John Stanko

We are almost done with my list of ministry standards with just one more after this entry, which describes our need in ministry to grow in knowledge and expertise so as not to rely on our call or anointing.

7. COMPETENT – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:9-12, emphasis added).

We constantly strive to improve our skills so the Holy Spirit can maximize our effectiveness and work through us. This requires that we attend seminars, classes and workshops, and also follow a reading/learning program that includes Word studies and other relevant resources. We also regularly teach and train to impart what we know, while also learning from those we teach. 

If we know more, God has more to use and can quicken it in us when He desires us to express it. If, however, we are ignorant and God anoints us, all we have is anointed ignorance!