We who claim to be disciples of Christ and joint heirs with Jesus - why have we forsaken the complete scope of ministry? God has given me an assignment, and I must share this with all those who will travel in ministry THIS YEAR.
This is the Word of instruction, because God has not been pleased, as He said before, with "incomplete ministry." We are going from pulpit to pulpit, but neglecting much of the assignment. Hear the instruction of the LORD. As I read this Scripture, He spoke so clearly. I must take heed to this assignment, and know it applies to many others as well. If it convicts you, please adhere...
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
God has sent us to minister to the lost sheep of Israel. In other words, there are some in the family of God who are still lost. Evangelism must be restored, but the prophetic must begin to flow freely again as well. We must realize there are many in the Church who are lost. They must be addressed. No more pumping up. No more pep rallied. Deal with the sin! Deal with the disobedience. Put the egos down. We must start calling sin sin. Stop stroking those who are out of order just because they carry a title or have an auxiliary in the church. God said we are offending Him in our effort not to offend others.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Where is the simple Gospel? We must return to teaching that we must seek first the Kingdom of God. Then, all other things will be added. How many prosperity conferences must we have? How many more prayer meetings for healing or fish fries and fund-raisers? Where is the worship. No more creating empty services just to raise a dollar or say "we had church." Preach the Word God commands. Add nothing to it and take nothing away.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Return to that which God has given us power to do. We must operate in faith. God's house needs physical cleaning. There are some demons that have come in, and we've allowed them to stay. We have accepted sickness, disease, demonic oppression. Then, when we do render or seek healing, there is a charge. These things should not be so. No more charging or paying for a word. Who will serve Me without pay or reputation? God is restoring power to the Body of Christ. He told me, "If my people will only operate in faith, I will do what I said. The power has been provided. My signs and wonders will follow those who believe." God has commanded me to begin laying hands on the sick again. He's commanded me to engage in spiritual warfare like never before on behalf of my brothers and sisters. Not only that, but when the signs and wonders return, there will be no books...no huge conferences. There shall be no profit as a result. THIS DAY, God has reminded us of the power that lies within, to those with a pure motive.
Mat 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Mat 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
When God says "GO", we must go in this season. It's time to walk in a new level of faith. Money shall no longer be a hindrance. God says He is removing the obstacles for those who have a heart to serve, but have surrendered to circumstances. I hear God saying, FAVOR. I have been praying, even about my job. My schedule has hindered me from doing things I believe God assigned me to do. God said that even that season is passing. He is providing divine favor in situations such as this, but it still requires faith. I still need to have the faith to request that vacation time. Some of us still need to have the faith to reserve that plane flight. God WILL PROVIDE for His own work.
Along those same lines, God said we must learn to receive. He causes MEN to give into our bosom, but we must be willing to receive. God said many of us are lacking because we refused the help He sent. The word says the workman is WORTHY OF HIS MEAT. Look for people to bless you - even your enemies. God even showed me that when their motives are wrong, we are still not to refuse unless He expressly commands us to do so. "How else can the wealth of the wicked by laid up for the righteous?" I'm guilty. I have refused many gifts because I felt they were insults. I felt they were given in spite rather than love, so I refused. No more.
Mat 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
City-wide influence. God dealt with me about something. He said, "Joy, I don't send a prophet to impact one house and leave. My prophets impact cities, states and nations." Too many of us are traveling to minister to one church and one group of people. God said, when we get to a city, we are to ask questions. We need to know who else dwells there. I see God making provision for His people to minister in multiple places within one trip. I am praying for even more clarification and instruction in this regard.
TRUE DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY. Will you heed the call in this season?
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
I Have Not Rendered You Powerless
POWER = Ability, Capability, Strength, Authority
God spoke to me about the lack of authority and power in ministry, and I was sorely rebuked by what I was told and shown. Now, I must share this with the Body of Christ. The Lord spoke clearly: “I have not rendered you powerless!” Then, He began to show me more.
God is not pleased with the way many of us have “done ministry.” Yet, He has called many into a season of rest, and is now bringing us into a new season and giving us an opportunity for a new beginning. In the season, our Father is requiring that we fulfill a realm of ministry that has been forgotten. God said that He desires to see His faith work in us. He showed me that many have the wrong concept of ministry. Therefore, we are not operating in the full authority He has given us. Many prayers have gone forth asking God to do things He has given us power to handle in this earth. Many are failing for reasons God has already combated. Essentially, there is a lack of faith in the Body of Christ, and our Father is mainly concerned with those in leadership, those who say they were called to true ministry.
