I woke up with a nudge in my spirit, I knew the Lord would have me pay more attention to my ministry. But within me I was like, ‘the things I have been doing, are they not enough?’ But I have learnt that activity does not equal productivity.
Then I remembered the words of Pastor Muyiwa Areo, that it is God’s responsibility to give you a ministry but it’s your responsibility to fulfill it. This is totally true as Paul told Archippus in Colossians 4:17- And say unto Archippus, take heed TO THE MINISTRY WHICH YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN THE LORD THAT YOU MAY FUFILL IT.
Paul was preaching what he had had practised as revealed In Acts 12:25- And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED THEIR MINISTRY……
The scripture above is clear, ‘they fulfilled their ministry’, God didn’t fulfill it for them.
The degree to which your ministry, vision or purpose will succeed is the degree to which you are committed to it. It’s one thing to receive a vision, it’s another thing entirely to fulfill it. God is responsible for the former while you are responsible for the latter.
The tenacity Apostle Paul had towards Judaism was the same he channeled into the preaching of the gospel.
Galatians 1:14: And I ADVANCED IN JUDAISM BEYOND MANY OF MY CONTEMPORARIES in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the tradition of my fathers. (Before Salvation)
Now, that he was saved, watch the same tenacity in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10: But I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I LABOURED MORE ABUNDANTLY THAN THEY ALL, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
The way he advanced beyond his contemporaries in Judaism was the same way he labored than the rest of the apostles in the preaching of the gospel.
God has given you a vision, don’t be lazy with it. You have a ministry, do it excellently. Paul labored in prayers, (all manners of prayers)(1 Corinthians 14:18: I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than ye all). There is always a deeper depth in God. I thought I had been praying enough but the nudge made me realize there is more.
He labored in study, give yourself to God’s Word. He labored in doctrine, most importantly embrace everything that will make you and the vision better. Develop yourself daily! THOU ART INEXCUSABLE O MAN OF GOD!
