Category: BiVo Ministry

Are you doing the works of a pastor?

A pastor is one who cares, guides and helps the saints to nurture and develop their spiritual lives! A pastor also equips the saints to do to others what he or she does for the saints!

Every believer is expected to do the works of a pastor. At the basic level, you are called to do the work of a pastor to your family and the other brothers and sisters that are around you. The primary work of a pastor is to care for others spiritually. However, we only name them as pastors when this becomes a major part of their ministry!

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Not every saint is a pastor but every saint can and should do the works of a pastor to the few people around them! This is how the ministry of the pastor is discovered and encouraged! Every believer must have another believer that they are serving like a pastor would have!

So what makes a pastor different? Why call a person a pastor? Because that person has a special grace to pastor more people with relative ease! He or she is gifted in not only helping others to grow but also in training them to do the works of a pastor.

Doing the works of a pastor does not make you a pastor just like drawing stick figures does not make you an artist! Also playing football with friends in the park does not make you a footballer.

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Who are you discipling? To whom are you doing the works of a pastor?

You are a gift to the body of Christ!

Many Members One Body!

For the last seven days I wrote about the blessings that we have as disciples of Jesus! Once we believe and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become united with Him! We become part of His body! Each one of us receives gifts with which we serve the rest of the body and we are served!

This week I would reflect on the five ministry gifts listed in Ephesians chapter 4 and on their function in the church!

Today I simply want to remind you that every cell in your body plays a role. Every organ plays a role. Some organs are more obvious than others. And some play a major role and other play a minor role. But they all work together to give you the most productive life that you want to have!

So also are you! In the body of Christ you and I have our roles. Yours is different from mine. I must respect your role and enjoy your role. You also should respect my role and enjoy my role.

Sometimes my role would be to correct you and yours may be to correct me! We both must trust the head (Jesus) to do a great job! However we all must work towards one goal! Making Disciples!

Here is how Paul the apostle says it

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Also

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Romans‬ ‭12:4-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We need your ministry! We need you to be the best that you can be and you need us to be the best that you can be.

Every member has a function and that function is important! That is why we must do all we can to get new disciples everyday! And to love and care for every disciple that we are connected with!

Are you making use of your blessings?

Whenever I think about the planets, water animals and nature in general I am always amazed at the wisdom of God!

Just imagine the size of the earth and the speed at which it is moving and it’s shape and gravity! It’s mind boggling!

That’s why I agree with the words inspired by the Holy Spirit but written by Paul the apostle:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

You and I are blessed beyond what we can ever imagine! To be united with Christ is the greatest blessing that opens us to ALL other blessings! Just like you can’t explain how God knew how to create the universe so also you cannot explain how you can be so blessed. What we can can do however is to believe and enjoy the blessings!

Here is how I take advantage of these blessings! I allow myself to rest in the truth that I am blessed! Then I ask for directions from God and I attempt whatever I sense God asking me to do! I believe that whatever God asks me to do will go well! I repent when I fall into the temptation of wanting to do things my way or get faster results.

It is sometimes not easy to be at peace when my senses tell me that things are not going well. But over the years, I have come to learn that it is foolish not to trust the creator of heaven and earth!

Yes! You are blessed! Activate more blessings by obedience!

Are you reigning in this life like royalty?

When Jesus was crucified, He was identified as King of the Jews! Yes, it was designed to mock Him but the truth is that Jesus operated on earth as a king and He is King! And you and I are supposed to operate in this life as Jesus operated. Like a kings!

“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Here is what I believe this scripture means. Kings operate by authority that is enforced by their kingdom. When a king goes around, he is protected and supported by the people of his kingdom!

Since we have been redeemed and united with Jesus, we have the support and protection of the Kingdom of God! The angels will enforce every declaration we make in line with the purpose and vision of the Kingdom of God.

It’s time to open your mouth to declare what God has said concerning the church, His children and you in particular. Do not agree that the church is insignificant. No! Do not agree that you cannot do what God says you can do.

I believe that the church of God and I will have a bigger harvest of disciples for Jesus every year from now on! I declare it so and I am working hard at it! The gates of hell will not stop us!

Yes! Let’s reign together through Jesus Christ. We cannot reign without Jesus. This means we reign as we obey Jesus and operate with His authority!

Do you know that all things are yours?

Okay I know that I need to tell you the context. How can all things be yours when you know that there are many things that belong to other people?

“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭3:21-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If you are one spirit with Jesus, then whatever Jesus has is yours.

Instead of trying to get things, make a request for what you need as if you are calling it from the warehouse.

If you are a disciple and committed to disciple making with Jesus, there is no reason why the resources you need will not be delivered.

Unless our Lord thinks you need something better!

Do you know all things are yours? Yes! I know and I pray that I keep on knowing!

Are you enjoying the wisdom that Jesus gives?

Wisdom is something that is sometimes difficult to transfer or measure because it involves actions that cannot be evaluated at an instant.

There are decisions I made 15 years ago when I sensed that God was calling me to invest my life into the ministry that looked foolish then. They don’t look so foolish now! I can only imagine what would happen 10 years from now! And in eternity!

