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.
If we are not careful, there may come a time when our ministry becomes mechanical. For this reason, we must guard ourselves against running the church like a business. Yes, we are in positions of leadership, but we dare not treat parishioners as mere employees, interns, or consumers. Though we are pastors, we are also church members, and the members of our congregations are family. Too often we see someone as a deacon, a teacher, a committee head or a common member and fail to remember that first and foremost they are our brother or sister in Christ.
In my experience, God has a way of reminding us that we are ministering to real people with real problems. When one of your parents, children or wife is in the hospital, and you are the one receiving texts, calls and visits and when people are praying with and for you it has a way of adjusting your perspective. Being on the other side is a sobering reminder that the people we have been entrusted to serve are more than just a task to mark off our daily agenda.
Philip is a great example of a man who was devoted to the Church. Acts 1-6 chronicles the rapid and miraculous growth of the Church. Thousands upon thousands of Jews were coming to faith in Christ. As the Church grew the responsibilities multiplied and soon the complaints began to intensify. In response, the Apostles called the whole multitude together and instructed them to select 7 men whom they could appoint over the business of ministering to the people.
Acts 6:5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas…
We don’t know much about most of these men, but the simple fact that they were chosen from such a vast multitude speaks volumes. Philip was chosen because (as we have already seen), he was devoted to the Lord. He was a faithful Believer who was filled with the Spirit and showed evidence of genuine conversion. He was respected by the people and seen as being one trustworthy of managing and distributing funds and caring for people in need.
Each of us should be grateful and humbled by the fact that we have been entrusted to serve in the Gospel ministry. Obviously, it is a tremendous honor that the Lord God Himself would choose us to represent Him in any capacity, but the fact that Christ would say “I trust you to care for my Bride” is simply astonishing.
Furthermore, we should be humbled that so many people have faith in our ability to serve and lead the local church.
Like most of you, my ministry license and ordination certificate are displayed in my study. Those papers are there, not as a boast of anything that I have accomplished, but as a reminder that were some special people who placed a great measure of confidence in me. When I look at my ministry license, I am reminded that in 2007 Mt. Olive Baptist Church thought enough of my character and walk with the Lord to send me out to as a minister of the Gospel. When I look at my ordination certificate and read the names of the men who made up the presbytery, I am reminded that after close examination, those men believed that I would be a faithful preacher and an ambassador of Christ, and they were willing to sign their name as a means of endorsing my ministry. If I do not endure, it would dishonor them; even worse it would disgrace the precious name of the Lord Jesus.
Likewise, each time we stand before our congregations, we are looking at an assembly where the majority examined our character and qualifications and entrusted us with the responsibility of leading, serving and caring for their spiritual needs. There is no way for us to calculate how many people will be negatively impacted if we fail to endure in ministry. Therefore, it is vital that we take the proper steps to ensure that we are and remain devoted to the Church.
- If we desire for our ministries to endure, we must be devoted to the Lord, we must be devoted to the Church it is essential for us to comprehend the fact that:
III. WE MUST BE DEVOTED TO THE GOSPEL
Philip was the first man in the Bible to be referred to as an “evangelist”. Though very little is recorded about him, it is apparent that he was devoted to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts 8:1-13 shows us that:
A. HE WAS FAITHFUL TO SHARE THE GOSPEL PUBLICLY
There was a great danger in the public proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephen had recently become the first martyr of the Christian Church. The members of the Sanhedrin were vehemently opposed to the Believing Jews and the persecution intensified to the point that many were forced out of Jerusalem.
v1 And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
At the same time Saul was “ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.” The problems for the Church were not confined to Jerusalem. There was extreme animosity between the Jews & Samaritans, and I am sure this brought about a host of other obstacles. However, Philip was a bold witness of the Lord Jesus. He was filled with the Spirit and God used him to reach vast multitudes in Samaria. He not only seized the opportunity to share the Gospel in large crowds, but he was also willing to spend time one on one with seekers.
- This shows us that:
B. HE WAS FAITHFUL TO SHARE THE GOSPEL PERSONALLY
One of the greatest examples of personal evangelism is Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. Though he had been used to reach multitudes, he was not above spending ample time explaining the scriptures to a man who was interested in the things of God.
There is much that we can learn from the evangelism of Philip. His story shows us is the power of the Gospel. Though Simon the Sorcerer had tremendous influence in that region and had astonished the people for a long time, Philip did not have to put on a magic show in order to reach the people. He had something far better than magic, he had the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Holy scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We have access to the same things today. Philip also shows us the importance of being bold and steadfast in the face of great opposition. He shows us the benefit of following the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The life and service of Philip also shows us that there will be different seasons in ministry. There may be times when we experience great success and fruitfulness for the kingdom. There may be seasons when we our ministry is visible and public. There may be times when we are regularly invited to speak at conferences, revivals and other special meetings. There may be times when our church is growing at a rapid pace and clearly experiencing the blessings of God.
On the other hand, there may be seasons when we can’t even get invited to do supply work in a church that is on the brink of closing its doors. There may be times when God is moving in a mighty way where we are, yet the Spirit leads us to pack up and move to some unknown or obscure area and serve Him there.
