For you to understand what we are dealing with in this article, I would advice that your get the first part of this article - The Six Wings of Ministry Pt. 1
I have glorified You on earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
John 17:4-5
…But now the LORD says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
1 Samuel 2:30
The two Scriptures above reveal the truth that it is ultimately what a man or woman gives to God on the earth that God sends back to him or her on the earth. Give Him glory, He will glorify you; give Him honour on the earth in all you do daily, and He will honour you; give Him your life completely on the earth, and He will multiply (enlarge) it – He will give you eternal (abundant) life (full of glory, riches, honour, power, strength, blessing and wisdom) in return. He indeed faithful!
According the Scriptures, by strength can no man prevail. (1 Samuel 2:9b); and because of God’s faithfulness, He makes His enablement available before sending a man or woman to do or say just anything for His glory on the earth. And in this article, we will examine six divinely ordained provisions for swiftness and effectiveness in ministry.
In the book of Isaiah chapter 6, verses 1-3, we discovered the six unadulterated forces instituted by God for His servants. Talking about the Seraphim (ministry spirits of God), each of them had six wings, covers his face with two, his feet with two, and flies with two. But before someone thinks, “but I do not have wings!” Let me say here that these wings have nothing to do with many things you could be thinking; but relates to your God-given gifts, skills, talents and grace, which He bestowed on you at your creation for your unique purpose on the earth. However, just like the Seraphim, you must learn to use your own wings to protect or cover six irrefutable forces for your swiftness and effectiveness in ministry.
The Seraphim used their six wings to cover their:
- Faces
- Feet
- Flight
Hence, each in ministry must know how to use his or her God-given gifts and grace for his or her face, feet and flight in ministry. So, I will list these six forces that we must deploy our God-given gifts and grace towards, in order for us to fulfill ministry on the earth.
1) The Force of Vision
Scriptures say, “…with two he covered his face..” Actually, your swiftness and effectiveness in the ministry is at the mercy of the clarity and authenticity of your vision: For God even had to guide Abram’s vision before He could bless Him. Poor vision will not only affect you in ministry; but also everyone around you: For any minister who cannot see clearly ahead will only reel through life and ministry. Remember, people perish without vision and followers fall into ditches without clarity of vision from the leaders. And so, you must ask for grace to see clearer from God and endeavour to protect what you have seen with every strength in you.
2) The Force of Personality
While you cannot do much about how people around you think of you; however, you can do much to influence what they see, which ultimately influence what they think of you. The truth is, God has made each of us distinctly, but each one must protect or guide the person he or she has become by God. Remember, while God looks at the heart, men look at the appearance. However, every appearance is a product of the heart. So, you must not use your God-given talent to tarnish your personality make up; rather, guard yourself with them. And remember, in ministry, at best, you could only reproduce after your kind; and so, mind the kind that you are.
3) The Force of Faith
Scriptures say, “…by faith we stand”; hence, to remain in ministry and to be swift in it; each minister must keep his or her faith firm. But really, the best way to keep your faith firm is to keep growing it. Faith and pride does not collaborate; hence, ensure that your gifts and grace does not “enter your head” and beware of covetous – even of spiritual things. In Matthew 4:6-7, devil wanted Jesus to doubt God by tempting God with His God-given gifts and grace; but, Jesus was firm on the Scriptures. Really, to stand the test of faith; you must know whom you have believed.
4) The Force of Knowledge (Truth)
God is the God of knowledge, by Him all actions are weighed; however, God’s people hate knowledge, making it difficult for God to say or do great things through them. Actually, the lid of any man or woman’s effectiveness in ministry is his or her knowledge. If you know more, you will dare more, if you know more, you will believe more and if you know more, you will become a better person (minister). Hence, ministry is built on the foundation of knowledge; and the more you know, the firmer your feet will be in ministry. Remember, “Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Proverbs 24:3-4). Fill your own ministry with all precious and pleasant riches with knowledge, which OLY God’s Word can supply. And also seek out for knowledge of events, laws and principles around you; buy books, listen to messages, fast to study, not only to pray; and enjoy stability in ministry (Kingdom service).
5) The Force of Mission
Obviously, vision is a prominent force among other forces for swiftness and effectiveness in any ministry. And because of that reality, we are flooded today with Visionaries here and there; however, the Church must return back to the age of Missionaries, when the servants of God were not celebrated in their offices, but on the mission fields. To be effective in your ministry, you must not be complacent on the mountaintop of envisioning great things, but must come down from your high places to get the vision moving. However, ministers today avoid dirty Kingdom works - as everyone desires to be in Air-conditioned rooms and offices. Outline step by step process YOU must follow each day, each week and each month to fulfill your own ministry. Remember, with two, the Seraphim flew.
6) The Force of Execution
This force for swiftness and effectiveness in ministry goes together with the force of mission; and when your God-given wings back up the two – the skies will be your realm of influence. Remember, the world (including the Church) does not celebrate men and women of great talents and great intentions; but men and women who acted swiftly with their talents to achieve great things on the earth.
Therefore, having considered the forces that you and I must deploy our wings for in ministry; let me submit that all ministers of God have God as their Sender; but not all ministers do great things in the behalf of God. The difference is, while some deploy their wings wisely, some use their wings wastefully to ONLY for their personal wealth. How are you deploying your own God-given wings – for your own wealth or your own fulfillment in life and ministry?