How To Overcome Barrenness In Ministry

by Dag Heward-Mills

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Copyright 2008 Dag Heward-Mills

Published by Dag Heward-Mills on Smashwords.

E mail Dag Heward-Mills

info@daghewardmillsbooks.org

evangelist@daghewardmills.org

Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

http://www.daghewardmills.org

http://www.daghewardmills.org/healingjesuscrusade/

http://www.daghewardmills.org/lci/

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Contents

Chapter 1 - Barrenness in Ministry

Chapter 2 - Five Hebrew Words

Chapter 3 - Two Greek Titles

Chapter 4 - How to Diagnose Barrenness

Chapter 5 - How to Fight Different Kinds of Barrenness

Chapter 6 - Fighting the Barrenness of Familiarity

Chapter 7 - Four Groups That Often Suffer from Familiarity

Chapter 8 - Twelve Signs of Familiarity

Chapter 9 - Familiarity and the Anointing

Chapter 10 - Intercession: The Way Out of Barrenness

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Dedication To

Pastor Peter Nsowah

Thank you for a great work done in Australia.

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Chapter 1

Barrenness in Ministry

The kingdom of God is more than a school of history and doctrines. There is more to it than the acquiring of numerous certificates of Bible knowledge. Knowledge without fruitfulness is nothing. Have you noticed that some of the most learned and scholarly Bible expositors are very ineffective at real ministry? In fact, sometimes the more scholarly they become, the more faithless, godless and barren they are.

Bearing fruit is a very spiritual thing. Have you wondered at the immense fruit that Christ Jesus bore? Two thousand years have gone by and He has more fruit than He has ever had before!

Barrenness is the reason for the lack of real ministry in the modern Christian church. There are a lot of activities and a lot of programmes but there is little or no ministry.

Some pastors are barren. No matter what they do, their ministries never flourish. When barrenness is taken away, fruitfulness is always the result.

God wants us to be fruitful. God wants us to expand in ministry. In order to be fruitful you must understand what barrenness really is. It is a problem God wants to deal with in our ministries.

In the next few chapters, we will be studying the concept of spiritual barrenness and how it affects ministry. As we study, God will reveal to us the causes of barrenness in our lives, churches and ministries.

Chapter 2

Five Hebrew Words

1. AQAR– (Genesis 11:30, Judges 13:2-3, Genesis 25:21, 1 Samuel 2:5, Deuteronomy 7:14)

This word means “the destruction or removal of generative organs”. It also means “to have non-functioning organs”, “to be barren or sterile”. It is used in reference to people like Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, the mother of Samson, and Rebecca.

There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren (AQAR), in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.

Exodus 23:26

Ministers suffering from aqar barrenness are deficient in the generative aspect of ministry. This means they are deficient in the outreach and fruit-bearing aspects of ministry life. They are unable to give birth to anything in the ministry. Such pastors may have many activities but these programmes do not bring much fruit for the ministry.

One way of fighting barrenness is to consider the outreach aspect of your ministry. Do you have crusades? Do you plant new churches? The absence of crusades, breakfast meetings, witnessing campaigns and real ministry work, shows a deficiency in the generative aspect of your ministry.

Barren people who are members of the church receive the Word and probably have the tapes. They may even be involved in other activities of the church. They are seen at prayer meetings and become “fat” spiritually. However, such people will not be involved in ministry, evangelism or soul winning. This proves that they have a deficiency in their spiritual generative organs.

2. SHAKOL- (Leviticus 26:22, 2 Kings 2:19, Deuteronomy 32:25)

This means “to miscarry, to suffer abortion, to be bereaved of children, to be barren, to cast your young, to make childless and to be deprived of children”.

I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate (SHAKOL).

Leviticus 26:22

Any minister experiencing shakol cannot keep the souls that God gives him. Such ministers constantly cast their young and suffer abortions.

They cannot sustain the growth and are unable to continue in the things that God gives to them. Many churches receive large numbers of visitors and even converts. You must work on keeping these converts. You must make sure that your visitors come again.

I always pray over my members. I pray to God, “Lord, when they go, let them come back to church. As they come back, let them come with more people.”

I pray that each member becomes a minister and that each minister gives birth to a church. This kind of prayer counteracts shakol barrenness.

Another reason why some other churches are unable to break out is that they attack their young leaders. They kill fresh blood. The leaders do not allow mavericks to flourish around them. The anointing on all of us is greater than the anointing on one person. You must allow fresh leaders and pastors to be released under your ministry. The fastest growth always occurs when there are multiple ministers working together.

