This article was featured in Purpose Institute’s annual magazine, On Target. Used by permission. Click here to learn more about what Purpose Institute has to offer.
Only God can truly measure the value a person places on their personal calling to ministry service. To be privileged to serve at any level is never a small matter, and should only be accepted and entered into with a determined passion and diligence. Intentionally investing in preparation should be the utmost priority for any man or woman of God who chooses to answer God’s high and holy calling. To do anything less devalues God’s purpose for his or her life.
It is incumbent upon every Spirit-led leader to do everything they possibly can to make training and ministry preparation a high priority. Preparation is necessary in order for God’s kingdom to be advanced and world harvest to become a reality.
The greatest legacy anyone can leave is what they have invested into those God has trusted into their hands and oversight. The Psalmist makes an interesting comparison …
Psalms 127:4-5 “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
In these verses, natural children are metaphorically compared to arrows in the hand of a mighty man, clearly implying how blessed he would be if his quiver was full of them. I wonder how much greater is our blessing from God when our quiver is full of spiritual children?
Like arrows in the hands of a mighty man, spiritual sons and daughters who are trained, equipped, and released become the primary instrument God uses to bring about His greatest work and blessing on earth. These spiritual arrows are also Satan’s greatest threat and the weapon he fears the most. Happy and greatly blessed are pastors and leaders who have their local churches full of them.
It is my firm conviction that our passion for God and His Kingdom is so closely associated with the power we receive from God, that you will never have one without the other. If that is true, then never has passion been more needed in our approach and diligence to train the next generation of ministers and leaders than right now.
2 Kings 13:18-19 “And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.”
As illustrated in the arrows metaphor used by the prophet Elisha to King Jeroboam, effective training requires a determined, passionate approach if it will ever reach its full potential and power as God intended. Because King Jeroboam devalued the importance of the arrows placed in his hand, he only passively smote the ground, minimizing the instructions by the prophet. Elisha became very angry. It would seem as though Elisha was simply reflecting God’s own anger.
Jeroboam’s passive approach revealed how little he valued the weapons God provided him to bring deliverance for his nation from their enemy. Jeroboam’s passive leadership was the difference and deciding factor between total annihilation of Israel’s enemy and Israel’s ultimate demise. His lack of passion revealed how little he valued the arrows (spiritual weapons) that were placed into his hands. He that has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying.
Like the bow that launches arrows in the hands of a mighty man, Purpose Institute is a spiritual bow that God has raised up to place in the hands of those called by God to train and release world-changers in what very well could be the last generation before the coming of the Lord. Leaders who understand this also understand the importance of training and sacrificially investing themselves for the work of equipping the spiritual arrows (sons and daughters of God) in their quiver.
Oh, how passionate and diligent we must be to ensure our spiritual sons and daughters are being trained and equipped to impact their generation and reach their world with the only saving gospel!
The Apostle Paul admonished Timothy, his son in the gospel…
2 Timothy 2:2-3 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
Mighty man and woman of God, what are you doing with the arrows that God has entrusted to your hands?
This article was featured in Purpose Institute’s annual magazine, On Target. Used by permission. Click here to learn more about what Purpose Institute has to offer.
Upcoming Semester Courses
Church History (Steve Schobert): As you trace the Pentecostal message from its birth to the 21st century, you will gain a greater appreciation for Biblical truth, and for the courageous people who sacrificed to preserve it for our generation. The goal is to identify the major categories of Christianity (a term used loosely for those beliefs associated with Christianity in a historical sense) and determine where each began, why it began and what its distinctive doctrines are.
Perfecting Holiness (Dr. James Littles): This course will fill you with fresh respect for and revelation of the Holiness of God. It correctly teaches holiness as a divine principle that must be perfected in everyone who calls himself or herself a disciple of Christ. The goal is to give students an understanding of true holiness which comes from the heart and is evident to those around us.
Pastoral Studies II (Jeff Emery): This course will be taught by D. G. Hargrove, Robert Henson, Simeon Young, Sr., and George Szabolcsi. The goal is to prepare students for the challenges of pastoral ministry, either as a pastor or in a supportive role to a pastor.
Dynamics of Soulwinning (Gordon Hikel): This course promotes a burden for souls and inspires the student to reach out to the people around them with the Gospel through simple, effective methods. The goal is to emphasize the importance of winning souls and to provide realistic, achievable ways to be effective in this area.
Purpose Institute makes ministry training accessible and affordable by offering a local opportunity to grow in Biblical knowledge and leadership skills. Enrollment is open for the upcoming semester at the North Cities campus. You can grow in your effectiveness and build the skills to accompany your calling.
