Spiritual Education Centre

07/03/2026

The Church needs internal cleansing (Soul-Winning). Dismantling the misapplication of the "Finished Work of Christ" and the errors of "OSAS," is the spiritual antibiotic for a generation poisoned by compromise. TṢA.

13/02/2026

💢 WISDOM FOR MINISTRY 021💢
*"EVALUATION OF THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH DISCIPLESHIP -1"*
_(Making disciples, not hostages, not fans, but Disciples—free, obedient, multiplying followers of Jesus)._

I made this presentation recently in a Convocation and believe it is important to make these truths public for citizens of God's Kingdom who are hungry for the truth and progress in serving the Master.
*_Christian discipleship in the 21st-century church demands clarity on foundational terms to expose distortions and reclaim biblical truth._*

Discipleship means learning from and following Jesus through obedience to His teachings, while the church (ekklesia) is God's called-out assembly for worship and mission.

Ø This teaching evaluates the positives modern churches have achieved, identifies two dangerous extremes: *Authoritarian control* and *Lax compromise.*
A balanced biblical path forward is also charted.
This teaching may be presented in parts.

There's an urgent concern that *true Biblical disciples have been distorted into cult-like arrangements through brainwashing and indoctrination, enslaving God's people rather than freeing them to follow Christ.*

· Simultaneously, we must acknowledge the opposite error: *ungodly compromise masked as Spirit-led freedom.*

*Let's start with a deeper dive into vital definitions:*

*Biblically, discipleship* _(matheteuo in Greek)_ is the process of becoming a mathetes—a learner/follower who believes the gospel, repents, is baptized, and obeys Jesus' commands under the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).

True Biblical discipleship comes with *Three Essential Phases:*
*1. Following Jesus:*
Initial commitment and repentance—answering Christ's call "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19; Luke 9:23)

*2. Being Changed by Jesus:* Transformation via Scripture, prayer, community, and the Spirit—becoming conformed to His image (Romans 12:2; Galatians 5:22-23)

*3. Committing to Jesus' Mission:*
Reproducing disciples and making disciples globally (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2)

> Discipleship is not mere attendance at church services, intellectual agreement with doctrine, or nominal Christianity. *It is costly, life-on-life growth toward Christlikeness requiring surrender, obedience, and community.*

In the records of John 8:31 _"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'"._

This verse encapsulates discipleship: *holding fast to Jesus' teaching yields freedom and truth, NOT BO***GE OR COMPROMISE.*

*What is the Church?*
*Ekklesia* _(Greek: ἐκκλησία)_ literally means "called-out assembly".
God's people summoned from the world into Christ's body *for worship, edification, and mission.*

*Key Characteristics:*
• *She's a Living Organism:* Not a building or event, but _believers as interdependent members of one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23)_

• *She's both Gathered and also Dispersed:*
_Locally assembled for worship/teaching; globally sent for witness and service (1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 28:19-20)_

• *She's Purposeful and MISSION-DRIVEN:*
_Called to make disciples of all nations, equipping saints for maturity and works of service (Ephesians 4:11-16)._

• *She's Spirit-Empowered and Christ-Centered:* _Submitting to Christ's lordship via the Holy Spirit's power and guidance_

💢 *The church's central function is to DISCIPLE BELIEVERS,* _moving them from spiritual infancy to maturity, and from maturity to multiplying ministry._

The records of God's word in Ephesians 4:11-13 helps us with this truth:
_"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ"._

*THE POSITIVES OF THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH DISCIPLESHIP:*
In my opinion, there seem to be two areas of positive improvement in the 21st Century Church, I will mention only one (the most prominent) and then proceed to the two very disturbing negatives.

