The Making Ministry Blog (2 Corinthians 3:18 AMP) » Leaders

Gloriously Righteous Stewards

Karen M. Pina — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:00:28 +0000

Over the past several days, He’s been mentoring you in the area of becoming righteous stewards that reflect His glory (i.e., nature, character, and power) in the area of finances. Under His leading, I’m inspired to pray for based on the scriptures we’ve been meditating on.

Yahweh, make me a righteous steward who considers the poor and gives and loves you more than mammon. Make me a righteous, faithful steward over little as well as much. Let not my trust be in money, but in you. Clean my eye from the lust of the flesh and the deceit of uncertain riches. Make me single eyed and of single focus and devotion to you, the Living Yahweh, who richly gives us all things to enjoy! Help us do good and be rich in good works towards others and willing to give that we may store up a good foundation of eternal life versus storing up things that will corrupt and can be stolen. Amen.

Beloved, when you can be trusted with unrighteous mammon, it tells us you can be trusted with the riches of the Kingdom!

Rich in faith,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

FIT check in!

Karen M. Pina — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:00:35 +0000

Mentee,

Yahweh has been using me to hit the FITness in the Temple topic hard. Today, I’m writing to check in on you. Have you been making any of the food in the recipes on the blog? Leave me a comment with your answer. I pray that you have; either way, my prayer for you today is that you keep glorifying Him in your temple with healthier eating choices.

Beloved, we only get one temple, and we can’t serve Him without it!

With glorious and divine wisdom,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

Pointers for Ministers Developing Mature Discernment

Karen M. Pina — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:00:10 +0000

Yesterday I said, “If I ever impart anything into your life via this blog, I pray that it is true and mature spiritual discernment. You must be keen and acute in discerning the true from the fake, truth from error, and good from evil if you’re going to walk and live in His glory.” I reiterate this today for spiritual reinforcement and to emphasize how passionate I am about you developing mature discernment. With that being said, here are some tips to help you do just that.

Prayer Points for Developing Mature Discernment

>>>Ask Yahweh to help you reserve your judgment for His. Let’s turn to Yahushua, our glorious leadership example:

Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me. – John 5:30 AMP

I can’t do a thing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is right; because I don’t seek my own desire, but the desire of the one who sent me. – John 5:30 CJB

>>>Ask Him to show you error and the spirit of error when presented with any kind of information. Let’s look to Him now:

Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. – Matthew 24:4 amp

Yeshua replied: “Watch out! Don’t let anyone fool you! – Matthew 24:4 CJB

So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. – Ephesians 4:14 AMP

We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive. – Ephesians 4:14 CJB

For our appeal [in preaching] does not [originate] from delusion or error or impure purpose or motive, nor in fraud or deceit. – 1 Thess 2:3 AMP

For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. – 1 Thess 2:3 CJB

He must hold fast to the sure and trustworthy Word of God as he was taught it, so that he may be able both to give stimulating instruction and encouragement in sound (wholesome) doctrine and to refute and convict those who contradict and oppose it [showing the wayward their error]. – Titus 1:9 AMP

Beloved, we will be tossed to and fro like a ship, fooled, hoodwinked, and tricked if we don’t start asking Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to reveal error when we see and hear it. Yahweh desires that we not only discern error but move into the place where we are mature enough to refute it and convict those who are moving in error.

Let this marinade for the next 24 hours, and tomorrow I’ll continue provide mentoring in the area of pointers for developing mature discernment.

With divine and true wisdom and discernment,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

Confronting Flesh . . . Watch Out!

Karen M. Pina — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:00:03 +0000

Beloved as you know, flesh is living large and is in charge of the lives of so many professing Christ, and so, how do we handle this? There are many ways, and as I often say, “Be led by Ruach HaKodesh.” Well, lately He’s been leading me to confront flesh in myself and others. Now, flesh has its own appetites and lusts and really likes having its way. With that being said, when you confront it, watch out! It will lash out at you, and it may get ugly. You see, flesh is like a big baby that needs to be disciplined. We cannot let our flesh and the flesh of others run amuck. We must stand in our authority and confront it head on. Now, I’m saying that you getting into a screaming and yelling match in the middle of the grocery store (like I have done on more occasions that I care to recall ~ smile), but what I am saying is that you must learn to use your Yahweh given authority and rule over your flesh and the flesh of others. Watch out, it is going to hurt and some feelings might get hurt, but ultimately it’s for our good. Flesh does not like to be disciplined or corrected, but it is necessary in order to be an accurate reflection of His image.