3. MELECHAH- (2 Kings 2:19, Psalm 107:34, Jeremiah 17:6)

This word means “a salted land, a desert or a barren land”. It speaks of no produce and no life. The land is dead to any kind of seed. People suffering from melechah are like spiritually salted lands. In spite of what you pour into them, they are unable to bear fruit. They are incapable of germinating seeds. A cursory glance at every congregation will reveal several “salted lands” staring at you.

Mercy and atonement! They have been in the church for many years and have heard many sermons. They have been anointed and prayed for specially, but they still cannot bear fruit. Much is poured into them but little can be expected from these salted ones.

There are also salted churches. No matter the input, the church does not grow. No new churches are planted from that church. Until the salted land is healed, there will be no fruit.

And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my Lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren (melechah). And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

2 Kings 2:19-22

A pastor who is a salted land does not give rise to other pastors of his own kind. He remains in the church he pastors, but cannot bring forth other pastors. Break out of the salted state and start to think of birthing more pastors and more churches!

I remember the story of a church that could not grow. No matter what happened and no matter who preached, there was no breakthrough. One day, a visiting pastor was waiting on the Lord and he had a vision. Way up in the ceiling he saw a demon sitting above the congregation. This evil spirit had greatly affected the church for many years. God opened the pastor’s eyes to see the “salt” that was making the church barren. He dealt with the evil spirit and commanded it to leave.

After that experience, the church began to grow in leaps and bounds. I believe there are real salted situations that need the healing hand of God. I see God removing the saltiness from your life, church and ministry!

4. OTSER- (Proverbs 30:16)

This Hebrew word means “to enclose, to hold back and to maintain”. It also means “to close up, to restrain, and retain”. In addition, it means “to shut up, to withhold and to stop”.

The grave; and the barren (OTSER) womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

Proverbs 30:16

People suffering from this kind of barrenness hold back intentionally. They know a lot, but they hold back and refuse to be fruitful. Pastors with otser barrenness have the finances and the anointing to break forth in ministry. However, they give their strength to other things like orphanages, schools and social work. Some of them are more concerned about being politically influential and socially acceptable than doing the work of God. The drive for ministry is restrained!

Such people can do many things for the Lord but are restrained. They hold back their talents even though they are usually experienced people who could do much more for Jesus. It is often because they have decided to give their strength and talents to other things.

If you are a pastor, you will notice in your congregation people who are leaders of Old Boys’ Associations or even political groups. They have time for politics, soccer, MBA, or PhD courses, and other activities. However, when it comes to the work of God, they are inclosed and restrained. They are reserved when it comes to prayer and worship, but vocal when it comes to discussing politics and other issues. These are the people suffering from otser.

5. TSIYAH- (Isaiah 41:18, Psalm 63:1)

This word speaks of being “parched and barren”. It speaks of “a drought, a dry land and a wilderness”.

I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry LAND (TSIYAH) springs of water.

Isaiah 41:18

A church suffering from tsiyah is often dry of the Spirit. It is a wilderness devoid of worship, prayer and the lifting up of hands. That kind of church is usually very secular and logical in its approach to life and the ministry.

Spiritual dryness and the lack of worship is a true

sign of barrenness. Introducing new worship songs will often fight against this kind of barrenness.

Sometimes, changing your worship leader will lead to a major change in your church. Changing your choir leader and the type of songs your choir sings can also greatly affect your church. Perhaps if the choir were to sing songs about soul winning and reaching the lost, many outreach ministries would begin. Do not wait forever to make the changes you need to make to bring fruitfulness to your ministry.

Chapter 3

Two Greek Words

There are other Greek words that are translated barren or barrenness. These words also help to throw more light on the subject of spiritual and ministerial barrenness.

1. STEIRAS – (Luke 1:7, 36; Luke 23:29, Galatians 4:27)

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren (steiras), and they both were now well stricken in years. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Luke 1:7, 36

This word means “to be stiff and unnatural”. It speaks of sterility and barrenness. stiffness describes people who are unyielding and disobedient to the Word of God. Anyone who is disobedient to the Word will be barren. Such people love to look distinguished and diplomatic. Sometimes they pretend to be spiritual but in reality they are not. Churches often have these unspiritual and stiff people sitting in the front row. This can prevent growth and induce the steiras atmosphere, which promotes barrenness.

You will notice that growing churches are full of lively, exuberant and excited people dancing and praising the Lord.

It is time to remove the “deep freezers” from the prominent positions we have given them. The church is not a who is who parade!