So, before critiquing extremes, we must honour faithful labourers advancing Christ's kingdom as we praise God for the innovations:

*DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY AND REACH:*
_(Modern technology and Social Media)_
These means democratizes Bible study and spiritual formation globally:
The 21st century Church, more than her predecessors have been able to utilise

*· Apps and Platforms:* YouVersion Bible app boasts 500+ million downloads; I actively use Tecarta, there’s Logos, Olive Tree, and other tools that makes the Scripture instantly accessible to billions. ✅

*· Audio and Video:*
Podcasts, YouTube channels, and streaming services enable daily discipleship habits, Commuters, busy parents, and global audiences access teachings that were once reserved for only local congregations.✅

*· Cost-Free Resources:*
Bible gateways, commentary libraries, and devotional apps remove financial barriers to spiritual growth.✅

👣 *Impact:*
A Christian in rural Nigeria can study Spurgeon's sermons; a mother in Canada accesses prayer communities 24/7. Technology scales Jesus' model of relational teaching to unprecedented reach.

These and many more are the wonderful effects of these developments.

I will stop here and move on to evaluate the negative extremes of the distorted discipleship practices of the 21st century Church. This I will do in the next part.
It promises to be very unsettling and detailed.

I'll end this part by saying that *ANY CHURCH THAT'S NOT MISSION FOCUSED IS NOT CHRIST'S.*
Once the main purpose shifts from *_Biblically worshipping God, edifying the brethren (Biblical fellowship) and missions (soul winning), it's a lost cause._*

With love 💕 from your brother and co-labourer, 🫂 Tèmítópẹ́ Ṣíjú-Alex 🫆
SEM, Spain.

26/01/2026

When discipleship is incorrectly defined or manipulated, the future is either polluted or stolen. Our future rests on the quality of the disciples the Holy Spirit prepares for the Kingdom. I invite you to join us in this convocation. You won't become too heavy for God to carry as a vessel in Jesus' name. 🙏🏼

Wishing you a blessed week.
Tèmítọ́pẹ́ Ṣíjú-Alex🫆
SEM, Spain.

12/01/2026

We're opening up our 2026 meetings with this programme as directed by God's Holy Spirit. If this year will go as God planned it for you, then the momentum required for the journey is embedded in THE FORCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Kingdom flourishing is reserved for those empowered by THE FORCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is strong enough to exalt a nation not to talk of your individual life! This is where "The desire of nations is gathered under one roof." It is like pouring what can uphold a generation on one person, family or community (as an investment).
The Holy Spirit is waiting to hold you by the hands and carry you through this year if you will let Him.

Join us on Saturday 17th of January in Barcelona for this meeting. Please check the flyer for details.
God's truth will come alive without inhibitions, we'll pray as led and aided by the Holy Spirit and you will have the opportunity to get your questions answered.

I welcome you again to 2026, the year you get to become much more for God by becoming much more in and through the Holy Spirit. 🫂

Tèmítọ́pẹ́ Ṣíjú-Alex 🫆
Chief Servant of SEM.

25/12/2025

15/12/2025

💢 WISDOM FOR MINISTRY 019💢
*"GENUINE SUFFERING VERSUS FOOLISHNESS IN MINISTRY." 2*

*Hebrews 12:11*
_"No *discipline* is enjoyable while it is happening -it's painful! But afterwards there will be a peaceful harvest of right living *for those who are trained in this way."*_

*INTRODUCTION:*
In the first part of this discussion, we read Acts 9:10, 15, 16 where the records of God's word showed the Lord telling Ananias (described as a believer) in a vision to reach out to Saul (who later became Apostle Paul) as He (the Lord) will show *_"How much he MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAME'S SAME."_*
Numerous passages abound indicating that the witnesses of Christ will suffer for the sake of being His followers.
While such suffering emanates mainly from persecutions and the choice to do what is right in this cruel and evil world, there are two other sources or channels of suffering I will briefly mention in this discussion:

*THE PAIN (SUFFERING) OF DISCIPLINE:*
As indicated in the Bible passage above (Hebrews 12:11) there's the pain we must endure to become disciplined soldiers of Christ. Growing to become light bearers comes with being painfully weaned from sucking the breast milk of the frivolities of this sinful world. See how another scripture captures this noble truth:
*2 Timothy 2:3-4*
_"You therefore *must endure hardship* as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."_
The Living Bible Version rendered these verses thus:
*_"Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, just as I do... Do not let yourself become tied up in wordly affairs..."_*

