30 April 2018

A WORD TO YOUNG MINISTRIES (2)

By John Ollis

I felt very strongly impressed by the Holy Spirit to write the last blog, there are many excellent things taught in most Bible Colleges, but sadly much of the content of that blog is not covered in most courses offered to trainee Ministry. Plus so many young ministries do not have a Mentor, and so these matters are not covered, and we are living in a generation where standards are slipping, and this has caused many young ministries to either be scarred for their failure or even lose their ministry. I wrote the last blog stating I was writing out of painful experience, and I trust many young ministries will read it, and also these next couple of blogs to assist them to be the very best they can be in their service for the Lord.
A number of other matters have come to mind that need to be brought to young ministries attention so I spell them out here,  as these first two blogs in this series could be interpreted as negative, (but essential teaching) the following blog/s will be much more positive.

  1. NEVER BE ALONE WITH A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.   The Apostle Paul tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Avoid every appearance of evil  The KJV uses the word ABSTAIN from every appearance.  For example I would never have a lady in my car, if I was driving alone, also in my last church, we had a number of Pastors on staff, so I arranged for porthole glass windows to be placed in every office door. I stopped doing pastoral visitation alone in my very first church, as the lady wanted to talk about matters which were not acceptable between a man and woman alone. The keyword in the verse is “appearance” it is how other people view the situation.

2.WE NEED TO WATCH OUR SPEECH. I am very aware that words change their meaning over time, and words that were once unacceptable seem to be more acceptable these days, often their can be innuendo that can be suggestive. Sadly, even many Believers including Pastors seem to have no problem with swearing these days, I  personally consider it totally unacceptable. Let us also watch what we say to and about God’s people, Let us love them and lay down our lives for them. We all fail in many areas, but especially with our words. Yet if we’re able to bridle the words we say we are powerful enough to control ourselves in every way, and that means our character is mature and fully developed. James 3:2 Passion Translation Let us work hard on controlling what comes out of our mouths.
3. WATCH YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE When I was a your Pastor, drinking alcohol was a no no, and I sure totally agree that total abstinence is NOT taught in the Scriptures, but sadly I see much consumption as a reaction perhaps to the legalism of my day, I have chosen as a Leader NOT to drink alcohol, you will say this next statement is super spiritual but I only want to be influenced and effected by one Spirit and that is the Holy Spirit, I know the deception ( Jeremiah 17:9) of my heart, and I don’t want to do anything that will make my walk with God to be hindered.
That is all I am going to say, on these three matters, please be open to let the Holy Spirit speak to you, and I trust you will happily make the right choices that will be keys to enhancing and developing your ministry. Remember it is often the “little foxes that spoil the vines”. If you do not have a Mentor please find one, in these days electronically you can relate to anyone anywhere, pray about it first, and take it slowly and develop a relationship with the person, and then ask him “Would you be my Mentor”.
The next blog will also be a “Word to young Ministries” but from a positive perspective.
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