2. ARGOS– (2 Peter 1:8)

This word means “inactive, unemployed, lazy and useless”. It also speaks of “being idle, slow and barren”. Surprisingly, laziness is one of the principal causes of unfruitfulness in ministry. Lazy people are inactive in church. Their laziness makes them useless to God.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful (ARGOS) in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8

Unfortunately, the church is made up of masses of spiritually inactive people. To break this type of barrenness, it is important to preach about diligence. It is important to teach the congregation that they must win souls for the Lord.

Chapter 4

How to Diagnose Barrenness

It is important to diagnose barrenness when it exists in the ministry. The diagnosis of a problem often leads to the solution. Even in medicine, eighty per cent of our problems are solved when the diagnosis is made.

Many ministries are operating under a spirit of barrenness. Many pastors are unaware that they can have a greater level of fruitfulness. In this chapter, I will show you some signs you must look out for in order to detect barrenness in the ministry.

If Jesus were standing by you, He would say these words to you:

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 15:8

How to Diagnose Barrenness in the Church

One way to diagnose barrenness is to really understand it based on how the dictionary defines it. If you apply these definitions to your church, you will know whether you are barren or not. God will show you if a spirit of barrenness is in operation.

Let us now look at the dictionary definitions of barrenness and see how they apply to ministry.

Twenty Definitions of Barrenness

1. To be barren means to be unfruitful.

2. To be barren means to be sterile.

3. To be barren means to be childless, heirless and issueless.

4. Barrenness means you are non-productive.

5. To be barren means to be deficient in production.

6. Barrenness means you are not conceiving at all or producing at all.

7. A barren person is someone who produces in very small quantities.

8. A barren land is a wasteland.

9. Barren trees do not produce the normal fruit.

10. Barrenness speaks of bleakness.

11. To be barren, is to be depleted.

12. To be barren, is to be deserted.

13. Barrenness speaks of dryness.

14. A barren thing can be described as not being copious.

15. A barren land is a scanty land.

16. Barrenness is sometimes dullness.

17. A barren individual does not produce after his kind.

18. Barrenness speaks of wanting or needing the power of conception.

19. Barren places are impoverished.

20. Barren places are un-tillable.

Let us now look at the symptoms of barrenness within the church context. Examine your ministry and see whether barrenness exists.

Barrenness in the Church

Barrenness can be said to exist in a church if any of the following exists:

1. If there is no growth in the number of your church members.

2. If there are no converts, or no growth in the number of converts.

3. If there is no growth in church attendance.

4. If there is no growth in the number of full- time staff.

5. If there is no baptism, or no growth in the number of people baptized.

6. If there is the absence of healings and miracles.

7. If there is no growth in the number of leaders in the church.

8. If there is no increase in the knowledge of God.

9. If there is no growth in the depth of relationships.

10. If there is no growth in the number of visions and dreams given by the Holy Spirit or none at all.

11. If there is no programme to send out missionaries or, no increase in the number of missionaries sent out.

12. If there is no growth in the finances of the church.

13. If there is no increase in the number of Scriptures you know.

14. If there is no growth in your experience in the ministry.

15. If there is the absence of or, no growth in the outreaches of the church.

16. If there is no growth in the length and depth of your prayer or no prayer at all.

17. If there is no increase in challenges and mountains to overcome.

18. If there is no challenge and inspiration to a greater vision.

19. If there is no growth in understanding.

20. If there is no growth in fellowships and branches.

Now that you have diagnosed the problem, receive the prophecy of the Lord for your ministry! Believe that these words are coming to pass in your life!

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel;

The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Isaiah 54:1-8

Chapter 5

How to Fight Different Kinds of Barrenness

There are different ways to fight every type of barrenness.

Fighting the Barrenness of Old Age

Abram married Sarai, but she was not able to have children.

Genesis 11:30 (Contemporary English Version)

Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: Ipray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Genesis 16:1-4

We all know the story of Abraham and Sarah. You could consider Sarah as a type of church. You could also consider her as a type of minister. Sarah could be likened to a pastor who is not bearing as much fruit, as he should. Sarah could be likened to a wilderness kind of church in which there is no life.

You can fight this kind of barrenness by doing these things:

1. Do not transfer the duty of outreach and ministry to anyone else.

The pastor must lead the congregation to win souls and bear fruit. According to Genesis 16:1- 2, Sarah shifted the responsibility of child- bearing to someone else. This was an attempt to overcome the barrenness she was experiencing. She tried to overcome barrenness in the wrong way.

