Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples) [John 4:1-2]
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."...Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [Matthew 14:16,19]
True ministry always releases others to do the same. It never tries to hold on to all the activity for itself.
Jesus himself is the ultimate measure of any ministry. For as Ephesians 4:7 says "Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." Indeed, all the ascension ministry gifts are a specific measure of Christ's own gift. Jesus has reproduced his ministry to the church in the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers he has given. And in doing so he has set a pattern, of how they too, and all ministry in the church, should "pass it on", so that others among the saints are equipped and raised up to operate in the same gift (though only Christ himself can make someone an ascension gift) so that the body may be built up through the ministry of every part.
Jesus rejoiced in the fact that those who came after him would do what he had been doing, and even greater things. This again is a hallmark of true ministry. Those who are more concerned about their own reputation feel threatened by men of gifting that are being raised up by God. This was king Saul's problem. David on the other hand displayed a totally different attitude when he was told that his successor (Solomon) would be the one to achieve his dreams. He rejoiced, and made every preparation for his son to succeed in all that God had called him to.
If you have any ministry to the body, never seek to do it all yourself and so make the people reliant on you. Pass it on! Try to make yourself redundant! You will never manage of course, because those faithful servants who can say, "Lord, you gave me three talents, and look, I have replicated three more" will be given yet more. The greatest reward of ministry should be to see others walking in your anointing. To know that even when you are not present, your ministry to the body continues through the lives of those you have impacted and inspired.
The true measure of greatness of any ministry in the church of Jesus Christ is not the gap they leave behind, it is the inheritance they pass on.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."...Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [Matthew 14:16,19]
True ministry always releases others to do the same. It never tries to hold on to all the activity for itself.
Jesus himself is the ultimate measure of any ministry. For as Ephesians 4:7 says "Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." Indeed, all the ascension ministry gifts are a specific measure of Christ's own gift. Jesus has reproduced his ministry to the church in the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers he has given. And in doing so he has set a pattern, of how they too, and all ministry in the church, should "pass it on", so that others among the saints are equipped and raised up to operate in the same gift (though only Christ himself can make someone an ascension gift) so that the body may be built up through the ministry of every part.
Jesus rejoiced in the fact that those who came after him would do what he had been doing, and even greater things. This again is a hallmark of true ministry. Those who are more concerned about their own reputation feel threatened by men of gifting that are being raised up by God. This was king Saul's problem. David on the other hand displayed a totally different attitude when he was told that his successor (Solomon) would be the one to achieve his dreams. He rejoiced, and made every preparation for his son to succeed in all that God had called him to.
If you have any ministry to the body, never seek to do it all yourself and so make the people reliant on you. Pass it on! Try to make yourself redundant! You will never manage of course, because those faithful servants who can say, "Lord, you gave me three talents, and look, I have replicated three more" will be given yet more. The greatest reward of ministry should be to see others walking in your anointing. To know that even when you are not present, your ministry to the body continues through the lives of those you have impacted and inspired.
The true measure of greatness of any ministry in the church of Jesus Christ is not the gap they leave behind, it is the inheritance they pass on.
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