So you read the previous article about a territorial ministry mindset and to your shock you find a red flag in your hand and another tucked into your waistband. What do you do now?

You need the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). What does God’s Word reveal that can counter the insecurities and deceptions of a territorial ministry mindset? We can begin with the four truths below, but feel free to add more in the comments section.

1. Remember Whose Work It Is.

It’s worth repeating this truth. The ministry is God’s territory, not ours. He put each believer in their unique place in His work, but the ministry is His (1 Corinthians 15:58). God began it, and He promises to complete it (Philippians 1:6). God must remain at the center of His work, not us.

2. Remember a Christian Is a Steward, Not an Owner.

Jesus left us His example of submission to the Father and servant leadership on earth. He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Paul described believers in leadership as stewards of possessions belonging to Another: “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). We cannot maintain a territorial mindset and truly follow God’s pattern for spiritual leadership.[1]

3. Remember a Christian Leader’s Role is to Equip, not Consolidate.

We are not building a kingdom—God is. Our role is in the church which Christ has promised to build (Matthew 16:18). We are to be equipped and to equip others, not lord over them in whatever sphere we have influence (Ephesians 4:11–16; 1 Peter 5:2).

4. Remember Our Time Is Short.

Our part in God’s work can only be temporary (1 Peter 1:24–25). All flesh is like grass, but God and His work will continue. We build on others’ labor, and others, Lord willing, will build on what we have built after we are gone (1 Corinthians 3:6). We should not resent this—we should plan for it. In this world, we are strangers and pilgrims (Hebrews 11:13). But we are also servants and trainers, encouraging and equipping others to serve alongside us. If our mindset is always to serve and pass on to others, we cannot cling to our own turf.

The Key to Escape

Only God can renew our mind through these truths from His Word. Only the Holy Spirit can give us the strength to change unhealthy behavior patterns in our life or ministry (Ephesians 4:22–24). Let us “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). May we humbly serve and lead in the roles God has given us in His work.

[1] Read more about servant leadership in action in my missions devotional, Daring Dependence, Day 18.

Photo credit: Silas Kohler on unsplash