For a time, Philip had a very visible ministry in Samaria, after that he was sent to minister to the eunuch, from there we see him at Azotus and then at Caesarea. The next (and final) mention of him is in Acts 21. There, he is not seen as preaching to a vast multitude or even serving in a prominent role in the local church. In that season of ministry his great act of service was to show care, compassion and hospitality to some of his brothers in ministry.
Luke says in Acts 21:8-9, “On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.”
Though we do not know exactly what Philip did between Acts 8 & 21, one thing that is undeniable is that his ministry endured. He was still devoted to the Lord and still a faithful servant of the Church. I think that the hospitality that he showed Paul, and his companions is a great illustration of some of our retired pastor brethren.
There are some men whom God has used in mighty ways for many decades who are now in the “twilight years” of their life and ministry. For some, their health no longer affords them the opportunity to serve in a vocational capacity. Others have the energy and desire but don’t have the opportunity. For one reason or another the invitations are few and far between. Regardless, these men are still walking with the Lord, still serving Him faithfully, still ministering to the Church whenever and wherever they can. They are encouraging others, imparting wisdom on the younger generation and still sharing the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though their positions and titles may have changed, their ministries have endured. Praise God for such men! If the Lord allows me to reach that stage in life, I want to be one of those men. I want my ministry to endure.
- There is much that we can learn about endurance from Philip but there is one final truth concerning his life that (for me) is the most impressive. He shows us that if we want our ministry to endure, we must be devoted to the Lord, we must be devoted to the Church, we must be devoted to the Gospel and finally:
IV. WE MUST BE DEVOTED TO OUR FAMILY
Our selected text states that Philip “had four virgin daughters who prophesied.” Of all the positive characteristics that are recorded concerning this man, to me this is the most impressive. It is wonderful that Philip was respected by his brothers and sisters within the Church. It is certainly admirable that he was faithful to share the Gospel both publicly and personally. It is very encouraging to see that his walk with the Lord and work for the Kingdom endured throughout his life. But his service to the Lord would have been greatly diminished if he had sacrificed his family in the process. His story shows us the importance of finding the proper balance in all the many areas of our lives and service.
History records many cautionary tales of men who were charismatic, gifted, driven and seemingly successful in ministry whose “success” came at a great price. Their misplaced devotion, personal aspirations and for some, even a genuine desire to honor the Lord and advance His Kingdom came at the expense of their marriages.
I am not just referring to the man who failed in a moment of temptation and experienced a moral failure. There are many pastors/elders who have allowed ministry to become their mistress. They are so focused on their ministry goals that they neglect the most precious person in their lives. While attempting to be all things to all people, they fail to be what their wives need the most. Many times, this results in the pastor’s wife reaching a point where she resents the church, the ministry and in some instances the Lord Himself.
This improper balance in ministry not only affects minister’s wife, but their children also pay a high price as well. Many pastors and ministry leaders are essentially sacrificing their own children in the name of serving the Lord. While spending their days caring for the church, evangelizing the lost, and ministering to the spiritual needs of their congregants, their children are often put on the “backburner” or even worse spiritually neglected altogether. This neglect (whether intentional or unintentional) is not only disgraceful, but also a matter that according to scripture is an issue of disqualification.
Regarding the qualification of an elder, Paul said to Timothy “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?” Neglecting one’s family is not just an issue of misplaced priorities or poor time management, but also one of disobedience to God.
John MacArthur said “The most important things a Christian father can do for his children are to love their mother in a Christ-like way (Ephesians 5) and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6). And the most important thing he can do for his wife is to pursue Christ, and then to love and lead her out of the overflow of his devotion for the Savior. Thus, the fundamental key for being both a good husband and father is to be a godly man—one who fervently loves the Lord and is shepherding his own heart and mind with the Word of God.”
If these things are true and prescribed in Scripture for all men, then it is certainly important for us as pastors to make our families a priority and to lead them well, and we must do this before attempting to lead others.
It seems that Philip comprehended the importance and biblical responsibility that he had concerning his family. Though God used him in different ways and in different seasons, he was able to balance his public ministry and his personal life in such a way that his daughters were followers and servants of Christ. Men, that is the greatest thing that we can hope for.
At the end of my life, it is highly unlikely that it will be said of me that I reached thousands with the Gospel, or that I pastored a mega church, or that I was used to lead a small church that grew to become a large church. But if at the end of my life all five of my children are followers of the Lord Jesus and faithfully serving Him, then my time here will not have been in vain. What good would it do us to have a megachurch with a worldwide media ministry and to travel the country speaking at conferences and other meetings if the one’s that God has entrusted us to raise do not have a relationship with Him.
Let us follow the example of Philip and be devoted to our families. As a matter of practical implication, always remember that if you neglect your wife and children to the point that you lose them, chances are that the church is not going to want you either.
Brothers, it is possible to have a ministry that endures, in fact, your ministry can go on even after you have been called home to glory. But, in order for this to happen you must be devoted to the things that matter. Let us resolve today that:
We will be devoted to the Lord
We will be devoted to the Church
We will be devoted to the Gospel
We will be devoted to our families
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