Lest we get the wrong picture, this book is not about pushing to make God’s ministers an irresponsible lot but to fully release our full-time ministers to the work of coaching the saints for the works of ministry.
I have a deep heart for many souls to be saved since I started ministry some 21 years ago. In my endevour to fulfill this I have realized that a minister who has no care around him spends most of his time praying for earthly things like food or spends more time trying to find ways to get money. On the other hand, their counter-parts take time to pray for souls, signs and wonders, breakthroughs and do a lot of ministry administration, writing, researching and teaching of the word: “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word”(Acts 6:4).
12 Reasons For Honouring God’s Servants:
We Should Be Concerned About The Well-fare Of The Servants Of God Because:
1. God Desires The Prosperity Of His Servants.
It is very clear from the Scripture that God desires the prosperity of His servants: “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”(Psalm 35:27). From the scripture it is very clear that God delights in the prosperity of His servants. The church should therefore work towards the prosperity of God’s servants.
2. Heathens Judge By Their Own System.
The system of the world is to judge a person by their worldly worth. This is not the system of the Kingdom of God and yet if we are to win them we have to get into their system: “to those not having the law (though I myself am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so as to win those not having the law.”(1 Corinthians 9:21). It is a sad truth that the world honours pastors according to how they are honoured by the Church. The more important a pastor looks, the more the world is ready to hear him! Check Ecclesiastes 9:16: “So I said, Wisdom is better than strength. But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and all his words are no longer heeded.” You see, your servant of God may have the greatest anointing but if they are not well honoured, no one will hear them. Most of the greatest anointed preachers are dying in obscurity and cannot make it to minister on television whilst their churches celebrate their pastors’ poverty as “humility.”
3. Servants Of God Are God’s Concern and Satan’s Concern Too!
The principle of the enemy is never to fight against the sheep. Tearing one lamb destroys just that one lamb. The wiser strategy is, “strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.” Satan is focused on destroying servants of God. If the servant of God is destroyed then you too will stumble and fall: “Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered” (Matthew 26:31 New American Standard 1977). Thank God that He also focuses on His servants and gives them great responsibility to bless His people and decide on death and life issues: “And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried” (Deuteronomy 21:5).
If both God and the devil focus on the servants of God, it would be unwise for us to ignore the servants of God.
4. A Servant Of God Is The Brand Of The Ministry.
A brand is the trademark class, the model of what others follow. Paul exhorts the church to follow the leader as the leader follows Christ: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). While we are taught never to judge a book by its cover, it is unfortunate that we do. People know how your church is like by merely looking at your leader because in most cases they (leaders) are the collective image of the whole grouping. A drunkard once came to a church and saw a certain sister he often met at a bar. She was leading in greeting visitors publicly. He vowed never to come back to church because he measured the church by its leadership.
5. Everyone’s Welfare Comes From His/Her Workplace.
In my few years knowing about employment, I have never heard that a worker in a company is paid from the company next door. Government teachers are not paid from privately owned cooperations but from government. Everyone gets paid at their work place. The minister’s workplace is the alter and should be paid from the church: “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).
6. While They Should Not Rip Their People They Must Reap From Their People.
Everyone who sows, does so with hope of a harvest in all life endeavors. According to the scriptures, a pastor who sows spiritual seed should be expected to reap material harvests: “Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” (1 Corinthians 9:10-11). This is in order. However, pastors should not do ungodly psychological gimmicks to steal from people.
7. Their Expenses Must Be Taken Care Of.
I asked a number of our Zimbabwean uniformed forces, like the army and police, whether after being enrolled they have to seek a tailor to do their uniforms. They said that, the government has all of that in place and all uniforms and necessary artillery is provided for. As a soldier you do not buy your own gun, you get them at the armoury. A pastor’s ministry needs should be taken care of at His workplace. “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?” (1 Corinthians 9:7-8)
8. The Blessing Of God On You Is In Response To How You Meet The Needs Of A Servant Of God.
“And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Exodus 17:11-13). Moses was told by God to go up the mountain and lift up his hands so that Joshua and Israel would prevail against their enemies. When he got tired and let down his hands the Amalekites started prevailing. What was happening to Israel was linked to what was happening to the man of God. So in order to win the battle they made plans to keep the hands of the man of God high. I have noticed that a church whose pastor does not own a car has few people who own their own cars. It is like, what happens to the pastor trickles down to the congregation. If your pastor is happy, His God will supply all your needs: “But I have all, and abound: “I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:14-19). If your pastor is full, blessings over-flood you.
