No other occupation, job, or profession is like the ministry.  It stands in a class by itself. It is more than a calculated career—it is a holy calling. The man of God does not simply prefer to be a preacher rather than a plumber, carpenter, doctor, teacher, or farmer. Ministry is not a job preference.  It is an unquenchable yearning that says, “Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

People do not appoint you, elect you, or select you to be a man of God—it is a holy sacred conviction and calling!

The man of God is told to preach it hard, but don’t offend. He must minister the deep revelatory mysteries of the kingdom in a timely manner. He is asked to be a proficient professor of Greek, Hebrew, and English and rarely make a grammatical miscue. 

Want an extreme ride? Answer God’s call to Apostolic ministry! One moment you are engulfed with honor and the next you are the scum of society. Sometimes you are the blazing popular star that everybody wants, and at other times you feel forgotten under the sheer weight of isolation. Nothing compares with this paradoxical practice known as preaching. 

So You Are Called To Be A Preacher…

Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. Now read it again carefully. Preachers, here is how we “prove” or validate our calling:

• By enduring afflictions, hardships, troubles, and distresses
• By being beaten, imprisoned, and mobbed
• By working hard, working late, and working without eating
• By having a pure heart, pure motives, and a pure mind
• By having a progressive quest for knowledge
• By being gentle, kind, and honestly loving (without hypocrisy)
• By being under the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost
• By proclaiming truth by God’s authority
• By properly handling praise and blame
• By dealing with slander and honor
• By being true to our word even when we are called an impostor 
• By being ignored by the world, but well known to God
• By living in the face of dying
• By being chastened within an inch of our lives
• By being immersed with tears and yet having unspeakable joy
• By barely getting by and yet enriching those we minister to
• By having nothing, and yet having it all

The reality is—more than ever before we need more men called of God! We need men of God who will face the uncertainty of ministry, hear the call of God and say, “Lord send me, use me, mold me, I’ll go, You can count on me!”

The Calling

It is an admirable ambition to be a preacher, but none dare enter the ministry without a calling.

Hebrews 5:4 says, “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” Aaron did not choose the priesthood, but God chose him for the priesthood.

All of the training in the world does not a preacher make. Going to Bible college may help a preacher, but attending doesn’t make you one.

Evidence of A Definite Calling

There is no rigid formula for how a person is called. God speaks to men differently. How God called me and how He called you may be different, but the evidence will always be the same.

Those who labor in doctrine and in the oversight of the flock of God must be summoned by the Chief Shepherd. How can one preach, except they have been sent (Romans 5:15)? The five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11) are gifts of God and are not the calling of man.

Isaiah 6:8 states, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Those who are “Grandma-called” will eventually run into ministerial pressure. Those who attempt to minister by the will of man are asking for trouble. Just ask the 7 sons of Sceve (Acts 19) and Simon (Acts 8) who wanted to operate in the power of the Spirit but not in the calling of the Spirit. 

Some who think they feel a burden to preach may really have a burden to work in the church or a burden for prayer. Those who only respond emotionally to ministry are asking for misery. It is essential to prove your calling. 

10 “Must Haves” For One Called to Ministry

1. There was a particular time when you first heard the call of God 
2. There is an intense and inescapable inner longing for the work of God
3. There is an extreme passion to draw closer to God
4. There is an insatiable appetite for study of His Word
5. There is unparalleled urge to share the Gospel with others
6. There is a deep hunger to see lost souls saved
7. There is a heart for sacrificial service and giving
8. There is a willingness to be tested and proven
9. There is clear and consistent evidence of humility
10. There is holy conduct and high character that backs the calling

When it comes to the ministry, make sure you act now like you want to be respected tomorrow.

Someone said, “Why stoop to be a king when God has called me to preach the Gospel?” This is the way you should feel concerning the call. God is the One Who does the calling, but the signs and proof of your calling will be evident to those around you. Your pastor will especially see the proof.

2 Timothy 4:5 says, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

There is a desperate need for laborers in today’s harvest. Pray that many will answer God’s call!

Photo by Jason Pier

No one in their right mind wakes up and says, “Today I’m shooting to be average.” Yet, many settle for mediocrity every single day. Far too many so-called Christians are stuck in chronic middle of the road living. 

 Quite frankly, the words “common” and “Christian” do not sync. How can we ever say our God is a common God, or that Calvary was just another hill? Do we preach an average Gospel? Is the blood of Jesus unexceptional and insignificant? Do we serve an ordinary God?

God has called us to be more than common. Lukewarm believers (another oxymoron) makes God sick to His stomach (Revelation 3:16). The world needs the people of God to step out of the shadows of commonness and manifest the greatness of God in their lives. 

1. Give God Glory

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

If Godly excellence is our leading directive, we will make sure that no relationship, no selfish interest, no occupation, no deed or action falls from the guidelines of giving God all of the glory. 

