DIARY OF A YOUNG MINISTER

DIARY OF A YOUNG MINISTER 

BROTHER ONESIMUS

INTRODUCTION: This is one of Apostle Paul’s eternal classics that is applicable today. This is the Holy Spirit instructing us today through this unique experience brought to the fore by Apostle Paul.

1.The matter was so severe that Apostle Paul had to involve Timothy and copied Apphia and Archippus. Also, Epaphras, John Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Dr Luke were mentioned in this letter of Paul.very brief,one chapter but loaded!

 It was a letter written to Philemon among many witnesses.
So what are the issues?

* an erring 'young minister' a former slave being mentored by Paul by the name Onesimus.

* a Christian gentleman and former boss by the name Philemon mistreated by Onesimus who ran away with his goods..

2.What provoked this write up is majorly how In the last one month, I have counselled with loads of young ministers like Onesimus who literarily fit into the spirit and letter of Paul’s letter to Philemon.

In that,
*By design or by default, they have wronged a spiritual authority and

*They have not formally repented and reconcile with such authority.

3: Apostle Paul reiterated the fact that Onesimus wronged Philemon and he began a narrative to make sure Onesimus corrects the wrongs,seeking the blessings of Philemon

4: Apostle Paul emphasized the need for every ‘Onesimus’ to go back and make things right. It is necessary in other to progress in Ministry to find a way to ‘Right’ certain wrongs i. Today, the ‘Onesimus factor’ comes in many dimensions. Some of the common ones are:

A: A young minister that built his work on the foundation of a spiritual authority and eventually rubbished the same spiritual authority.

B: A young minister that converts another ministry to his with impunity. Moving on as if nothing happened.

C: A young minister (Branch or associate Pastor) that teaches things and doctrines that are not approved by his spiritual authority. Doing whatsoever he likes within the local branch without recourse to the emphasis of the house.

D: A young minister that pollutes the mind of members and other associate ministers against their spiritual authority

E: A young minister that diverts funds from the Ministry where he is presently serving to secretly fund/start his own Ministry

F: A young minister that refuses to take instruction and directive from his spiritual authority on how to proceed on ministry matters. Showing evidently disloyalty across the board.

G: A young minister that is secretly recruiting members and leaders from his present post, having secret meetings encouraging them to go with him to go start his new work (This is sad).

H: A young minister loyal to another ministry other than the Ministry in which he is presently serving. Showing publicly his preference for the other Ministry other than his spiritual authority under which he is presently serving.

I: A young minister who wakes up one morning to start new work without being released from his previous engagement and without notice to his spiritual authority. Who suddenly shows up on social media announcing the inaugural date for his new Ministry using the database of his former Ministry to invite people to his meetings.

 Case in point is a pathetic case in which the young minister in question, took the database of the church and sent a message to everybody to be at a new venue for a ‘ special program’, only for them to find out that the ‘special program’ was the inauguration of ‘his’ Ministry. The senior Pastor who went to the original venue was wondering why everybody was not in church that morning as he called some of the leaders, he then found out his associate had played a fast one on him.

J: A young minister who has shown any form of desperation, dishonesty, insincerity, insubordination, blackmail and the likes. That is, any young minister who did not exit in an honourable manner consistent with biblical ministerial ethics, and who on account of exiting severed ministry relationships, caused pains, regrets and problems for his erstwhile spiritual authority should read this article carefully.

This has got nothing to do with whether those you served under knew about any of these ...some people are so ‘smart’ that they would have done a combination of the above without been detected. You must understand that it’s a spiritual thing. Detected or otherwise doesn’t change anything.

5: If you have done or you are doing any of the above, you have obviously and scripturally wronged your spiritual authority. All that Apostle Paul is saying to you like Onesimus is that you need to go back and confess your deeds, you need to go back Apologize and make things right. If you are going to go far in Ministry. Especially, when those ones set over you knew of your dishonourable activities but kept quiet.Dont mistake their being quiet for weakness...

6: Please, i want to beg of you in the name of Jesus, like Paul admonished Onesimus to go back. You need their blessings and please don’t be deceived by the fact that you are ‘succeeding’ despite the wrong things you have done to start a new work.
 That "success" is an illusion, as in the kingdom of God, a destructive means can never bring about a constructive end.

Apostle Paul understood this principle that he was willing to repay whatever Onesimus owed Philemon. Paul asked Philemon to put it In his account, that is, Paul knew the seriousness of the matter.

