Becoming a Servant of God

Minister in Training Session 6

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Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.

Acts 3:1-4Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, (being) the ninth (hour). 2 And a certain man that was lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.

Acts 3:5-95 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength. 8 And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Four Basic Elements of Ministry1. Know the Divine Resources

Personally2. See the Human needs

compassionately 3. Become channels of God’s

mighty resources 4. God alone is Glorified

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The trouble with too many Ministers is that we think God called us to be manufacturers when He really called us to be Distributors.

Four Basic Elements of Ministry in example•The only miracle recorded in all four gospels is the feeding of the 5000.•When the Disciples saw more than 5000 hungry people before them, they didn’t know what to do, they suggested sending the crowd home….Where was there compassion? • In ministry, we are often tempted to get rid of the people we are called to help.

Four Basic Elements of Ministry in example•Philip realized that there wasn’t enough money in the budget to feed the people. Bigger budgets is not always the solution to every problem.•Andrew found a boy with a small lunch of five barley loaves and two fish, a food supply totally inadequate to meet the need.•The Disciples were trying to be manufacturers. They thought that it was their responsibility to come up with the money or the food or some clever way to solve the problem.

Four Basic Elements of Ministry in example• Jesus needed His Disciples, not as manufacturers but as distributors.• Jesus took the Lad’s lunch, looked up to heaven, blessed the food, broke it, and put it into the disciples’ hands for them to feed the multitude.•The multiplication took place in His Hands; the distribution was the work of the disciples’ hands.

Four Basic Elements of Ministry in example

•ACCEPT YOURSELF AS A DISTRIBUTOR•Once you accept your position as a Distributor and not a manufacturer, you will experience a wonderful new freedom and joy in service.•You wont be afraid of new challenges…God has the resources•You wont be frustrated trying to manufacture everything…when He completes the job, just give him the credit

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How do you explain a miracle? You don’t! You just receive it and share it and let God have all the Glory

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GRACE

John 1:16 “ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” KJV

Four Basic Elements of Ministry in example

•You don’t earn grace, and you don’t deserve grace; you simply receive it as God’s loving gift and then share it with others.•We are channels of God’s resources, not reservoirs•Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. KJV

The dangers of a Manufacturer’s Mentality

•Being prone to depend on your own resources, experience, training, money, talent, and education.•God can sanctify and use these assets, but they become liabilities without the Grace of God.•Ministers Creed “But by the Grace of God, I am what I am.•Before we minister to others we must confess our bankruptcy and receive by faith the grace that we need for acceptable service.