I was talking to a couple of ministers who wanted to do something in ministry. I had been their leader for years. So, I asked the Lord, “What is your counsel?” The Lord didn’t waste words. He said, “They’re not ready yet. There’s no anointing; there are character issues that are detrimental to my people.” When there is no anointing, it is evident that God is not working with you in ministry. You have to do what you do on your own. Furthermore, when God mentions our character issues as detrimental to His people, that places us in the same boat as Jesus placed the Pharisees in Luke 11:52; Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
And so, I shared that with those ministers. I said, “Baby, God told me to tell you that you’re not yet ready for what you desire to do. And these are the reasons. But they had already decided that they were going forward regardless of what I said. In fact, they didn’t come to get my opinion; they came to inform me of their decision.
The Body of Christ must have leadership that contends for its soul. We must be leaders that care for the people of God - leaders who care whether you make it in or not. This situation caused me to see how much I truly cared for the people whom God has entrusted me with. I genuinely care for the people I serve. I became fearful for them because I know the voice and the ways of the Lord. I also know that the scripture will not be broken. God placed a woe on those who hinder the souls seeking the kingdom. But when the heart is wanton, these warnings are ignored. I simply passed on what the Lord had said to me. But there was much rebuttal, and even my knowledge of apostolic order was challenged.
I have birthed many children into the kingdom, and I have raised many who came as babes. I considered them all my children. Though sometimes they can be naughty or even disrespectful. But I love them still, and continue to pray for the mercies of God. Before this, I counseled another couple whom everyone thought to be the following senior pastors of one of our works. But they, too, were not spiritually ready at the time. I told them that I would appoint them to work under the tutelage of another senior leader until the Lord declared them fit to move forward in the pastorate. They said, okay. Simply, okay. There was no rebuttal because they trusted me as their leader. They complied and served under the other minister. I watched them evolve with discipleship, and they came forth as senior pastors of a new work, and went on to become bishops. God vindicates righteousness.
A sure way to tell whether a minister believes the word of God or not is his steadfastness in scripture and the voice of God. If you believe the scripture cannot be broken, you will stand fast in what it says. Likewise, if God has indeed spoken to you, nothing should deter you from that Visitation.
Romans 12:7-8
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:
We must wait until our character is equal to the gift. Character is a manifestation of Christ. It is also the criteria for anointing. It is God that will work through us. It is His power that will overcome all the power of the enemy. But, waiting is never an option when there is a lust for ministry, even if God instructs you to wait.
The couple in the example said to me, “We’re just going to do that which is in our hearts to do, and we are going to do it now.” One of them went on to say, “I’m going to adhere to all your teachings. Whatever is lacking, will be fixed while we are working the ministry.” Please note that there was no rebuttal regarding the things that needed fixing. The rebuttal came concerning the method God chose to fix them. Come on, let’s get real. Many of us have been saved for years, under leadership and accountability, and we did not fix ourselves. And now we are going to work ministry without any accountability, and surely, we will fix all the ills of our character. This is presumptuous behavior. These ministers in the Body of Christ acknowledged the lack of anointing and faulty character issues, but decided to continue the course and timeline they had set for themselves. The problem was no longer about apostle and pastor disagreement; this is about leaders in the Body of Christ creating a ‘new god.’ This ‘new god’ is no longer absolute; neither does he know his own mind. This ‘new god’ that they serve is negotiable. He doesn’t just instruct with the expectation of obedience. His instructions are vulnerable to our discussions of them. This is a ‘new god.’ I don’t know him. I can’t trust him.
Nevertheless, the next task was to convince me of the mind of this ‘new god,’ that I, too, might worship him with my obedience and submission. Now right here is a very important principle. If you do not walk in the Spirit, you can be easily seduced into following the whims of others. You, too, will change the character of the true and living God into something that is a figment of your imagination or your sentiments for those you love.
The Counsel of God is Immutable
Hebrews 6:17-18
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Those who walk in the Spirit have strong consolation in the fact that they can trust that which God speaks and the fact that it will never change. His counsel is immutable; it changes not. Therefore, at the risk of offending people and the threat of the departure of those you love, you must hold fast to the word you know the infallible God spoke to you. Remember, God always vindicates righteousness. When you don’t regard the word of the true and living God, you will follow a ‘new god,’ the god you create with wantonness.
You will do the same thing Eve did. You will x-out the voice or word of the living God and replace it will the voice of your own will. Because ministers can’t force God to work with them, nor can they force Him to reveal the mystery of Christ to their understanding; rather than repent and submit, they are forced now to worship the ‘new god’ of their imagination. He is the one that negotiates with them and always allows them to do things their way. What is the motive for the counsel God gives that is not what we want to hear? His motives are perfection, holiness, and steadfastness. He is preparing us to deal with the real devil and all the devices he is using against the people of the world. But Satan can only be defeated by righteousness and self-denial.
The true sons of God are not setting up platforms to make a name for themselves. They are not interested in being exalted in the eyes of men. They want the power of the Holy Ghost to flow through them like a river. They want the Father to manifest himself in every encounter with the powers of darkness. But when God puts a halt to our ministry, it is because he knows that we are not spiritually equipped to do battle with the devil.
I recall all too vividly how God had his foot on me for at least twelve years. Although I might have been the best teacher in my environment, he did not grant me the liberty of starting my own ministry. I didn’t understand that.
But I didn’t know that there were things I had not yet learned, and that there were places in the will of God I had not yet walked. Though I was incredibly frustrated during those years, he never let up. He held me in check as life’s experiences revealed my spiritual weaknesses. After I was beaten to the ground and made as weak as a ragdoll, I heard my Father say, “You will do it my way, or you won’t do it at all.” My heart moved, and resolve came into my spirit. I submitted to the will of my God, and he granted me ministry. I was pliable in the hands of my God. I would easily bend to his will, regardless of how I looked or what I lost. I would love his people and seek nothing from them beyond righteousness. He always vindicates his word. Always.
If God says something, he’s going to prove it. Now, if there’s controversy, meaning someone is right, and someone is wrong. God will prove whatever he has said through the mouth of his servants. Regardless of who is right or wrong, God will render encouragement to the truth bearer and a rod of chastening to the unbeliever. He would do a disservice to both parties if he did not vindicate his word. He is a good and faithful Father. Because I waited, I was allowed to see my weaknesses and vulnerabilities the enemy would have used to destroy the people He sent me to save. I thank God for not allowing me to continue. I would have been destructive and a huge stumbling block to the people of God. I praise the Father for His wisdom and chastening. I praise the Lord for making me wait.