2. Do not reject the prophetic word.

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also?

Genesis 18:12

Sarah laughed when she heard the prophesy about Isaac. Receive the visitation of God for your life through revelations, dreams and the spoken Word.

Believe in the Lord and you shall be established, believe in His prophets and you shall prosper

2 Chronicles 20:20

Prophetic messages can make a difference in your ministry. Years ago, I received a message from a prophet. He saw me carrying a flaming torch and leading many people. He gave this message to me in 1980. Twenty-four years have gone by and this prophecy remains in my heart as a true vision.

It encouraged me to do the work of God as a student. It encouraged me to persist in the ministry even after school.

3. Believe in God, His prophets and in the preaching of His Word.

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

Genesis 17:15

Walk in your calling. You must overcome the greatest enemies of the faith walk: fear and intimidation. Walking in fear and intimidation will not lead to fruitfulness in ministry.

4. Take the practical step that leads to fruitfulness even if it looks like something for younger people.

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age…And Abraham called the name of his son…Isaac.

Genesis 21:2-3

Isaac was not supernaturally conceived as was the case of Christ Jesus. He was conceived by the normal method of sexual intercourse. Sarah had to undress and act like an energetic young lady with a youthful husband!

Abraham and Sarah were forced to engage in sexual happiness in their nineties. Can you imagine a ninety-year-old, menopausal woman acting like a pretty youthful bride again? Decide to be youthful, zealous, emotional, exciting, energetic and adventurous again. This will break the spell and curse of barrenness over your ministry. Sarah had sex with her husband at the age of ninety. No matter what prophecy is spoken over your life, there will always be some practical things you have to do.

Some ministers are too “old” in their actions and thoughts! Some amount of youthfulness is needed in the ministry. Youthfulness is necessary for fruitfulness!

Chapter 6

Fighting the Barrenness of Familiarity

Familiarity is the greatest block to the anointing. It cuts off the flow of the anointing that is needed for ministry and church growth. Ministry is a spiritual thing and unless spiritual principles are obeyed, the ministry dries up and barrenness results.

Michal is a type of barren ministry. She suffered from familiarity toward her husband. She paid for it by becoming barren. Many people have become barren in ministry because they became too familiar with the man of God.

David went home so he could ask the Lord to bless his family. But Saul’s daughter Michal went out and started yelling at him. ‘You were really great today!’ she said. ‘You acted like a dirty old man, dancing half- naked in front of your servants’ slave girls.’ David told her, ‘The Lord didn’t choose your father or anyone else in your family to be the leader of His people. The Lord chose me and I was celebrating in honour of him. I’ll show you how great I can be! I’ll even be disgusted to myself. But those slave girls you talked about will still honour me.’ Michal never had any children.

2 Samuel 6:20-23 (Contemporary English Version)

7 Things Everyone Should Know about Familiarity

1. Familiarity means “to know someone or something so well and in such a way as to cause you to lose your admiration, respect and sense of awe”.

It also connotes a sense of becoming presumptuous where a person is too confident in a way that shows a lack of respect.

2. Familiarity was the cause of Michal’s barrenness.

3. Familiarity is still the cause of spiritual barrenness in many Christians today.

4. Familiarity is the greatest block to receiving God’s power from God’s men.

5. No matter how great the gift of God, it is neutralized by familiarity.

Jesus was the greatest healer and teacher, yet His anointing was neutralized by the presence of familiar people.

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary … And they were offended at him. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

Mark 6:1-3,5

This Scripture shows us that Jesus could not perform miracles in His hometown. They knew Him too well to receive Him as the Son of God. They had questions about His parents, His family and His background.

6. Moses who commanded a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, could not impress his own sister Miriam.

She criticized him about his marriage and suffered for it. My heart is often closed to those who are familiar towards me. I simply do not flow towards them. I can virtually sense the questions in the hearts of people suffering from familiarity.

7. Familiarity carves out a road of ministry for anointed people.

It directs them away from their colleagues, friends and family. It leads them towards the non-familiar, the poor, the forgotten and neglected ones. This is where the outsiders come in. Outsiders often come in to replace people who have become too familiar with the anointed one.

Chapter 7

Four Groups That Often Suffer from Familiarity

Everyone can suffer from familiarity. However, there are certain groups of people who easily become prey to familiarity. These are usually people who know the man of God closely.

1. Colleagues

When I started my church as a medical student, very few of my colleagues were able to receive from me. They knew me too well and would say in their hearts, “Is this not Dag? We know him and we know his class. We saw himstruggling at an exam last week. We know when he passes and when he fails! How can this lanky boy call himself a pastor?”

