Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
~1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV
Taking heed to your ministry requires you to be an example to the believers, teaching them with your life by word, demeanor, love, faith, and integrity. You must, therefore, show yourself to be a pattern of good works in all things. You must also show integrity and reverence without reproach in doctrine.
Thus, taking heeding to your ministry requires you to take heed to yourself. You must check yourself before you wreck yourself as well as those who follow you. Sometimes, this requires you to refrain, restrain, or even retreat by taking a step back to examine your actions before you take any action. But in every instance, it requires you to arm yourself with the Word of God by taking A.I.M. at yourself. Taking aim preserves and protects you from the EN-A-ME—the enemy seeking power and control over your inner me.
Ask Yourself. Think about what you are thinking about carefully. Thinking leads to feeling and feeling leads to action. So, do your “best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” Then, when you follow other ministers as they follow Christ, you practice what you’ve learned, heard, saw and realized from them. Then, “God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies” (Philippians 4:8-9 MSG).
Investigate Yourself. Search for truth, which is fully found in Jesus. When you embrace the truth—the whole truth and nothing but the truth found in His Word—it releases more freedom into your lives. “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 TLB).
Mind Yourself. Take care, be careful and be on your guard because Jesus is coming back sooner than you think. He said, “Concerning that day and exact hour, no one knows when it will arrive, not the angels of heaven, not even the Son—only the Father knows. This is why you must be waiting, watching and praying, because no one knows when that season of time will come” (Mark 13:32-33 TPT).
Allow the sharp Surgeon’s Scalpel to cut through everything, whether doubt or defense and lay you open to listen and obey. Then, you will “be even more careful to do the good things that result from being saved, obeying God with deep reverence, shrinking back from all that might displease Him” (Philippians 2:12 TLB). As He works within you, he helps you want to obey Him and do what He wants so you can faithfully minister His grace gift to you.
Titus 2:7-8, 15, John 8:32 TPT, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, 1 Peter 4:10, Philippians 2:13 NKJV/TLB/MSG/TLB