The pain of discipline turns us into worthy disciples. If we heed it, then it will eventually turn to strength. There's no enviable victorious Christian life that didn't pass through the pain of discipline. I'm not talking of those who rate godliness by vanity or the accumulation of wealth, I speak of those who shun those things, leaving them behind to follow Christ. The new life such people now have (not the material lack) in how they stand for and in Christ as the truth is the enviable Christian life.
▪️ Discipline is structured, developmental and termed. God's word has it sorted as we get tutored by the Holy Spirit.
▪️ When you exhaust your syllabus but fail to yield or learn to become transformed into the disciplined soldiers your assignment requires, time spent becomes irrelevant because God's Kingdom system under the leadership of the Holy Spirit will not promote you until you pass.
It is therefore safe to say there are many soldiers still suffering what they ought not to suffer because they either fail or refuse to grow.
▪️ Until you understand sonship, you can't take your rightful place at the table, you will continue to manage the crumbs under the table.
📖 Galatians 4:1, 2
_"Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, [2] but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father."_
📖 Hebrews 5:8, 9
_"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him."_
📖 Hebrews 5:12-13
_"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. [13] For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe."_

🤷🏼 If you allow the Holy Spirit to correctly tie these three passages above together for you, you will clearly understand that:
▪️ Even Jesus passed through this process on earth to *_"become the author of eternal salvation to all who obey."_*
▪️ Some people (not all) who think their glory was stolen by their stepmother, may actually have it pocketed by their ignorance and because they refuse or failed to grow.
I will leave this at this level for today.

We can't afford to forget that IT TAKES THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD TO BECOME HIS VERIFIED DISCIPLE (i.e. son and not just a babe), by this kingdom's standard, certain privileges belongs to those who are matured enough to handle strong meat.
The muscles built in us, by the discipline of climbing in intimacy, over time gives us the stamina to withstand the boisterous wind at the pinnacle of this temple.
Those who got lifted up there by other means other than the Lord's discipline in intimacy with Him (which comes with necessary pain or suffering) often need the help of whatever carried them up to stay up under the strong winds of headship. Many had to be tied down by the chains of occultic alliance to the enemy of God, for them, eternity with God is lost, they have replaced it for temporary significance and fame before men.

*THE PAIN (SUFFERING CRAFTED BY) OF FOOLISHNESS AND IGNORANCE:*

Our God, the Maker of heaven and earth rewards His true servants with peaceful and enduring prosperity. See how Job described this truth:
📖*Job 36:11*
_"If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures."_

> This however doesn't come suddenly without passing God's tests of obedience and genuine (heart-seated) service.
This is the process too many people can neither endure nor follow through.
When this is the case, a truly called and divinely anointed servant of God will keep sweating endlessly and seemingly hopelessly as if sweat is the reward for labour in the vineyard of Christ.
Look at the other part of the revelation through Job above:
📖*Job 36:12-14*
_"But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. [13] "But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them. [14] They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons."_

> A lot (not all) of the uncontrolled and needless suffering in ministry are products of doing God's work in disobedience.

This disobedience could be about _timing, protocols, mandates and locations._
> Incomplete obedience is equal to disobedience! Many are running this race with God's holy oil on their head but a man-made mandate has replaced their divine manifesto.
Such people are not in obedience and have become hypocrites in the heart.

> When ministering unto the Lord in the lives of the people have been replaced with services for financial returns or remunerations, divine supply will be sabotaged by mammonic spirits. Hypocritical hearts in ministry work open doors for devourers.

The foolishness of using the compass of our human desires and logical reasons to plant ourselves in places other than God's designated locations makes us as servants of God miss divine allocations which are eternally directed from the headquarters to divine locations only. It is the reason many hardworking ministers seem to labour in vain and suffer as if God has left his throne.
> There's no greener pasture away from God's will. Togo in God's will is forever richer than Toronto in man's desire.

