The Measure of an Approved Ministry: Apostolic Truth

I have a heart for ministry leaders. In addition to being one, I see their struggles and their often thankless efforts in service to others. At the same time, when leaders get better, their followers also get better, and I want to improve and see other ministry leaders do the same. In my prayers, counsel, and observation of leaders in recent years, I have become concerned about how we measure success and how the body of Christ is influencing this situation.

What do I mean? Well, the social media “Like” and “Follow” have become this era’s sign of approval, but what makes someone like or follow a church or ministry leader on social media? What are people looking for? Many are looking for their version of a “spiritual celebrity,” meaning someone who already has lots of followers, can show clips of thousands in the crowd when they’re preaching, and who moves their emotions. And to what do today’s ministry leaders aspire? What are the true ambitions in their hearts?

Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with a large following—if you’re preaching the truth of the Gospel—because the Good News needs to go to all nations. But the danger is that the “seeker” who has no actual depth in God can easily be swayed by “giftedness” alone and end up following someone who has a form of godliness but denies the transforming, convicting, and convincing power thereof. We see this in Scripture:

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV, italics)

Many will do “wonderful works,” cast out devils, and prophesy, but Jesus will tell them he never knew them. Now, to do many wonderful works, there had to be many people following them. That’s the scary part—many so-called “believers” will follow people who don’t know Jesus. Let’s look at another example.

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: ¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. ¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. (Acts 8:9-11 KJV)

Simon knew how to move the crowd, amazing the people and claiming to be some great celebrity. The people were under his spell.

So, is a large following, an emotional sermon, or a celebrity flair how Jesus or even the Apostles defined an “approved ministry?” I think that embracing this standard is dangerous and has partly contributed to the watered-down version of Christianity that has become prevalent in America.

I ponder these things often because I have ministered in many churches and traveled the world for the sake of the Gospel. I have seen the difference between American churches and churches in other countries and how the West influences Christianity worldwide. I have seen all kinds of ministries, churches, and ministers. I have seen believers place value on crowd-moving, emotion-stirring administrations and fail to value the simple minister who remains faithful to pray for them and feed them with uncompromising truth. Like going to the doctor, people prefer to take their medicine when it’s coated with sugar and laced with distraction—they want it sweetened with flair and watered down with compromise—rather than having a doctor that will go straight to the point and give them the shot that will cure them with immediate effect. They approve and celebrate the former but devalue the latter, and this deception is spreading to the nations. So then, what should we do? 

Let’s consider the apostle’s narrative concerning an approved ministry. In 2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT, he says, “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT). The whole chapter is a list of the marks of the apostles’ measurement of approval, and by the way, none of the things Paul lists have to do with their own power or celebrity status. But let’s focus on verse six for now. In this verse, Paul lists the following as measurements of an approved ministry: 

• Purity
• Understanding or knowledge of God and Christ
• Patience (or endurance or longsuffering)
• Kindness
• The Holy Spirit within them
• Sincere (or genuine) love

Now ask yourself, does anyone search social media looking for purity? Are these six things the marks of approval that the average person uses to measure who they follow? It is a serious question, as well as the question of whether ministers themselves are personally using these marks to measure their ministries. 

If ministers and followers alike don’t embrace the apostolic measurement system, we are headed further down a road that leads to deception. So, let’s change our value system—let’s focus on what the Word of God says really matters, and get rid of the celebrity mentality that has invaded the church. It will only lead us astray. 

#ministrysuccess #apostolictruth #lenitareeves #pastorlenita

Lenita is the senior pastor of Action Chapel Baltimore and Action Chapel North Carolina churches. She is an author of nine books, international speaker, founder of PrayerWatch with Pastor Lenita, and creator of the Purpose/full Institute, which helps people discover and hone their divine purpose. She is a former Accenture consultant with college teaching experience, professional instructional design experience, a member of the RAINN speaker’s bureau, a trained pastoral counselor, and a Christian International/Bishop Hamon authorized prophetic instructor. Sign up to connect, receive more blog posts, and updates on courses, books, and events.