Your Ministry Begins 

Right Where You Are

Have you ever given thought to the fact that as a Christian, you are called to ministry? In fact, you are already in ministry.

If you have become a child of God, through putting your trust in him and being saved by grace through faith, you are now in full-time ministry!  

You no longer have to wonder at your purpose in life. Your job is to share the love of Christ and to preach the gospel to every creature.

It’s no longer about your agenda. You are not your own. It’s no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you.

Galatians 2:20 KJV - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Now, you may think, I’m not a Pastor, or a Youth Worker, or a Missionary. I’m not on the staff at my Church. I don’t teach a Sunday School Class or work in the Outreach Ministries of my Church.

Stop thinking that just because you don’t fill one of these roles, you are not in ministry!

Stop letting people tell you that working for the government, or running your family business, or driving a truck for a living, or enjoying your job as a day care worker or a myriad of other things is not God’s plan for you in this season of life!

Stop letting the opinions of man keep you from being a light in your current workplace, no matter how insignificant your job or position may seem.

Your job title doesn’t matter, but how you use your time does!

Just because you are not a paid staff member of your church or have a degree in Theology or serve in one of the ministries in your church, doesn’t mean that you, as a Christian, are not in full-time ministry.

Your humble, every day life can make a difference to God and his Kingdom.

Jesus himself was not paid by the church. He was a carpenter’s son who most probably worked alongside his father before setting out on his mission by God.

Priscilla and Aquilla were tentmakers who helped Paul on his missionary journey by letting him live and work with them in order to provide for himself. Acts 18:1-4.

We often believe the lie that tells us that in order to be someone in God’s eyes, we have to serve in some noticeable way in our churches.

We seem to think that the Pastoral role and Missionary role is way up high on the list of ministries and that anything other than a speaking/teaching role in the church is somehow less.

Now, don’t get me wrong, they are very important God-given callings and much needed.

But what a sad and sorry state of affairs when we forget that God has gifted everyone differently and given each of us talents and abilities that we can use in our unique walks of life to further his kingdom and ‘preach’ the gospel to those in our spheres of influence.

Stay at home mum, with little ones running around, busy with laundry and dishes and ABC’s, you are no less important in your service to the Lord than the Pastor that preaches the Word on a Sunday morning.

You are in ministry! Your ministry is right in front of you. You are training the next generation of leaders. As you teach them the stories from the Bible and read the Word of God with them, leading by example, praying with them, loving them, you are teaching them more than you know or realise. Your testimony is the light they see and hear.

Your ministry begins right where you are!

Busy career woman, commuting to work, sitting at your desk, putting in long hours in front of a computer screen, you are in ministry!

Start with those around you. Your ministry begins where you are!

Sadly, we often begin to believe the lie that in order to make a difference in this world, bigger is better. Be an influencer! Get 1 million followers! Reach more people!

Yes, it would be awesome if we could reach more people with the gospel, but if you’re not willing to do it where you are, what makes you think you’ll do it somewhere else, or when you have a bigger following?

God has called every Christian to begin where he/she is.

Do you remember the story of the man with the unclean spirit in the country of the Gadarenes? Mark 5:1-20  Luke 8:26-39.

This was a man who had not one, but many devils living inside him and the Lord Jesus miraculously healed him and cast them out of him and into a herd of pigs who then ran violently off a cliff into the sea.

It is a very impressive story but let me draw your attention to something interesting.

After the man was healed and clothed and sitting in his right mind at the feet of Jesus, the people of that country were so afraid at what had taken place, that they pleaded with Jesus to leave and get out of town.

Now, we have a man who has been healed and is so excited about it that when Jesus is ready to depart, he asks to go with him.

Mark 5:18-19 KJV - And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Luke 8:38-39 KJV - Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

This is where it gets interesting.

What did Jesus tell him to do?

Firstly, he refused him. And then he sent him away with a new mission. A new ministry.

Go home and tell your friends. Go home and tell everyone what has happened to you. Tell them how great God is.

Now, I’m sure the man was a little sad at hearing that. He wanted to go with Jesus and possibly see more miracles. Greater things. Bigger ministries. More exciting adventures.

But God said your ministry begins right where you are (my paraphrase).

Jesus didn’t tell him to go and start a church. He didn’t tell him to become an Evangelist and preach to hundreds. He didn’t tell him to start a Youth ministry or a Sunday School.

No. He simply said, start with your friends. Your own house. Your own people. Your own sphere of influence that you currently have.

Begin where you are, with what you have!

And that’s not the end of the story. As we read on, we find that when Jesus did return, the people gladly received him. They marvelled at all the man had told him and they were ready to hear more.

Luke 8:40 KJV - And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

Mark 5:20 KJV - And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

This man had faithfully fulfilled his calling. He had shared what the Lord had done for him. He had shared with his family and friends. He had begun where he was.

Does that not speak volumes to you about where you find yourself right now?

Does it encourage your heart that you can stay faithful in your job, sharing the gospel as you have opportunity, serving the Lord in where he has placed you for however long the season is?

You don’t have to feel inferior because you don’t have a job title in your church. You don’t have to feel less because you work long hours and can’t always make it to every service and every meeting your church holds.

As long as you are putting your relationship with the Lord above all else and making him top priority in your life, fellowshipping with other believers as often as you can, you are already in full time ministry for him, sharing his love with the circle of people he has placed in your life, those he cares deeply about.

You may never get 1 million subscribers or lead a Bible Study that reaches more than 10 or fill a role that has a specific title in the church.

You may feel small and insignificant and think that your contribution is meagre, but you can make all the difference in someone’s life.

If you don’t reach them, who will?

God has placed you where you are with the people that surround you, at this time, for a purpose. It is your job to be a light in a dark world.

It is your job to be all there, wherever you are!

Don’t be discouraged thinking that you are too small to make a difference. If only one person is helped by something you were able to share, if only one person is encouraged by your testimony, if only one person remembers you because there is something different about you and they are drawn to it, then rejoice. Be excited that God chose to use you right where you are.

Don’t feel like Christian ministry is an unattainable height left for those more experienced and knowledgeable and mature in the Lord.

Your current situation and workplace are your mission field. You’re on the front lines!

Don’t let anyone tell you that full-time ministry is only found in the confines of a church building. God is much bigger than four walls.

There is a lot to be said for friendship evangelism. Start by being a friend and let the Lord lead and guide you and give you opportunities to witness.

Support those that are in roles in the church that have a title and particular function but don’t ever feel like you are not important. You have a job to do just as they have. Wherever you are, be all there! Be all in.

If you are a believer, you are in ministry. And yes, it is full-time ministry. Part-time is not an option!

Every day that you are alive and breathing, you are in ministry.

God has called you to go out and share the gospel. Get busy being a shining light wherever God has put you.

 

Ministry begins right where you are!