Some are in the right location but have left their divine mandate to run with another man's manifesto.

Invitation to foolishness-induced suffering is when you started a church when God's instruction was for you to run crusades or remain an associate pastor under another ministry.

I have too many stories of truly anointed servants of God suffering for doing good works in disobedience. Many stories of divine and timely interventions.

*CONCLUSION:*
I was hoping to wrap this up in this 2nd part, but obviously, there will be a third part where I can clearly point at *HOW TO SURVIVE AND ESCAPE SUFFERING IN MINISTRY.* We also need to escape the *Error of Elijah.*

Till the 3rd part comes up here, remember that no matter what the issue is, with obedience on your side, God's gracious, frequent, timely and miraculous provisions are always on spot. He's got your back if you trust and obey Him.
While we endure and righteously work our ways out of the necessary sufferings through obedience and understanding His divine timelines, we must be careful and allow the Spirit of Counsel to guide us. Outside divine instructions, full time can quickly become fools time.
Each one of us will ultimately have to decide what we agree to be the correct definition of contentment, satisfaction, greed and real suffering according to the scriptures as interpreted by the Holy Spirit.

*1 Peter 5:10 NKJV*
_"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."_

*1 Peter 5:10 NLT*
_"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."_

*1 Peter 5:10 MSG*
_"So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does."_

*If God CALLED you and you're WHERE He SENT you- doing WHAT He sent you to do: He's got your back.*
We're not called/ meant to suffer to death.

With love 💕 from your brother and co-labourer, 🫂

Tèmítópẹ́ Ṣíjú-Alex 🫆

06/12/2025

💢 WISDOM FOR MINISTRY 018💢
*"GENUINE SUFFERING VERSUS FOOLISHNESS IN MINISTRY. 1"*

*Acts 9:15-16*
_"But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. [16] And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake."_

*Mark 9:12-13*
_"Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? [13] But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."_

*John 15:18-21*
_"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me."_

*INTRODUCTION:*
This is a very sensitive subject because no one (including the vessel typing this message) ever wants to suffer. The subject of suffering is unlike discussions about fasting because the inconvenience that's experienced with fasting is optional and contained within the easily determinable scope of time.
Christian suffering, persecutions and ministerial suffering are somewhat complicated discussions that often need the direct dealings of the Holy Spirit to understand and survive.
I will try not to run around on these issues because the focus I'm given for this communication by God's Spirit is on suffering in ministry. I will try to stay within this scope and be brief too.

*INTERPRETING GOD'S WORD OR WILL WITH HUMAN EXPERIENCE WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO ERROR*
The Biblically acceptable procedure is to interpret whatever we're experiencing in the light of God's word.
When it comes to such discussions, I treasure God's word recorded in The Epistle to the Colossians, chapter two (2) without any apology. The entire chapter is on point and on fire in this regard: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO WALK IN HIM, ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM... Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men... Vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind..."

Irrespective of age-long and ongoing theological debates, Apostle Paul suffered an infirmity he described as _"A messenger of Satan."_ God chose to let it remain on the Apostle for reasons that benefit eternity. You can read up about this in 2 Corinthians 12:7ff. And also Galatians 4:13, 14.
While there's the place of the anointing to bring healing to those God sent us to and the need to build our faith to get the healing God used His anointing upon us to remove from others, there are infirmities occasioned and sustained by factors we will only get to understand by and by.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't seek godly ways out of pain, but we must understand that it is not always sin, error or spiritual weakness that causes such suffering to come or linger. It could be in the similitude of Apostle Paul's case or cheer product of foolishness occasioned by ignorance. Whichever one it turned out to be, we must never accept to be free from pain by means that denies the lordship of Jesus over our lives. Whatever God's word categories as sin CAN NEVER BE AN ACCEPTABLE WAY OF ESCAPE FROM SUFFERING.
Irrespective of the suffering, never subscribe to men of experience who offer to lead you through the path of iniquity to buy you relief. In such a case, it is better to keep suffering until godly escape is found.

