Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables”. Therefore brethren seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word”. (Acts 6:2-4).
Transformation is a must for every ordained minister of the gospel and it is true for us to really focus our attention in this unpopular ministry called prayer. God did not make a mistake in calling us and appointed us a minister, He called us to the ministry so that we can function as agent of transformation. Every minister should be a transformer for us to transform life, family, church, community and our nation, and how to become such is my focus in this article. If there is no transformation there will be stagnation and destruction and where there is no evidence of transformation either in life, business, career, family, church, community and nation there will be no result. Every true and real ministry must make impact even to their generation to come; that will result in restoration, renewal, and change. A changed life, family, church, community must be the outcome of a transforming prayer ministry. My reader, the ministry that does not bless people will definitely bore them; the ministry that fails to born people will also burn them. Therefore, if your ministry has not being transforming peoples life, you do not have a ministry, but what you are having is a mystery that is an unborn things that has no origin or cause and is impossible to be explained. God does not want our ministry to remain a mystery but a mysticism where by the knowledge of God and of real truth will be reached by direct peoples life through spiritual power; this can only be possible when we know the value of transforming prayer.
Giving ourselves to continually to prayer and to the ministry of word is very essential to our ministry. A life without prayer is powerless. A business without prayer is powerless; a career without prayer is powerless; a church or family without prayer is powerless. Prayer must carry 60% of everything we do in this life and in our ministry.
Why should we practice transforming prayer Ministry?
1. The church is the only institution that is mandated to preach, to heal and to teach transforming words of power to the whole world for effective implementation of the great commission.
No else will do our job for us. Some churches have changed their focus in doing something else. The real ministry of the church is now rare. Nobody want to become a pastor because of impact but because of fund and food. If that must stop we must face the real ministry of the church which is prayer ministry. In the book of Acts 6:2-4, Peter and the other Apostles arrived at a cross road of ministry. At that crossroad, they had to decide which direction to take; it is time for every genuine and real pastor and leader to decide which direction to take. Apostles had decided whether they were going to be real ministers or secular administrators, but thank God they had chosen to run be a real minister by running a real ministry. Listen to me pastor, the church has come under so much pressure that many ministers have set aside the prayer ministry, no wonder I that the devil and his cohorts are mocking us in the ministry. Prayer ministry is the principal instruction from the head of the church and it is time to run away from “pseudo-ministry” to real ministry. The Lord Jesus is the example of transforming prayer. Therefore He ahd laid a good example for us to follow.
2. We must not try to impress the world by doing things that she wants us to do.
The world here means the fashion, system, entertainment and method. The world wants us to be busy in finding the method that is not available. God will never grow His church through ungodly methods or system. But through godly principle. You know, we have been talking about change, and in the name of change some have even change the principle of God and followed the method of the world. You see, change is good and we believe in change but there two kinds of change. Change could be positive and it could be negative. Some have changed from positive to nagative and some have changed from negative to position I think the last one is better than the first one. No matter how we believe in change the day we change prayer is the day we change the power, presence and glory of God, and when glory goes growth goes. We should not serve the world but the world must serve us. It is time to dominate the world through transforming prayer ministry. God is the one who called us and He is the one we must seek to please. How? By building relationship with Him. (Rom. 8:19 for the earnest expectation fo the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the Sons of God.
3. The devil is in the run. And we can only defeat Him with transforming prayer ministry.
A playing ministry has no place in this great end-time battle. I have a little code that will help us to remember that the devil is on the run. And it goes like this: Battle before blessing operation B. B. B. We must bind the devil if the blessing, promotion, and breakthrough and growth will come. No battle no blessing. Our Lord dealt with devil through operation battle before blessing. Everything we are trusting God for is in prayer ministry. Treasures, talents, tips for growth and increase of our life and ministry is there.
We shall continue in the next edition, till then, keep on praying.
By Rev. Mike Olalere
Reach him at mikegrow2002@yahoo.com