9. What You Sow Is What You Reap.
The scripture which contains the principle, “what you sow is what you reap,” has its own background. The background is of sharing every good thing with your spiritual leader and Biblical teacher. It shows that your teacher is a good ground to sow in, therefore if you sow in that teacher you will reap a harvest: “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:6-7). When you sow into your spiritual teacher you are sure to reap.
10. Their Families Have The Same Demands As Every Other Family.
Many people think that the pastor’s home is an “all-spiritual” home. The pastor’s children are not like theirs who also like ice-cream, they think.
While a pastor is a spiritual person, he or she still has physical, material and financial obligations to meet for their family. Jesus, the son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One still needed to pay earthly taxes: “And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?... Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:24,27)
At home, the family does not want a pastor but a father or mother and desires every good thing that all others desire.
11. The Law Of The Lid. Your Leadership Ability Determines The Person’s Level Of Effectiveness.
The pastor is the lid of a church. In other words he or she should be the utmost image of the church. His level in life determines what he ministers to the church. What pastors teach is constantly shaping the mindset of the church thus the congregation rarely goes above the ability of its pastor. It is therefore wisdom to raise the pastor’s standards hence also raise ours. What is on your head (pastor) is what flows to you: “It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.”(Psalm 133:2)
12. It Is The Responsibility Of The Church To Send Out Missionaries.
Thank God for all the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which have helped people’s lives for the better. However, no matter how much these are helping, none is responsible for taking people to Heaven. Without the church honouring the servants of God it becomes hard to send missionaries who preach the gospel free of charge to places where they will be led by God: “What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge…” (1 Corinthians 9:18). NGOs have no budgets for any missionary or evangelism work: “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.” (Philippians 4:15-16)
When a servant of God comes to visit you, partake of his anointing by supporting him or her: “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while”(Romans 15:24). It is the church, first and foremost, that should take care of the servants of God that are on the mission field.
12 Reasons For Honouring God’s Servants:
We Should Be Concerned About The Well-fare Of The Servants Of God Because:
1. God Desires The Prosperity Of His Servants.
It is very clear from the Scripture that God desires the prosperity of His servants: “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”(Psalm 35:27). From the scripture it is very clear that God delights in the prosperity of His servants. The church should therefore work towards the prosperity of God’s servants.
2. Heathens Judge By Their Own System.
The system of the world is to judge a person by their worldly worth. This is not the system of the Kingdom of God and yet if we are to win them we have to get into their system: “to those not having the law (though I myself am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so as to win those not having the law.”(1 Corinthians 9:21). It is a sad truth that the world honours pastors according to how they are honoured by the Church. The more important a pastor looks, the more the world is ready to hear him! Check Ecclesiastes 9:16: “So I said, Wisdom is better than strength. But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and all his words are no longer heeded.” You see, your servant of God may have the greatest anointing but if they are not well honoured, no one will hear them. Most of the greatest anointed preachers are dying in obscurity and cannot make it to minister on television whilst their churches celebrate their pastors’ poverty as “humility.”
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| Why The Church Should Honour A Servant Of God - By Apostle Pride Sibiya |
The principle of the enemy is never to fight against the sheep. Tearing one lamb destroys just that one lamb. The wiser strategy is, “strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.” Satan is focused on destroying servants of God. If the servant of God is destroyed then you too will stumble and fall: “Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered” (Matthew 26:31 New American Standard 1977). Thank God that He also focuses on His servants and gives them great responsibility to bless His people and decide on death and life issues: “And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried” (Deuteronomy 21:5).
If both God and the devil focus on the servants of God, it would be unwise for us to ignore the servants of God.
