Ministry is never-ending, but our capacity to minister is limited. Because of this, there's a huge tendency for any servant of God, whether young or old, male or female, and single or married, to experience burnout. Great thing is that no matter how limited we are as servants of God, the God that empowers us to serve is limitless.
Do you want to know the secret to having a ministry that never burns out? Read this verse:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Just this?
Yes, my friend. Many pastors can offer us their trade secrets when it comes to a thriving and growing ministry. I once heard a pastor of a large church in South Korea say it's "prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer and prayer." Another would say it's because of a "God-given vision." Still another would say it's a "calling."
But friend, it's not about us. It's all about Him.
What Jesus said
The Lord Jesus gave us the most important key that actually echoes what Joshua received as instruction in Deuteronomy 31:6. Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:17-19, after the latter declared that He was the Son of God:
"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock (the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
You see, what Jesus said was that He will be the One who will build His church – on the foundation that He is the Son of God. Peter merely recognised and declared that truth. In the same way, that's all we need to do: declare that Jesus is the Son of God.
Our only task
Friend, it's not our responsibility to grow a church of a million members. It's not our responsibility to have a church office that will make the White House ashamed of itself. Our sole responsibility is to boldly declare that Jesus, the Son of God, is Lord.
In fact, that's the only thing that Jesus Himself wants us to do! He said in Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Think about that last part. He's still with us while we do our only part!
Friends, the secret to a ministry that never burns out is God Himself. Lift him up. Obey Him and let Him do only what He can do. You'll never fail when you obey Him.
