Fighting legitimately

When an individual or a Christian leader places his trust in Jehovah, and bases his life and actions wholly on the word and principles of the gospel, inevitably his efforts are successful in the long term. This is the key to the growth and permanence of any spiritual journey, be it individual or ministerial. If a ministry wants to thrive and remain, it will have to be founded on solid biblical principles.

Throughout my ministry I have had to resist time and again the temptation to use methodologies and styles that in my spirit I have clearly discerned are not of the Lord, and that do not obey the principles established by the gospel. Perhaps this has meant that the growth of my church has not been as rapid, dramatic, or spectacular as I would have liked. Perhaps I have had to wait longer to see the fruit of my efforts and sacrifices in ministry. But after all, it's not about impressing people, or showing the world our great skills as pastors or evangelists! The most important thing is to glorify God through our service, imitating the methodology and style of Jesus Christ.

Avoid Illegitimate Methods

I suspect that many pastors and evangelists frequently hear within themselves a subtle voice warning them that the methods they have adopted to grow their ministries are not legitimate and do not reflect the principles of the Word. But in the same way that they listen to that voice of the Spirit, they also shroud and suppress it over and over again, preferring to ignore it because it would be inconvenient and laborious for them to obey it. They prefer to continue to imitate the illegitimate methodology that they see works for others, or to simply employ the style that people like, and they continue to ignore the intuition of Spirit because they prefer popularity to fidelity. Unfortunately, they do not understand that the only thing they achieve through this attitude is to deceive themselves. They are only postponing disaster, and undermining the spiritual foundations of their ministries.

Abraham tried to get ahead of God's plans and produce a son prematurely, only succeeding in binding his offspring in a violent and bitter controversy that continues in the Middle East to our own day, with dire global consequences. Saul clung to the ministry long after God had removed the anointing from him and even tried to kill God's anointed one, with dire consequences for himself and his entire family. Asa, the father of King Jehoshaphat, gave up all the gold and silver in the temple and the royal house to ally himself with a pagan king, trying to get out of a pressing military situation (2 Chronicles 16: 7-10). But all it achieved was an illusory and extremely costly long-term military victory.

Over and over again the Bible reminds us that "he who fights as an athlete is not crowned if he does not fight legitimately" (2 Tim 2: 5). As spiritual athletes, if we adhere to the rules of the game as defined by the Scriptures, no matter how laborious and disadvantageous they may seem, then we can be “crowned” at the end of our career. When we pay the price, we adopt a long-term mindset, and use the principles of God's word to inform our ministries, family, finances, social relationships — we will be prospered and blessed. God's approval will manifest itself through a fruitful and enduring life.

I believe a lot in the profound truth contained in the words of the Apostle Paul: “I planted, Apollos watered; but growth has been given by God ”(1 Cor 3: 6). Our main calling is to be faithful to the Lord. We must sow scrupulously according to the principles established by his Word. Once we undertake the service of God, and do our part, we have to get out of the way as soon as possible. It is therefore necessary to let Him take absolute control of our efforts. It is He who has to decide the style and details of our spiritual or ministerial journey. He alone has the right to determine the degree or nature of success ("growth") that we experience.

Many people and circumstances will intervene and participate in the development of our lives and ministries. We do not know how long the task that God has assigned us will take. We do not even know if we will have the satisfaction of seeing here on earth the result of our efforts, or of fully enjoying the fruit of our labors. In the long run, the end result we have to leave to the Lord.

We must resolutely resist the temptation to try ourselves to produce the results, that is, growth, using the techniques and tricks that seem most convenient and economical. Our part is to sow humbly and obediently, following the guidelines and example of our Master. Your part is to give the growth — in time and in any way that He pleases! Only that kind of stubborn obedience will guarantee us a fruitful and lasting spiritual journey.