“To God be the Glory” is more than the lyrics of a good Andrea Crouch song. It is more than a cute stanza to be recited. It is the truth. It is our duty! God is the source of all our abilities, talents, and strength, and to Him is due all of the glory.

Does being average and common bring glory to God? Does sloppiness and shoddiness really honor God? Does homeliness rather than holiness please Him?  Exceptional believers determine to surpass the status-quo. Their passion is to please God.

2. Do All In His Name

Colossians 3:17 states, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

There is nothing common about the character and authority of the Name of Jesus! His is above all names. Whatever we do in the name should match the quality thereof. 

In Word

Our words, ideas, and concepts need to rise to the level of the “worthy name” of Jesus (James 2:7). Words matter. What we post on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media should be done to glorify His holy Name!  

Our deeds, actions, and work reflect our words. The way we think will be the way we act. Everything we do must exalt the glorious, matchless, and extraordinary name of Jesus.

In Deed

Paul goes on to say in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

The cure for common Christianity is to work as unto the Lord and not man. Doing things “heartily” is doing them with passion and excellence.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

3. Commit to the Process of Excellence

Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” 

How is that possible? You’ve got to be kidding. Perfect here conveys the concept and process of completeness. The phrase “Be ye perfect” is translated by two Greek words that express a command and an outcome. 

This passage can be perplexing and taken out of context by a cursory examination. Read all of chapter five. Jesus is setting the standard for excellent living. Being as “perfect” as our heavenly Father is like saying, “Jump to the moon.” Growing in divine excellence requires boundless grace. This is how we jump.

Within the “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus is establishing God’s standard for morality and human conduct. Here He eliminates every man-made standard for holiness. When God is the standard for holiness, every man-made standard is garbage.

Remember, man was made in the image of God, but being transformed in His likeness is a process. This doesn’t mean we will never fail, but it means we can get back up and re-engage in the process. The key to perfection here is to keep striving and advancing toward the highest standard of excellence. 

“It is folly to think that being imperfect somehow provides us with a legitimate excuse to exempt us from God’s perfect standard.” – John MacAurthor

Perfection is the command to get evolved with the process. We must press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling. The process of perfection is essentially the movement towards maturity. Common Christians need not apply. 

4. Seek to Excel and Edify 

1 Corinthians 14:12 states, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” 

What are you passionate about? Passion is the pathway to excelling. No one apathetically oozes into effective ministry. To excel is to go “over and above,” or to “abound.” What are you doing daily that sets you apart from the run of the mill believer? 

“Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” – Booker T. Washington

Some Uncommon Examples…

• Cripple him, and you have a Sir Walter Scott.
• Lock him in a prison cell, and you have a John Bunyan and an Apostle Paul
• Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge, and you have a George Washington.
• Raise him in abject poverty, and you have an Abraham Lincoln.
• Subject him to bitter religious prejudice, and you have a Disraeli.
• Strike him down with infantile paralysis, and he becomes a Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• Burn him so severely in a schoolhouse fire that the doctors say he will never walk again, and you have a Glenn Cunningham, who set the world’s record in 1934 for running a mile in 4 minutes and 6.7 seconds.
• Deafen a genius composer, and you have Ludwig van Beethoven.
• Have him or her born black in a society filled with racial discrimination, and you have a Booker T. Washington, a Harriet Tubman, a Marian Anderson, a George Washington Carver, or a Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Make him the first child to survive in a poor Italian family of eighteen children, and you have an Enrico Caruso.
• Have him born of parents who survived a Nazi concentration camp, paralyze him from the waist down when he is four, and you have an incomparable concert violinist, Itzhak Perlman.
• Call him a slow learner, “retarded,” and write him off as uneducable and you have an Albert Einstein.

Regardless of your social status, abilities, or disadvantages you can be more than an average everyday church goer.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made! Seek that you may excel! 

What are you excelling at today? What standard are you striving for?

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Everything within the framework of life is based on relationships. Church work is no exception. Ministry is essentially relating to people on a various levels. Relationships then determine the effectiveness of one’s service in the Kingdom of God.

Relationships are God’s idea. He is the one who made us work as we do. Right relationships help cultivate right motives in ministry. 

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. – Proverbs 27:17

RELATIONSHIP NUMBER ONE—US AND GOD!

All relationships hinge on one’s relationship with God.  If we are to be on the cutting edge of ministry we must maintain an intimate connection with the Lord. No other partnership or accountability is as important as this.  

5 RELATIONSHIPS FOR EVERY PREACHER

In 2 Corinthians 6:11-16, the Apostle Paul reveals five negative relationships that can destroy one’s walk with God and kill effectiveness. Just as there are bad relationships to avoid, there are positive ones that must be developed. 

