71 - Phil – The Ministry Trap: Avoiding Satan's Snare of Impatience
“I was unable to find Phil’s original email. My message to him was a warning about getting ahead of God, in his desire to serve Him in a ministry, which he was being tempted to take upon himself.”
The Ministry Trap: Avoiding Satan's Snare of Impatience
Do you feel a burning passion for ministry, a desire to serve God and share His love with the world? This is a beautiful and noble aspiration, a reflection of God's heart within you. But as with all good things, there is a danger of getting ahead of ourselves, of allowing our enthusiasm to outpace God's timing. Remember, all who have been given a trust, must prove faithful. (1 Cor 4:12)
In John 7:6, Jesus tells his brothers, "My time has not yet come." Even Jesus, the Son of God, waited for the Father's perfect timing. How much more should we, imperfect and prone to error, seek His guidance and patiently await His direction?
The enemy, ever watchful for an opportunity to derail God's plans, will often tempt us with the allure of immediate action. He whispers, "Start now, build your platform, make a name for yourself." He preys on our desire to be useful, to make a difference. But as we see in Matthew 4, even Jesus was tempted to seize a ministry before God's appointed time. Satan offered Him all the kingdoms of the world, a shortcut to earthly power and influence. But Jesus, rooted in obedience to the Father, refused. He knew that true ministry flows from alignment with God's will, not from self-promotion or impatience.
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven," Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us. There is a time for preparation, a time for growth, a time for learning, and a time for ministry. Don't mistake a good idea for a God idea. A heart burdened for the lost is a precious gift, but it must be surrendered to God's refining fire. He will mold and shape us, preparing us for the work He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).
So, if you feel the call to ministry, embrace the ministry of waiting. Seek God's face diligently. Immerse yourself in His Word, and let God have His way with you first. All true ministry which bears fruit, must come out of your life, because you have first lived it, not just out of your Bible Study because you have read it. Allow Him to cultivate in you the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the hallmarks of a true minister, one who is not driven by ambition but by a deep love for God and a humble desire to serve Him in His perfect timing.
