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GOD'S PART IN MINISTRY By Dennis McCallum and Gary DeLashmutt

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Ministry vs. Sanctification

Christian workers need a clear understanding of the role God plays in evangelism, discipleship and other aspects of ministry. In general, there is a continuity between God's role in ministry and His role in personal sanctification. In both, God supplies the power to bear fruit. And in both, we are to act in accordance with God's will with complete dependence upon Him to perform His work through us.

Failure to understand or believe in God's role in ministry will always have undesirable results. These results include arrogance during "in season" times, as well as panic, pushiness and discouragement during "out of season" times. On the other hand, reliance on God's role in ministry will promote thankful humility during "in season" times, stable perseverance during "out of season" times, and confidence in God's adequacy through us.

Areas of God's Working in Ministry

• Teaching
  • Non-Christians: Jn.16:8-10; I Cor.2:1-5; Is.55:11
  • Christians: I Thess.2:13; Phil.3:15; I Thess.4:9
• Sovereign Provision of Opportunity
• Direct Divine Guidance
• Gifting
• Pruning

The Effect of Proper Understanding on Attitudes in Various Areas of Ministry

Consider the likely effect that a proper outlook in the area of God's role will have in each of the following areas. As you consider each suggested change, give your view of why this change would follow from a proper view of God's role.

• Witnessing
  • Less fear of rejection
  • Less tendency to push
  • More likely to use the Word
• Discipline
  • No fear of sin
  • No doubting of God's ability to change lives
  • Less apt to try to force people
  • More patience
• Teaching
  • More boldness and confidence
  • More tendency to pray against the Devil
• Discipleship
  • More tendency to look for signs of spiritual gifting
  • More emphasis on discernment, and less on program
  • More relaxation, leading to more trust from disciples
  • More willingness to teach in-depth Bible
  • Less likelihood of bossing
• Group Leadership
  • Easier to admit problems in the HC
  • Easier to avoid pessimism
  • More inclination to raise up others-- less need to "hog the ball"

As in personal sanctification, learning to rely on God's power instead of our own power is a process which takes time.

One of the main ways we learn to depend on God is by experiencing failure (see II Cor. 11:30-33; 12:9,10). As we respond properly to these failures, we gradually learn to minister in dependence upon God's power.

Below are some passages dealing with the area of God's part in ministry. Study each one, and determine its relevance to the question of God's part in ministry.

Matt. 10:19,20

Matt. 16:18

Matt. 28:18-20

Jn. 12:32

Jn. 14:10-17

Jn. 15:4,5,16

Jn. 15:26,27

Jn. 16:8-11

Acts 1:1

Acts 1:8 (see 2:4; 4:8,31; 7:55; 9:17-20; 13:9)

Acts 13:2,4

Acts 16:7-10

Acts 16:14

Acts 18:9,10

Acts 20:28

Rom. 7:4,6

Rom. 15:5,6,13,18

Rom. 16:20

I Cor. 2:1-5

I Cor. 3:5-7

I Cor. 12:4-11

I Cor. 15:10

I Cor. 16:9

II Cor. 2:14-3:5

II Cor. 6:6,7

II Cor. 10:3,4

II Cor. 12:9,10

Eph. 1:19-23

Eph. 2:10

Eph. 3:7,16,17

Eph. 6:10-13

Phil. 4:13

Col. 1;28,29

Col. 4:3

I Thes. 1:5

I Thes. 3:12

II Thes. 1:11,12

II Thes. 2:17

II Thes. 3:3

I Tim. 1:12-14

II Tim. 1:7,12

II Tim. 4:16,17

Heb. 13:20,21

Ps. 127:1

Zech. 4:6

Hag. 1:13,14;2:4,5

Rev. 3:7,8

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