There are so many ministers who couldn’t effectively answer this question. Some answers might be: To pray for others, visit the sick in the hospital, study and prepare to preach, learn how to preach better, etc. This is not the real work of the ministry. There is nothing wrong with these things in and of themselves, but there is a prerequisite that many ministers miss. They mistake these things for the “real work” and neglect the “real work” we are called to. So, what’s the real work? Look below:
So David left Asaph and his brethren before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark continually, as each day’s work required – 1 Chronicles 16:37
The real work is to minister before Adonai (the LORD) as He requires daily! Acts 6 backs this premise up. We see the apostles being led by Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) to appoint men to administrate, tend to widows, etc. so they could do the work of the ministry before Adonai (the LORD). What do you have to feed with if you haven’t received the bread of heaven first? I submit to you nothing, and sadly, this is exactly what many dispense daily; nothing!
My prayer is that you don’t fall into the trap of deceptive ministry work and that you purpose in your heart and make up your mind that your first priority is to minister to Him continually no matter what else you find yourself doing. As you go about all the tasks in ministry, continually minister to Him. The ark that you are carrying must be mobile. You can’t afford to lay prostrate before Him all day. You have to be able to carry the glory with you and stay in it as you complete the tasks of the day. This is my prayer for you today, mentee. It’s time to do the real work so the captives can be set free by His glory!
When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. – Proverbs 3:24 AMP
For a dream comes with much business and painful effort, and a fool’s voice with many words. – Eccl 5:3 AMP
We spent the last several days focusing on entering rest by casting all of our cares, anxieties, fears, and worries upon Adonai (the LORD) so we can enter into His carefree glory and glorious rest. Today, we (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) mentor you in the area of your sleep.
I’ve seen a connection between where our focus lies throughout the day and what type of sleep we get throughout the night. Whatever you spend your days worrying about will determine what type of sleep you get as well as how long you sleep, if at all. It also impacts if you dream and what you’re dreaming at night. How many times do you dream about the last thing that was on your mind right before you drifted off to sleep? Mentees, the things that keep you awake or that enter your mind when you first wake up reveal the heart of your cares and anxieties, as well as establish whether your sleep is a sweet, glorious rest.
I challenge you to get still right before going to sleep. Spend 10 minutes focusing on who Elohim (God) is, what He’s promised, and pray that your mind be renewed to His word prior to going to sleep. Checking your e-mail or social networking activity may not be the wisest thing to place in your spirit prior to going to bed. Use wisdom and discretion here. You should also avoid interacting with people who sow discord, strife, are malicious, and keep stuff going all the time. These folks thrive off being their flesh. I must remind you that are flesh is our enemy. The last encounter of the day should be with Ruach haKodesh (Set Apart Holy Spirit), not flesh!
My prayer for you is that from this post forward as you apply what your being mentored in here that you go to sleep with a renewed mind, full of His Spirit, and ready to receive divine manifestations (e.g., visions, dreams, go on trips—translations) that are produced by setting an atmosphere for sweet, glorious sleep.
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” – 1 Peter 5:7 AMP
Mentee, I want you take this scripture literally today. I mean literally. Let me illustrate.
1) Write your cares, concerns, worries, and anxieties down on separate pieces of paper
2) Ball each paper up
3) Now release them
You can release them a couple of ways:
1 ) Throw them away (e.g., in the garbage)
2) Throw them up to Him (e.g., the heavenlies) for Him to catch and deal with them and burn them
Whichever way you choose, while releasing them to our God ask Him to take you away with Him as you release them. In essence, you are making a glorious exchange. You are exchanging your earthly concerns unto heaven. You’ll know when you’ve been successful in a full release because your perspective will be a carefree spiritual one versus a bogged-down soulish one.
My beloved speaks and says to me, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” – SOS 2:10 AMP
That’s Carefree Glory! So many ministers are weighed down with the cares of this world, the cares of providing and being in ministry at the same time, the cares of their family, so forth and so on. How can you be free to explore the glory carrying all this? What spiritual exploration can you go on if He wanted to take you? He’s calling you to come up and away. Step one is come up! The cares you are holding onto are low level living. Step into the abundant (a full and overflowing life) life. Let it take you away with Him into His carefree glory!
Now if you completed this exercise, I have a song that ministers to me every time a thought come across my mind that would cause me to pick it up again and start worrying. Here it is!
In The Making Chapter 6, you’ll learn about the process God takes His ministers through in order for His glory to shew forth in their finances. He’ll challenge you with generosity. How generous are you to others in ministry . . . even when they don’t support a thing He’s called you to do? You give and give and know they either can’t or won’t give anything in return. As a matter of fact when His glory has been infused into you in this area, you aren’t even looking for or expecting them to give anything in return. A glorious vessel who has allowed God to make them financially is debt free, money has no hold on them, they know the earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof and that everything including money belongs to Him. They have long since stopped looking to others to finance and support the work He’s assigned their hands and they are looking to Him and Him only. They know no man holds all that they need to fund the colossal vision God has given them. They aren’t financially despondent. No, they are hopeful and faithful. They know in the fullness of time, He is going to provide everything they need through whoever and whatever God deems appropriate.A made vessel is financially free and His glory rests upon their finances supernaturally providing, sustaining, and maintaining the work of their hands.
