No other organization/movement in the world can do what God has called the church to do.  The church is Christ’s answer to putting His principles into action.  The Church is a servant of humanity.  The leader needs the attitude of a servant, but he/she must always remembers that he/she serves Christ by serving the church.  If he/she does not serve Christ, he/she will only hurt the church.  If we don’t want to serve, then we don’t want to be involved in local church ministry.  We serve God by serving His people.  The church today has too many celebrities and not enough servants.  If we lack a conscience easily touched, and if we are not concerned about having to give an account of our life to God, then we need to get out of the ministry.  We can become a self-centered people who use the church to create a comfortable place for ourselves and forget about serving others.

A leader must cultivate a ministry of love.  Anyone who goes into a leadership ministry with any motive other than love is destined for disappointment and defeat.  Some might go into the ministry to have authority and prestige, or to win the praise of men.  It is possible, like Jonah, to minister simply out of a sense of duty, and not really love either the God who sent us or the people who hear us.  That kind of ministry is only drudgery, and it eventually wears a man down.

Jacob is a role model for ministry of love.  “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her” (Genesis 29:20).  Love and love alone can transform sacrifice into joy and suffering into glory.  Love motivates us to do our best for Christ and for people.  Love helps us build people up and not exploit them for our own selfish purposes.  Love enables us to build up and not tear down.  Love helps us handle criticism and not fight back, or to receive praise and not get a big head.

We not only need a love for God and His people, but also love for a lost world.  A spiritual leader/minister is to be a soul winner.  He/she should always be sharing with the lost the truth of God’s love and grace.  We must not become a tongue-tied witness for Christ.  Andrew Bonar once confronted another preacher by asking, “You love to preach, but do you love the people you preach to?”  Some ministers get a big head and a cold heart.  Ours is to be a burning heart and humble spirit.  For love, not knowledge, makes us stand tall.  Knowledge without love is a weapon or a means of manipulation.  We need a lot of knowledge but a whole lot more of love.

A ministry that costs us little will be of little value and accomplish little.  If we have the heart and attitude of Christ, we will be a servant who makes sacrifices for God and His sheep (people).  The hireling hastens to easier pastures.  A true child of God is willing to pay a great price that others might be blessed.  Only those motivated by love will sacrifice for others.  In today’s “show business” approach to ministry, some ministers use their people to build their own personal kingdoms and their own security.  The only thing they know about sacrifice is how to spell the word.

The sacrifices we make today are investments in our future.  There are many joys in ministry but they are not joys purchased by the sacrifices of others.  They are heaven-sent joys that are the fruit of our own private Gethsemanes and Calvaries.

Some people live by the philosophy, “Take care of number one and walk on others if you have to.”  Some others live by the philosophy that we are to “submit to God’s authority and expect to be walked on by others on occasion.”

It seems that God always wants a person to be a servant before he/she becomes a ruler.  If a person is going to give orders, he/she must first learn how to take orders.  Nobody should exercise authority who has not first learned how to submit to authority.  We can find ministers who criticize and disobey church leaders, but then wonder why they have so many problems and get such little respect from those they serve.  If people see in us a critical spirit and a lack of respect for authority, they will criticize us and show disrespect to us.  Some ministers talk like nobody is good, honest, or smart but them.  Unless we humble ourselves and submit to God, we will never know His will or accomplish our potential.

Faithfulness has always been God’s key to success.  First faithfulness in a few things, and then enjoyment of many things.  First toil, then the joy of our Lord.  There is no shortcut to ministry, so don’t try to bypass submission.

It is important how we handle responsibility and it is also important how we handle privileges.  Some people never mature as they should and they use privileges for personal gain.  If we have not learned responsibility and accountability, we may abuse privileges.

Another evidence of submission is a holy unconcern over who is the greatest, over who gets the credit or the glory.  Ministers/leaders are to be submitted servants.

There are some very important principles of Christian leadership that must not be ignored.

• A servant attitude must be demonstrated.
• Traditional concepts are not to be blindly followed.
• Emphasis is placed as much on “being and doing” as on “knowing.”
• Manipulation and control of others is rejected.
• Those who lead are to lead in humility.
• Authoritarian attitudes are condemned.

The minister’s responsibility is to train, develop, and lead other people toward realizing their full potential in Christ.  Role models are important to people and people will look to us for an example, a model.  Therefore, leaders must possess and live by the proper motives.

God’s plan calls for everyone to be under the oversight of someone else.  There must be accountability.  There is a high attrition rate in the ministry because there is a lack of accountability, submission, and a lack of care, support, and training.  Every minister must find and take advantage of opportunities for growth and development in order to stay sharp and on-track with the vision God has for his/her future.

We are part of an eternal plan that climaxes with glory, and then continues gloriously forever.  Do not be short-sighted and forget that the purpose of salvation is the glory of God, not just our deliverance.

We are to be in the ministry for the glory of God, not for ourselves.  We are to do our best and leave the results up to God.  We are to examine ourselves and leave others in the hands of God.  We are to examine our motives and methods and give God the glory for all of our success.

“But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).  The answer to every church problem is prayer and the Word of God.  There are probably many keys to success in ministry but none greater than prayer and the Word of God.

Many churches today are living on substitutes — or are dying on substitutes.  Study God’s Word, hear His Word, and know His Word.  We must back up our life with prayer.  We must use the two spiritual tools of His Word and prayer the rest of our life, so we need to learn to handle them now!

We need the right perception about ministry and about ourselves.  See ourselves ever growing and learning.  Be a winner!  Be a man or woman who knows where we are going and how to get there.  Focus and concentrate on the goal.  Believe God for miracles and answers to prayer.  Look for solutions and never give up on ourselves, God’s people, or the vision God has given us.

The Pentecostal movement is stronger than ever!  The Church of God is moving forward and making a difference in this world.  Why?  Because the anointing of the Holy Spirit is on her.  Because we are going forth in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Spirit-filled life is God’s plan for His people.  We must get our eyes off of the carnality around us and get right in the center of what God is doing and in the flow of His power.

Thank God for role models and mentors who guide us, challenge us, and motivate us.  We need people who will mentor us and set a good example before us.

We are supremely to be an imitator of Jesus Christ—to follow His example and model.  In doing so, we will become our own Christ-like person.  Not a copy of someone else but the wonderful product of models, mentors, and the touch of God on our lives and ministries.

“The difference between principles and rules is radical.  Rules can be made, and therefore broken.  Principles cannot be made and cannot be broken.  Rules are things of time.  Principles are matters of eternity.  Rules are accidental.  Principles are essential” (G. Campbell Morgan).

Thomas Jefferson said, “In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.”

We have looked at a number of key principles of ministry and leadership in the body of Christ.  Learning to live and guide our ministry by these principles will chisel off the rough edges of our faith and character.  Also, living by these principles will allow Christ to mold us and motivate us to grow.  Living by the right principles gives us a spiritual perspective to see earth’s trials and challenges from God’s point of view.  Principle-centered living makes our problem seem smaller as our conception of God becomes greater.  Principle-centered ministry builds our service upon the Rock.  A rock is formed by sand that is under pressure and heat.  Our ministries are to be founded upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, who will change us from instability to stability; from weakness to strength; from temporary to permanent.

If we build our ministry on Biblical principles, we will stand firm through all the storms of life.