There's no wisdom of experienced men that's higher than the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will always lead you through the path of God's word. It is one of the ways we discern and are assured that He is the one leading us.

*ARE THERE BIBLICALLY LEGITIMATE SUFFERING OF LACK IN MINISTRY?*
Apart from the suffering occasioned by persecutions (which often initiate painful lack of material comfort), our trainings to be disciplined and focused on the high calling in Christ until we're perceived and endorsed by heaven as able and matured ministers often come with severe financial conditions at some point. How long this will go on is dependent on the peculiarities of our calling, assignment and personal growth. One of the lessons I have learnt in my walk with God and solidly backed up in scripture is that while He pacifies you with a slice here and there occasionally, you're most likely going to be left with the daily crumb instead of your daily bread until you grow enough to take your place at His table as a son.
God won't promote you until you pass. The progress will remain slow until you learn and internalise the truth that makes you follow the Holy Spirit in all things and at all times. Always and in all ways. WE WILL NEVER BECOME EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO GO ON WITHOUT HIM IN FRONT.

So, yes, there's Biblically legitimate suffering in ministry which may linger whilst He confirms what's in your heart!
*Deuteronomy 8:2-3*
_"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. [3] So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."_

This process still persists today, He will test you (and you'll have to pass the test) before He lifts you.

Jesus sent the disciples out without provision to make them seem to be at the mercy of what their audience provides, then he sent them at other times with provision. Both categories still exist in the work of ministry.

*CONCLUSIÓN:*
I will put up a *part 2 to discuss HOW TO SURVIVE AND ESCAPE SUFFERING IN MINISTRY.*
I don't want this to be longer than it already is.
As a way of concluding this message temporarily, I will point you to the FREQUENT, TIMELY AND MIRACULOUS mercies we receive even as the suffering persists, there's a way He comes through for those He called. Divine interventions and heavenly favours to show us that He's journeying with us. Those interventions and interruptions will keep coming as a way to work on our hearts... When our perspective changes, the real change begins until our obedience becomes unquestionable in embracing God's eternal agenda, then peculiar upliftments lines up to pull us out to a place of new experiences...

Until I come your way with the very important 2nd part of this discussion, NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON, STAY WITH WHAT HE CALLED (SENT) YOU TO DO.

I love 💕 you as much as I can in the Lord 🫂
Tèmítọ́pẹ́ Ṣíjú-Alex 🫆

03/12/2025

💢 WISDOM FOR MINISTRY 017💢
*"BREAKING THE GROUNDS OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT FOR THE HARVEST OF SOULS." PART 5 (CONCLUSION)*

2 Timothy 2:1-7
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [2] And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. [3] You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. [5] And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. [6] The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. [7] Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things."

*INTRODUCTION:*
It would be a sort of disservice to the eternal purpose of this message if you do not get to read the preceding 4 parts. Please, try to do so.

One of the areas I am most careful about discussing with servants of God is those bothering on issues that pertain to this 3rd Hammer. The reason is that the church and minds of many genuine ministers of the gospel (both old and young) have been flooded, confused and polluted by all sorts of hideous and seemingly harmless but wrong ideas on how to do ministry. We've used humanism, paganism and dictatorship to replace theocracy. With calculated subtlety, evil spirits are posing as the Holy Spirit in the lives of many servants of God. The situation is scary. Hunger, pride and the pursuit of fame or significance has blinded many true servants of God.
I have gone into ministers training too many times, hoping to give 3, 7, or 12 points or ways to increase attendance or identify one thing or the other, only to be stopped in my tracks by the Holy Spirit: "Many (not all) of these people aren't broken; some are business men looking for financial emancipation, etc.

I'd prefer to shake this mood off and simply go into the discussion on the 3rd Hammer.

