Have You Prayer about Your Approach to Ministry?

How To Pray - A FREE Collection of eBooks and More Now You Can Learn to pray Powerfully And Inspiring Prayers and Profit from them. Free Downloads.

"But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV)

God has made all of us His servants under the new covenant of grace. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life". (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NKJV). Those of us who desire to serve the Lord by grace have a very distinctive approach to ministry. "We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully."

It is so sad that the many ministry approaches in the church world include motives and organized systems that are kept hidden, because their true character is shameful. Some of these dishonorable approaches involve "walking in craftiness" (such as, manipulating people through lustful enticements based on feelings). Others involve "handling the word of God deceitfully" (such as, preaching what people want to hear, instead of what the scriptures actually say). If we are going to serve God by grace, we must reject such tactics.

Instead, we want to serve God "by manifestation of the truth." We minister by a truthful statement of God's truth from His Word (Holy Bible), not by a deceptive process of human tricks. Also, we desire that our lives be an example of our message, not a contradiction of it: "commending ourselves to every man's conscience." As we proclaim God's truth, we humbly ask God to impact our lives by that truth, in order to become an example of what we preach. The Lord will use this to touch others deep in their consciences.

Tip! If we, God's people expect to carry out the works of Christ that will glorify our Father, then we must believe in Him for the very work's sake, and pray fervently in His Name.

It is God's will that our ministries impact more than people's minds (which can be reached by mere ideas, concepts, or systems). It is His intention that our testimonies reach beyond their emotions (which can be touched by exciting stories, condemning insinuations, or inspiring ideals). He certainly does not want us to appeal to people's pride ("let God make you someone others will envy") or to their covetousness ("give to our ministry, and God will give you ten-fold in return"). BUT rather, God desires to reach their consciences, that the "image-of-God" will be an imprint that convicts people of sin and of their need for God: "who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them" (Romans 2:15 NKJV).

Prayer:

O God of truth and holiness, I long to serve You by grace. I want to reject manipulating people and the distorting of Your holy Word. Make my life a vessel of honor that confirms Your truth. As I minister to others (friends, family and co-workers), touch them deep in their hearts, by the power of Your grace, stirring them to seek after You only, and not after what feels good or sounds good. I pray that You will get all the glory, In Jesus" name, Amen.