THE MARRIAGE OF A MINISTER 1

2 SO A CHURCH LEADER MUST BE A MAN WHOSE LIFE IS ABOVE REPROACH. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.
11 IN THE SAME WAY, THEIR WIVES MUST BE RESPECTED AND MUST NOT SLANDER OTHERS. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.
12 A DEACON MUST BE FAITHFUL TO HIS WIFE, And HE MUST MANAGE HIS CHILDREN AND HOUSEHOLD WELL."
1 Timothy 3:2,11,12 (NLT)

6 AN ELDER MUST LIVE A BLAMELESS LIFE. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.
7 A CHURCH LEADER IS A MANAGER OF GOD'S HOUSEHOLD, SO HE MUST LIVE A BLAMELESS LIFE. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money."
Titus 1:6,7 (NLT)

• A minister's marriage is not like the marriage of an average believer. God expects and requires more from a minister and the spouse, than He does of an average believer in the church (1 Timothy 3:4,5,11).

• God's expectation from a pastor, the wife, and the children, is higher than that of those who are not serving 1at the altar (Leviticus 10:1-3; Titus 1:6; James 3:1).
• To whom much is given, much would be required: "BUT he who did not know and did things worthy of a beating shall be beaten with few [lashes]. FOR EVERYONE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, OF HIM SHALL MUCH BE REQUIRED; AND of him to whom men ENTRUST MUCH, THEY WILL REQUIRE AND DEMAND ALL THE MORE" (Luke 12:48 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).
• As God's expectation from the pastor, wife, and children is high, the people in the church and outside the church expect much from the pastor and the family.
• It is only in Christianity that such expectation is required of the religious leaders. Because the Bible specified it.
• If a muslim cleric or any other religious leader misbehaved or did contrarily, It might not be considered a News.
• However, If a pastor or any minister in the church of Jesus Christ did wrong, possibly about immorality or any unethical behaviour, that would be considered a News. In fact, It would be a caption, the front page of the News paper or the major headlines of the news, especially if It happened to be a known Minister of God. Thus, much is expected from every Minister of God.
• Apostle Paul said whoever would be considered for an appointment serve as a Bishop, overseer, elder, or deacon, should be someone who had a good testimony from those who are outside: "ALSO, HE [a Bishop, an elder] MUST BE WELL SPOKEN OF BY PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH—those who aren’t Christians—SO THAT SATAN CAN'T TRAP HIM WITH MANY ACCUSATIONS AND LEAVE HIM WITHOUT FREEDOM to lead HIS FLOCK" (1 Timothy 3:7 the Living Bible).
• And, Apostle Peter said a similar thing; he admonishes the Believers in general, and much more the ministers of God, that their conduct should be a thing that those who are outside cannot speak against:
  11 BELOVED, I BEG YOU AS SOJOURNERS AND PILGRIMS, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS WHICH WAR AGAINST THE SOUL, 12 HAVING YOUR CONDUCT HONOURABLE AMONG THE GENTILES, THAT when they SPEAK AGAINST you as EVILDOERS, THEY may, BY YOUR GOOD WORKS WHICH THEY OBSERVE, GLORIFY God in the day of VISITATION" (1 Peter 2:11,12 NKJV).

• When you are called or appointed as a ministry leader, a minister of God, your life becomes a model—a pattern for others to follow:
7 AND YOU YOURSELF [Bishop Titus] MUST BE AN EXAMPLE TO THEM BY DOING GOOD WORKS OF EVERY KIND. LET everything YOU DO reflect the INTEGRITY and SERIOUSNESS of YOUR TEACHING. 8 TEACH the TRUTH so that YOUR TEACHING CAN'T BE CRITICIZED. THEN THOSE WHO OPPOSE US WILL BE ASHAMED AND HAVE NOTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT US" (Titus 2:7,8 NLT).
READ: Philippians 3:17; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3

• Your life as a minister is no longer hidden, people would begin to take notice of you; your spouse, children, and everything about you.
• The host of hell; the devil, being the adversary or the accuser of the believers, and all his agents, also would begin to monitor your life, and that of your spouse and children. He would want to get to know whatever he could use as an accusation against you before God: "THEN I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN, WHO ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT, HAS BEEN CAST DOWN" (Revelation 12:10 NKJV).
  READ: Job 1:9-12; 1 Peter 5:8
• A minister's life and that of his or her family is at the centre, on focus, that nothing he or she does is hidden.
  THEREFORE, as a leader, a minister, be circumspect!

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
• Whatever is not planted in your body, working against your health, such is rebuked and uprooted in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!