THE PLACE OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE WORK OF MINISTRY

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I ALSO WILL REJECT YOU FROM BEING PRIEST FOR ME; BECAUSE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE LAW OF YOUR GOD, I also will forget your children."
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

• I have met people in the course of ministry WORKS who wanted to be ordained or be given the certificates of our Ministry Leadership Training School.
THE people in question are not ready and willing to be taught, they do not want to learn.

1. "FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
2. AND THEY WILL TURN THEIR EARS AWAY FROM THE TRUTH, and be turned aside to fables."
   2 Timothy 4:3,4 (NKJV)

THEY do not want the KNOWLEDGE of the Word, BUT they do want certificates and ordinations.
THE truth is, it not the certificates you have that will make you succeed in the ministry work, NEITHER the ordinations.

• One of the primary ingredients needed to succeed in the ministry work is a heart to learn.
  WHOEVER does not value knowledge may not succeed in the work of ministry: "A Wise Man is strong, YES, A MAN OF KNOWLEDGE INCREASES STRENGTH" (Proverbs 24:5).
• Titles, certificates, and ordinations would not make you succeed IN the work.

• Also, the knowledge you acquired should be released, be put to work.
THE essence of acquiring the knowledge is to produce results with it (1 Corinthians 12:7).

• It is the application of the knowledge that will MAKE you, cause you to Excel IN the work of the Kingdom.
• Endeavour to acquire knowledge AND practice whatever you have learnt, put it to WORK; then you are set for greatness.

"STUDY AND DO YOUR BEST TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD APPROVED, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, ACCURATELY HANDLING AND SKILLFULLY TEACHING THE WORD OF TRUTH."
2 Timothy 2:15 (Amp.)

• Note: knowledge CAN be acquired by attending a college of MINISTRY.

• You can also aquire knowledge by reading relevant books of proven authors—you get material that could help your spiritual life and growth.
• The formal training, that is, learning in a classroom setting is needed but may not be enough.
• You will need the informal Training, that is, learning practically by being given the opportunity to do whatever you have learned about the ministry work.
  IT is done by being exposed to the practical aspects of the work.
  THE practical aspects could be learnt by serving as an apprentice.
• Whatever you learned in the classroom or read in a book should be practiced otherwise it would not produce any result.
  EVERY would-be minister should serve as an apprentice under a proven minister or leader, in order to learn the practical aspects of the work.
  IF the practical knowledge is lacking, success could be a mirage.
• Most of the casualties in the work of MINISTRY are traceable to lacking in the knowledge of the work—training.
  THERE are lots of novices, inexperienced people in the work of ministry.
  TO minimize casualties in the mission field, we should pay attention to knowledge acquisitions—trainings.

• Whoever rejected knowledge would not be allowed to serve in the work of the kingdom (Hosea 4:6).

• The text, the Bible passage mentioned above corresponds with what Apostle Paul said in the book of 1 Timothy 3 about whoever wants to be a bishop:

1. "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop [overseer], HE DESIRES A GOOD WORK."
2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach;
3. NOT A NOVICE, LEST BEING PUFFED UP WITH PRIDE he fall into the same condemnation as the devil."
   1 Timothy 3:1,2,6 (NKJV)

• God would not want a person without knowledge, a novice, in His work.
  A NOVICE, someone who has no knowledge and understanding of the ways of God would be proud, if appointed to the work so SOON (1 Timothy 3:6).
• Appointments and ordinations into the work of ministry should not be done suddenly.
• Apostle Paul also told Timothy not to lay hands on people suddenly that he might not partake in their sins: "DO NOT LAY HANDS ON ANYONE HASTILY, NOR SHARE IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS; keep yourself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22).

• Allow whoever you want to appoint into any position of leadership to MATURE.

• Let whoever you want to appoint be tested, prove the heart of such: "BUT LET THESE ALSO FIRST BE TESTED; then let them serve as deacons [workers in God's vineyard], being found blameless" (1 Timothy 3:10).
  START with such a person by giving him or her little assignments, and as they proved themselves faithful, you move them from one level to another.

• If people knows the importance of the ministry work and responsibilities attached to it, whoever is appointed or given the privilege to work in God's vineyard would not puff up or be proud.

• When someone who is appointed understands the work:
  HE or she would see things the way God sees it.
  SUCH will do the work as he or she supposes.
  THE person will know the gravity, extreme importance, AND the implications of whatever they do in the ministry.
  THIS understanding will cause the person to have a close walk with God, walk intimately with God, because he would know THAT without God he can but do nothing (John 15:5).

• God, in the main text of this teaching, SAID He will reject those who have forgotten His Law and those who outright rejected knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

"And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, THAT YOU MAY FULFIL IT."
Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in your assignment AND Will not lose your place to another person in Jesus' name.
Peace!