Church Planting Manual of the
International Bible Baptist Ministry
Part IX

 

By Dr. Hernes M. Abante
IBBC, San Leandro California
jhabante@aol.com

 

Physical & Emotional Requirements (Continuation)

An active spiritual life can influence the mind, which can cause the body to action. A healthy spirit nourishes the body and the soul. How can others see the healthy spirit but through the body and soul (emotion, will, intelligence)? A dynamic and nourished spirit will have a positive effect on the mind, will, and emotion. We can maintain a total state of health in these three areas:

1. Spiritually: We must allow the principles of godliness real in our lives. We need to let the spiritual and biblical principles
communicate to our total being, thus making the Word of God relevant in our lives.

2. Bodily: Though we are considered a spiritual being, we are still mortal beings, subject to human weaknesses and illness. Let us take care of our physical home so we can function properly and live to serve God.

3. Mentally: We should learn not to worry and be always in moderation when facing the different issues of life. We must claim the verses in Philippians 4: 4-9, for good mental health.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Knowledge of the Truth I have slightly mentioned this issue at the beginning. Let me explore this more extensively in this chapter for I consider this very significant in Church Planting. When we talk about the Truth, we refer to the Word of God, the source of all truths and the basis of our faith and practice. A friend of mine has made an acronym of the word BIBLE: B- Basic I - Instructions B - Before L- Leaving E - Earth. We need to be
familiar with the book of instructions God has left us with. The purpose of learning the truth is not for self alone but for others as well. We learn so that we can teach others also. The passage found in II Timothy 2:2 clearly states this: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Passion for the lost is a great motivation to be in the ministry. But that alone will not prepare one for the ministry. A church planter needs knowledge to effectively pursue his calling. It is equally true that you will never be successful in the ministry with knowledge alone. You also need Passion to balance the equation. Passion without knowledge will bring frustration and can cause severe burn out. Knowledge without passion will bring pride and arrogance. Since it is assumed that all those in the ministry are there because of passion for the lost; let us then explore the area of knowledge in this chapter. The Apostle Paul, in preparing his young disciple Timothy for the ministry wrote two epistles to tell him that it is important to prepare and be equipped for the job. In I Timothy, Apostle Paul focuses on (as Dr. Scofield puts it) the questions of Church order, soundness of faith, and discipline. The key phrase in this epistle is found in I Timothy 3:15: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”The second epistle encourages Timothy to study. II Timothy 2:15 - “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”How then do we study? Is self-study enough to learn? Should one study under a mentor? Does one need to enroll in an institute or a Bible College? These are the questions a lot of preachers are faced with.One of the names given to a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is “disciple”. It means a “learner, scholar, or one who receives instruction from another.” Every believer in Christ must seek to know the truth to be effective. He must be under the guidance of a spiritual mentor. The Church was commissioned to “make disciples”. How can we then fulfill our mission if we are not learned in matters of the scriptures? We ought to be constant students of the Word of God.