Your Ministry

THE MINISTRY: Meaning: (Strong's) All who minister in Holy things, rendering service and menial duties or service.

A) MINISTRY GIFTS
1) Every believer has a ministry 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Romans 12:6-8
2) The Five Fold Ministry Ephesians 4:11-16, I Corinthians 12:28 The Ministry is serving the Word to the Body of Christ.

B) FINDING YOUR PLACE
Everyone has a call of God upon their lives, not all are called to the Fivefold Ministry, not all are called to be Elders or Deacons, but everyone has been called to serve the Lord in some area of the Body of Christ with a certain responsibility and purpose from God.

1) Where do we start?
i) Proverbs 18:16. The gift that is in your life will cause you to fit in somewhere and you will be able to function without pushing or shoving to make it come about. The Word of God says that your gift will make room or make place for you. Allow the Lord to do this.
ii) Romans 12:29. The Gift or Calling upon your life, he will not take it back, once he has given you a specific duty. You are then the one to fulfill this.

2) Stay in your own Gift or Calling
i) James 3:16. If you start to become envious or self-seeking in the plan of God for your life, you will experience confusion and strife will come your way where ever you go. So it is important to allow God to place you and then you must fulfill that and where he says to be. Don't desire anyone else's Gift or Calling, you will only become frustrated and confused. Seek the Lord.
ii) Matthew 20:20-28. Jesus teaches us to desire to serve others, this will stop the envy and strife towards the apparent success of others. If you obey the Scriptures about what God requires, then you will be pleasing to the Lord and he will promote your gift and calling.
iii) 1 Corinthians 15:1 0. Galatians 1:15, Ephesians 3:7. Paul said he was what he was, to the credit of the Grace of God upon his life.
The Gift and Calling was Gods choice not his and therefore he had to obey what God gave him to do. He didn't try to be what others were. Everyone has different Gifts and callings and this makes up the Body of Christ, we all can't be the same part.

3) Be faithful to God
i) Ecclesiastes 9:10. Whatever your hands find to do, then do it before the Lord. Be found faithful in what you are doing right now and he will promote you in his time and his way. Don't look for man to promote you. God sees your heart and your faithfulness to him.

4) Promotion comes from God
There is a time period between when God calls you and the time of separation to that calling, Once you know you have been called, then preparation begins in your life to prepare you for the time when God will separate you to that calling.
Jesus was called, but was not separated to that calling until the right time. i) Acts 9:15, 13:1-4. Paul was called, but 17 years went by until he was separated to that calling. Preparation is vital for the fulfilling of the plan of God. Don't rush ahead of God. ii) Elijah and Elisha had 20 years between call and separation.

CONCLUSION
We must all find our place in the Body of Christ, not to desire what others are doing or what they have from God. Once you know what you are called to then don't change what or where you are until you are faithful with what you already have got. There is a period of time between when God calls you and the time of being separated into that Calling.

FAITH FOUNDATIONS prepared by Stephen Fisher - www.stephenfisher.org