4. A Servant Of God Is The Brand Of The Ministry.
A brand is the trademark class, the model of what others follow. Paul exhorts the church to follow the leader as the leader follows Christ: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). While we are taught never to judge a book by its cover, it is unfortunate that we do. People know how your church is like by merely looking at your leader because in most cases they (leaders) are the collective image of the whole grouping. A drunkard once came to a church and saw a certain sister he often met at a bar. She was leading in greeting visitors publicly. He vowed never to come back to church because he measured the church by its leadership.
5. Everyone’s Welfare Comes From His/Her Workplace.
In my few years knowing about employment, I have never heard that a worker in a company is paid from the company next door. Government teachers are not paid from privately owned cooperations but from government. Everyone gets paid at their work place. The minister’s workplace is the alter and should be paid from the church: “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).
6. While They Should Not Rip Their People They Must Reap From Their People.
Everyone who sows, does so with hope of a harvest in all life endeavors. According to the scriptures, a pastor who sows spiritual seed should be expected to reap material harvests: “Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” (1 Corinthians 9:10-11). This is in order. However, pastors should not do ungodly psychological gimmicks to steal from people.
7. Their Expenses Must Be Taken Care Of.
I asked a number of our Zimbabwean uniformed forces, like the army and police, whether after being enrolled they have to seek a tailor to do their uniforms. They said that, the government has all of that in place and all uniforms and necessary artillery is provided for. As a soldier you do not buy your own gun, you get them at the armoury. A pastor’s ministry needs should be taken care of at His workplace. “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?” (1 Corinthians 9:7-8)
8. The Blessing Of God On You Is In Response To How You Meet The Needs Of A Servant Of God.
“And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Exodus 17:11-13). Moses was told by God to go up the mountain and lift up his hands so that Joshua and Israel would prevail against their enemies. When he got tired and let down his hands the Amalekites started prevailing. What was happening to Israel was linked to what was happening to the man of God. So in order to win the battle they made plans to keep the hands of the man of God high. I have noticed that a church whose pastor does not own a car has few people who own their own cars. It is like, what happens to the pastor trickles down to the congregation. If your pastor is happy, His God will supply all your needs: “But I have all, and abound: “I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:14-19). If your pastor is full, blessings over-flood you.
9. What You Sow Is What You Reap.
The scripture which contains the principle, “what you sow is what you reap,” has its own background. The background is of sharing every good thing with your spiritual leader and Biblical teacher. It shows that your teacher is a good ground to sow in, therefore if you sow in that teacher you will reap a harvest: “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:6-7). When you sow into your spiritual teacher you are sure to reap.
10. Their Families Have The Same Demands As Every Other Family.
Many people think that the pastor’s home is an “all-spiritual” home. The pastor’s children are not like theirs who also like ice-cream, they think.
While a pastor is a spiritual person, he or she still has physical, material and financial obligations to meet for their family. Jesus, the son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One still needed to pay earthly taxes: “And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?... Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:24,27)
At home, the family does not want a pastor but a father or mother and desires every good thing that all others desire.
11. The Law Of The Lid. Your Leadership Ability Determines The Person’s Level Of Effectiveness.
The pastor is the lid of a church. In other words he or she should be the utmost image of the church. His level in life determines what he ministers to the church. What pastors teach is constantly shaping the mindset of the church thus the congregation rarely goes above the ability of its pastor. It is therefore wisdom to raise the pastor’s standards hence also raise ours. What is on your head (pastor) is what flows to you: “It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.”(Psalm 133:2)
12. It Is The Responsibility Of The Church To Send Out Missionaries.
Thank God for all the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which have helped people’s lives for the better. However, no matter how much these are helping, none is responsible for taking people to Heaven. Without the church honouring the servants of God it becomes hard to send missionaries who preach the gospel free of charge to places where they will be led by God: “What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge…” (1 Corinthians 9:18). NGOs have no budgets for any missionary or evangelism work: “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.” (Philippians 4:15-16)
When a servant of God comes to visit you, partake of his anointing by supporting him or her: “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while”(Romans 15:24). It is the church, first and foremost, that should take care of the servants of God that are on the mission field.
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