What steps can we take to ensure our ministry aligns with God's will? Recognize God’s Sovereign Call • “Paul chose Silas and left” (Acts 15:40). Ministry begins when God directs, not when convenience allows. • Acts 13:2–3 shows the pattern: “The Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul.’” Listening and obeying comes first. • Step: Quiet your calendar, invite the Spirit to speak through Scripture, and yield the decision-making reins to Him. Build on Proven Character, Not Just Talent • Silas was a prophet (Acts 15:32) and already faithful. Paul did not gamble on an untested partner. • 2 Timothy 2:2—entrust ministry “to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others.” • Step: Evaluate prospective co-laborers by fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) before gifting or charisma. Seek the Church’s Commendation • “Commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord” (Acts 15:40). The local body recognized and blessed the mission. • Proverbs 11:14—“In the multitude of counselors there is safety.” • Step: Submit plans to elders and mature believers; invite their affirmation or caution. Depend on Grace, Not Self-Reliance • The brothers committed Paul and Silas “to the grace of the Lord,” knowing human skill cannot secure eternal results. • John 15:5—“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” • Step: Start every strategy session remembering whose ministry it is; keep metrics secondary to reliance on grace. Anchor Every Move in Scripture and Prayer • Acts repeatedly records prayerful sending (Acts 13:3; 14:23). Paul’s pattern never changed. • Psalm 119:105—God’s Word is the lamp guiding each step. • Step: Tie major decisions to specific passages; let prayer confirm timing. Maintain Ongoing Accountability • Paul and Silas reported back (Acts 14:26-28; 18:22). Isolation invites drift. • Hebrews 13:17—leaders “keep watch over your souls.” • Step: Schedule regular check-ins with mentors or a sending church to review doctrine, methods, and personal integrity. Expect God to Expand the Work • Acts 16 shows doors opening in Philippi because Paul and Silas stayed sensitive to the Spirit’s redirection (Acts 16:6-10). • Ephesians 3:20—He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” • Step: Hold your calendar loosely; when God reroutes, follow immediately. Keep the Gospel Central • Every journey in Acts aimed at preaching Christ crucified and risen (Acts 17:2-3). • 1 Thessalonians 2:4—“We speak as those approved by God, to be entrusted with the gospel.” • Step: Measure success by faithfulness to the message, not by audience size or cultural applause. Persevere Through Opposition • Acts 16:22-24 shows that alignment with God’s will does not guarantee ease, yet the jail shook with divine power. • 2 Timothy 4:5—“Endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist.” • Step: Expect resistance, but trust God to vindicate His Word in His time. Checklist for an Aligned Ministry 1. Hear God’s call through Scripture and Spirit. 2. Choose co-laborers of proven character. 3. Secure church affirmation. 4. Lean wholly on grace. 5. Ground plans in prayerful study. 6. Stay accountable. 7. Follow God’s redirects. 8. Keep the gospel front and center. 9. Stand firm when trials come. Walk these steps, and like Paul and Silas you will find yourselves commissioned, guided, and sustained by the grace of the Lord. |
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