The Father took me back to some very familiar Scriptures. First, He reminded me that none can walk in the spiritual gifts without the presence of the Holy Spirit. When my Holy Spirit resides in you, does not power accompany His presence?
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
Yes, God is restoring the holy boldness that many of us have lost. It has been lost because so many in the Body of Christ have neglected the Holy Spirit. Many, even those who walk in ministry, have failed to yield to the Spirit of God. They have abandoned relationship with God and attempted to depend only on their “good works.” God says these do not operate in power. He said those who have been endowed with His power have two things: boldness and the will to go. Yes, God is saying this is the season to speak what thus says the Lord. It is not the season to walk in false humility. It is not the season to allow the unholy thing to live in the Body of Christ. “I have appointed you as judges,” says God. “Judgment must begin in My house.” This is also not the season for Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers to sit inactive. There should be a yearning in the spirit of those who are called to GO. There is a work to be done. Too many that should be silent and repentant are proclaiming a false gospel while those who have truly been called of God remain silent. God is saying, “Rise, go and boldly proclaim.”
Jesus gave this very commandment, also known by many as the Great Commission:
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach {and} publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].
Mark 16:16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
Mark 16:17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
Mark 16:18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
Yes, many of us are familiar and adherent to the first two verses. So many are glad to preach from church to church. We love to fill our calendars with appointments and activities. We will even preach salvation, though watered down, to those we meet during church services and conferences. Yet God is asking, “Where is your power? I have not rendered you powerless!” My Father began to show me how we are not completing our ministry assignments. The Word of God tells us those who believe and go should have signs following. There should be miracles accompanying the Word of God. Where are they? Yes, we have speaking in tongues handled, but what about the casting out of demons? What about the ability to thwart sickness and disease? Where are those who are being healed, delivered and set free?
God is issuing a strong rebuke. Many are preaching the word with no power. Therefore, God says the ministry is not pleasing to Him. The work has not been complete. “How can my leaders lack so much faith?,” God is asking. “I have called you to a greater work than what my Son did on the earth.” Yes, God said we are preaching a false hope, an incomplete word and a lie. We have become “hype men and women” for the Father, but do not operate in the power He has given. God is saying we need to examine our faith. If we can’t walk into the promises of God, why are we preaching them to others? From our hearts, many of us are preaching a lie. We are preaching a Gospel that we don’t believe ourselves. We are making promises to other people on God’s behalf, but don’t even believe He’ll keep those promises with us. The worst part is this - we then accept accolades, even money, for an incomplete work. My God, I repent!
The Father took me back to instances where I preached that He was a healer. I saw people and even laid hands on those who were sick. Yet, I limited God’s ability to work through me due to my lack of faith. My service to Him was incomplete. Often, I said “God, they must not have had the faith.” God instructed me to read the Word of God. Power that God has given us should not depend on the faith of others. Did not Jesus rebuke the Apostles for the same thing?
The instruction from the Father in this hour and season is to operate in the power and authority He has already given us, WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS FOLLOWING. If they are not operating in our ministries, we must seek the Father and find out why. Some of us need to sit down until we begin to see God working in us. God even showed me that power is withheld from many because we are preaching our own name rather than the name of Jesus Christ. These signs follow only those who glorify God! Hmmm....
Prophecy has been polluted because the standard has been compromised. How many of us have heard a prophet speak a word that never came to pass or a word that was completely against the word of God, but was never rebuked or corrected? How many of us have sat under a Pastor that prayed for the same people every Sunday for years, but saw no manifestation? It MUST be corrected IN THIS SEASON. Let God be true, and every man a liar! We must come up in the spirit realm. We must then walk in ministry as Paul did:
1 Cor 2:4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],
1 Cor 2:5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.
Paul did not try to excite the people with his motivating speech, clichés or cute jokes. Instead, he ministered with power. He ensured that people saw God moving rather than himself. The Word of God says that men are drawn to Jesus when they see our good works. Signs and miracles are not for us, but for those needing to be drawn.
“I have not rendered you powerless,” says God. Complete the work in this season!
God spoke to me about the lack of authority and power in ministry, and I was sorely rebuked by what I was told and shown. Now, I must share this with the Body of Christ. The Lord spoke clearly: “I have not rendered you powerless!” Then, He began to show me more.
