Yes, I'm a bit of an introspective thinker. Anyone who knows me really well would know that I'm over the top with thinking inwardly. My mind is always a flurry of thoughts.
My mission with this blog is to encourage others to understand that Worship Is A Lifestyle, not just something we sing or when we take in a church service. It is an outward reflection of an inward reality.
Lately God has been speaking a message to me that I have not unpackaged yet, but here is the beginning stages of it. I know that He is asking me to declare this to His body at large, how.... I have no idea. (That will be His problem to work out) It is not a new message, but one that needs to be said again.
The body of Christ needs to hear, listen and receive that Ministry Is A Lifestyle.
Ministry is not about working full time in a church! You have not arrived in "Ministry" when you are working part-time or full-time for a church or ministry, or even volunteering or leading something.
You are The Ministry!!!
Your life carries the fragrance of Jesus 24 hours a day. Listen to what 2 Tim 4:5 says,
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.
Only you can fulfill the ministry that God has given you, and it started the day you met Jesus.
It doesn't begin when you take a position to lead or take a job in a ministry. The moment you awake and place your feet on the bedroom floor, your ministry has begun. Only you can fulfill it. He has divine appointments set up and waiting for you each day. The problem is, we often miss them because we have a mindset that "Ministry" must happen in a certain forum or venue. NO!!! It happens daily, at whatever you put your hands to.
Please forgive me if I sound agitated, but well............ I am. The Holy Spirit is agitating my spirit man and prompting me to seek Him out for a clear message about this. We need a paradigm shift on this matter. Precious time is being wasted. It doesn't matter where you work, you are the work of the ministry.
Your paycheck doesn't really come from your boss, it comes from Him. He's your boss, and He has you set in place to reveal His character. Right where you are, Right Now.
He has a calling of ministry on your life, and it involves whatever you are doing today. You are not on hold waiting for your ministry. Its here, right now.
Col. 3 admonishes us in this.
16 Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17 Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
23 Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, 24 confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ.
11 comments:
Good word! I needed that.
Love you!!
It's hard Cheryl...but a good word. Ministry, at times, is tough. (raising children!!)
Thanks.
I have learned that "moms-at-home-raising-little-ones" is God's secret weapon. It took me a while to get there, but I have discovered that in that place of the seemingly mundane chores of motherhood, God is training, equipping, reordering our thinking; and basically bringing us to that place He loves. Child like trust and Faith.
An added benefit, is that we tend to operate below the devil's radar.
God taught me so much through all the wee ones who have come and spent time in my home...truly my greatest equipping and ministry has been during those years.
Afterall, you are changing the future by influncing even one child for the Kingdom.
"whatever your hand finds to do...do it with all your might..."
That is our ministry!
You are right Jen and Amy!! Anything we put our hands to in God's name, is our ministry. Often unseen by man, but He keeps a very close account!!
Amen, amen, amen- how many can I put?!
I have given our church this charge many times. Some get it, some don't really want to.
We are no longer living in the Old Testament with a priest that brings the sacrifice. WE are the sacrifice now!
The veil has been torn. We are all personally responsible now to come before Him ourselves.
The job of a Pastor is to train others to do the work of the ministry, not sit in a pew and be entertained.
Ok, I'd better stop- you got me going on a subject near and dear to my heart!
Please understand though that my passion is propelled by the truth that no one will be satisfied with their walk with the Lord until they step into their calling (public or not) in His kingdom.
It is life and freedom and POWERFUL when we act and live like His children.
It's for our own good! And the good of His whole body.
Wow...I love it when people discover that Jesus' "MINISTRY" was that He went about doing good...How cool is it,that every day we can go on an adventure with Him,in even the smallest of things,and yet know that we are impacting the kingdom by being His Hands and feet.Is it a kind word, a batch of homemade cookies,or a prayer,an encouragement to someone that is struggling,or a hug to a child? It doesn't matter...He is in us and just "being" matters!Isn't our greatest "ministry" loving Him and then each other?
1Cor 7 says"Don't be wishing you were someplace else or someone else...where you are right now is God's place for you.Live,obey,love and believe right there".Brenda
Sue and Brenda, Great insight!!! Thanks, I love people to add their input so I can open my thinking even more!
Bless you!
Yeah exactly Cheryl..
I like the way my old church in the UK put it..
" True Leadership is not our position held in life, but our influence exercised at work, in the home, with our friends and peers.
We believe that everyone has the potential to be a leader, and that attending church on a Sunday isn’t where Christianity begins and ends. True success in life is found when we can add value to others in our everyday lives. "
Certainly.. You could take out the word " Leadership " and swap in the word " Ministry "
Its pretty much the same..
The above might conflict with some peoples ideas as today peoples opinions have been formed by what they see in place currently in church gatherings..vs on what the bible says..
So yeah.. while there are many different ways to minister... one thing is for sure..
Everyone has one ministry
2 Corinthians 5:18 " All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation "
How we go about that will vary from one person to the next.. but its all the same..
It all comes back to being about Jesus and his Ministry and not us.
Yes - Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house.
NOT THE KIDS! lol
Thanks for that message.
Excellent insight and way of putting it Jon!! I like your wording and how you learned in England!
Teena, You go girl, don't let the kids rule the roost!
TAG...YOU"RE IT!!
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