*3. SKILLFULNESS: BIBLICAL AND SPIRIT-TAUGHT STRATEGIES*

God is a strategist par excellence, and He is a responsible God who supports His children in acquiring skill sets relevant to their divine purpose and destiny throughout life.
The work of God is not to be done mainly based on our capacity or knowledge, but according to His instructions. What you can do is not as important as obedience in carrying out His instructions. Therefore, God develops and guides us to developmental opportunities that align with His agenda for our calling and assignments.
God’s programme is more important than His servants. His timetable can be achieved without anyone’s support. That’s why just the breath of Christ is enough to end the war of Armageddon! Therefore, God doesn’t need us to win. He needs us to be obedient servants so we can partake in the victory. We need to know all these so that we can have healthy perspectives on skills and not magnify them beyond measure, as many people have done and are now slaves to secular methods and the earthly success they bring. KNOWING HOW TO DO THINGS IS NEVER GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING AND DOING WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.

*THE POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF SKILLFULNESS:*

In agriculture, when managing or creating a nursery in plant cultivation, the purpose and processes are important to get the desired results: it is intended to:
Ensure the plants survive from inception to the season they can be self-sustaining to a good extent. So, they are:
Sheltered from pests, direct rain (or flood) and sunlight by the nursery system.
Specific soil types with specially added manure are provided for them.
Choice of appropriate containers and Controlled watering systems is created and applied.
Professional timing for correct transplantation is ensured.
At the end, we have a structured and rewarding harvest because of skilful management.
We can bring this back to our work as labourers in the vineyard of God; skillfulness helps us to:
Work as SERVANTS of GOD INSTEAD OF THE MASTER OF GOD'S PEOPLE - because RELATIONSHIP is a key factor in breaking the grounds.
- LEADERS WHO ARE NOT BROKEN (i.e. matured and skilful) WILL BREAK PEOPLE!
- We, therefore, must ensure or verify the calling of each labourer because this work requires divine passion. Skill acquisition won’t be endured without that passion for harvests of soul (Ephesians 4:11-16).
- The same thing goes for the assignment (1 Corinthians 12:28-31). ARE YOU CALLED AND ASSIGNED TO THIS MISSION AND THIS FIELD BY THE MASTER? (Please, read part 1 of this journal again if need be.)

We also need to verify and clarify our INSTRUCTIONS (i.e. marching orders). The Passover night and its procession in the records of the book of Exodus 12 come with very specific instructions. Building the Ark by Noah also came with specific instructions. Moses received very clear and specific instructions about constructing the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The Ark of the Covenant wasn’t built by human ideas. WHAT ARE YOUR MARCHING ORDERS?

*SOME WRONG PRACTICES THAT EXPOSES OUR LACK OF RIGHT HEART AND SKILLFULNESS FOR MINISTRY:*

1. Ministering without proper preparations in cleansing, studying, praying and listening (waiting on the Lord). Doing mere copy-preaching without letting the Holy Spirit LEAD AND GUIDE. Please, read Leviticus 16:1, 2ff; Hebrews 9:7ff; Deuteronomy 18:20...
2. Putting unbelievers among the church members into active ministry work because of family connections, ethnicity, availability, education, influence, etc. The stories of the sons of Eli, Samuel and Sceva are enough for us. Ministry work won’t convert an unbeliever. We must not pamper sin and sinners in church leadership. 1 Timothy 5:21, 22.
3. Putting so much faith in publicity that we erroneously REPLACE EVANGELISM (SOUL WINNING) WITH PUBLICITY.
4. Thinking small to the extent of exhibiting the error of staging faithfulness against fruitfulness.
5. Captivated and captured by our comfort zone. Bottled by the familiar, so much so that we dread the experience of the unknown.
6. Failing to learn the language and culture of the host community (Social and mental laziness).
7. Turning God's house into racial and ethnic group meetings only.
8. Turning God's house into personal family property
9. Turning God's house into an idol
10. Copying and adopting popular systems without checking with the Holy Spirit for permission.
11. Using the PULPIT to maintain friendship, do business (inviting ministers with the expectation and arrangements that they would invite you in return), and carry out politics and vendetta.
12. Fishing from the basket of other labourers instead of going out to the sea. Stealing members from other local assemblies through unbiblical visions and manipulations.
13. ADD YOURS HERE: ______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