1. The Yoke Relationship

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers…”

A yoke relationship is a close connection that shares an advanced level of commitment. The word yoke essentially means submission to authority. No ministry gets too big, too successful, or too anointed that they don’t need the accountability of yoke relationship. Here vision will be singular. Here faith is yoked to faith, mission to mission, and heart to heart. 

The Law taught against unequally yoking an ox with a donkey (Deuteronomy 22:10). They have two different natures and cannot submit to each other. It matters who you plow with. Being yoked with apostolic ministry, submitting to godly authority, gives you an advantage in ministry that you cannot get anywhere else. (Hebrews 13:17)

The best way to describe a yoke relationship is that of a father and son. Spiritual fathers beget, love, admonish, and are an example. Spiritual sons faithfully follow their fathers. They take on the heart and passions of their fathers.

Paul said that he had no man likeminded as Timothy was. Their relationship was so close that Paul said, “…as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.” (Philippians 2:19-22, see 1 Timothy 1:2, 18; 2 Timothy 1:2)

Who is your yoke relationship? Who is your father in the gospel you are plowing with? 

2. Partner Relationship

“…for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”

Fellowship here is a unique Greek noun that means a sharing in, a partaking of, or a partaker in ministry. This relationship speaks of close partners with which you share your dreams and vision. David & Jonathan had this type of relationship. (2 Samuel 1:26). They could have been enemies and rivals, but they chose to be partners. 

Close partners in ministry help to keep one consistent, faithful, balanced, and passionate. Partners in ministry know your heart, your vision, and your weaknesses. This relationship fosters an environment that can shape one’s concepts in ministry. Openness and loyalty are considered a premium within the fabric of this relationship. 

True partners in ministry are rare. Cherish close friends like this. For “…there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). 

Who are your Partner Relationships? 

3. Purpose Relationships

“…what communion hath light with darkness?”

The Purpose Relationship refers to how you relate with those you serve with in ministry. Communion here is the Greek word koinonia. It essentially means a joint partnership. Strong’s also says this word means, “a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship.”

God never designed ministries to be totally isolated and independent. One does not have to be a “card-carrying” member of an ministerial organization to be effective in ministry. But every minister needs a body of other ministers to work with. One of the trademarks of apostolic ministry is not working alone; Paul had Barnabas and Peter had John.

Purpose relationships are seen in the organizations and groups we partner with to spread the gospel around the world.

The reason God can work through flawed organizations is because He works through relationships and not titles. This relationship is where we submit and work with other ministries around our town, state, nation, and world. 

Who are you unified with for the purpose of advancing the gospel world-wide?

4. Co-Laborer Relationship

“And what concord hath Christ with Belial?”

The word concord paints the picture of a beautiful symphony resinating within the concert hall. Concord is comprised of two Greek words (sun & phuna) that mean “a sounding together.” Sunphuna is where we get the English word symphony. 

While a Purpose Relationship deals with the world-wide expansion of the gospel, a Co-laborer is one we work with on a local and church level of ministry. Here we collaborate to sound as one. 

This is the relationship where ministry teams are formed. Here we learn how to harmonize and work as a cohesive unity. While Purpose Relationships deal with the abstract activities in ministry, Co-laborers work hand in hand with the practical side of ministry. 

Who are your team members in ministry? Who are you making beautiful symphony with?

5. Serving Relationship

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

God values His people. All of them! So should we. In the Service Relationship we see how we relate to those we minister to. Jesus told Peter, “If you love me feed my sheep.” The people we serve are not “ours” they belong to God. They are His. 

Agreement refers to what we vote for. It is a joining or a putting together. There is power in how you relate to the people you minister to. 

As a minister, I am accountable to the least person I preach to. Agreement refers to how well we relate with and join to the least in the church.

Have you identified the least among those you serve? 

These 5 relationships can help every preacher foster proper perspective in ministry. It also promotes accountability. It is vital that we value the relationships that are connected to ministry. No one ministers alone. We are called to serve others, and that requires relationships. Relationships are risky, but they are worth it.

 It is an honor to offer a guest post written by Pastor Nate Whitley. 

 1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (EVS)

Paul penned his letter to Timothy while he was chained in a prison cell in Rome. Timothy, meanwhile, was left to oversee the churches that were in Ephesus. This was no small task for the young preacher. Ephesus was a hub for revival; it was at that time home to the largest Christian population in the world. Yet, Paul felt that Timothy was qualified to be in charge and to make sure everything was done in decency and in order, while Paul was in prison for the sake of the Gospel. Timothy was Paul’s protégé, and often times he would send Timothy to go and check on several churches on his behalf (1 Cor. 4:17, 16:10, Phil. 2:19, 1 Thess. 3:2). However, Timothy was not just to check on the church in Ephesus, he was to set things in order. 