2. Relatives

Relatives also suffer from familiarity. They would say, “Is this not Azoyzoy’s (my father’s nickname) son? We carried him when he was a baby.”

They ask, “Do you remember me? I carried you when you were two years old.” They say, “I knew your father very well.” With this background, how can such people receive me as a man of God?

3. Pastors’ Wives

Pastors’ wives often suffer from severe familiarity. Just like Michal, when everyone is impressed, they are not impressed with their husbands.

They say things like, “I know you. No one knows you better than I do. I am the only one who can tell you certain things! I am not one of those people who give you praise and affirmation in the office! If people knew how you really were, they would be surprised. No one knows what you are really like.”

In a sense, they are right about all these things, but the fact is that they have become victims of familiarity!

4. Close Friends and Associates

These people also experience familiarity. They have been around you for so long and seen your vicissitudes.

It is easy to slip and slide into familiarity. Sometimes it would be better not to know someone closely in order not to develop an air of familiarity.

Familiarity breeds disloyalty. Familiarity created Judas. Judas is referred to as “mine ownfamiliar friend”. When people are familiar, they lose their respect and they cross boundaries they should never cross.

Familiarity makes people say things they should never say.

When Michal spoke against David, she stood in the shoes of a rebel fighting and opposing God’s anointed. She became a critic of the man after God’s own heart. David had built a tabernacle but she was not impressed. God called him a man after mine own heart but she, a mere mortal, despised him. Imagine that God is impressed but you are not impressed. Is it not amazing!

Familiarity often stems from jealousy and carnality. Michal was jealous of the girls who seemed to appreciate David’s ministry. She disliked the fact that David seemed to be impressed with these young whippersnappers.

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, HOW GLORIOUS WAS THE KING OF ISRAEL TO DAY, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

2 Samuel 6:20

When Miriam criticized Moses, she no longer saw him as God’s anointed. She moved into the flesh and became a disloyal rebel.

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Numbers 12:1

Judas was the highest kind of traitor. He paid the ultimate price for allowing himself to be deceived by familiarity.

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9

Knowledge without Experience

I have had different people getting close to me at different times in my life. Circumstances can sometimes cause people to associate closely with the man of God. Under these circumstances, the person is susceptible to the spirit of familiarity. It takes spiritual discipline not to become familiar. I have noticed in my life and ministry how people become over-familiar when given the slightest chance. Let me just remind you of the definition of familiarity.

Familiarity means “to know someone or something very well and in such a way as to cause you to lose your admiration, respect and sense of awe. It also connotes a sense of becoming presumptuous, where a person is too confident in a way that shows a lack of respect”. One day, a young lady was having a problem in her marriage. Her husband said to her, “I am going to report you to the Bishop.”

She retorted, “I don’t care. He also has problems.”

I smiled when I heard this. I knew that it was only familiarity that was rearing its head. Perhaps, I was wrong to have allowed this person to spend a few nights in our home. On another occasion, another relative who had spent a few days with our family was having some problems. After counselling this relative, she seemed to have understood what I had shared with her. She thanked me and seemed genuinely blessed. Unfortunately, she told someone later that I am a man of knowledge and not a man of experience. What she was saying was that I had no experience in the kind of problem she had and my advice was therefore theoretical! I thought to myself, “I have now become a man of knowledge without experience. It is only because I had allowed this person to relate so closely to my family and I that she had the nerve to make such a comment.”

Sometimes it is better to know someone from afar so that you can continue to receive from his ministry. When you are too familiar with your pastor, you can mistakenly see him as a man of knowledge without experience!

Assess Your Familiarity Level

In your relationship with a man of God, are you becoming familiar? In the next chapter, I will describe some signs which will help you determine the extent to which you are familiar. Remember that familiarity is the highest kind of killer of anointing. It has the greatest capability of neutralizing the power of God’s gift.

Chapter 8

Twelve Signs of Familiarity

It is easy to see when people are becoming familiar. These are some signs:

1. Often sitting at the back of the church

Familiarity is when you are no longer intrigued and excited about the pastor and his preaching. You do not bother to come near anymore. Familiar people just sit at the back and observe from a distance.

Once, I attended a Kenneth Hagin conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When I entered the hall, the ushers tried to give me a seat at the back.

I thought to myself, “How can I sit at the back when Kenneth Hagin is preaching. I want to be as near as possible!” I negotiated with the usher and even made a friend.

