The servant of the Lord understands the sacrifice that is required. But wait there is more…

December 7th, 2023

By: David Hoskins

All that glamour is not gold. Doing ministry comes with much more than the masses realize. Ministry is a sacrifice of love. A worthy sacrifice indeed.

Many five fold leaders sacrifice to considerable levels to bring an undergirding and equipping dimension to the body of Christ. They give so much of themselves as they pour out their lives into the individuals under their care. This is especially true when it comes to to apostolic/prophetic ministry due to the cyclical upstart nature of how ministry develops over time. They are called to bring governmental development and coordination to the body of Christ as the body grows and matures. Not everybody is thrilled and excited about that process as it requires change and process especially when they are not used to it.

It is true that someone has to do the hard stuff, the things that are not very fun, so that others can celebrate in the benefit of our corporality. However, the inequity of ministry can sometimes cause leaders to become wounded and frustrated with the body of Christ, even with the individuals they are called to serve. It is a battle for leaders to walk in forgiveness and not allow the inequity to build up causing hardness and a cynical attitude.

Leaders need to be reminded that their role is not a glamorous one, and they are doing it for reasons other than the gratification and appreciation of others. Forgiveness is not optional but a necessity.

Leaders know what they signed up for. If we allow ourselves to come into a victim mentality it does not serve us well.

Those working with leaders need to realize that it can be a very lonely and duty filled road when the bulk of responsibility falls upon the shoulders of only a few.

The body was created for service as each one carries their portion.

Ephesians 4:16 (NASB)

16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

It seems that with this top down structure, where leaders have in the past been hirelings rather than fathers, we tend to look at them as paid those that work for us to make our lives better. We tend to look at them as politicians who get paid by our taxes. How did this mindset creeping into the body of Christ? The Kingdom and God’s Ecclesia should operate much differently.

The Kingdom is about how we work together in symphony to advance the God’s intent in a way where everybody can celebrate in the work and in the victory. It is called shared responsibility and shared reward.

The plight of being spiritual parents is one of sacrifice and service just the same way as being natural parents. Many times leaders are the ones paying the cost and doing the hard stuff, while at times being taken for granted, much the same way we as children take own parents for granted, disregarding the many things they do to make our lives wonderful.

When the apostle Paul would go in with teams to work in different regions in the book of acts, those teams would go in, knowing that sacrifice was their portion. they often encountered difficulties such as trials, misunderstanding, false accusation, hardships, beatings and even imprisonments in order to lay foundations for the body of Christ to move forward and mature. Many times the body of Christ was too immature at the beginning to help very much with the process. Eventually those disciples would grow up and begin to walking hand-in-hand with apostolic ministry to see the kingdom advance rallying their finances and their strength by the grace of God to accomplish the greater good. This is a normal kingdom process as people become disciples and grow up into maturity.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NASB)

4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

As parents we do have a hope and an expectation that when our children grow up, they will bring something to Thanksgiving dinner, rather than just expect mom and dad to do all the cooking and cleaning all the time. We need a new family model, one where each person pours themselves out on behalf of the many. When you do see community operating in a way that it should operate, It is a beautiful and incredibly powerful dynamic. It is something the world needs to see more of. We must learn to model kingdom culture rather than this moocher culture that shows up late and leaves early with its entitlement mindedness and lack of commitment to the process. We are better than that.

The saints were never meant to be sheep forever, led around for their fur to be sold at auction. We must graduate beyond our infant status to become fully functional and participatory leaders and adults. The days of letting mom and dad do everything must end. When it is time to bring a dish to Thanksgiving dinner or “potluck dinner” we should be bringing a honey baked ham and the cornbread stuffing and gravy rather than just some store bought rolls or a can of cranberry sauce. Each one needs to carry their part and play their role so that we can all flourish in the Kingdom. It is time for the saints to grow up out of churchianity and into an ecclesia that is aggressively placing the King and His Kingdom as our priority within the Earth.

7 Ways the saints can assist spiritual parents

1. Show your appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifice

2. Ask the Lord how you can hold their arms up by making their burden lighter

3. Be diligent to sow faithfully into their lives and into the corporate mission

4. Give yourself to the things they believe are of merit and important

5. Intercede for their lives and for their families

6. Hug their neck and let them know that you are aware of the sacrifices they make on behalf of your life

7. Tell them you are there for them and committed to their success even as they are committed to yours.