The Ephesian church was set in the midst of a rather ungodly society. The Ephesians worshiped the goddess Diana. They had even built her a temple that was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and thus generated much trade. This did not stop the church from growing and multiplying. With such great growth, Timothy was to organize the church and administer the functions of several roles such as deacons, elders and bishops.  

The Youthful Timothy

Paul referred to Timothy as a youth, but Timothy was no teenager. Most commentators believe Timothy was in his late twenties and possibly into his thirties. However, Timothy would be dealing with those who were older than he. Timothy may have been wet behind the ears with age, but he was no amateur to the ministry. Timothy had accompanied Paul on several missionary journeys and witnessed first hand the planting of many successful churches. But Paul reminded Timothy to not let anyone despise his youthfulness. Timothy was going to be dealing with elders much older than him, so it was important that Timothy handled himself wisely and with maturity. He was to be an example to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.  

The word “despise” used here by Paul means, “to think little of,” or “look down upon,” and “think lightly of.” Paul must have foreknown that there would be some in Ephesus that would try to intimidate the young Timothy and try to hinder his progress. It is common for many people to look down upon or think lightly of a young person. The Greeks subordinated youth to age and if a man did not have age, he would have to earn the respect of his elders. This type of thinking has not changed much. If age is to be overlooked, then it must be done convincingly by the youth’s reputation and character. The Bible clearly shows that God used many people despite their age. The case in point would be the ruddy and youthful shepherd boy named David. David was not chosen simply because he was young, no, rather he proved himself to God, and just as importantly, to those to whom he came into contact with. 

Age is not a measuring stick for maturity. Immaturity is no respecter of persons or age for that matter. Men, we do not graduate from immaturity with age. We must decide like Paul that we will put away childish things. Becoming a man is not simply attained with age. It is a choice and lifestyle. Putting away childish behavior is a sign of manhood and maturity. 

Timothy’s Example

If Timothy was going to thwart being looked down upon for being young, he was to do so by his example. Timothy’s credentials as an apprentice to the Apostle Paul, could not be passed around like a resume to every believer he met in Ephesus. Having business cards with Timothy’s accomplishments and Paul’s written recommendation would prove to be insufficient. Talk is cheap, but setting forth an example is costly. 

Paul admonished Timothy to give a Godly example in his lifestyle to those he would be leading. Timothy was to give qualifications for those who would be given high positions in the church. How dishonorable it would have been to make someone else live a lifestyle that he in fact didn’t live himself. How would Timothy give a Godly example to take the attention off of his youthfulness? 

First, Paul said it would have to be done in his speech. All types of sinful speech are to be avoided by the man of God. Nothing destroys credibility more in a young man, or any aged man, than to have ungodliness spewed from his mouth. Why is that such a problem? Jesus gave us that answer, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If what you are saying is vile and ungodly, there is a good chance that the seed can be found in your heart. Young men, do not preach holiness to others then have the audacity to tell dirty jokes and make off color remarks. Many good men have hurt their ministries and effectiveness by their lack of example in their speech. Let it not be named among us. 

The second example Timothy was to have was in his conduct. Timothy was to study to show himself approved unto God (2 Tim. 2:15), in other words, he was to live what he studied and preached. “A biblical message paired with an ungodly lifestyle is nothing but blatant hypocrisy,” wrote author John MacArthur. People will follow what a man lives, not just what he teaches and preaches. Young men, please understand if we are to attain the respect of our elders we must do so by how we conduct ourselves not just in the privacy of a church service but also outside of the church. 

Third, Timothy was to be an example of love. Paul wrote the Corinthian church about the power of the gifts of the spirit, but he reminded them that without love those gifts were rendered ineffective (1 Cor. 12, 13). Anointing, and spiritual gifting, should take a backseat to love. We should desire earnestly to love one another and show forth-godly love. Putting other’s needs ahead of your own is one example of love. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of love, and we as young men should follow His example in all that we do. 

Fourth, Timothy needed to be an example in faith. The Greek word for faith used here means to be “trustworthy” and “faithful.” Young men, be faithful in all that you do and attain to be trustworthy. Be faithful to the church, be faithful to your marriage, be faithful to your children, be faithful to your job, and be faithful in personal devotion and worship. Faithfulness is fruitfulness in God’s Kingdom. 

Finally, the youthful Timothy was to be an example in purity.  In Paul’s other letter to Timothy he admonished him to, “flee youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22). Too many young men have failed in purity. The world we live in is inundating us with perversion. The devil would like nothing more than to destroy young men with sexual sins. I urge you and plead with you to please fight for your purity. 

