Killing the Killers of Credible Ministry

Two of the great killers of Christians working together and doing life changing ministry is jealousy, and selfish ambition.   Jealousy is intense negative feelings over someone's success, or achievements, and selfish ambition is a seeking of personal interest by negative means (Greek English Lexicon of N.T, 3rd. ed.). When we have jealous comparison and we do ministry to stoke our egos and to position ourselves for what we consider bigger and better, we kill good ministry opportunities dead. The cruel tongue gets loose and starts bragging about all that one is capable of doing in ministry because of size, and then having another person brag about what they can do, and then both of them do battle out of a heart of jealousy, we bring shame to the ministry in front of an already unbelieving world, and we hurt our credibility.  We show the world our selfishness, and that we are in ministry to promote ourselves, and not really to accomplish the things of God. Look at what James 3:16-17 reveals: 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. We need verse 17 operating in our hearts so we can pool our resources and do more together than we can do alone. We do not have to pull together everyone, just pull together the people in our sphere of influence.  Just start with a pure heart, be peaceful, and gentle.  Please be reasonable (everything will not go exactly as you planned).  Be real and give plenty of mercy, and do your good work with an unwavering mind. Satan has divided and conquered us for too long.  We have what is necessary to overcome our past mistakes, we simply need to get into our book the Bible, and practice what God put there for our good. Let us deliberately kill the killers of credible ministry. God Bless, Pastor B Kennedy (MZO)