Elders: Primary Requirements for Effective Ministry -- Zac Poonen -- March 6, 2021
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/elders-primary-requirements-effective-ministry River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
Effective ministry, particularly preaching the Word, must stem from a genuine burden, likened to a mother carrying a baby. Preaching without this burden is considered empty talk, and speakers should be careful not to overextend their message once the core point is made. Ultimately, ministry should be done in humility, recognizing that God builds the church, not the individual speaker.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The burden of the word of the LordTrue ministry of the word must come out of a deep burden in the heart, similar to a mother carrying a baby, rather than just speaking hot air to fill the time.
Casting earthly anxieties upon the LordElders must cast their daily burdens and earthly anxieties upon the Lord, recognizing that Christ alone is the master builder of His church.Psalm 55:22
The calling to be a bondservant or slaveJesus lived with the inner conviction that He was sent as a servant, and elders must similarly view themselves as slaves who expect no salary or special rights.
Seeking a genuine, continuous anointingThe anointing of the Holy Spirit is the most valuable and most counterfeited spiritual reality, and believers must continually seek a genuine, growing experience of being filled.
Taking scripture seriously instead of human traditionsTrue anointing produces a deep respect for the written word and the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, rather than relying on the boastful practices of men.Luke 18:11 Thessalonians 5:17
Living by the fresh word of God dailyJust as the manna in the wilderness had to be gathered fresh every day, believers must live by every word that proceeds presently from the mouth of God.Deuteronomy 8:3
Earnestly desiring the gift of prophecyBelievers must earnestly desire the gift of prophecy, which is the ability to speak God's word to encourage, challenge, and build others up.
The necessity of personal disciplineEven anointed people can fail to accomplish God's purposes if they lack personal self-control and fail to make their body do what it should do.
Discipline as the fruit of the SpiritSelf-control and discipline are the final aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, helping believers bridle their speech and purify their communications.
Exercising true discernment through loveGod grants elders the vital gift of discernment to recognize mixed motives and spiritual danger, but this gift only operates correctly when rooted in genuine love and total impartiality.
