6th April, 2022.

DO THESE TO YOUR MINISTER OFTEN Pt.6

Romans 16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

LABOUR WITH HIM

Every genuine Pastor (including others in the five-fold ministry) have a vision from God. They have an assignment from God to expand His kingdom. However, the work is always bigger than what one person can handle. Take for example, in a church setting, there are several departments. The Pastor alone cannot be in all departments. He needs faithful and able men who will labour with him to ensure the job is done. He needs co labourers who will be devoted to ensuring the fulfilment of his vision. From the opening text, apostle Paul mentioned the name of two co labourers in his apostolic ministry, Priscilla & Aquila.

As anointed as Paul was, he couldn't do the work alone, he had faithful workers who laboured with him. When you labour with your Pastor to grow the church or with that evangelist to win souls, you encourage him: "and also Jesus who is called JUSTUS; these are the only FELLOW WORKERS for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, AND THEY HAVE PROVED TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME"( Col4:11). The success of Paul in ministry was not his effort alone, there were men who devoted their time, energy, skill, knowledge, wisdom and all they had to see that Paul fulfilled God's purpose for his life.Another faithful co labourer Paul had were Timothy: "Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen"(Romans16:21).

You can volunteer to be the support your pastor need to fulfill his vision. In that church, don't be a bench warmer. Your commitment should not only be on sundays as a church attendant. Move up to being a worker. There's something you can do in God's house. You encourage your pastor when you support his vision. No preacher want to be lonely in the work. The stress that comes with ministry kills. Most preachers do pray for the gift of men. Be the answer to that prayer. That para church/ evangelistic ministry whose outreaches you love need you to volunteer for the openings in their ministry. Don't sit back and say "Well done" when others are working, join the workforce. Don't forget that you're not labouring for your pastor or that preacher, you're labouring with God for kingdom expansion under the vision God has given that pastor: "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building"(1Cor3:9). In that case, God is your rewarder not the pastor: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister"(Heb6:10).