I told him, “Sir, you don’t know where I have come from.”

I continued, “I have flown thousands and thousands of miles to be here today. I need to be as near as possible. There is no way I can go upstairs or even to the back.”

He seemed to understand and I eventually had my way. Unbelievably, I managed to sit on the second row. I was so excited when Kenneth Hagin walked by my seat as he preached. You see, when you are familiar, seeing a man of God nearby or from afar makes no difference. Later on, I had a discussion with the principal of their Bible School. I asked him if they had any problems with their students. To my surprise he told me that they did. Their main problem was familiarity.

He said to me, “There are some students who do not come for important conferences like these.”

He lamented, “This is a great prophet of God that people come to listen to from all over the world. But right here, there are students who do not bother to cross the road to come to church.” You see, familiarity breeds contempt. It is all about knowing someone so well that it causes you to lose your admiration and respect.

2. Yawning

Yawning is often a sign of boredom. A familiar person is presumptuous and arrogantly assumes he knows what is coming. Often, people who yawn during the preaching of the Word are saying, “I know this sermon, I know what is coming. I know his line of thought. This man has nothing new to say.”

Forgive lord!!

3. Sleeping during preaching

Sleep comes when we are tired. But sometimes it comes because of monotony and boredom. When the man of God fails to intrigue you anymore, you may find yourself sleeping as he preaches.

4. Not buying or listening to tapes

Someone who listens to preaching tapes has not become familiar with the pastor’s voice. He sees it as an opportunity to be continuously blessed by the pastor when he is not around. Have you asked yourself why you do not buy tapes anymore? The answer may be familiarity.

5. Not buying and reading books written by your man of God

I notice how people come from afar to buy my books. There are times people have travelled many miles to acquire and devour large quantities of my books and tapes. Amazingly, my own church members often pass by these same books and tapes and instead call for two meat pies and a bottle of Coca Cola. Familiarity causes you to lose your sense of wonder and intrigue.

6. Discussing the background of the man of God

Every man of God basically, is a “man”. Since he is a man, he goes through what all men go through.

No man that God ever chose has a perfect life.

Every one of them has a past! He has a family.

He has failings. He has an imperfect marriage.

He has challenges just like every one else. It is easy to pick on any aspect of his natural life and neutralize him. Discussing the man of God in a natural way is a sure sign that you have lost your sense of fascination for him. This is the surest way to cancel out the effect of the anointing on your man of God.

Thumos and Ekplesso

When Jesus preached in His hometown, the Scripture says in Luke 4:28, “...when they heard these things, they were filled with wrath.” The word wrath in Greek, is the word thumos. This means “incipient displeasure fermenting in the mind.” It speaks of “fierceness, indignation (as if breathing hard) and wrath”. The familiar people were angry at Jesus’ sermon. But when He preached in Galilee according to Luke 4:32 “they were astonished at his doctrine”. The word astonished is a Greek word ekplesso which means “to be amazed, astonished and struck with terror”.

Notice that there are only four verses between THUMOS and EKPLESSO. Notice also that THUMOS took place in Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown. EKPLESSO took place in a city of Galilee about two hundred kilometres from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. The difference here is that in Nazareth, people knew His background; in Galilee, they did not.

7. Discussing the family issues of the man of God

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Mark 6:3

By doing this, you are cutting yourself from receiving God’s miracle for your life. When Jesus went to His hometown, there was a long discussion as to who He really was. Someone said, “I know that boy. He is my nephew. He and his father have repaired my wardrobes and cupboards for many years.”

Jesus could do very few miracles because of the high level of familiarity and doubt in the city. Do not let familiarity cut off your blessing!

8. Fault-finding and magnifying faults

Whenever you think of the great men of God you respect, you do not often think of their faults.

When there is a visiting preacher, no one considers whether he is impatient or easily angered. No one thinks of whether this man is in debt or whether he has an extravagant lifestyle. All we do is to receive the ministry of this man of God.

However, these are thoughts that occur to us about men of God we are familiar with. We think, “He must be angry today, this man is not patient.” As he preaches we say to ourselves, “We understand what he is saying; why does he not progress to the next point?”

I remember years ago, I had a church member who really enjoyed my messages. She recommended me highly to many people who later joined the church. However, as time went by, she became familiar with my preaching and with me.

One day after church she said to me, “I think you went over last week’s point for too long.”

She continued, “There was very little time for the new points that you brought up.” A few weeks later, she made another remark, “The repetition in your preaching is too much.” After this I noticed the frown on her face each time I preached. This lady eventually stopped coming to church.

