Building capacity for God’s work

1 Timothy 4:12;
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Everything Paul says here is as though one is investing in oneself. Paul is talking about character.

2 Timothy 2:1;
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

If as believers, we will be those who take care of God’s people, we have to invest in ourselves. It’s a privilege to be in the position to serve, but beyond the privilege, we must invest in ourselves. Paul says to Timothy to be a good example, in words, in doctrine, in purity – that’s Timothy investing because there will be times that things will come to test one’s character. Circumstances will test it – there is no strong building that has not been tested, we can’t say it’s strong if it hasn’t been tested; it is only strong because it has gone through tests.

There is no proper person who is going to help others achieve a particular goal, and he will not invest in himself – Paul would say to Timothy ‘be a good example, in word, doctrine, purity’ – he’s investing. Learn to invest in yourself. A believer cannot run from what makes him/her a better. There are experiences that will build you, and you cannot run away from them – rejection, hurt, betrayal. Paul telling Timothy to endure hardness is not in preaching or in prayer. The believer has to develop character for hard times.

In building capacity for God’s word, you have to endure hardness, you cannot run from things that are meant to build you.

Proverbs 24:10 – if thou fail in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Learn to invest in yourself, in character, in your personality to make out what God wants you to be – you cannot be what God wants you to be outside good investment.

James 1:12;
blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The key word in this verse is ‘endurance’, it is one of the primary ways you invest in yourself – to endure. There are situations that will test your resolve, if you faint when things are going rough then your strength is small. Your response in adversity should be to pray through it, to preach through it, and you keep studying the word – adversity must never get the best of you. Paul said to endure hardness, meaning that it is part of the ministry, it is part of the glory of God in ministry.

In John 12:24;
24 (Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit),

We see what Jesus said, meaning that there will be a time when it appears on the surface as though nothing is happening, but that is when the seed is being planted. Yours is not to be envious of the trees surrounding your seeds being planted, that is the time to work more on yourself and see it as God’s plan and part of your winning. As a minister of the gospel, investing in yourself will yield results.

Contrary winds should make you better and stronger. Character mould is part of ministry; things will happen that would want to crack you, but you should put yourself in a place of solidity. A strong minister of the gospel will raise men who are also strong, so you must develop yourself to receive more men.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

The believer has to develop him or herself for God’s purpose, for God’s work. You cannot run from the lack of results, from rejection – those are the very things that mould you in God’s plan and purpose.

Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – Matthew 18-20

TEACHING OF THE DAY
You can turn it around (Waiting on God)