Are You A Wise Master Builder?
By Marc T. May
It sadden me when I read a recent article as a pastor's wife tells how after 25 years in the pastorate they stopped having services and planned to sell the church, which has a membership of 120 members. This is due to the pastors declining health. What is wrong with this picture? As an apostle my heart was grieved at the fact that the work of a ministry was coming to a screeching halt because of one man. My heart goes out to this pastor and his wife as well, as I pray for his recovery.
The question that comes to mind when reading an article such as this is out of a 120 members was not anyone trained, equipped, and/or qualified to carry on the vision? Where is apostolic reproduction? Where is the multiplying factor of the apostolic?
Apostles do not think single, they think plural. They do no only think of themselves, but they think of others. They do not think "I'm the only one capable of handling this church or ministry", No; they think of the many sons and daughters they have trained to excel them in ministry, just as a natural parent would do.
According to Ephesians 4:7, there is a measure of grace given to the wise master builder I Corinthians 3:9. The word measure in the Greek is metron. One meaning is a sufficient supply, a limited measurement, or a limited amount enough to finish (a course). The word grace in the Greek is charis. One meaning is a divine influence. Putting the two words together means a sufficient measurement of Divine influence.
Apostle Paul explained that he had a sufficient measure of divine influence to build. To lay a foundation and another builds thereon. I believe God gives us a measure to complete one task and a measure to complete another task and so on. Once our measure of divine influence runs out we move to the next assignment. Ding, did a bell go off in your head? Could this be why churches grow only so far and stop? Could this be why some leaders get stuck in cycles doing the same things over and over again? Here me leaders, you can MAX out in your measure of grace. Why? Because God has only given you grace to go so far, then that grace runs out or reaches its maximum capacity. There comes a new supply of grace to move to the next task or assignment. Therefore, in other words, Apostolically we are building foundations for others to build upon if we would only allow them. However, that pastoral mindset says "hold on". The apostolic mind says "let go". It's time to build something else.
Some of you are dissatisfied with who you are and what you are. Maybe this is because you are something else. Maybe you are an apostle and not a pastor. Maybe you have built all you can build at that level. Maybe your people are defining your identity. An apostle, could that be? Do you have sons? Are you a builder? Do you train and equip? Are you prophetic? Is your church different from the other churches in your city? Just some things to consider. Are all apostles? No, but we all can be apostolic people (sent ones)! Let us pray for our leaders.
One more thought. Apostolic transition; pastors must be willing to transition and build new things, new works etc. They must let go of the foundations that have been laid and move on. They should allow the next leader to flow in their own measure grace without interference. How can this be done? If you're building new things in a new measure of grace you don't have time to interfere, only to oversee. It's like letting go of your daughter to her new husband. Don't let your ministry die!
