LETTERS TO YOUNG MINISTERS’ 12
DEAR MINISTER, WE MUST FIRST BE CHRISTIANS
A while back, I was driving home and, in a millisecond, I saw a vision of one of my protégés — a young man, not married, mightily anointed of God, but here he was kissing a lady. He was hundreds of kilometers from where I was so I put a call through to him, and asked how he was, he said fine sir, I said to him, what are you doing with that lady?
He immediately knew I was on to him. He knew I knew. I kept quiet, he was trying to apologize, then he kept quiet, after a period of silence, I said to Him, ‘BEFORE YOU SPEAK OF BEING CALLED OF GOD, AND THE ANOINTING, FIRST LEARN TO BE A CHRISTIAN’. At least a good Christian is supposed to live a holy life. I was hitting at a principle — the basic standard of a minister is to live as a believer! I call that basic because the expectations and demands on a minister are higher. Way higher! If all ministers were good Christians, the ministry would never be blasphemed.
If a good Christian is not expected to lie, fornicate, co-habitate with the opposite sex, be drunken or fool around, then the minister of God must totally abstain from these things.
And the disciples — for that is what members were called — were first called Christians at Antioch. They were called that because there was something about them. Their conduct was different. They were Christians! Dear Minister, there are things that shouldn’t be said about you.
Further Paul said, for him like it should be for us, ‘ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL FOR ME, BUT NOT ALL THINGS ARE HELPFUL; ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL FOR ME, BUT NOT ALL THINGS EDIFY’. 1 Cor 10:23. So that it is not a sin, doesn’t mean it’s permissible for a minister. You shouldn’t frequent a club though you are just following a friend and you are not drinking or dancing🧐
Not all acts are sinful, but being a minister means you have become an example. “LET NO ONE DESPISE YOUR YOUTH, BUT BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE BELIEVERS IN WORD, IN CONDUCT, IN LOVE, IN SPIRIT, IN FAITH, IN PURITY.” 1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV.
You are called to be an example in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity. Man of God you are called to purity — holiness and conducts that befits the faith.
If God showed me, it is because God sees and He knows. Don’t ever take His grace and silence for permission. Don’t sow the seed for your future destruction today.
Don’t focus on the anointing from God alone, don’t just work on your prayer life, work also on your character. Don’t just seek to learn new revelation, seek to walk in the revelation. Don’t be a hypocrite, walk the talk and talk the walk.
Don’t make everything about God, your life is both your responsibility and God’s. Stop shirking your responsibility — it’s time to make wise decisions, it’s time to live for God, it’s time to say no to the sin that so easily besets, it is time to live a holy life, it is time to live in purity — for of this were you called.
Shall we let Paul give us the conclusion of the whole matter, “YOU, THEREFORE, WHO TEACH ANOTHER, DO YOU NOT TEACH YOURSELF? YOU WHO PREACH THAT A MAN SHOULD NOT STEAL, DO YOU STEAL? YOU WHO SAY, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” DO YOU COMMIT ADULTERY? YOU WHO ABHOR IDOLS, DO YOU ROB TEMPLES? YOU WHO MAKE YOUR BOAST IN THE LAW, DO YOU DISHONOR GOD THROUGH BREAKING THE LAW? FOR “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” AS IT IS WRITTEN.” Romans 2:21–24 NKJV
Can we stop the blasphemy? Yes! And it begins with you, you dear young minister — I trust that this 12th letter helps you stay focused and see the need for purity. Grace to you!
Your Greatness is Assured
Fisayo Adeniyi
#PFA