God is not pleased with the way many of us have “done ministry.” Yet, He has called many into a season of rest, and is now bringing us into a new season and giving us an opportunity for a new beginning. In the season, our Father is requiring that we fulfill a realm of ministry that has been forgotten. God said that He desires to see His faith work in us. He showed me that many have the wrong concept of ministry. Therefore, we are not operating in the full authority He has given us. Many prayers have gone forth asking God to do things He has given us power to handle in this earth. Many are failing for reasons God has already combated. Essentially, there is a lack of faith in the Body of Christ, and our Father is mainly concerned with those in leadership, those who say they were called to true ministry.
The Father took me back to some very familiar Scriptures. First, He reminded me that none can walk in the spiritual gifts without the presence of the Holy Spirit. When my Holy Spirit resides in you, does not power accompany His presence?
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
Yes, God is restoring the holy boldness that many of us have lost. It has been lost because so many in the Body of Christ have neglected the Holy Spirit. Many, even those who walk in ministry, have failed to yield to the Spirit of God. They have abandoned relationship with God and attempted to depend only on their “good works.” God says these do not operate in power. He said those who have been endowed with His power have two things: boldness and the will to go. Yes, God is saying this is the season to speak what thus says the Lord. It is not the season to walk in false humility. It is not the season to allow the unholy thing to live in the Body of Christ. “I have appointed you as judges,” says God. “Judgment must begin in My house.” This is also not the season for Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers to sit inactive. There should be a yearning in the spirit of those who are called to GO. There is a work to be done. Too many that should be silent and repentant are proclaiming a false gospel while those who have truly been called of God remain silent. God is saying, “Rise, go and boldly proclaim.”
Jesus gave this very commandment, also known by many as the Great Commission:
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach {and} publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].
Mark 16:16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
Mark 16:17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
Mark 16:18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
Yes, many of us are familiar and adherent to the first two verses. So many are glad to preach from church to church. We love to fill our calendars with appointments and activities. We will even preach salvation, though watered down, to those we meet during church services and conferences. Yet God is asking, “Where is your power? I have not rendered you powerless!” My Father began to show me how we are not completing our ministry assignments. The Word of God tells us those who believe and go should have signs following. There should be miracles accompanying the Word of God. Where are they? Yes, we have speaking in tongues handled, but what about the casting out of demons? What about the ability to thwart sickness and disease? Where are those who are being healed, delivered and set free?
God is issuing a strong rebuke. Many are preaching the word with no power. Therefore, God says the ministry is not pleasing to Him. The work has not been complete. “How can my leaders lack so much faith?,” God is asking. “I have called you to a greater work than what my Son did on the earth.” Yes, God said we are preaching a false hope, an incomplete word and a lie. We have become “hype men and women” for the Father, but do not operate in the power He has given. God is saying we need to examine our faith. If we can’t walk into the promises of God, why are we preaching them to others? From our hearts, many of us are preaching a lie. We are preaching a Gospel that we don’t believe ourselves. We are making promises to other people on God’s behalf, but don’t even believe He’ll keep those promises with us. The worst part is this - we then accept accolades, even money, for an incomplete work. My God, I repent!
The Father took me back to instances where I preached that He was a healer. I saw people and even laid hands on those who were sick. Yet, I limited God’s ability to work through me due to my lack of faith. My service to Him was incomplete. Often, I said “God, they must not have had the faith.” God instructed me to read the Word of God. Power that God has given us should not depend on the faith of others. Did not Jesus rebuke the Apostles for the same thing?
The instruction from the Father in this hour and season is to operate in the power and authority He has already given us, WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS FOLLOWING. If they are not operating in our ministries, we must seek the Father and find out why. Some of us need to sit down until we begin to see God working in us. God even showed me that power is withheld from many because we are preaching our own name rather than the name of Jesus Christ. These signs follow only those who glorify God! Hmmm....
Prophecy has been polluted because the standard has been compromised. How many of us have heard a prophet speak a word that never came to pass or a word that was completely against the word of God, but was never rebuked or corrected? How many of us have sat under a Pastor that prayed for the same people every Sunday for years, but saw no manifestation? It MUST be corrected IN THIS SEASON. Let God be true, and every man a liar! We must come up in the spirit realm. We must then walk in ministry as Paul did:
1 Cor 2:4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],
1 Cor 2:5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.
Paul did not try to excite the people with his motivating speech, clichés or cute jokes. Instead, he ministered with power. He ensured that people saw God moving rather than himself. The Word of God says that men are drawn to Jesus when they see our good works. Signs and miracles are not for us, but for those needing to be drawn.
“I have not rendered you powerless,” says God. Complete the work in this season!
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