“And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].” – Psalm 1:3 AMP
They young lion do lack and suffer hunger, but not glorious leaders (Psalm 34:10)!
“The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),
To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.” – Colossians 1:26-27 AMP
Some of us live like the realization of the Hope of glory is still a hidden mystery. It is not! Yeshua haMasiyach (Jesus Christ the Messiah) has been revealed to His holy people. I often say, “Elohim (God) isn’t hiding mysteries and secrets of the Kingdom from us, He’s hiding them for us!” This scripture and Matthew 13:11 prove this statement is from Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit, the Set Apart One). It pleased Elohim (God) to reveal Christ to us and since He did the question becomes, “Are you tapping into the Hope of glory which is Christ within you on a daily basis?”
The reason it pleased Elohim (God) to reveal Christ to us is that He may be revealed through us as we live in His glory on a daily basis. The glory is not some far off mystery or some spooky shimmy. It’s the Hope we have within that can be accessed on a daily basis to manifest Christ in the earth, not a future hope way off in glory. Many of us are waiting to live in the Hope of glory in eternity. What about right now for all men to see and be drawn into the Kingdom of God?
In closing, my prayer for you and all five-fold leaders is rooted in the below scripture:
And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God! – Romans 5:3b AMP
“For, brothers, you were called to be free. Only do not let that freedom become an excuse for allowing your old nature to have its way. Instead, serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13 CJB
“For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13 AMP
Yesterday, we spoke about all Elohim (God) will show us and cause us to explore when we live in the glory on a regular basis. Unfortunately, many never experience this type of freedom because they are living primarily from their soul. When you live from your soul on a regular basis, you’ll find yourself in bondage to the soul’s desires, whims, and appetites. Can you see how restrictive that is? It’s funny how many of us believe that living from the soul is where freedom is.
I’m here to tell you that is far from the truth. The truth is: You are severely hindered and restricted to this earthly realm only when you live from your soul. The only explorations and journeys you’ll find yourself on are the appetites, whims, and lusts of your flesh. What low level living. It’s time to live free in the glory! If you are ready for this journey and would like support, let me be your midwife of glory through The Making.
“For, brothers, you were called to be free. Only do not let that freedom become an excuse for allowing your old nature to have its way. Instead, serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13 CJB
“For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13 AMP
When you live in the glory on a regular basis, you’ll find yourself living free and unencumbered. Elohim (GOD) will take you take you into a journey of infinite possibilities, limitless boundaries, and all kinds spiritual explorations. Star Trek has noting on God when it comes to venturing where few journey. There are unimaginable frontiers, realms, and dimensions in the glory.
Why do I persevere through it all? For the sake of those who have been chosen, so that they too may obtain the deliverance that comes through the Messiah Yeshua, with eternal glory. – 2 Timothy 2:10 CJB
There are many challenges, trials, tests, and sufferings that come with being a ministry leader. Sometimes you may find yourself asking the question, “Why do I do it?” Honestly, I can’t even begin to share how difficult it’s been for us in ministry. I’ve learned to persevere. But not just for the sake of persevering. The beginning of 2 Timothy 2 teaches me how to persevere. It says:
• Be empowered by the grace that comes from Yeshua Messiah
• Commit to the things those faithful witnesses of Christ have shared with you about ministry
• Accept your share of suffering and disgrace as a good solider of Messiah Yeshua
• Stay away from civilian affairs and please only ABBA, Father
• Know that those who do the hard work of a farmer will be the first to reap the harvest
• Remember Yeshua suffered so we can proclaim this Good News
And the part of this verse that has gripped me today is I do it for those like you who He’s chosen so that you may obtain full deliverance through Messiah Yeshua for the ultimate glory . . . the eternal glory. This is why I do all I do and continue to forge ahead doing all He’s called, equipped, and broken me to do. I do it for eternal glory. So, why do you do it . . . why do you minister?
Blessed New Year! Okay, mentees it’s application time. We have been going strong for the past four months.
Now, I want you to go back re-read what we’ve covered with new spiritual eyes. Ask Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) what areas He needs to sharpen and perfect within you. Is it manifesting glory in marriage, in what you eat, or in your conversations? So I’m challenging you to yield to God for the next two months (February and March 2010) in those area(s).
Keep me posted on your progress by coming back here and posting a response. I’ll check in on you from time to time and as always, you know I’m praying for all of you.
So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31 AMP
Do you have a bishop’s belly? So many ministers take no care in what or when they eat/drink. I’m not even going to address the cigarette smoking or liquor drinking pastors in this post. We all know that type of behavior brings no honor or glory to Elohim (God). We have assignments to complete in this earth realm. If our body (the outward container that Elohim [God] gave us), gives out due to our abuse, how will we complete what He called us to do? I am amazed by the number of ministers who Elohim (God) used in the area of healing that died from some sort of sickness or disease due to improper eating or rest.
If you have not committed your body as a living sacrifice yet, do so now. If you can’t do it for yourself, I appeal to the glory upon your life and say, “Do it for those who He’s assigned your hands.” They are waiting for you to rise up in total wellness and health and set them free in the areas they have been led captive.
Tomorrow we will continue mentoring you in eating and drinking for His glory.
