BURNING DOWN THE HINDRANCES TO THE MINISTRY AND CHURCH GROWTH

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Life is warfare. Ministry is warfare. Leading the growing ministry is warfare, and you must have victory all round. Because no victory in warfare, no joyful in warfare.

The enemy targets the leader, the priest, minister of the gospel and the believer. Every believer is a priest to God, because every believer in Christ is called to service in one capacity or the other. Everyone is a leader by creation and also by the choice of God. You must know that devil is not happy that you are leading in any capacity. The enemy targets the leader and he wants to demoralize; paralyze; and extinguish them if it is possible. Zechariah 13:7, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” 2 Samuel 17:2, “And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:”

That is why enemy goes for the leader. Once the leader is smitten, there will be less resistance from the followers. Every attempt on you shall fail in the name of Jesus Christ.

May the Lord shield you; protect you and keep the head of your family; keep the head of your church and your unit; keep the star of your household; may the pillar in your church never collapse in the name of Jesus Christ. Wherever God has given you influence, may your influence never diminish, may God shield you day and night, roundabout in the name of Jesus Christ. You shall not be smitten. The rods of the wicked shall not rest upon you in the name of Jesus Christ. Every attempt against you shall fail in the name of Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 22:31, “But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.” 2 Samuel 18:3, “But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.”

That is why followers must learn to pray the leader. Church members must learn to pray for their spiritual leaders. You must learn to be in guard for your leaders. You must learn to pray for your leaders daily. Apostle Paul made a request that believers should pray for them. 2Thessalonians 3:1-3, “1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” The leaderships have prayer points. In fact, Jesus Christ told the disciple to pray for Him. Carnal weapon cannot be used to fight the spiritual warfare. That is why you must be well equipped in the things of the spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:6, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

Many Gospel ministers have lost today because they are following letter and not the spirit. If you stay on letter alone, you will miss it. May the spirit of God always bring fresh revelation to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL HINDRANCES?

1. When you are destroying the foundation, you cannot be effective, efficient, and faithful in your ministry. 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” The right foundation in Christ Jesus is departure from iniquity, injustice, inequity. Anything that is not equal to God’s nature, you must depart from it. Whatever is not equal to: morality, righteousness, holiness and purity, you must depart from it. Once you depart from this foundation, you cannot move forward in ministry. Matthew 7:21-23, “21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Luke 13:27, “But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
2. Little foxes spoil the vine: Song of Solomon 2:15, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Little foxes spoil the vine 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, “  6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Those small things have greater consequences.
3. Slumber: Slumbering precedes deep sleep, through which you will be a victim of what will destroy your foundation.  Amos 6:1, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!” You must not sleep; you must not be unconscious of what is happening around you. Be sensitive and awake. It was when King David was relaxing that he saw what he ought not to see and that made him to commit sin of adultery. Any time you are in a place where you ought not to be, you will see what you are not supposed to see. Seeing is not the problem, you will be motivated to do what you ought not to do. Only one act is enough to hinder your progress in life. That is why you must not be slumbering. You must be awakened in your spirit, soul and body. Romans 13:11, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Timothy 5:6, “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” Luke 5:24. If you continue to slumber and slept off, your ministry cannot grow. It takes being awakened for ministry to triumph.
4. You must be vigilant: You have to be careful and vigilant. No matter how skillful a soldier is, he will become a victim if he is not vigilant. No matter how spiritual you are, you must be vigilant 1 Peter 5:8-9, “8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” You cannot be effective, when you are warned and you are not constantly taking it serious, you will become victim of what you did not want to become in your lifetime. Holy Spirit never leaves us in doubt. He speaks gently, if you do not understand, He will speak through His word, He will speak through every event around your life.
5. Taking God for granted. Grace abuse, frustrating grace, invalidating grace and liberty abuse. Whatever we call grace must not be frustrated, it must not be vandalized. Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1, “ We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” Galatians 5:13, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Do not abuse the grace of God. Do not lose the fear and reference of God 1Peter 2:16, “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” Our liberty should not be used as an excuse to do what we ought not to do. Grace of God teaches us to deny all the ungodliness. Joseph said, how could I do such an evil in the sight of God? Do not despise the grace of God. Do not despise the blood of everlasting covenant. 1 Samuel 2:3, “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” You will give account for the grace you carry.

HOW TO OVERCOME?

1. Return to God and receive the spirit of the fear of God. The spirit of the fear of God will rest upon you in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. Learn to possess your vessel. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, “3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” Bring your body under control, put structures in place deliberately by yourself that will help you in order to not to become victim of sinful act. You must know your strength and weakness.
3. Keep the prayer fire Leviticus 6:13, “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” Acts 6:4, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”
4. Keep the diligent of private study. 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
5. Deeply involved in souls winning. Salvation of souls should matter most in your heart. Every of your action must lead to someone’s salvation.

Prayer

1. 1. Oh Lord, we thank You for this year ministers’ conference. We thank You for all You have been doing since last year ministers’ conference.
   2. Fire of God, burn down every hindrance, obstacle to my effectiveness in life and in the ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.
   3. Father, set my life on fire to be effective in life and ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.
   4. Holy Ghost fire, consume every wickedness against my effectiveness and growth in life and ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.
   5. Father, set them on fire, enemy within and enemy outside, let them be consumed by the flame in the name of Jesus Christ.
   6. The God of peace, let there be peace in my life and ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.