7: The second important matter here is not just about righting the wrong but also paying what you owe. As a young minister who is pioneering new work, you owe some people some things:

What you owe!

A: No matter what, always maintain a heart of gratitude and goodwill towards your erstwhile spiritual authority. Always remembering how their unique contributions to your life and Ministry brought you thus far. Remember how they trained you, trusted you by handing over a centre a ministry to you and how over the years, they laboured over you. You owe them a heart of integrity, that will never rubbish any of this.

B: You owe them that honour, how can you start a new work and you have never invited your erstwhile spiritual authority? This is ridiculous and laughable and somewhat dishonouring. It’s okay to invite them, and they do not honour the invitation, but not to invite them at all is a sign of ingratitude, immaturity, division, and carnality. We are not saying you have to do this often or immediately, but it must be done. And when you do It,it becomes a great lesson for those coming after you,you are modelling honour snd gratitude.
C: You owe them visits, gifts and seeds.

D: You owe them loyalty, and never to betray their trust and to always speak good about them. They must be eternally worthy of double honour to you and like David, never speak evil against them.

E: And more importantly In the context of the story, you owe them an apology, if you look back and you see any act of dishonour, disloyalty, and breach of ethics and the likes

8: So, Paul, emphatically asked Onesimus to go back to apologize to Philemon and was willing to help Onesimus repay what he owed Philemon.

9: Imagine after Onesimus met the renowned Apostle Paul and suddenly he forgets about what transpired between him and Philemon thinking like many young ministers today: ‘I have moved on’.
 Paul, as a matured spiritual authority understood the implications of these acts of Onesimus rather sent him back to apologize.

10: Paul said to Philemon that He would have joy from the Lord and that his heart would be refreshed in the Lord, if Philemon would accept and forgive Onesimus. It is essential for us as young ministers to be a source of joy and refreshment from the Lord to our spiritual leaders.

11: This development kickstarted another level of relationship between Paul and Philemon. Ministry is all about building bridges and relationships. Paul was going to stay in the house of Philemon asking Philemon to prepare a guest room for him. This is Apostolic wisdom.

12: In essence, what Apostle Paul is teaching here is that in Ministry, there must be accountability, and nothing must be swept under the carpet. Onesimus must ‘right’ his wrongs and pay his debts, and it is also vital that ‘every Paul’ must encourage ‘Onesimus’ to so do.

13: It is also crucial for Philemon (the one who was wronged by Onesimus) to receive Onesimus as there is no room for a bone of contention in the body of Christ. We must endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

14: Another lesson here is that Paul encouraged and instructed Onesimus to do the needful. As ministers, we must check out those who come to us and establish the truth concerning how they exited their former place of assignment. We must see to it that it was done in honour and without any iota of controversy. We must not receive anyone suddenly without crosschecking their background and if there is any ‘Onesimus factor’ seen or detected, we must do the needful, send them back to make things right. and if need be.be like Paul, be involved in the process. This is what Apostle Paul meant when he Warned Timothy: ‘Lay hands suddenly on no man and don’t be a partaker of the sins of other’.you can partake in the sins of others by "laying" hands on them suddenly.

15: Young ministers must learn that you do not have to destroy an existing foundation in other to build a new foundation. Ministry is a place of honour and a place for integrity. We must be honest with ourselves and right the wrongs and pay what we owe. You are a debtor to anyone who has helped you in a way in the Ministry. You owe them so much.

16: I guarantee you that 99% of ‘Philemons’ would receive ‘Onesimus’ as Paul encouraged Philemon in this regard. Please, pick up your phone now and call that person. Book that appointment to reconcile and don’t be under the illusion that you have moved on.

17: Remember, Paul referred to Himself in this letter to Philemon as Paul the aged who is now the Prisoner of Jesus, can I also say that the same Paul the aged is now appealing to you Onesimus to do the needful. And like Paul said: ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit as you do the needful’.

18: What does it take to call former’ spiritual authority and apologize saying: ‘I am sorry for so and so’ and don’t forget to ask Him or her to pray for you and to bless you. What does it take to send him a seed?’ and what does it take to celebrate him knowing fully well that at a time He was the primary spiritual resource you had.

19: As I said in the course of counselling many pastors, I realized that many of them were not truthful, forthright and honest about their exits and how they started a new work. It is a question of if the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do?

20: Yes, there is something the righteous can do, after they realize they are on a faulty foundation, they go back like Onesimus to relay the foundation.
Pretty much today, the foundation of the Lord stands sure having this seal, the Lord knows those who are his and let every man who names the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity.
Amen