This new year, many believers are drawing up new plans and discarding old ones. Some are planning their new business, some education, some marriage, some their career, while some are planning to embark on full-time gospel ministry. The last group are the ones I wish to talk to today.

I want to highlight a few factors to consider before starting out in full-time preaching. The work of God is a spiritual one, therefore aspiring preachers must sincerely take precautious steps before heading into the Great Harvest to avoid deception and unnecessary pitfalls and ultimately, failure.

1. BE CALLED _ Many preachers run into full-time gospel ministry without checking with God what their calling is or whether they're called at all. Luke 4:18. 1 Samuel 3:4.

Not everyone is called into the pulpit ministry and no man can make himself "become" a priest (Hebrews 5:1-6).

Every Christian can preach the gospel and demonstrate gifts of the Spirit but not all are full-time priests. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.

The Bible says that God called SOME to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers – to prepare others for their own assignment (Ephesians 4:11-13). Therefore, before picking up the microphone and starting a church please take considerable time out in serious prayers and meditation, hearing properly from God what His purpose for you is. Jeremiah 1:4-5. Luke 9:1. Acts 13:1-3.

2. BE PRAYERFUL _ Before launching out into gospel ministry, you must be thoroughly a fired up person in prayers and fasting. It is in prayer that spiritual capacity, sustainability and power to fulfill the vision is gotten. Luke 6:12. Matthew 4:1-2. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Acts 13:2.

3. BE LED _ The Holy Spirit is the governor of the church on earth; ruling with the word of God as His constitution. John 16:13. John 14:26.

Before you leave your local church or denomination to start a fellowship or new church, ensure you're guided by the word of God and by the Holy Spirit. Mentors and Spiritual Fathers also provide guidance and much needed lessons from years of experience in the field. Romans 8:14. 1 Corinthians 4:15.

From Genesis to Revelation, every priest, prophet and person that God used as an oracle had profound supernatural encounters and experiences with God but today Christians move out on emotional impulses and personal convictions into ministry and get stuck in the work for many years with ignoble results, therefore getting direction from God is pertinent.

4. BE BOLD _ After being arrested, flogged, jailed and threatened by the authorities against preaching the gospel again, the young church deduced that before they can continue with the work they'd need to ask God for boldness. Boldness to speak the word of God without fear – and by extension boldness to confront and surmount obstacles and boldness to take daring risks and embark on dangerous adventures for the Gospel's sake. Acts 4:1-29.

A powerful preacher can easily be intimidated by Satan if he practices his faith and ministry with a timid heart. Prophet Elijah is a ready example of a powerful prophet who panicked when he was threatened by the malevolent queen Jezebel. 1 kings 19:1-3. Jeremiah 1:6-10.

The man of God needs boldness and confidence.

5. BE WISE _ Wisdom for gospel ministry is gotten from the original source – the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:15.

I am ashamed anytime I see a preacher who cannot easily pull up relevant scriptural verses to engage in godly conversations or to buttress a point when preaching the gospel. There is a current trend of preachers using their personal experiences as a premise to imparting kingdom truths...that's an error, as scripture is above all personal experience and even every signs and wonders. Colossians 3:16. Malachi 2:7. Jeremiah 23:18.

A professor that doesn't have extensive knowledge of his subject is a charlatan.

Every preacher must study the Bible intensively and extensively with a view to having a VERY FIRM grasp of the authentic doctrines of the faith, the prophecies and laws of the Holy Spirit among others. 2 Timothy 2:15. Joshua 1:8.

6. BE ANOINTED _ Before the Lord Jesus sent His disciples out to minister He told them "Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves" ...Luke 10:3. Acts 10:38.

The Lord knew that out there, there is danger therefore He gave them power to meet and break the powers of the devil wherever they went. The preacher must be anointed... Luke 9:1. Luke 10:19.

However, the anointing that a full-time minister must possess is not just 'a measure' of the anointing but the FULLNESS of the Spirit.

Sadly, many Christians who because they had a dream or a vision about ministry or having obtained one or two gifts of the Spirit and have perhaps healed an illness or had a word of knowledge for one or two persons, thinking they are NOW equipped to start a church get destroyed by demons when they attempt to challenge spirits during deliverance or one-on-one ministrations!

Many of the above mentioned case abound. Some ministers go mad. Some fall mysteriously sick. Some lose jobs, spouse, career, business, ministry and in some cases some lose their life!

One needs the FULLNESS of the Spirit of God to undertake FULL-TIME ministry; or else one should stay in his local church or Christian group and minister to the brethren with his gifts pending when he is fully anointed – and it doesn't have anything to do with age. Acts 6:8. 1 Peter 4:10.

*** When the minister is fully anointed he demonstrates ALL the powers of the Holy Spirit, and not just some gifts; and he is heavily backed by Great Grace. Isaiah 11.1-3. John 3:34. Acts 4:33.

7. BE SENT _ Finally, the full-time preacher must be explicitly sent by God with a specific mandate and mission which can span his entire lifetime. Acts 13:1-3. Romans 10:15. Luke 10:1.

Being sent is important because that's when the vision and your life's mission becomes clearer. God talks to you with more specificity. Angelic encounters and visitations increase at this point so as to encourage and strengthen the heart and hands of the minister. Exodus 3:7-10. Ezekiel 2:3. Acts 13:2-3.

Purpose gives meaning and value to everything you do. Happy new year.

Shalom.

This is a powerful piece.
Thank you for sharing.

I also, want to add a thing; PATIENCE!
Every Minister of God must exercise this tool. God's promises are sure and bound to happen. However, Great Patience is required of us as Ministers. God won't perform magic over night all in the bid to prove Himself in your life. A Minister must be thorough and refined from every self, hence, God passing him through series of trainings and trials...to Prove him worthy.
Hebrew 6:12 - that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the promises.

Shalom!

Good points

Nice