THE PLACE OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE WORK OF MINISTRY
"MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I ALSO WILL REJECT YOU FROM BEING PRIEST FOR ME; BECAUSE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE LAW OF YOUR GOD, I also will forget your children."
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)
I have met people in the course of ministry work who wanted to be ordained or be given the certificates of completion of our Ministry Leadership Training School.
The people in question are not ready and willing to be taught, they do not want to learn:
3 FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 AND THEY WILL TURN THEIR EARS AWAY FROM THE TRUTH, AND BE TURNED ASIDE TO FABLES" (2 Timothy 4:3,4 NKJV).
They do not want the knowledge of the Word of God, but they do want to be ordained and be certificated as ministers of the gospel.
The truth is, it is not the certificates which you have that will make you succeed in the ministry work, and neither the ordination.
One of the primary ingredients needed to succeed in the ministry work is a heart to learn. Whoever does not value knowledge may not succeed in the work of ministry: "A WISE MAN IS STRONG, YES, A MAN OF KNOWLEDGE INCREASES STRENGTH" (Proverbs 24:5).
Titles, certificates, and ordinations would not make you succeed in the work of ministry.
Having said that, as good as the acquisition of knowledge is, any knowledge that is acquired should be released, be put to work. The essence of acquiring whatever knowledge that is acquired is to produce results with it (1 Corinthians 12:7).
It is the application of the knowledge that will make you or cause you to excel in the work of the kingdom.
Endeavour to acquire knowledge and practice whatever you have learnt, put it to work, then you are set for greatness.
"STUDY AND DO YOUR BEST TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD APPROVED, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, ACCURATELY HANDLING AND SKILLFULLY TEACHING THE WORD OF TRUTH."
2 Timothy 2:15 (Amp.)
Note:
• Knowledge can be acquired by attending a college of ministry.
• You can also aquire knowledge by reading relevant books of proven authors—you get material that could help your spiritual life and growth.
• That said, the formal training, that is, learning in a classroom setting is needed but may not be enough. In other words, you will need the informal training also, that is, learning practically by being given the opportunity to do whatever you have learned in the classroom about the ministry work. It is done by being exposed to the practical aspects of the work.
• This practical aspects could be learnt by serving as an apprentice under a seasoned minister, that is, someone who is in a practical ministry—not a part-time minister.
• Whatever you have learned in the classroom or read in a book should be practiced or praticalized, otherwise it would not produce any result.
Every would-be minister should serve as an apprentice or a protege or a learner under a proven minister or leader, in order to learn the practical aspects of the ministry work—the nitty-gritty of the work. If this practical knowledge is lacking, success could be a mirage!
Most of the casualties in the work of ministry today could be traceable to the lacking in the practical knowledge of the work—informal training deficiency.
There are lots of novices, inexperienced people, in the work of ministry today.
Thus, to minimize casualties in the mission field, we should pay attention to knowledge acquisition—the training of the potential ministry leaders.
Whoever rejected knowledge would not be allowed to serve in the work of the kingdom (Hosea 4:6).
The text, the Bible passage mentioned above corresponds with what Apostle Paul said in the book of 1 Timothy 3 about whoever wants to be a Bishop:
1 THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING: IF A MAN DESIRES THE POSITION OF A BISHOP [overseer], HE DESIRES A GOOD WORK." 2 A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS . . . 6 NOT A NOVICE, LEST BEING PUFFED UP WITH PRIDE HE FALL INTO THE SAME CONDEMNATION AS THE DEVIL" (1 Timothy 3:1,2,6 NKJV).
God would not want a person without knowledge, a novice, in His work, as said earlier.
A novice, someone who has no knowledge and understanding of the ways of God, would be proud; If such is appointed to the work so soon or quickly (1 Timothy 3:6).
Appointments and ordinations into the work of ministry should not be done suddenly or soonly. Apostle Paul also told Timothy not to lay hands on people suddenly that he might not partake in their sins: "DO NOT LAY HANDS ON ANYONE HASTILY, NOR SHARE IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS; KEEP YOURSELF PURE" (1 Timothy 5:22 NKJV).
As a lead minister over the people of God:
• Allow whoever you wanted to appoint into any position of leadership to mature spiritually.
• Let whoever you wanted to appoint be tested, proved the heart of such: "BUT LET THESE ALSO FIRST BE TESTED; THEN LET THEM SERVE AS DEACONS [workers in God's vineyard], BEING FOUND BLAMELESS" (1 Timothy 3:10).
• As the lead minister who is appointing or assigning the people; start with whoever person you are assigning by giving him or her a little assignment, and as they proved faithful, you move them from one level of leadership to another.
• If the people know the importance of the ministry work and the responsibility attached to it; whoever is being appointed, or given the privilege to work in God's vineyard, would not puff-up or be proud.
• When someone who is appointed understands the work:
HE or she would see things the way God sees it.
SUCH will do the work as he or she supposes.
THE person will know the gravity—the extreme importance and the implication—of whatever they do in the ministry work.
THE understanding of the work would cause the person to have a close walk with God, walk intimately with God, because he would know that without God he can but do nothing (John 15:5).
God, in the main text of this teaching, said He will reject those who have forgotten His law and those who outrightly rejected knowledge (Hosea 4:6).
"AND SAY TO ARCHIPPUS, "TAKE HEED TO THE MINISTRY WHICH YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN THE LORD, THAT YOU MAY FULFIL IT."
Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)
You will not fail in your assignment, but fulfil it in Jesus' name.
And also, It is my prayer that you will not lose your place to another person in Jesus' mighty name.
Peace!