Ministry Killers and Accelerators pt. 1

Curtis Ward

Ministry Killers and Accelerators • Sermon • Submitted 10 months ago • Presented 10 months ago

Isaiah 57

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Pride/Humility

How can we be more effective in our ministry?

What can block our ministry or hinder its effectiveness?

Is there anything we can do to accelerate or boost our ministry?

We will start tonight with probably the biggest of both of these!

Pride and Humility

1 Chronicles 10:14 “But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.”

inquire = care for, seek, follow, consult

Isaiah 57:14-15 “And one shall say, “Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.” For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Contrite- Strong’s- Literally crushed to powder. Destruction, Dust

Matthew 21:44 “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.””

It is a willing choice to bring your brokenness before God and understand who you are next to Him.

God dwells in the High and Holy place. The angels cry Holy Holy Holy Before Him! They could spend an eternity crying out Holy and never tire of it because He is so amazing and so holy!

Pride

Galatians 6:3 “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

I’m a nobody that God made somebody!

Proverbs 21:24 “A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.”

Scoffer = Intercessor of evil/Ambassador of Mocking Looking down at others. Talking about others behind their back and thinking about how you could do a better job. Complaining, laughing at and despising.

2 Corinthians 12:7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

God was more concerned about the effectiveness of Paul’s heart than he was about his comfort.

I’m sure Paul took authority over that demon, but the demon remained so that the ministry would not be restrained. Paul had to endure the pain in order for the ministry to gain.

Humility

Humility is not thinking of yourself less as some say it. It is thinking of yourself in relationship to the high and Holy One!

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Stop trying to promote yourself! Stop getting frustrated when you aren’t used the way you think you should be used! Trust God and trust Holy Spirit in people to know when and how to use you!

1 Peter 5:6 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,”

Luke 14:11 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

It is God who promotes!

Psalm 34:18Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

Daniel 5:20 “But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.”

Luke 19:28–44 NKJV

When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ” So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Donkey = Humility

You have a choice to let go of your pride or to keep your donkey and miss out on the blessing!

The Lord has need of it. Your humility will lead you to praise which will lead you to the presence and the presence will change your ministry!

Surrender in praise and worship! Worship is the essence of humility.