Paul indeed trusted young Timothy. If he had not he would have never sent him to Ephesus. Timothy was qualified to be an example to the believers that he worked with. The only person that could hinder Timothy’s effectiveness was himself. Our elders will not despise our youthfulness if we learn to live with Godly character and learn to live above reproach. 

Pastor Whitley is a tremendous minister of the gospel. He serves as the Associate Pastor of the First Apostolic Church in Knoxville, TN. His blog, A Life of Study, is always insightful, well written, and timely.

Praying for the Election

The first Tuesday of November, 2008, I prayed earnestly that Barack Hussein Obama would not be elected President of these United States of America. On the first Wednesday of November, 2012, I asked the Lord to forgive me for the prayer that I had prayed the previous day. Obviously I had prayed contrary to the Divine will of God.

Now we stand on the eve of what could conceivably be the most crucial election we as Americans have ever faced. The future of our nation could easily be at stake. Economically, socially, and our very religious liberties which Americans have enjoyed for over two hundred years, could be at stake.

Have we slipped down the slippery slope of rebellion against God and His Word too far to know revival? Have we reached the point in the prophetic Word that we are witnessing the end of the Church Age and the beginning of the fulfillment of what Daniel, Jesus, Paul and the Apostle John informed us would happen in the last days prior to our Lord’s return to this earth?

America is in trouble with God

We have pushed God out of the public arena. It is no longer politically correct to even mention His name in the political public arena. Oh, mention the name of Allah, or Buddha, or Mohammed, and you will have no problem; but don’t dare mention the name of Jesus!

Fifty million innocents cry out for justice since abortion was sanctioned by a liberal Supreme Court in 1973.

Our public schools have turned into war zones since we decided that we should not have prayer or Bibles allowed for our children while they attend school.

It has not been many decades past that the homosexual community practiced their abominable lifestyle in darkness and behind closed doors. Now they openly boast of their chosen lifestyle and are sanctioned by our congress. In fact, if you dare preach against this lifestyle that God declared as being abominable in His sight, you could face the wrath of Washington and even the religious world. You can expect in the near future to have authorities to bring charges of discrimination against you if you dare preach against the practice.

Information was recently sent to me that reminded me of something that I had read several years ago concerning the longevity of a nation. Mr Gibbons in his informative History of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, as well pointed out things which we are witnessing happening in our own beloved country. Are we falling into the same snare? Has America reached her zenith of power and place in history and is now in the closing days of her illustrative history?

The Rise and Fall of a Nation

The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

• From bondage to spiritual faith;
• From spiritual faith to great courage;
• From courage to liberty;
• From liberty to abundance;
• From abundance to complacency;
• From complacency to apathy;
• From apathy to dependence.

Where does America stand when applying to her such information?

We are convinced the prophetic Word of God will be fulfilled. The Bible teaches us of a time in the end of the Age that there will be a famine for the “hearing” of the Word of God.

The Bible teaches us that the economic systems of the Western World will be drastically changed and a new system introduced that all will be forced to accept or else suffer the wrath of the government.

The Bible teaches us that the time will come when mankind will be governed by big government which will dictate lifestyles that will and will not be accepted.

Are we far from these things taking place already? Have we not reached the place where a man can be arrested and placed in jail for conducting a Bible study in his home? Have certain religious liberties not already been taken from Americans? Have we not already reached the place where we are forced to accept a system forced upon the public by big government?

So, how do we pray this election cycle?

We find ourselves in a paradoxical situation! Let us not pray against the will of God. Knowing that the Word of God is being fulfilled, we want the best for our beloved Country, and yet we know the Word of God will be fulfilled regardless of our prayers.

I am going to pray for mercy. I am going to pray that God extends mercy to our beloved nation and grants us a little more time to have revival. That He Grants a little more time to reach more souls with the Gospel. That He Grants a little more time to send out a few more Missionaries to reach natives of other countries. That He Grants that we might experience a spirit of repentance to sweep across this country, from the oval office down to the least among us. That we could experience a revival – even for a short period of time – of godliness which would have Americans once again embracing the Word of God and asking God for guidance for their lives.

When the first Wednesday of November arrives this year we will know whether our prayers were answered or not!

That’s how I will pray!

How will you pray?

Bishop Walls is a gifted and anointed minister of the Gospel. A speaker, author and radio host, he received his Masters of Theology from the International Bible Institute and Seminary in Florida, and has been honored by Cambridge Who’s Who. His success in ministry is based on an unwavering faith in God.

With a great passion for missions, Bishop Walls has served as the South American Regional Supervisor for 30 years and as World Missions Director for about 10 years. His work has taken him to more than 30 countries, where he has impacted the lives of untold thousands.

The task is before you. Job estimates and cost analyses have been calculated. The tools are in order, and the list of supplies is acquired. You are ready to work. Yet feelings of euphoria and enthusiasm soon turn to frustration. One calculation has been overlooked; the job requires more than one worker. 

