THE ULTIMATE LEVEL IN THE MINISTRY - Please read this! “I may present the gospel of Christ without charge” 1 Corinthians 9:18 Preaching or producing gospel music, film, book without charge of selling it for making profit is the ultimate sacrifice God desires His devoted ministers to reach. Charging people of amount of money before presenting our ministration of preaching, music, and drama on invitation or in production for profit making is an abuse of authority in the gospel. “that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:18 Those who make personal financial profit in the process of preaching the gospel are making business of the free grace and gift of God. The Secret of Apostle Paul Success in The Ministry Apostle Paul had a tremendous success and won many souls into the kingdom of God because he followed the principle of Free-of-charge ministry, meaning he preached gospel of Christ to all without demanding for money directly - by asking for amount of money before ministration as many preachers are doing today, demanding for certain amount of money before they accept to minister; or indirectly – by asking for some amount after ministration in the name of selling their ministration on printing books or recording CD beyond cost of production. As many are doing today, selling their printed ministration in books, not to get the production money but to gain profit; in their recorded messages, music and films on CD, VCD, DVD, not to make it affordable at production cost but to make profit thereafter. Some churches and ministries who claim holiness are not only selling their CD, VCD and DVD but also sell their tracts, Sunday school books in making profits of their own sheep. Apostle Paul did not only run a free-of-charge ministry but he used his hands to labor, working to support his ministry, without incessant asking of donations from general public of both saved and unsaved. Why Apostle Paul made a remarkable success in the work of the ministry was because he made extra sacrifice for the kingdom of God by not depending on people’s support or selling his ministerial works to people, but diligently engaged his hands to work for the provision of the ministry he was called into. “ Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?” 1 Corinthians 9:6, 7 Apostle Paul ran a free-of-charge most time at his own expense, from the money he got from his own business/salary. Though it is totally wrong to sell your ministration to raise money for surviving, but it is not wrong to ask people of God to support your ministry and your surviving in the ministry, yet Paul went beyond that, he said, “Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” “15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.” 1 Corinthians 8:13-15. What Made Free-Of-Charge Ministry Possible for Apostle Paul! There are three major reasons Apostle Paul could successfully run a free-of-charge ministry: 1, He totally trusted God for daily provision. Paul did not devise his means for fund raising, but he trusted God per time for the provision of his personal and ministerial needs. “And we have such trust through Christ toward God.” 2 Corinthians 3:4 2, He worked with his hands for the provision of this work of the ministry. He did not only wait for support from brethren, but worked to get money to support his ministry and others in the ministry with him. “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:34,35. 3, He lived a humble, simple and non-luxurious life. You cannot run a free-of-charge ministry if you want to ride expensive car, send your kids to expensive school, live in a luxurious house or housing estate or use expensive stuffs. It will not also be possible for you either if you believe in graduation from contentment and moderation. Some ministers of the gospel believe they suffered so much when they started the ministry but now is time for reward, that it is time for God to reward them with SUV/Jeep for their past trekking on foot, that it is time to live luxurious, expensive lifestyle for their past years labor. God does not work in such way, ministers of God who still follow the Bible are never to live luxurious lifestyle, but to be moderate in all things, and they are never to use expensive, glamorous stuffs but to show example of godliness with contentment. That was the message and lifestyle of Apostle Paul; he never graduated from a simple, content and humble lifestyle, even after many years in the ministry. The bitter truth you may find hard to accept is that a genuine full time minister of God is not meant to be a wealthy or rich man; you will not find one in the Bible and among the old time ministers of the gospel even till Charles Spurgeon. The new gospel of today that believes in expensive, extravagant lifestyle among the ministers of God is what Apostle Paul described as “useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 5-10. Apostle Paul did not seek his own financial gain of money, birthday gift, etc.; he did not seek his own material gain in the name of ministry such as his own building, his own private school or college, his own private jeep, jet, etc.; but seeking for the salvation of souls. “just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33. Seeking financial profit in the cause of ministry is a misled notion into the ministry. If you are called into the ministry, trust God to provide for Himself in the ministry He called you into. Do not sell your ministerial materials such as ministerial books, ministerial CD, VCD, DVD messages, music, or films beyond cost production for profit making. Never demand money for ministerial invitation and never collect every gift after ministration – so that you will not get used to it and become expectant. The Pattern of Free-Of-Charge Gospel You can also be like Apostle Paul of free-of-charge gospel ministration in any of the ministries God has called you into. You can become Like Paul in labouring, working with your hands, sacrificing part of your salary, your house, car for the work of God just as the saints of old did. Apostle Paul said, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” Philippians 3:17. You can be like Jesus Christ who freely gives us all things without a single charge. Jesus Christ says, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8. God is seeking among His children in this end time who will devote themselves to the work of God free of charge, who are not after personal gain in the cause of ministerial work, who are not after fortune, fame, followers or fans. The Reward The rewards of free-of-charge gospel are enormous – here on earth are righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. And in heaven are the ultimate everlasting rewards reserved for us. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7, 8. If you will like to surrender your life to Jesus or to rededicate your life to Jesus, please click on this link and read https://facebook/notes/revelation-of-truth-evangelical-ministries-rtem/how-to-be-saved-and-start-a-new-life-in-jesus/270674586372252 You can also contact us on email or phone for prayer, counsel or if you need biblical enlightenment on personal issues: This message is from Revelation of Truth Evangelical Ministries, RTEM Our Email: rtemoutreaches@yahoo Our Tel: (+234) (0)803 924 9751, (0)705 937 3351, (0)802 578 7942. 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Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 12:43:24 +0000
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