Luke 12:1
“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
One of the purposes of the life of Christ on Earth was to train the disciples for the ministry. Jesus used every opportunity He could to teach the disciples how they should conduct themselves in the ministry after He was gone. The verse above is the beginning of one of those times when Jesus taught them some ministry lessons. These four lessons are important to the impact your ministry will have on those you lead.
The first ministry lesson that Jesus taught was to live a transparent life. He says in the verse above, “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” One of the things that destroys more ministries is hypocrisy. You may think nobody will ever see what you do, but Jesus made it very clear that everything will eventually be revealed. What you think nobody will ever catch will eventually come out. You may think you have hidden your real agenda, but if you are not being honest your real agenda will eventually be revealed. If you want your ministry to make an impact on those whom you lead, then you need to be transparent in all that you do.
The second lesson that Jesus taught was to speak truthfully. Jesus says in verse 3, “Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light…” The importance of telling the truth can never be expressed enough. When you tell the truth all the time, you will never have to wonder which lie you told before. Telling the truth may not always be convenient, but it will build your credibility with those whom you lead.
The third lesson that Jesus taught was to keep man in proper perspective. Jesus says in verse 4, “…Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” In the ministry, you will deal with people from all walks of life. Those who are used the greatest by Christ are those who have learned to treat everyone the same. You can never let someone hold you hostage because you are afraid of what they can do to you. When you conduct yourself in such a manner that everyone will be treated the same no matter who they are, then you will never be held hostage and will always speak the truth.
The fourth lesson Jesus taught was to keep your focus on Christ. Jesus says in verse 8, “…Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:” The fourth lesson must always be the focus of your ministry. Any time someone gets their focus off Christ they always get themselves into trouble. Friend, don’t worry about what man can do for you or to you; instead, always keep your focus on Christ.
These four lessons are important to having an impactful ministry. Whether you are in the ministry full-time or a lay person in the church, you are in the ministry and these lessons must be applied if you want to make an impact. For the sake of Christ, please apply these lessons to your life. This must become your way of living, and when it does the credibility you build with others will be great.