QUADRANT OF SERVICE
Ministering (service in the kingdom of God) has 4 vital sides. To be very effective, you must learn the dynamics of all 4 sides of the quadrant of ministry. Most people are effective in one or two aspects of the quadrant. But here are all four parts of the Quadrant of ministry.
which do you score the highest in?
1. MINISTERING TO THE LORD
This is the most vital and essential part of your service to God.
This is where all other service should spring from.
Until you minister to the lord, you are not qualified to minister for the lord.
When you have touched God, he can now use your vessel to touch others.
What does it mean to minister to the Lord?
It’s Worship, praise, thanksgiving and prayers that pour into God. Not the one done to take from God.
While ministering to the Lord, God is the Centre of your worship .
Your prayers are such that pour your love and commitment in a genuine way to the lord.
it is worship, praise, thanksgiving, and prayers that pour into God. Not the one that takes from God. During ministering to the Lord, God is the Centre of your worship. Your prayers are such that pour your love and commitment genuinely to the Lord.
The reason most people are devoid of power and direction and results in service to God, is because, this element is missing.
Notice a perfect fast in Acts 13:2. The Bible says they were not only fasting, they took time to minister to the Lord. No wonder they were able to hear clearly from the Lord regarding the specific assignment of Barnabas and Saul (later called Paul).
Notice also in Jeremiah 23:22
God advised that before you go to do any service for him, you must stand in his counsel first (stay in his presence).
Acts 13:2-3 KJV
[2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Jeremiah 23:21-22 KJV
[21] I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. [22] But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
2. MINISTERING TO YOURSELF
You are your first audience,
you are your first port of service
Never forget that.
Always make sure your life is right before going to offer service. Repent of any known sin, forgive and let go if there is an offence lurking in your heart towards anyone on earth.
if your vessel is not clean, you wil be offering to God, service from a dirty bowl. He definitely won’t accept it.
learn to build up yourself daily in the word and prayer.
Don’t fall into the trap of trying to serve others and fill them while your life needs to be be filled by God.
Ensure you put into practice what you are trying to get others to do.
this way, you will save yourself and others as well.
The Bible always encourages that we take heed unto ourselves first before others.
1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV
[16] Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Acts 20:28 NKJV
[28] Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
2 Timothy 2:20-21 NIV
[20] In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. [21] Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
3. MINISTERING FOR GOD
If you succeed in ministering to God and yourself, the natural consequence, is a desire to be useful in Gods kingdom by serving.
As a matter of fact, you won’t be confused about what to do specifically, where to go, what to say. Neither will you lack the power if you will spend time with God regularly and spend time building up yourself.
The church lacks power largely because, we try to do number 3 without first doing number 1&2. We therefore resort to using the arm of the flesh which profits no one.
Ministring for God should come from an overflow of your time with God.
No matter how small or big the service you are offering to God is, ensure you have spent time ministering to God and yourself in the early hours of the day. That is how grace is supplied for service during the day.
Romans 12:6-8 NKJV
[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; [7] or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; [8] he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT
[10] God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. [11] Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
4. MINISTERING FOR OTHERS
These are the services you do on behalf of others. It is a vital part of ministering and service to God. These include praying for people, helping them pick up groceries, and offering different services on their behalf or because of them. But remember that in all you do, bringing Glory to Jesus should be your driving motive.
You might be helping a neighbor drop off her children at after school piano lessons, but remember that though you are doing this for her, it’s actually because, you want her to experience the kindness of God through your life of serving others. Always find a way of using that act of kindness as an avenue to point men to Jesus.
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
[32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
2 Timothy 2:24 NIV
[24] And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
NB
A quadrant is an element (mostly a circle that has 4 sides to make it complete)