MINISTRY LESSONS FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST
Luke 3:3-20
John 1:19-29
While meditating about ministry work the
other time, my heart was drawn to John the Baptist and about the immense
lessons we can learn from his life. John was a man whose ministry preceded the
ministry of Christ. He was sent for the purpose of preparing the way for
Christ. A ministry akin to a ‘ganda-ganda’.
Know your calling
A powerful tool (vehicle) going into a
forest to make a way for the most beautiful of cars to be able to drive there.
The ‘ganda-ganda’ only prepares the road and is not really meant to catch the
attention to itself but focus on preparing the road for the coming ‘mzeke-zeke’
(Porsche cars).
John had this experience in his life. In
his ministry many were convicted of their sin even the synagogue leaders of his
time knew someone great has arrived and they sent people to enquire who he was.
His answer was “I am not the Messiah, my
job is to prepare the way for the one coming, there is one more powerful than
me that’s coming. I’m not the main man. I count myself fortunate to have been
chosen to be the one to herald His coming”.
John knew and understood his calling, he
knew the boundaries of his ministry. When Christ appeared he said I need to
give space to Him, He must increase and I must decrease.
John was forthright and bought no favours
from anybody.
Fearlessness
Whatever God told John to do, he did
without fear or favour. He chastised Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. The
Bible records that Herod was uncomfortable with John. It appears the mere
appearance of John the Baptist reminded Herod of his sin. John’s life was
judgement to Herod’s actions. Despite the power and influence of Herod, John
wasn’t intimidated to sugar-coat the truth to suit Herod, he spoke with all
honesty leading ultimately to his beheading.
John knew his place, he bowed before Christ
and stood before Herod.
Relevance
In his ministry John impacted society, many
were convicted and converted. John’s ministry experienced phenomenal growth.
Many came to him because of his witness. Soldiers, tax collectors and the rich.
His message was relevant to each and everyone of them. Touching on the cancer
that was eating society: corruption and greed. He told those who have to give
to those who don’t have, the soldiers to be satisfied with their pay and not
demand bribes, and the tax collectors not to collect more tax than necessary. A
relevant message even for our generation.
Humility
We can learn a lesson of honesty and
humility from him. The temptation with power is to exaggerate your role and
feel you were chosen because of something great you have done or earned God’s
election but it is by His grace.
With ministry growth and wonders happening
we often let accolades and testimonies to make us big headed about the things
we are able to do and forget it’s all about God. It is the Lord doing the work
in and through us and sometimes we take the credit for His doing. We need to
know and understand our place as instruments in the hands of an able God. A garden tool in the hands of an able
gardener can never take credit for a well- manicured garden
but many of us tend to do so.
Accolades and praises should never distract
us from our purpose and calling. Many due to the desire for accolades have
played to the gallery. We must not allow growth and wonders to graduate into
self promotion and praise.John never
allowed accolades get to him, even while others suggested he might be the
Messiah.
What needs to consume us is the need to
know Christ and the power of His resurrection like Paul, to have a deeper and
closer relationship with him. To know and understand His heart for the nation
and the world.
May God help us, give us the courage and
boldness to speak truthfully what He lays in our hearts, to be uncompromising
in our actions and not to choose the convenient path but tread the one He chose
for us.
God bless you
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