WHEN YOU DO GOOD AND SUFFER

19 FOR this is COMMENDABLE, IF BECAUSE OF CONSCIENCE TOWARDS GOD ONE ENDURES GRIEF, SUFFERING WRONGFULLY.
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? BUT WHEN YOU DO GOOD AND SUFFER, IF YOU TAKE IT PATIENTLY, THIS IS COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD."
1 Peter 2:19,20 (NKJV)

• Your patience would be tried as a leader. You have to be patience beneath the blow of sufferings!

• Doing the right thing attracts oppositions.
• Ministry is all about transforming people's lives. However, in the process of changing the lives of the people, you may be misunderstood.
• By being misunderstood, God will allow your patience to be tested. And your calmness in the midst of chaotic situations shows the level of your patience and maturity as a Believer in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:23-25; James 1:3).
• God could allow your good gesture to be abused. Some might look down on you, despise your efforts, even when you are trying, endeavoring or striving to help them.

• Whoever is in the work of Ministry would need a lot of patience and Perseverance (2 Peter 1:6).
(i) You have to be patient with the people: 23 BUT avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 AND A SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT QUARREL BUT BE GENTLE TO ALL, able to TEACH, PATIENT, 25 in humility CORRECTING those who are in OPPOSITION, if God perhaps will GRANT them REPENTANCE, so that they may KNOW THE TRUTH" (2 Timothy 2:23-25 NKJV).
(ii) You have to be patient in getting your personal needs met also (1 Timothy 6:6). Cooperate with God and allow Him to work out how your needs would be met, in His own way.
(iii) Pray on all things (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Let prayer be number one in your life. Cultivate the habit of telling God everything in your heart. Let Him be your confidant. Know that no one would understand what you are passing through like He would do: "DO NOT BE ANXIOUS OR WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT in everything [every circumstance and situation] by PRAYER AND PETITION WITH THANKSGIVING, CONTINUE to make your [specific] REQUESTS KNOWN TO GOD" (Philippians 4:6 AMP).
(iv) Take time to study the Word of God and ponder on it (Joshua 1:8). The knowledge of the Word of God should spur you, lead you, or stimulate you to pray. If you read the Word and allowed the Holy Spirit to tutor you; that would definitely spur you to pray.
(v) Beware of friends who may want to cause you to derail (Micah 7:5).
(vi) Let God build your life and ministry as He wants—in His own way. In the way that may be good in His sight (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 8:5).

• God will prove your patience in the work you do for Him. Your motives also would be tested in the work of Ministry.
a. God would want to know the reason why you have chosen or agreed to do the work.
b. Some are in the work because of gain, what to get, the benefits they would derive, in doing the work of Ministry:
"AND protracted wrangling and wearing discussion and perpetual friction among men WHO ARE CORRUPTED IN MIND AND BEREFT OF THE TRUTH, who imagine that GODLINESS OR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A SOURCE OF PROFIT [a moneymaking business, a means of livelihood]. FROM SUCH WITHDRAW" (1 Timothy 6:5 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).
READ: Romans 8:5; Philippians 3:17-19.

• Whoever comes to work in the ministry because of what to get may be disappointed! Such a person has come to the work with a wrong motive.
• It is to be regretted that many are in the work of Ministry today because of what to eat—what to get in the work, not what to give: 17 BRETHREN, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 FOR MANY WALK, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, THAT THEY ARE THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST: 19 WHOSE END IS DESTRUCTION, WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY, and whose glory is in their shame—WHO SET THEIR MIND ON EARTHLY THINGS" (Philippians 3:17-19 NKJV).
  READ: 1 Timothy 6:5,6

• Each Individual's calling and ministry are different (Galatians 2:7-9).

• Do not compare yourself with anyone. Understand what God has called you to do, and focus on it (2 Corinthians 10:12).
• Do the work with all your heart, and with enthusiasm—gladness of heart. THERE is a reward in being obedient and faithful to what God has called you to do (Galatians 2:7-9).
• Another thing you should pay attention to, is, you should know that ministry evolves. You may not know the details of what God has actually called you to do at the onset.
  AN EXAMPLE: Paul and Barnabas started as teachers and Prophets, but God through the leading of the Holy Spirit said they should be set apart for the missionary-apostolic work (Acts 13:1-3).
• You will have to follow Him diligently, as He leads you from one phase to phase, one stage or level, to another.
• Someone said: Ministry is a marathon race, It is not an hundred meters dash!
  You have to painstakingly follow God as He leads you from one level of glory to another. You keep beholding Him until you arrive at where He is taking you:
  "BUT we all, WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE LORD, are being TRANSFORMED into the SAME IMAGE from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV).

"[LOOKING away from all that will distract us and] FOCUSING OUR EYES ON JESUS, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]."
Hebrews 12:2 (AMP)

"KEEP your eyes on Jesus, the leader and the instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2 (The Living Bible)

"WE do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."
Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• You will not know sorrow in Jesus' name.
• Whatever would not allow you to live in peace and wellness, such is cursed and dislodged in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!