committee or business meetings. There are even times when spiritual things like prayer, Bible study and sermon prep are the last thing that we want to do.