 MINISTRY TODAY: Where Do We Go From Here?

Today the concept of fivefold ministry is not in any way a hidden idea. At least an average believer who attends church services and reads the Bible once and again should be able to recoup that. These are: apostolic ministry, prophetic ministry, evangelistic ministry, pastoral and teaching ministry as recorded in Ephesians 4:11. Although each of these fold have distinct form of operation they however, have the same set goals to achieve (vv. 12-13.) These set goals by extension are: i. To perfect the saints ii. To equip more men/women to do ministry (fulfill the work of God) iii. To get believers to a level of uniformity of faith through edification; iv. To gain more knowledge of the Son of God, and v. To become more like Jesus (i.e. to develop into His full stature.) Let’s call the above the 5 by 5 agenda of God – Fivefold ministry to carry out and achieve five set goals. But what do we have today? i. Denomination. ii. ‘Numeration.’ iii. Disunity. iv. Monetization, and v. Re-crucifixion of Christ; by the same set of people who are expected to be more like Him. Let’s call this the 5 by 5 agenda of man – fivefold ministry toiling with fire. Today ministry has taken another shape. A digression from what God commanded to what man recommended. And permit me to say that the aftermath of a digression of this magnitude being witnessed in the body of Christ today is retrogression. This explains why churches are doing so much today with little to show for it. No doubt, frowardness leads to backwardness. I feel so sorry for my generation. What on earth should ministry look like today? This is what I intend to lay bare as I consider two types of ministry i.e. Type A and Type B Ministry. Type A Ministry (the ministry of grace): This is ministry according to divine design/pattern; the ministry borne and established by grace. Jesus brought into this world no any other gospel but the gospel of grace; and that was the basis of his ministry here on earth (John 1:16). Type B Ministry (man-made ministry): This is ministry according to human design (a digression from pattern.) This is of three categories: a. Ministry of Class: this is a type of ministry that places human feelings above divine promptings. It is built around logical reasoning as against spiritual sensitivity. A case where an individual or a group believes their ministry is superior to others. But what does that has to do with our becoming like Jesus and eventually making heaven? b. Ministry of Clash: this is a type of ministry that manifests in distorted followership. It is an aftermath of the ministry of class. A case where you hear something like I’m of Paul you are of Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:1-5) or I attend Jesus is Lord Ministry, but you attend Jesus is Coming Ministry. They major on what is not and lose focus of what is. c. Ministry of Cash: this is a type of ministry fashioned after making money. Say Balaam Ministry Int’l a.k.a. Judas Iscariot Church. It lays emphases on gold (money) more than God; or better still it is a kind of ministry that uses the name of God to get gold. My Submission: I submit that ministry today should be a work of grace where Paul sees himself as one that plants (not as superior) and Apollos as one that waters; but God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6.) Or an instance where one is a sower and the other a reaper: both rejoicing – John 4:36-38. It’s all about fulfilling the great commission. No room for comparison, rivalry, competition, or superiority complex. Your ministry, what type is it? We must return to what God intended ministry to be like. That’s the only way we can make our generation ready for the coming of the Lord. Yes, He will come again. Come O Lord. Jesus is Lord!