Throughout the years of ministry, I can tell you that there are many
challenging phases, obstacles to overcome, flesh that must be crucified, and goals to be reached.
However, in all of our reaching for our goals, our achievements, and our
successes, there is a level of ministry that is beyond all of that. What is
that level? How do we find it?
First of all, we must know what that level is. Let's take a look at some
biblical principles.
1. SURVIVAL
Ruth struggled just to make it. Her husband had died. She had no way to make it in the natural. But she was a survivor.
Ruth 1: 5 - And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; Ruth 1:21..The
Lord hath brought me home again empty.
This is simply the "I know that I can make it" stage. This is the point at
which you know that you have been forsaken and cast down, but you are not destroyed. You know that you will survive. No matter how difficult the road has been, and no matter how hard the hits have come, you know that you will survive. I have been at survival stage and let me tell you, there are things much worse. This is a point that gratefulness should fill our hearts. We should be thankful that we have survived the storms of life and ministry. Now is the time to stop and refuel. But let's not stay there.
2. SUCCESS
Ruth had determination. She knew how to follow instructions in order to
reach a goal. God has given her face to face time with people of influence
and wealth; she had found favor.
Ruth 2:12 - The Lord recompense the work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
This is the achievement stage. You can now look at some of the goals you have accomplished and you can now qualify for someone to call you their
model. You have already done what "they" said you could not do. You have
already built what "they" said you could not build. You have achieved and
reached a measure of success within your realm of influence. Success is
being able to fully do all that God has called you to do at each stage. You
are on target. You have achieved. But there is something more.
3. SIGNIFICANCE
Ruth was able to assist Naomi with what she had attained.
Ruth 2:18 - And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her..
This is the stage in which you are able to put your survival stories and your success stories to work for the Kingdom, for the glory of God, and for the good of someone else.
You are in your element now and you begin to make a difference. It is no
longer about goals that involve you. Now it is about the things of the Kingdom of God and it is about raising up a generation. This is significance. Few in ministry are able to rise up above survival and success to reach the realms of significance. Don't stop at success. Reach for significance. A person can have success without significance.
Significance motivates you. Success can stifle you.But there is yet a much more important stage of ministry.
4. HIS PREEMINENCE
Ruth was not after the field, after all. She had fallen in love with Boaz.
Ruth 3:14 - And she lay at his feet until the morning.
This is the stage of ministry where you are looking beyond the dusty plains
of Moab (survival), and you are not stopping with success (the field),
neither are you able to make significance your final stop (being able to
assist Naomi now), but you are reaching for Boaz (His Preeminence).
Until our lives and ministries can exemplify our Lord Jesus Christ, we are
not ready to stop reaching! Until His fragrance is coming forth from a
ministry that has been purified by fire, we are not ready to stop advancing!
I wish to encourage you to allow His Preeminence to overshadow your
survival, your success, and even your significance.
challenging phases, obstacles to overcome, flesh that must be crucified, and goals to be reached.
However, in all of our reaching for our goals, our achievements, and our
successes, there is a level of ministry that is beyond all of that. What is
that level? How do we find it?
First of all, we must know what that level is. Let's take a look at some
biblical principles.
1. SURVIVAL
Ruth struggled just to make it. Her husband had died. She had no way to make it in the natural. But she was a survivor.
Ruth 1: 5 - And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; Ruth 1:21..The
Lord hath brought me home again empty.
This is simply the "I know that I can make it" stage. This is the point at
which you know that you have been forsaken and cast down, but you are not destroyed. You know that you will survive. No matter how difficult the road has been, and no matter how hard the hits have come, you know that you will survive. I have been at survival stage and let me tell you, there are things much worse. This is a point that gratefulness should fill our hearts. We should be thankful that we have survived the storms of life and ministry. Now is the time to stop and refuel. But let's not stay there.
2. SUCCESS
Ruth had determination. She knew how to follow instructions in order to
reach a goal. God has given her face to face time with people of influence
and wealth; she had found favor.
Ruth 2:12 - The Lord recompense the work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
This is the achievement stage. You can now look at some of the goals you have accomplished and you can now qualify for someone to call you their
model. You have already done what "they" said you could not do. You have
already built what "they" said you could not build. You have achieved and
reached a measure of success within your realm of influence. Success is
being able to fully do all that God has called you to do at each stage. You
are on target. You have achieved. But there is something more.
3. SIGNIFICANCE
Ruth was able to assist Naomi with what she had attained.
Ruth 2:18 - And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her..
This is the stage in which you are able to put your survival stories and your success stories to work for the Kingdom, for the glory of God, and for the good of someone else.
You are in your element now and you begin to make a difference. It is no
longer about goals that involve you. Now it is about the things of the Kingdom of God and it is about raising up a generation. This is significance. Few in ministry are able to rise up above survival and success to reach the realms of significance. Don't stop at success. Reach for significance. A person can have success without significance.
Significance motivates you. Success can stifle you.But there is yet a much more important stage of ministry.
4. HIS PREEMINENCE
Ruth was not after the field, after all. She had fallen in love with Boaz.
Ruth 3:14 - And she lay at his feet until the morning.
This is the stage of ministry where you are looking beyond the dusty plains
of Moab (survival), and you are not stopping with success (the field),
neither are you able to make significance your final stop (being able to
assist Naomi now), but you are reaching for Boaz (His Preeminence).
Until our lives and ministries can exemplify our Lord Jesus Christ, we are
not ready to stop reaching! Until His fragrance is coming forth from a
ministry that has been purified by fire, we are not ready to stop advancing!
I wish to encourage you to allow His Preeminence to overshadow your
survival, your success, and even your significance.
