Finding the Right Path to Your Ministry

As I read the New Testament I see many times where a progressive path is laid out. I see in Corinthians where the path for establishing the church is laid out. I see in Peter a path for disciple making. I also see in Peter a path for each of us to find our ministry. When I refer to finding our ministry I am referring to the Ephesians 2:10 works that God has made for us to walk in from long ago. Here is a passage from 1Peter 5.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

Look at the process. It requires us first and foremost to walk humbly under the mighty hand of God. This is such a difficult thing to grasp and explain. God is a master builder. He seeks those who will allow Him to build without interference. This means we may not see the results we are looking for in our efforts. The requirement for humility is tested in us as we selflessly serve others and wait for God’s plan to unfold.

The second instruction is to be alert. Many times our enemy can destroy us because he catches us off guard. He will attack us in our results. He will tempt us to try to move faster, to get us to value results over process. If we humble ourselves under the hand of God it requires us to turn over the results to God. He builds His church. He is the only one that can transform a life. Only God can restore His Spirit to man no matter how hard we try.

The third instruction regards suffering. Many misunderstand the context of suffering because of the way it is taught today. Many see it as suffering in this present life like losing your job or getting ill. I think the suffering referred to in Scripture has more to do with spreading the gospel and what is required of us to live a set apart life. If we are truly to live differently than the rest of society then suffering will be a natural result. After suffering to be set apart we see the explanation of the process.

Peter says that after these things God Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. What exactly do these terms mean for us?

Perfect – To set free from sin and guilt. To break our bondage of the past. It is the Freedom that is referred to in Galatians. To be perfected is to be free to walk in the Spirit.

Confirm – We are established in our faith as we discover our spiritual gifts. God confirms our place in His household as He works through us in His power. If you don’t discover and use your spiritual gifts then you lack this confirmation.

Strengthen – We are strengthened as we walk in our freedom and our gifting. Through our use of spiritual disciplines we grow in the grace and knowledge of God. This strengthening enables us to engage in Spiritual warfare. Without being strengthened in our inner man, as Paul puts it, we lack the ability to take on our role in the battle against our enemy. This strengthening occurs as we put to death the things of the flesh and this world in our lives and rely more wholly on the Spirit.

Establish – This is where your ministry takes shape. The discovery of your Ephesians 2:10 works. If you try to shortcut the system then you end up producing wood, hay and stubble.

Here is the progression. Humble yourself under God’s hand. Be patient and wait for Him to exalt you at the right time. Don’t be anxious. Be alert and watch out for the devil’s schemes. Resist the devil and stand firm in your faith. Seek freedom from sin and your past. Seek to understand your spiritual gifts. Put on the full armor of God by establishing yourself in a spiritually disciplined life. At the proper time God Himself will exalt you and establish you in the work He designed for you to do.

This is the promised rest in Christ. This is the path of discipleship. Are you on the right path to your ministry? Is someone helping you find the way?