– Pastor Bimbo Animashaun
In ministry, there are two kinds of ministers:
(1) MINSTERS WHO GATHER.
(2) MINISTERS WHO SCATTER.
It takes WISDOM to GATHER and BUILD people in ministry, and not every minister seems to take cognizance of that.
You may be WORDED, POWER-LOADED, FIREFUL, CHARISMATIC, and very OUTSPOKEN, but lack the ability to GATHER, MOBILIZE, BUILD and KEEP people.
Jesus said:
LUKE 11:23
He that is not with me is against me: and he that GATHERETH not with me SCATTERETH.
Therefore in ministry, IF YOU’RE NOT GATHERING, YOU’RE SCATTERING.
I didn’t say so; our Lord Jesus said so. GATHERING people in ministry is not a function of a great preaching ability or teaching ability.
And may I say this Sirs and Mas; it’s not even a function of prophetic gift, signs, wonders, diverse miracles and the flow of the gifts of the Spirit.
While all of those are necessary tools to do ministry with, you can manifest all of those and still SCATTER people if you don’t operate IN THE WISDOM OF GOD.
To manage human beings is not a child’s play at all. People have their nuances, and sometimes you just have to be patient with them, minister to them in love until they outgrow certain forms of thinking and behavior.
There are ministers today who have had a trajectory of people coming around them, and none ever stays with them eventually, not because they don’t know how to preach or that they aren’t anointed but because THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE PEOPLE.
Every little thing, the man of God will threaten folks with curses. Every little thing, you flare up. You’re not even approachable and you always wear a frown like a piece of suit.
You talk to people ANYHOW. You talk and act with IMPUNITY. You don’t respect people’s privacy and nobody dares to ask you any question even if they need clarity on issues that bother their minds.
No, there’s no way you’re going to GATHER people like that. There’s no way people will feel safe coming around you like that.
And unfortunately, this pattern is so terrible that it’s a major strategy the devil uses to steal or divert a minister’s harvest in ministry.
You always labour over people but when you’re angry like this, there’ll always be “commotions”, “combustions” and “earthquakes” on the earth.
You can’t GATHER people like that. Sometimes you have to be patient with people and watch them grow as you correct them in love, not threatening them with curses.
You see, the Bible says through WISDOM is an house builded.
PROVERBS 24:3
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
To BUILD an enduring work, it takes THE WISDOM OF GOD.
When you see ministers who have successfully maintained relationships with folks for many years, with the exception of those who broke away out of mischief, then there’s a whole lot of wisdom to learn from them.
You may even preach or teach better than them. You may even flow in the gifts of the Spirit more than them, but they have mastered HOW TO MANAGE PEOPLE.
You can’t GATHER people always displaying temperaments. You can’t manage people if you can’t control your emotions.
Many times you have to be patient with people, show them love, identify with them, check on them regularly, relate well with them and show them genuine care and affection.
Today, there are ministers who would have had the sacred privilege to father sons in ministry but they have sent all of those folks away with curses.
Jesus had twelve apostles and He said HE KEPT ALL OF THEM “EXCEPT THE SON OF PERDITION”.
JOHN 17:12
While I was with them in the world, I KEPT THEM IN THY NAME: THOSE THAT THOU GAVEST ME I HAVE KEPT, AND NONE OF THEM IS LOST, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Judas who was lost is referred to as THE SON OF PERDITION, not because Jesus didn’t care for him or because He didn’t carry out His ministry towards him.
To further emphasize the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ possessed THE ABILITY TO GATHER PEOPLE IN MINISTRY, the man who replaced Judas Iscariot i.e. Matthias HAD BEEN FOLLOWING JESUS AROUND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY.
This is well stated in the Book of Acts:
ACTS 1:21-26
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Matthias, just like many other folks had been with Jesus SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY; he didn’t join those who left Jesus in John 6:66 out of “mischief”.
The wisdom here is THE WISDOM TO GATHER. All the apostles and disciples weren’t perfect but Christ was PATIENT with them all until THE BEST CAME OUT OF THEM.
Look at Peter for instance; as unstable as he was, Jesus didn’t CURSE him; He rather PRAYED FOR HIM – Lk.22:31-32, UNTIL HIS BEST CAME OUT.
The same Peter later won 3000 souls for Christ just IN ONE DAY – Acts 2:38-41, yet Jesus would have lost him if He wasn’t PATIENT with him.
This post is with exception of course to those who are reprobate and who have unrepentantly decided to go their own way – even at that, A CURSE is not the SOLUTION but AN INTERCESSION until the light of God breaks forth into their spirit.
Dear minister, God doesn’t want you to destroy the work of your hands with your own hands.
Trust Him for WISDOM TO GATHER and to also conserve your harvest in ministry.
It is not a good testimony if no one wants to associate with you not because they aren’t willing to but because of variables at your own end that need to be brought under the control and discipline of the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord God of Israel Who maintains our lot preserve your harvest for you in the work of the ministry.
PSALM 16:5
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: THOU MAINTAINEST MY LOT.
Amen!
Aphorism CITY 