*STANDARD OPERATIONS FOR SKILLFUL LABORERS*

The following truths are pointers to the level of skillfulness and readiness of servants of God to access the skills required for divine assignments:
1. Theocracy, NOT DICTATORSHIP OR DEMOCRACY, is practised in their stewardship.
- We're CARETAKERS, so, following divine guidelines coordinated by the Holy Spirit based on the Holy Bible is the operational module of theocracy:
* We're not lawless
* We're not men pleasers
* We're not owners.
2. Acknowledge that we NEED TRAINING.
- Skill acquisition as continuous personal development is not contestable. Please, read *2 Timothy 2:1-7.*
*The Holy Spirit is our official Helper,* but _He won't read or study the Bible for us._ He won't register us for training programmes, but if and when we choose to read, study or register, He will step in to guide us and help us to understand. *_(Please, read Psalm 78:70-72)_*
- OUR UNIFYING FACTOR IS THE TRUTH THAT GIVES BIRTH TO CHRISTLIKE LOVE, NOT BLIND LOVE WITHOUT TRUTH. Please, read Romans 16:17, 18; 2 Thessalonians 3:6ff; 2 John 1:10, 11; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; Titus 3:9-11; Matthew 18:15-17.

*CONCLUSION:*
Every principle or idea that makes the pulpit transactional by secular indices is ungodly and wrong. Should I say that the Holy Spirit is the only one in charge and as servants we just obey His instructions? So, inviting another servant of God to minister on the platform you maintain under the Holy Spirit must never be on the basis of reciprocating with invitations. It's not an exchange programme. _"Help us raise an amount of money as you minister so you get a percentage of it"_ is a deal from the pit of hell. There are many more of such transactions we must run away from as servants of God.

*PRACTICAL STEPS FOR BREAKING THE GROUND OF YOUR MISSION FIELD FOR THE HARVEST OF SOULS:*

Acquisition of skills *begins and becomes* meaningful with the following steps:
*1. Repentance:* Be sober and turn around. Acknowledge your wrong steps and be willing to do things correctly.
*2. Dependence on the Holy Spirit's Leadership and guidance must be established as a principle:* Then, the next thing is done fiercely from that point of principle:
*2b. Pray: (As a sign of total reliance on God’s help) -*
According to the records of God’s word in Luke 9:51-56, Jesus was refused in a Samaritan village! God’s word revealed that the reason for the rejection was “Because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.” (vs. 53). Whatever other cultural (historical) and religious differences existing between the Jews and Samaritans, God’s word shows that Jesus’ preparation wasn’t for that village at that time. The lesson is that *prayer preparation is strategic, and it is a skill we must not ignore.* To go to Jerusalem, He prayed for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). Thereafter, He entered and broke the grounds there > verses 45-48. *He set His face* to go to Jerusalem. We, too, must *pray for the harvest.*
- What harvest in particular are you praying for?
- What are your faith-set expectations?
- Prayer warfare should precede physical invasion or programming of any form.
- Pray to listen and receive the Spirit’s directives for the assignment and strength to obey correctly.
UNTIL WE ARE SKILLFUL IN PRAYING BIBLICAL AND SPIRIT-LED PRAYERS (NOT TOXIC PRAYERS), ALL OTHER SKILLS WON’T LEAD US TO GOD’S EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MISSION.

Sir/ Ma, YOU'LL NEVER BECOME SO EXPERIENCED AND ANOINTED THAT YOU'LL NEED TO PRAY LESS. IT IS DECEIT OF HELL TO THINK SO.

With lots of love 💕 and Blessings 🙌🏼,
Tèmítọ́pẹ́ Ṣíjú-Alex 🫆
Chief Servant, SEM.