[Mark 6:30-32 NLT] “The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.”
Praise the Lord! Today is Thursday and I want to spend this moment to drop few tips that can help us last long in ministry and not die before our time. Lately, many precious servants of God are burning out and dying young. Many of us because of our love for the Lord work and work and work and succumb to the pressure of the people without taking rest.
Studying the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ has taught me that if I truly want to fulfil my ministry and live the full length of my days, I must take good care of this body. The body is the housing or vessel by which I can continue in this life. Without a healthy body, the anointing will be trapped.
Elisha was a mighty man of God, powerfully anointed but was trapped in a clock bed because he became sick. When the king came to him, he ministered to the king alright, yet he was bedfast. And when Elisha’s dead body fell on the bones of a young man, the young man resurrected. Yes, that’s how powerful and heavily anointed he was, yet he fell sick and died sick ( You can read about this in Kings 13:13-21)
[2 Kings 13:20-21 KJV] “And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year”. [21] “And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men ; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.”
I wish above all things that we will all end healthy and strong. I wish that none of us will die sick or weak. Like Asher, may you dip your feet in oil and as your days shall be, so shall your strength be. You will excel and never grow weak, but praying for you alone is not enough; there are few things that we must all observe. If you want to die strong and healthy,
1. Remember, you are only a co-labourer with the Lord:
It is the Lord who is building His church and we are only co-labourers. Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it. We must allow the Lord to build His church or else the pressure of the work alone will kill the body. Let the Lord lead and follow. There is an extent you can go; just do your best and leave the outcome to God. The church will grow; don’t be desperate!
2. Remember to keep the morning watch:
Follow the Lord in the school of prayer. What you need is solitary and solitude. In Mark 1:35, the Lord rose early before daybreak and went out to a solitary place to pray. Your life and ministry as a minister, a church worker, or a missionary depend on your morning watch and prayers. Quiet Time is so important to keep your running on a full tank.
3. Remember to travel and minister to the people:
As ministers, we are called because of people so we must minister to people! We cannot be armchair executes who are waiting to be served. We must step out and preach. We must go into the world and preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out devils and bound the brokenhearted. We must take a trip; we must be on a roadshow. We must go into the world and preach.
4. Remember to delegate:
Your success and longevity in ministry depend on your wisdom and willingness to delegate. You cannot do the work alone; you need God and others to go far. Learn to delegate and work with partners, teams and pillars! In Acts 6:1-10, we learn how they appointed and delegate to others to help; you will go far when you raise others to help. This is the counsel Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, gave to Moses. He counselled him to appoint helpers.
5. Remember to eat wisely abd healthily:
Apostle Paul admonished Timothy on what to drink. What you eat is important to how long and healthy you will live. We must learn to both eat and drink wisely.
The fork has sent more people to an early grave than the gun. Let us eat with circumspection!
6. Finally remember to rest!
After you have Prayed, waited on God, read, travelled to minister, and delegated, there always come a time when you must go off to a quiet place and rest a little. Every minister needs solitary, solitude, relaxation, and cooling off.
If you don’t learn to rest; you will soon rest in peace.
This is what has finished many ministers prematurely. Rest, relax, refresh, rejuvenate, and cool off!
Stay blessed