She might have been right, but what she did not realize was that, I was preaching to people who came to church one week and missed the other week. I virtually had a new crowd every week. I may have had my faults, but God has worked through me in spite of them. Have you removed the log in your own eye? Why are you concentrating so hard on the speck in the pastor’s eye? Familiarity has made you critical!

9. Evaluating and rating men of God

Democracy in its essential nature, calls on us to evaluate our leaders constantly. This is what enables us to vote for the right person. Unfortunately, many are deceived when they think that this same practice of evaluation must be brought into the church.

I was driving home one day after church when one of the people in the car with me asked a question. He asked, “How did you find the sermon?”

The car was quiet for a moment then someone said, “I think he did well, I will give him 70%.” Then an older man said, “No, no, no. He deserves about 49%.”

Someone asked, “Why 49%, the message wasn’t too bad?”

I mused to myself, “This poor pastor is being assessed by his congregation members.” His members had now become familiar!

10. Not believing the man of God’s advice

When you regard someone highly, you cherish whatever advice he has to offer. As familiarity sets in, it becomes more and more difficult to accept advice. Every time advice is given there is a reason not to follow it.

11. Having no regard for the anointing

When you become familiar, you no longer relate with a man of God spiritually. The fact that he is even anointed does not occur to you. All you see are natural things. If your eyes are on the natural, you will see weakness, dishonour and corruption.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in CORRUPTION; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in DISHONOUR; it is raised in glory: it is sown in WEAKNESS; it is raised in power:

1 Corinthians 15:42-43

12. Not honouring and appreciating your man of God

As you get used to your pastor, it is easy to take him for granted. We often neglect those with whom we are familiar.

I remember one pastor who had never been honoured by his congregation. However, his church was constantly blessing a particular honoured visiting preacher. When this visiting preacher came to hold a convention, the crowds would gather and the people would express their appreciation to the visiting minister. They would bring money and gifts to honour him. But the church would never honour its own pastor.

The deception here is that the visitor is the one who is sent from God to them. But the reality is that their own familiar pastor is the one who labours over them with love.

I teach my church members that it is biblical to honour and give gifts to the man of God. This is not to enhance the minister’s lifestyle but it is to honour God’s gift and to kill the spirit of familiarity.

Chapter 9

Familiarity and the Anointing

The anointing for ministry is transferred from one man of God to another. It is usually transferred from one person to another. Elisha had an exemplary relationship with Elijah. He called him “father” and served him for many years. He did not lose regard for the anointing in spite of his closeness. He was the beneficiary of a double portion of one of the greatest anointings.

Not every one suffers from familiarity. Some people are able to stay close and still have a high regard for the anointing.

I have people around me who have seen my human weakness, dishonour and corruption for many years and yet they maintain a sense of awe, fascination and respect for the presence of God upon my life.

That is what Elisha did for many years and he received the double portion of the anointing that was on the life of Elijah.

Do not be deceived by the apparent weakness of God’s men. The weakness is God-ordained. It is intended to filter off unworthy recipients of the grace of God.

Jesus taught us to appear weak in the face of arrogant and aggressive people. Turn the other cheek simply means do not fight. It could even mean act weak!

Ignore it if they think you have no power. Is it not a weakling who would subject himself to more humiliating slaps? Is it not a weakling who would allow himself to be cheated of his clothes? But this is the Lord’s instruction to us.

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Matthew 5:39-42

Sick but Anointed

Now Elisha was FALLEN SICK OF THE SICKNESS WHEREOF HE DIED. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, 58 till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

2 Kings 13:14-19

Elisha was sick but anointed. He was dying but he was still anointed. His weakness, dishonour and corruption were apparent to all. He performed his last miracle on his deathbed and God moved mightily. One of the highest kinds of deception is to look on outward appearances and pass judgment.

…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7b

It is this that leads to racism and prejudice for which we are all guilty.

Mercy and forgiveness!

How often we judge people by what we see on the outside. Our error will be exposed shortly.

Dead but Anointed

And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and TOUCHED THE BONES OF ELISHA, HE REVIVED, AND STOOD UP ON HIS FEET.

2 Kings 13:20-21

You can even be dead and yet anointed! Believe it or not, the lingering anointing on a dead prophet raised someone from the dead. It is easy to be deceived by the natural weakness of God’s servants.

