Understanding Purpose in Christian Ministry (PART 13)

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By Pastor Raphael Adegoke 

 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (Colossians 4:5)

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:17)

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

It is another day that the Lord has made in which we shall rejoice and be glad. May the joy of the Lord ceaselessly flow like a river in our hearts! Amen! Last week, we focused on location as a factor that determines provision for growth, but today, we shall be focusing on “Time”.

One of the factors we often ignore or don’t pay much attention in purpose discovery and fulfillment as ministers is time. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1).

Foremost, we must establish the truth that God is a God of times and seasons. These, He has given us as a control for all activities under Heaven. Many a times, ministers live their lives and execute divine mandates as if they have got “forever” to do. “⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” (Romans 4:4). God doesn’t act before time or after time, but in time.

In the act of creation, we note that God never allowed the works of creation for two different days to overlap. He finished the first day’s works on the first day, the second day’s works on the second day, and so on and so forth while He rested on the seventh day.

For ministers, there are three major phases of purpose discovery and fulfillment. These include the phase of (1) Discovery (2) Development and (3) Deployment. For instance, a child may be destined to become a medical practitioner, but if he refuses to submit to development by not attending school, classes and refusing to be assessed, his chances of becoming a medical practitioner is very slim. Even when he does, he is regarded as quack, because he has not been certified. So, his operations become illegal.

It is a wrong order when a minister is deployed before being developed or developed before discovery and a very pathetic one when he is deployed before discovery. This is disastrous both for him and his disciples, congregation or audience. Just as plants have got seasons for planting, weeding and harvesting if optimum growth is expected, so it is for purpose discovery and fulfillment.

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:7-10). The five foolish virgins, though could be regarded as saints due to their status, yet missed it because of wrong timing. They went in search of oil at the wrong time. This should serve as a lesson for us. We need to understand what God would have us do per time so we won’t be doing the right thing at the wrong time.

Pastor Raphael Adegoke is a Pastor in Christ Apostolic Church (Nigeria & Overseas) and a Lecturer in Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary.