Ministry From The Spirit

The Holy Ghost is campaigning for Leadership to see ministry the way God sees it. Unfortunately, of late, it has been my observation that there are only a few leaders in this ministry who actually minister from God’s perspective. This is a bold statement to make but needful to be made nonetheless. Many have understood the Word and are able to articulate it so they feel this statement does not apply to them. But I charge you to really examine what you are producing in ministry. It can only be done by first examining where you stand.

Many ministers believe that when they get up to preach God places the anointing on them. This is not true. While God will place a special anointing on a minister to fulfil His purpose, the anointingis a place where we abide.

There is a line of demarcation we must cross in order to teach everything we minister from God’s perspective, but many are missing the mark.

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Jesus - many sons Conformed into the image of Christ.

Brethren - those people God predestined to be born again were also predestined to be conformed into the image of His Son. This means that we have Jesus and from Jesus, many sons. He was simply the first among many brethren.

Hebrews 2:10-11

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

I John 4:17

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

It is the purpose of Leadership to try to bring those we minister to into the image of Christ. But how many of those doing the ministering are actually in the image of Jesus Christ? It is important for those who minister the Word to be sent by God. Why? The word ‘sent’means anointed and it is the anointing that destroys the yokes. If he is not anointed, it is possible to minister but yokes not be destroyed.

Romans 10:14-15

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be SENT? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

We have received much revelation that taught us how to move the people, and ourselves, to the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:7

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

The message Paul preached made him a minister and allowed him to maintain His walk in the Spirit. Paul agreed with what he heard and taught for his own life. He stood in the realm of the Spirit but ministered to populations who were in the flesh. What does minister mean? AMinisteris a servant. He is also a steward of the mysteries of God. Paul stood in the position of the Spirit and brought his people into the Spirit.

It is impossible for you to stand in the flesh, gathering and distributing information, and take the people to the Spirit. Leaders in the Body of Christ must lead by example. We must lead the people, being the first to entertain the power of the Kingdom. You must become a demonstration of power.

Many leaders are on the wrong side of the line of demarcation. They receive information but have not crossed the line into the Spirit. The deception is that because they teach the truth, they themselves must be in the Spirit.

As leaders, if you are not walking in the Spirit it is because you are not allowing the Word of God to make you. You must let go of the excuses, “I’m growing,” I’m maturing,” God is working on me,” or I am not where I used to be,” etc. Excuses are not for those who have been receiving the revelation of Christ. It does not take years to move into the Spirit. The day you hear His voice agree with His Word. If you become complacent in your justifications you will never move into the Spirit. Not only have you justified your position in the flesh but you have sent a false message to those you are leading.

II Timothy 3:7-9

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

How does this scripture relate to us? When you do not agree with the truth you become a rebel. If you are not careful you will gender for yourself a reprobate mind. It is dangerous to abide in the mindset, “I am not where I used to be.” Well, okay, you are not where you used to be but where are you? Are you in the Spirit? Just because you are able to articulate the Word does not mean you are in the Spirit and if you are not in the Spirit, you cannot bring the people there either.

Your disposition will also show up in the Word you minister to others. In listening to some teach, I continue to hear the anticipation of failure. Some are still making provisions or allowances for failure. It is evident that they are not standing in the Spirit.

When you minister from the flesh you create a comfort zone for saints to reside in. You take away the expectation of perfection and have a false sense of security for those who walk after the flesh “I am not falling into sin as often as I used to…so I must be growing.” This is not God.

I, too, have stood in the position of the flesh and ministered to the church at a place even I had not yet attained. But one thing I never did . . . I never compromised the Word of God given to me. I always ministered God’s perspective and that is why the grace that I received was able to move me to the Spirit.

Until you stand in the position of the Spirit you do not know the ramifications of being in the Spirit. You know it in theory but it has not become life. You peer into the Spirit through the message, but if you do not enter in all the way, you will hinder the people from entering in as well. If you do not walk in the Spirit long enough to know that it is a place of comfort, you undermine the power of the Holy Ghost.

You should want all saints to experience the righteousness and power of walking in the Spirit. But remember the moment leaders bring the people to God in the Spirit, they themselves are the first to be identified in terms of spiritual location. Our congregations are not ignorant of godliness.

DO NOT COMPARE OURSELVES BY OURSELVES

If you have moved in the Spirit and your leader has not, the power of God ought to be resting upon you. All should entertain your spirituality, and you should also be capable of operating in the supernatural.

However, oftentimes saints think they are in the Spirit simply because they are able to discern spiritual weaknesses in their leader. It might be that the leader’s weaknesses are not the same as yours. Your weaknesses will keep you from operating just as your leader's weaknesses hinder him.

If you walk in God, good works will manifest. No one can bind the power of God. If you are in the Spirit, patience and intercession for those who have missed the mark would be your focal point.

THE PATH OF THE WORD

The Word of God is delivered to the apostle. He or she in turn dispenses that Word to the church. However, it is important for the apostle to minister that Word in an environment where it can flow consistently. In its attempt to develop Christ, the Word will have to destroy mindsets, fleshy oppositions and demonic suggestions.

Consistency in ministry allows a leader to see theoperations of the Wordof Godas it develops Christ in those who receive it. In observation, the apostle learns not only the operation of the Word, as it embarks on a path in the lives of the people to destroy their mindsets and dispositions, but he or she is also able to see the resistance and the method by which the Word deals with that resistance. He notes the submission and the results it yields. This knowledge deepens his own understanding of the Word as well as builds his confidence in its power. Remember, he is observing from the perspective that when the Word is dispensed, it will either convict or judge.