Chapter 10

Intercession: The Way Out of Barrenness

The Ministries of Paul and Barnabas

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:1-4

The ministries of Paul and Barnabas were born out of intercession. The ministries of these two great men of God in New Testament times were born as they ministered unto the Lord and fasted. A praying church will always lead to new ministries and church growth. The way out of barrenness is the way into ministry. It is the way into evangelism. I believe that fervent prayer will almost always lead to fruitfulness in a minister’s life. a prayerful church almost always becomes fruitful. Churches are born and ministers are sent out when real prayer begins.

The Ministry of Hannah

Hannah is a good example of a barren ministry that became fruitful. She is one of the great examples of someone who broke out of the power of barrenness and became very fruitful. The great key that Hannah demonstrated was again the key of intercession. Evangelists and missionaries are always born out of intercession.

Hannah was in serious trouble. She desperately needed a breakthrough. She did not just doodle and dawdle. To doodle and dawdle means “to hang around, loiter, to waste time and to make wavy impressions”.

She was dead serious about what she wanted from God. Dear pastor, fervent prayer will make you give birth to a new dimension in ministry. Intercession will always lead to new spiritual children.

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

1 Samuel 1:13

The Ministry of Elijah

Elijah’s ardent prayer as he bent over asking for rain, remains the most well-known example of fervent prayer.

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. SoAhab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and HE CAST HIMSELF DOWN UPON THE EARTH, AND PUT HIS

FACE BETWEEN HIS KNEES, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

1 Kings 18:41-46

This is the classic example of fervent prayer that was spoken of by James. I see you praying fervently to release the rain of God’s blessing on your ministry! Look at the example of Elijah as he prayed to God for rain. Elijah’s prayer released the rain of God. When the rain comes,there will be new plants. All ministries are waiting for the rain. The new things that God has in store will be released through the rain!

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

Zechariah 10:1

The Ministry of Jacob

And Jacob was left alone; and there WRESTLED A MAN with him until the breaking of the day.

Genesis 32:24

Jacob’s all-night wrestling prayer yielded tremendous results. He was blessed and so was his seed.

Several thousand years have gone by, but the fruit of this fervent prayer is evident for all to see. Israel still stands as one of the most favoured nations of the earth.

The Ministry of Moses

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when MOSES HELD UP HIS HAND, THAT ISRAEL PREVAILED: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Exodus 17:8-12

Moses’ burning prayer for victory over Amalek, is another example of fervent prayer. Amalek is a type of demonic force that fights against God’s church from behind. The constant attacks by Amalek will distract the drive of every ministry.

It is important to rise up in the ministry and deal with Amalek spiritually.

The Jerusalem Church

The New Testament Church prayed fervently for the power of the Holy Spirit to be upon their leaders.

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:23,24,30,31

God heard their prayer and look at the results. When a church begins to pray fervently there are always results. The Word of God is preached when prayer goes forth. Churches spring up when the Word of God is preached.

It is important to stress that fervent prayer is what makes the difference. Sometimes, I look at people who claim to be having a prayer meeting. You see some of them sleeping and others just whiling away time. How would you feel if someone fell asleep while talking to you? You would think that he is either disrespectful or very uninterested in you.

The Ministry of Jesus Christ

Jesus prayed passionately for the will of God to be done in His life.

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Hebrews 5:7

The evidence of this was when His “...sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Fervent prayer always works.

The ministry of Jesus was a great success! Two thousand years after these prayers, churches are still being started, books are still being written, songs are being composed about Christ, and more people are volunteering their lives to the service of our great God.

You will have great success in your ministry when you learn how to pray fervently.

Whenever you do not know what to do, do what Jesus did! Jesus shouted when He prayed! He prayed until He was sweating! Read it for yourself!

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 22: 44

I see God taking you out of barrenness today!

*******

Other Best-Selling Books by

Dag Heward-Mills:

Loyalty and Disloyalty

Leaders and Loyalty

Transform Your Pastoral Ministry

The Art of Leadership

Model Marriage

Church Planting

The Mega Church

Lay People and the Ministry

These titles are also available in Spanish and/or French. Information about other foreign translations of some of the titles above may be obtained by writing to our email address.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Barrenness in Ministry

Chapter 2

Five Hebrew Words

Chapter 3

Two Greek Words

Chapter 4

How to Diagnose Barrenness

Chapter 5

How to Fight Different Kinds of Barrenness

Chapter 6

Fighting the Barrenness of Familiarity

Chapter 7

Four Groups That Often Suffer from Familiarity

Chapter 8

Twelve Signs of Familiarity

Chapter 9

Familiarity and the Anointing

Chapter 10

Intercession: The Way Out of Barrenness