Some Medicine to Help You Bear the Correction and Discipline

6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.

7 You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?

8 Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. – Hebrews 12:6-8 AMP

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. – Mark 14:38 KJV

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. – KJV

But I discern in my bodily members in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]. – Romans 7:23 AMP

25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.

26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.

27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. – 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 AMP

So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. – James 1:21 AMP

With glorious brokeness,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

Take Your Life More Seriously! – Part II

Karen M. Pina — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:33:38 +0000

Yesterday, I admonished you to begin to take your life in Christ more seriously and to stop being a mere mortal man. Today, I expand this topic with some more examples of the characteristics of those who aren’t taking their lives in Christ seriously.

There is little to no ministry of the Word
The only time they crack open the Word is to “get” something to give someone else or to minister to someone else. Their personal devotion and thus intimate relationship with Yahweh is little to none.

Hearers of the Word only versus doers of the Word
They can preach you under a pew, but can’t stand consistently in the truth(s) they preach.

Their motives for serving Yahweh are impure
They serve Him for what “bene’s!” You know, what they think they are going to receive. They are after the lifestyle of the rich and famous. They want to live off the gospel. Their expectations for their obedience are steeped in “entitlement.” The scripture tells us that Yahushua came to serve, not be served (Mark 10:45). This same passage tells us He came to give His life as a ransom for others. True ministry is therefore not about what you are going to get, but what you are going to give up and give others. I guarantee you those who are taking this thing seriously are giving up some stuff, and it’s some stuff they don’t want to give up either. When you are taking your life in Christ seriously, you live a life of denying yourself, not pleasing yourself. I know, I know this cross carrying hurts. It hurts me too, and that’s why Yahushua left Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to help us bear our crosses and to comfort us through the pain. If you get serious about doing it His way, Holy Spirit will be right there provided you ask for His help.

Stay tuned in . . . . we continue in this vein tomorrow.

By His gracious and glorious will,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

Take Your Life More Seriously!

Karen M. Pina — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:00:19 +0000

You know I see so many ministers put the most trivial things before a passionate pursuit of the life that’s hid with Christ. They are so easily distracted by celebrations, events, and the world’s trappings. Truly, they are more Western than they are ministers.

Your New Moon festivals and your [hypocritical] appointed feasts My soul hates. They are an oppressive burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. – Isaiah 1:14 AMP

So many of them live like mere ordinary men. They are temporal, seasonal, and lukewarm at best in their relationship with Yahweh. Summer time rolls around and all of sudden they are MIA (missing in action) for prayer, fasting, and more consecration/sanctification. They celebrate pagan holidays like mere mortal men, acting like they haven’t been entrusted with the responsibility to search out the truths and revelation in scripture that in turn delivers them and those assigned their hands.

For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you. – Acts 17:23 AMP

This scripture is a perfect depiction of their worship. They worship what they know not. They are not intimately acquainted with Him, His ways, or His word. My prayer is that the fire of Yahweh burns in you so much that you aggressively seek the fullness and the riches of the life that awaits you in Christ. Beloved mentee, there is more glory to be unharnessed, unleashed, revealed, and discovered. It is time to take your life Christ gave you seriously; play time is over!

By His gracious and glorious will,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

They will willingly give – Part II

Karen M. Pina — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:00:30 +0000

Yesterday, we laid the foundation by exposing how off track so many leaders have become in establishing the work Yahweh has assigned their hands. Today, we continue this theme. Look at this scripture:

1 AND THE Lord said to Moses,

2 Speak to the Israelites, that they take for Me an offering. From every man who gives it willingly and ungrudgingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

3 This is the offering you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,

4 Blue, purple, and scarlet [stuff] and fine twined linen and goats’ hair,

5 Rams’ skins tanned red, goatskins, dolphin or porpoise skins, acacia wood,

6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil and for sweet incense,

7 Onyx stones, and stones for setting in the ephod and in the breastplate.

8 Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

9 And you shall make it according to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle or dwelling and the pattern of all the furniture of it. - Exodus 25:1-9 AMP

The scripture says, “Let them make Me a sanctuary . . .” The “let them” in this bolded portion of the scripture is referring to the followers, disciples, and the ones being ministered to. In verse nine we see Yahweh commands, “You make it according to the pattern.” The “you” in this portion of scripture is referring to the leaders. It is our job, leaders to get the pattern and execute it exactly like He gives it and gave it. The role of the disciples and followers is to willingly bring the materials (i.e., the provision listed in verses two through seven) necessary to build His dwelling, which is not limited to or relegated to a building. By the way, verse two tells leaders to take the provision/offering only from those that willingly (not grudgingly) give to the work.

