[#FeaturedPOST]: A TIME TO LEARN AND A TIME TO EARN

Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

I say this in no uncertain terms that there are a lot of things young ministers have misunderstood—and for that matter, misapplied. Having seen the blatant ignorance of many young people in the Christian ministry, I would admit the willingness of some ministers to be corrected, whereas others continue in their unteachable and fruitless journey. After reading Leonard Ravenhill’s book, Why Revival Tarries, I realised the anointing, which is one of the prerequisites for ministry can only be earned.

We mostly want to learn how to preach, gesture, sing, walk, dress and talk like our favourite minister. Although we can imitate them perfectly, our barren ministries and ministrations have always given us away. We put up this gimmick and still produce no supernatural results.

This article is not to dissuade us from being ardent followers of the ministers we love; but to question why we want to look like that minister. When we see the glory our mentors walk in, we’re pathetically deceived that if we preach or sing the way they do, we will have what they have. The results they’re getting is because of the anointing. And it is important to note that you cannot learn the anointing—you have to earn it!

Acts 19:13-16 tells the story of the seven sons of Sceva who, wanting to cast out a demon from a man, said, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” They might have spoken and acted like Paul, forgetting that demons are not cast out by imitation but by the inspiration of the SPIRIT. As expected, the demon belligerently retorted, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” JESUS is known, Paul is known and your favourite minister is known too, but who are you? Whiles Paul bore in his body the mark of our LORD JESUS, we only bear on our bodies the costume and cosmetic of our favourite minister (Galatians 6:17).

Our mentors have survived the rigor of this ministry through prayer and utter dependence on GOD. And after paying that price, they now walk in an unfading glory. But all we see and copy are their flowery ministries. Little do we know that underneath that glamor are scars. Their sacrifices and labours speak for them.

Imitation, when rightly done, becomes a means to an end and not an end in itself. When you admire the glory of a minister and honestly covets what he has, you must understand that his closet and secret life birthed these results. So for many of us, we only know that minister’s style of talking, preaching, singing, dressing and walking, but we do not know his passion and hunger for GOD, as well as his prayer and devotion to GOD.

We do not want to hear about the time they spend in prayer before they hit the ground running each day. We have missed it totally! So what we get for sounding and looking like our favourite minister is an applause, not a supernatural result. Like Gehazi, the fact that you carry Elisha’s staff doesn’t mean you’ll be able to raise the dead (2 Kings 4:29-31). The fact that you’re preaching with the same revelation and singing the same song of your favourite minister, does not mean you’ll get the results he’s been getting.

You have to desire an encounter with CHRIST as an individual; this will enable you to also say confidently, “…that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled…I declare to you” (1 John 1:1-3). It is time to run back to your closet. Let GOD deal with your heart and fill you with HIS passion. It’s time to get an anointing on your head. You have been mimicking ministers all these years, making no impact. Go on that lone journey and earn what will make you see results in your ministry. Remember, imitation does not guarantee manifestation!

By: Adams Prince Amoah.
Email address: adamsprince50@gmail.com
Phone number: 0247471288.

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