Here is a humorous story that shows the importance of not trying to work alone. A man was injured at work and put this narrative on his medical insurance claim:

“I was hired to repair a chimney at a five story building. When I was finished with the repairs, I had about 500 pounds of bricks left over. Since I did not want to carry those bricks down by hand, I decided to hoist them down in a bucket.

I attached the bucket to one end of the rope and ran the rope through a pulley. The other end of the rope was attached to a pole near the sidewalk. After I loaded the 500 pounds of bricks into the bucket, I went downstairs to hoist them down. To ensure I had a good grip on the rope, I wrapped it around my hand a couple of times.

In box 4 of this application, you will note that I listed my weight as being 150 pounds. Since the 500 pounds of bricks weighed more than my 150 pounds, I was pulled upwards. As the bucket came down and I flew up, we met at the halfway point. This accounts for my broken arm listed in box 10a. As I reached the top, my hand jammed into the pulley. This accounts for my broken fingers listed in box 10b.

At the same time, the bucket of bricks hit the ground and shattered. Now the bucket weighed only 50 pounds. As noted in box 4, I weighed 150 pounds. As a result, I started to fall. As we got to the halfway point, I met the bucket rising up. This accounts for my broken knee listed in box 10c.

When I reached the bottom, I landed on the pile of bricks. This accounts for my broken leg and sprained back (listed in box 10d and 10e). At this point, I let go of the rope and the 50 pound bucket fell down and landed on my head. This accounts for my concussion listed in box 10f.”

If this had happened to me, I think I would have added, “And this is why I will never work alone again.” 

No one has ever accomplished anything significant by themselves. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” The underlying principle is that not one of us can afford to go at it alone. We are interdependent members of one body. You are an essential part of this local assembly. 

The great Apostle Paul had Barnabas, Silas, and Luke. Jesus sent the disciples out by two. 

Even the Lone Ranger was not alone – he had Tonto. 

Joined Together

Ephesians 4:15 and 16 says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

 The phrase “joints of supply” comes from the Greek word apto, “to touch.” It refers to “a point of contact” or to ” a joint” which provides a point of contact between limbs and members of the body. It is also means a banding together. 

In the church, the “joints” supply the point of contact and union. Christ is the Head, and the body receives instruction from the Head through the joints of supply. Oxygen and blood is transferred through the union of these joints. As long as the body is not disjointed each member communicates life and energy to one another. The “joints” also proved the point of order and unity. Order and unity are the essential elements of growth. Paul is saying that every member supplies something the body needs in his or her contact with other members. The local church should be structured to provide an environment rich in relationships of ministry with each person contributing to the body.

Stay Connected!

Why do we need the church? Because we can’t make it alone. We must be joined to a local assembly if we expect to blessed. 

There is a movement today that says there is no need for the local church. Some have gone so far as to call church a pagan practice. You and I are “joints of supply” who need each other. The church provides us with a place to connect with people and with God. 

Jesus said, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19–20)

The church will maintain a flow of God’s anointing when we agree together by being connected as an efficient “joint of supply.”

How connect to your church are you? Are you a “joint of supply” to anyone today?

 What Unites Us? – 5 Keys For Effective Teamwork

Presenting a guest post written by Pastor Robert Wimberley, pastor of Fountain View Pentecostal Church in Humble, TX

The history of God’s unfolding purpose has always been progressive. The Bible continuously shows how God seeks to move progressively forward, the prophets, priests, kings and people like Jacob, who often stumble and fall. Jacob called his falling place “Bethel,” which means “the house of God.” According to the chronology of Scofield, twenty-eight years passed before Jacob returned to this hallowed ground. Hence Bethel, to the Christian, represents a higher level of spiritual experience to those who hungrily seek such. 

Paul prayed sincerely that the Ephesians would find this point of spiritual reference: The Ephesians, according to verse fifteen, had “faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints.” But they were lacking in “the spirit of wisdom and understanding.” Lacking in that, they did not know “the riches of His glory,” nor “the exceeding greatness of His power.” This Church needed to progress to a higher level of understanding.

“I make mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and the revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe according to the working of His mighty power”

Genesis thirty-five tells us that Jacob returned to Bethel with reverence, repentance, and the cleansing of his household. When he prayed here the first time, he only had the right of birth. When he returned twenty eight years later, he also had the blessing of God upon his life. He had met with God personally. Jacob then changed the name of the rocky hill and village from “Bethel – the House of God,” to “El-Bethel – the God of the House of God.”

For years, this place of reawakening had predominated Jacob’s thinking, becoming an icon in his mind. Years and spiritual experience of course changed all of this. On his return journey to Bethel, he felt that he was not only going back to “the House of God,” but he was also now coming to the God of the House of God. Jacob, for a long period of time afterwards, may have prioritized the unforgettable experience that had happened at this place, but through the changes and lessons of time, the God of Bethel became more paramount to him than the experience he first received there. God must be preeminent!

