Mwanza
The morning starts very well with a strong word from Stephen Gachengo about keeping the treasure of the Gospel in our hearts. Stephen warns us about how easily we can become disconnected, giving examples from the time of Eli.
Neil shares with us how his heart is challenged by what Stephen brought to us, and he feels the heart of a father speaking to his children. He continues to share on the importance of the five-fold ministry in the church. He reads from Ephesians 4:11-12, where Paul emphasises the need for the five-fold ministry to equip the church. He says that we need God’s anointing increasingly in the church, so that the saints can be equipped for the work of the ministry.
Neil warns us of the danger of the pastor becoming ‘all-in-all’ and not recognising the need for, or the value of, the other ministries. “If the elders feel that the church is doing well and they don’t need the other anointings, there is a problem. The church will be robbed!” Neil thanks the Lord for how He has spoken clearly to us about the need for the ministries in the church. “When the elders open the door to other ministries, there is a blessing and reward in the spirit.” Neil encourages Pastor Boniface from Mwanza, saying that the Lord will reward him in the spirit for his openness toward the other anointings. In these last days, the Lord is rebuilding his church through this five-fold ministry.
He goes deeper by challenging all of us to discern whether our elders are not open to receiving other ministries. He encourages us to speak to them and to help them, because “faithful are the wounds of a friend…” When we have a love for the church we are able to a help each other in the right spirit. Neil reminds us that the Lord has given us the five-fold ministry to equip us, and that it’s not just an anointing for ourselves, but it’s to build others up in the right spirit and to lead them to Jesus. Ministry is not about being independent.
Neil continues to share his own experiences in the ministry and how God dealt with him many times. It is wonderful to have Brother Neil and Stephen here with us and the church is being refreshed. It’s difficult to convey everything that the Lord is doing here in in Mwanza but we can see His hand at work. The Gospel is being spoken with clarity and power, to challenge and expose us, and we thank God for these men.
