The Koforidua Area Head and Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Mike Etrue, has urged Christians, especially Church leaders, to make it a priority to always hear and obey God’s voice in their Christian ministry.
Apostle Etrue said this when he delivered a sermon on the topic, “Hearing the Lord Speak in Your Ministry,” during an ordination service organised by the Effiduase Area at the Begoro District Central Assembly auditorium last Thursday.
Using Ephesians 4:11-12, Genesis 3:8, Jeremiah 33:1-3, 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Matthew 5:6, and Psalm 107:9, as scripture references, the Koforidua Area Head said that God still speaks, and often uses the people He has placed in one’s life to communicate with them.
He explained that both “Logos” and “Rhema” are the Word of God, but the former refers to God’s Word objectively recorded in the Bible, while the latter is the word of God spoken to us on specific occasions.
“The voice of God ought to be known, understood, and obeyed,” he emphasised.
He added that those who disobey the voice of God will be led astray, but obedience to the voice of God brings peace, blessings, fruitfulness, and prosperity.
Apostle Mike Etrue, therefore, advised Church leaders to lead their flocks in obedience to the will of God.
He reiterated that the ascension gifts – apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher – are leadership offices of the Church, given by the ascended Christ to lead and perfect the saints, hence, they are not mere positions or automatic rewards.
Apodtle Etrue also stated that ministers must be impartial in caring for the flock entrusted to them.
“As a minister, you must have a love for people’s souls and a longing to lead them to a personal relationship with Christ, contributing to their spiritual growth and development,” he said.
The Koforidua Area Head again stated that a faithful pastor knows they must passionately pursue Christ, adding: “A holy minister is an awe-inspiring weapon in the hand of God and a gift to the Church.”
He urged the Church members to cherish, appreciate, and support God’s gift of ministers to the Church, so they can benefit from the divine blessings contained within them.
He mentioned that the value of a gift is not measured by the purpose the gift serves, as a result, every pastor must strive to fulfill the purpose they have been called to serve.
“Your relevance as a minister is dependent on the benefits the people receive from you. In fact, this may be the most important thing we ever learn about God—that He yearns for a relationship with us and to commune with us,” he said.
Apostle Etrue also noted that God speaks to His children through the glory of His creation, His Holy Spirit, His word, and through dreams, visions, and the human conscience.
“In fact, He sometimes speaks to us through our spouses, the elderly, our children, as well as events and circumstances to speak with us,” he explained.
According to him, the reason why God longs to speak to His children, among other things, is to give them divine wisdom to help people navigate challenges and situations.
“God uses so many methods to speak to you. Sometimes to turn us from wrongdoing and keep us from pride, to preserve our lives from perishing by the sword,” he said.
The Koforidua Area Head, therefore, urged believers, particularly ministers, to reposition themselves to always receive from the Lord.
“As we wait upon the Lord, we are to grow in knowledge of Him and His commands for us. And we are to be diligent in seeking Him and applying His law to our lives,” he advised.
Concluding his message, Apostle Mike Etrue said that ministers can hear the Lord speak in their ministry by desiring to hear His voice (1 Corinthians 14:1, Matthew 5:6, Psalm 107:9), and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
He further noted that when ministers are able to hear God’s instructions and act on them, they will become fruitful in ministry and also manifest the power of God.
Report by Elder Enoch Obeng Asare (Effiduase Area)