To the children of Israel the Brazen Serpent became Neshutan.. They worshipped ‘symbol’ over the ‘savior’.. Gideon made an ephod with the spoils of warfare from victory provided by God. The people then worshipped the ‘ephod of war’ instead of the ‘God of War’ (Yahweh Sabaoth). However Jacob moved beyond the angelic ascensions and descensions of Bethel. He refused to build altars to angels. He returned to Bethel ‘the house of God’ and built a romance with the ‘God of the House’! May we all do the same!

Pastor Robert Wimberley is a fourth generation Apostolic Pentecostal and a passionate proclaimer of truth and holiness. Within 22 years of ministry he has served in various roles within the body of Christ and the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ. A former national Evangelist and Secretary of the Evangelist Department of the ALJC, Robert now lives in Humble, Texas with his wife, Cindy, and their son Conner. He has pastored Fountain View Pentecostal Church since 2001 and is currently serving as a Presbyter on the ALJC Texas District Board. Visit his church website: http://www.fountainviewpentecostal.org/

 How can a man who’s committing gross sin still appear to be anointed in ministry? How can a preacher seemingly have great results and commit fornication at the same time? The fact is the anointing of God does not mean the approval of God. The “gifts and calling of God” can continue to operate under the grace of God (Romans 11:29).

King Saul was anointed by God, and he prophesied after God had rejected him (1 Samuel 19:23-24). How can Saul be “allowed” to prophesy while acting like a raving lunatic? Read the account; he was streaking and prophesying at the same time.

Caiaphas, the high priest, prophesied that Jesus would die for their nation and would gather the scattered children of God. Then he and his cronies sought opportunity to kill Jesus (John 11:49–53). Balaam’s prophecies proved to be true, but he died as a soothsayer (Joshua 13:22).

One cannot base ministry on perceived anointing alone. Make no mistake, the anointing is essential, but anointing without fruit of the Spirit ultimately leads to a deceptive demise. The greater the anointing, the greater the success, the greater the need for humility.

Sin will ultimately be revealed. God will shout from the housetops what is done in secret. Those who abuse their God-given gift with a pattern of depraved activities are in grave danger, even if they can preach the house down.

We have a responsibility to “stir up the gift of God” by cultivating a right relationship with the One who called us (2 Timothy 1:6). That must be our number one passion. If not then all the souls we’ve won, all the conferences we’ve preached, and all the churches we’ve built cannot save us from our own arrogance.

Preachers, pastors, let’s measure our lives not by how anointed we are, but by the purity of our hearts, the faithfulness of our service, and the consistency of our obedience.

The passionate pursuit of selfishness has lead to a culture that cries out, “Look at me, pay attention to me!” 

The emergence of social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube has poured gas on the flame of the self-centered. While not all the material on these sites is selfish, the mountain of self-indulgent information cannot be ignored. Television reality shows have become all the rage because of society’s need to escape their own unbalanced, unfulfilling world. 

Shouldn’t self-esteem be at an all-time high with all this attention on self? Yet statistics show that one person commits suicide every 16.1 minutes. Why does it seem all this focus on self-esteem isn’t working? The fact is many are searching for real self-worth and not self-esteem.

Self-Esteem vs. Self-Worth

• Self-esteem is really self-impression 
• Self-worth is the sense of internal value
• Self-esteem is defined by external peer pressure
• Self-worth is defined by a divine acceptance
• Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself
• Self-worth is what God says about you 

When self-esteem is the focus, people rush to keep up with the latest fads, fashions, and with the Jones. People are constantly changing their appearance based upon cultural climates and not based upon an understanding of their worth.

2 CENTRAL NEEDS THAT DEFINE US 

True identity is found by understanding the most basic need of humanity. Every person on earth longs for a sense of self-worth. Everyone wants to feel accepted and valued as an individual. Self-worth requires meeting two basic needs:

1. Significance

• Having Clarity of Purpose
• Understanding Personal Value
• Being Able to Positively Impact Others
• Building Stronger Relationships

2. Security

• Unconditional Love is Expressed
• Unending Acceptance is Experienced
• Unfailing Protection is Ensured
• Unlimited Provisions Enjoyed

While men primarily need significance and women primarily need security, both are vital to all. Christian Psychologist, Dr. Larry Crabb stated, “People pursue irresponsible ways of living as a means of defending against feelings of insignificance and insecurity.”

3 STAGES OF SELF-UNDERSTANDING 

1. Self-Worth 

Self-worth is the proper expression for understanding one’s identify. When one truly understands his self-worth, he trusts that God will meet his basic human needs of Significance and Security. 

