Mediation Passage:
Acts: 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God”.

Introduction:
Jesus Christ is calling us for the Christian Ministry. In that calling there is a mission and an anointing. We could accomplish the mission only if we are faithful to the calling. We have seen and heard about many who set out for the Christian ministry but not completed it. In this context, God is giving us the challenge to accomplish the mission.

Paul’s Desire:
The theme of our meditation is the words of Apostle Paul who is known in Christian history as the second founder of Christianity. “But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
When apostles could not accomplish the challenge of Jesus Christ, Saint Paul is the one who accomplished the mission literally through different media. Paul, who was separated out for the ministry by the Holy Spirit, traveled from today’s Turkey to Greece and then to Rome and Spain. He proclaimed the gospel wherever he could reach by his three missionary journeys.

Paul visited big towns, commercial centers, port cities and places where people assemble.
He met many in person and told them about Jesus Christ. He argued with many people for the gospel. He established many churches. He strengthened local churches and disciples through his eminent epistles. Paul was the one who accomplished the task of propagating the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth in the first century. Hundreds of generations and millions of people, whom he hasn’t seen in his life time, found Jesus Christ by reading his writings. It was Paul’s earnest desire to accomplish the task Jesus entrusted him even by denying his own life.

Hindrances in accomplishing the ministry
Satan knew very well the mission, anointment and the esteem of the entrusted task on the
servant of God. Therefore, Satan desires not to accomplish the mission. Let us think briefly about the hindrances before us in accomplishing the entrusted ministry.

1. Persuade us to look back by stealing our vision to go forward
2. Persuade to backslide when we are in despair
3. Create love and greed for money
4. Create love of authority by injecting thoughts about who is great among them
5. Create lust and desire of the flesh
6. Submit to a new comfortable goal rather than sticking to the goal given by God
7. Experiences that incite indifference
8. Poverty
9. Sickness
10. Family Problems
11. Problems from outside, community and church
12. Lacks confidence
13. Lack of reliance upon God
14. Despair
15. Doubt
16. Jealousy
17. Vengeance
18. Strife
19. Craving of Reward
20. Telling of deficiencies

Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are many other factors that create hindrances in accomplishing the entrusted ministry

How should we accomplish our ministry? Ways and Means to accomplish the ministry.
1. In the Word of God, Saint Paul is telling about what should be remembered by a minister when immense problems come against the ministry. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12). We are called for the ministry neither by a person nor by an organization but by Jesus Christ. That same Christ should give us the required strength to undertake the ministry. He counted us as the faithful ones. So we should have great confidence that we will be able to accomplish the entrusted ministry.

2. The challenge put forward by the writer of Hebrew also inspires us to finish our task. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. (Hebrews 12:2). Do not look back. Do not look at the troubles. Look to Jesus only.

3. Give the entire glory of the ministry to Jesus. Give glory to the Lord without accepting it for yourselves. It was the specialty of Jesus’ ministry. Heed to the words of Jesus. “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Jesus is showing us a great example when he is telling this to His father.

4. Acquire strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit. The strength and direction Holy Spirit provides will inspire us to go forward. Holy Spirit drives away our fears and gives us strength to overcome problems.

5. Read the biographies of heroic missionaries who stood for their goal and fought the battle to the end of their life. Understand their qualities that lead to success.
Let God give us His grace to complete our ministry in the midst of obstacles. When troubles and challenges grow up in the ministry, trust in Jesus who strengthens us and appointed us for the ministry