In closing, if you are a leader who is still being made and have not been elevated to fully leading a vision, then your role right now is two fold. You are to cooperate with His making process that is taking place in the temple within and the temple without by willingly giving. If you are a pastor who has completed enough of the making process to be released to lead a vision, then your role is to stay in the place where you are receiving and obeying the instructions to build and to receive the right offerings!

Leaders, this is Yahweh’s building plan! Are you following and adhering to it?

Genuine wisdom,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

They will give willingly

Karen M. Pina — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:00:54 +0000

Pastors, church leaders, and those in ministry

It’s been heavy on my heart for several years how I see so many of you struggle to build what He’s called you to establish. As I’ve been watching and praying, He’s showed me the following:

1) It’s His work.

He will build it through us, if and when we listen, heed, and obey His instructions. I’ve seen classes, seminars, and workshops on how to grow your church, ministry, etc. He will give the increase as we obey Him. We can’t grow anything! You and I can do nothing without Him, and we are nothing without Him (Psalm 127:1, John 15)

2) Worldliness will not do it!

In the same vein of attempting to grow a ministry or a church, I’ve seen leaders deceived by worldly strategies that have a “gold overlay” of Christianeze. In other words, it’s the same tactics, principles, and strategies the world employs with our Christian labels, terms, and scriptures placed on top of them. you can’t build something spiritual in the flesh (Matthew 16:26, John 15:19, Romans 12:2, 1 Cor 1:20, John 17:14, 16), and Galatians 3:3.

3) An unhealthy preoccupation with growth, size, and numbers

It’s not Yahweh’s will for us to be overly occupied with counting anything. When we start counting the number of people that are coming to the work, the seats that are occupied or unoccupied, and the offering, we’ve stepped into a snare (Judges 7:5-7, 2 Samuel 24).

My prayer for leaders is that they return to His pattern, which is His word. Pastor and minister, when is the last time you previewed the heavenly plan and implemented it?

Genuine wisdom,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

Wisdom Protects

Karen M. Pina — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:00:32 +0000

Yesterday you discovered that wisdom brings honor, glory, and riches. If you read around the Bible verses provided, you may have also discovered that when you exalt wisdom (i.e., place it first, make it your highest priority and the principal asset in your life and ministry), it will promote and exalt you! Today, I come to let you know that there are no hindrances in your life when you embrace wisdom. So if you or one of your friends in ministry is hindered, stuck, or keeps stumbling, you and they haven’t fully embraced or acquired wisdom. Look at what the word says:

I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness.

When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble. – Proverbs 4:11-12 AMP

Remember mentee, wisdom protects so crave it, seek it, and once you find it, take it with you!

With true and genuine glory,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina

You are complete – Part IV

Karen M. Pina — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:00:12 +0000

Mentee, He is leading me to continuing pouring out to you and allowing Him to make you in the area of no relationships. I see so many ministers who don’t allow Him to make them in this area end up in inappropriate relationships with the people in the ministry. Because they won’t allow Him to bring them to completeness, you’ll find such pastors leaving their wife for the church secretary. The other thing you’ll spot in leadership that is unmade in this area is the pastor (or other five-fold leader) sleeping around in the church with this one and that one and with the choir members and the praise leader, etc. These unmade leaders end up confiding in people around them in ministry things. They share things they shouldn’t share and instead of assuming the role of being a vessel assigned to help, support, and train, they befriend. Have you ever seen a leader and their protégé or mentee walking around looking like besties? This is not what Yahweh intends! Even Yahshua maintained the appropriate perspective of those He loved them, and at the same time the premise of that love and their relationship hinged on Him doing the will of the Father for those He gave Him and placed in His life. Does this hold true for you?

Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading] that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual growth], convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God. – Colossians 4:12 AMP

With full and complete glory,

Prophetess Karen M. Pina