“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—” I Corinthians‬ ‭1:30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If Jesus has become wisdom from God for us. It means that you and I have the same wisdom that God has as we obey Jesus in us!

There are some decisions I also made that prove foolish now but looked wise 15 years ago. One that comes to mind is closing my growing online platform that connected students with tutors. The work got too much and I did not know how to monetize it. The main problem is that I did not use the wisdom of Jesus! I never took the time to ask God for direction.

Oh how I wish we all would know this truth and tap into it always! Jesus is my wisdom. So I must listen to Him and obey Him and I would operate at the level of God. Does that mean that I would be the richest person on earth? No. It means that if I take full advantage of this wisdom! I will be the most fulfilled person on earth! Filled with peace that is beyond human understanding! And I would enjoy this peace for all eternity! This in my opinion is more valuable than all the money on earth!

“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You have the wisdom of God at your disposal! Use it! Ask! Believe! Obey!

Yes! I’m making great effort to take advantage of the wisdom that Jesus gives me every day! I pray that I will always be bold to take action. Especially when the wisdom of Jesus looks foolish to me!

Are you maximizing your union with Jesus Christ?

Every time I attend or officiate a wedding or see photos of a wedding on Facebook I am reminded of the amazing blessings of marriage.

I wonder how many movies have been made and stories told of a person from a very poor background who falls in love with a very rich person. What intrigues me the most is that as soon as they get married they both become equally wealthy and influential!

Each time I think of a wedding, I think of 2 people becoming one! I think mostly of our union with Jesus!

“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Wow! When we become disciples of Jesus! We become one spirit with Him! We can use His name and authority! We have access to all the resources that He has. We are one spirit with Him!

The best way to maximize our union with Jesus is through obedience that comes from knowing and loving Him! Love translates to obedience when one party is infinitely more than the other!

There is a lot more that you can take advantage of because of your union with Jesus! Just remember always that you are united to Jesus! You can enjoy everything that Jesus would enjoy or suffer if He was in your shoes physically! This is awesome!

Wow! Think about it! United with God! One spirit with Him! powerful!

Everyday this season I am sharing about the benefits of being disciples of Jesus! This is why I am committed to making disciples. I ask each benefit as a question. So that you can say! Yes!

Yes I am learning to maximize my union with Jesus! No limits! I have access to all the resources I need! Hallelujah!

What are some other things that come to mind when you remember that you are one spirit with Jesus? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Are you enjoying your constant access to God?

I don’t know if you have ever tried to see the president of a nation or not? But I’m sure you can imagine how difficult it would be. I’m sure you can imagine the protocol involved and that you may not be allowed to see him or her anyway.

I remember how challenging it was for me when I first applied for a visa to travel to Canada to study in Dec 2000. I had to travel from Nigeria to Ghana and I waited in line for hours.

Why is it so difficult to gain access to important people? There are many reasons but one obvious one is that too many people want to see them at the same time!

Imagine if the president adopted you as a child, then you would have a different level of access. Imagine if you are living in the same house as the important person. Then you have even more access!

God our Heavenly Father is infinitely greater than a president and we have constant access to Him.

When we believe what God has done for us through Christ Jesus and we receive Him as our savior from sin, we not only become children of God we become united with Him! We have constant access to God because He lives with us it our body!

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yesterday, I asked if you were enjoying the love of God as Father! There are many benefits to enjoy when we believe and receive the love of God as father! One of it is access to God!

Today I want to remind you that God is as close to you as He can ever be. When you repented and accepted the salvation that Jesus offered and obeyed God, He came to live with you! Now, all you have to do is enjoy the access! Talk to God always and obey Him always.

Everyday this season I am sharing about the benefits of being disciples of Jesus! This is why I am committed to making disciples. I ask each benefit as a question. So that you can say! Yes!

Yes I am so glad I have constant access to God. I can talk to Him anywhere and at anytime. I’m glad that the Almighty God dwells in me. I don’t have to go to any place or ask anyone to help me talk to God! Lord please help me to always be conscious of this truth.

Are you enjoying your constant access to God? Please share with me in the comments section below!

Are you enjoying the love of God as your Father?

It is one thing to be loved and another thing to accept and enjoy that love. God loves everyone completely and unconditionally but only those who accept this love, enjoy the benefits of His love.

Several years ago I went to help a new member of our church family move. He had this beautiful sound system that must have cost him a lot. When it was time to move the sound system he told me not to touch it because he wasn’t sure I would know how to handle it. So I sat down and watched him do it. That is when this truth became even more obvious to me.

What the man did not know is that although I was a pastor, I had a masters of Engineering and I had spent 6 months learning how to repair and maintain such systems. And that I have been taking care of such systems for many years since my training. So the man got my love and expertise but he did not enjoy the full benefit of it because he did not know or believe.

When you believed and you received Jesus as savior, you were accepted as a child of God and you can now enjoy all the benefits of being a child of God!

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” John‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Everyday this season I am sharing about the benefits of being disciples of Jesus! This is why we want everyone on earth to enjoy the same benefits. I ask each benefit as a question. So that you can say! Yes!

Yes I am enjoying the love of God as my Father! What about you? Please share in the comments section below.