2. Self-Will

Self-will is often lauded in today’s culture. It is, however, the human state where man’s basic needs for significance and security are met with power and pleasure.

Sigmond Freud held an assumption that there are two basic drives behind human behavior; power and pleasure. In a sense, he is right. Power and pleasure is the aim of a life without God. Without God power replaces significance and security is traded for pleasure. This is the self-willed life. 

3. Self-Destruction

Inevitably the long-term consequences of a life motived by self-will lead to ruin.  We have all watched as people who appeared to have it all become self-wreaking machines. Self-wreaking involves two major factors; violence and immorality. 

Two of the major problems in our country today are violence and immorality.  Violence is the outcome of an insatiable thirst for power.  If pleasure is the highest goal, then immorality is the ultimate result. Sodom and Gomorrah are the ultimate example of self-wreaking. Their pervasive violence and immorality ushered in the judgment of God.

2 TRUTHS THAT ESTABLISH SELF-WORTH 

1.  I am Significant Because God Knows Me 

¹ O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. ² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. ³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. ⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (Psalm 139:1-4)

It is one thing to say God knows everything, but how powerful it is to say, “God knows me.” If God knows me, then He defines me. He knows the deepest possibilities in me. He knows my funny quirks and strange eccentricities. I don’t have to find myself. I must find Him! He knows me.

A person who believes this will possess an immovable identity. Jesus said we do not have to fear for He knows the number of hairs on our head. God knows me and I am valuable to Him. 

 2.  I am Secure Because God is With Me

⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. ⁷Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸ If I ascend up into heaven [in good times], thou art there: if I make my bed in hell [in bad times], behold, thou art there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea [in times of quick transition];¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. [God sustains—not my circumstances] ¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. ¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:7-12)

God is with me, so I am safe! He is behind me. He is before me. He is upon me. My identity is safe in Him. There is no place or situation that I can go through that will alter my worth to God. What security! God will not leave me. That’s who I am!

Many of the motivational and prosperity preachers of the day teach that God only wants the best for us. They define best as shiny new cars, expensive clothes, million dollar homes, and top paying jobs. God wants you to have the best, but let Him define what is best. 

The message is clear; there is no place far enough, bad enough, deep enough, high enough, remote enough, and dark enough that God will not be there! My significance and security is not based upon my checkbook, my car, my house, or my spouse. My identity is what God says about me and not what my peers or friends say. 

You are who God made you. He has a plan for your life. Find your identity in Him!

What are some ways our culture is overtly transfixed on self-esteem?

More Quotes From My Dad – Fred R. Gill

My father had a huge impact on my life. He was a master of one-liners as well as long sermons. This post is a second installment of nuggets of wisdom he wrote in his Bibles. As far as I know, most of these quotes are original.

In speaking of these quotes, my Dad said, “These are thoughts the Lord Jesus Christ gave to me, in one place or another, which I wrote down in the empty pages in my Bible for the past ten years.  All glory to Him.”

Negative conversations cause the fruit of your spirit to turn bitter.

If the thought-life of the man of God does not glorify the Lord Jesus, neither will their word-life.

Lord, please help me to never offer a temporary sacrifice on a permanent altar.

The pains of defeat in the flesh are the grass roots of the victory in the spirit.

Human reasoning is faith’s greatest enemy.

Beware of half-truth; you may have the wrong half.

Truth like oil in water will eventually come to the surface.

If your mind goes blank don’t forget to turn off the sound.

It is easier to float a rumor than to sink one.

To make a long story short don’t tell it.

The thoughtless are seldom wordless.

Don’t talk about yourself it will be done when you leave.

People who pass around filth always have dirty hands.

If you wouldn’t write it and sign it, don’t say it.

Out of the mouth of babes come words that parents should not have spoken in the first place.

Garbage from the lips means a city dump is in the heart.

Bathroom humor should be flushed down the toilet.

The expense of consecration is the cost of righteousness.

Instead of complaining because you didn’t get what you wanted be thankful you didn’t get what you deserved.

A thankful heart doubles our blessings, causing us to enjoy them twice—when we receive them and when we remember them.

Gratitude is a debt that is hard to collect.

A proud man is seldom grateful for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.

It is good to be a Holy Ghost believer and know it, but it is better to be Holy Ghost filled and show it.

Big doors swing on little hinges.

He who throws dirt loses ground.

Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

The only preparation for tomorrow is the right use of today.

Big trials bring big victories.

People who think it is right to tell white lies soon find out they have gone colorblind.

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.

Sin has many tools but a lie is the handle that fits them all.

Patience is the companion of wisdom and the healing virtue of longsuffering.

Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.

Patience is that powerful attribute that enables a man or woman to remain steadfast under strain, not just standing still but pressing on.

What are some of your favorite quotes and one-liners?