Mercy & Ministry

MERCY and MINISTRY

Summary Scripture:

Philippians 2:3

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

It is forever true that the mysteries of God are hidden in simplicity. In the many years I have spent in ministry, I’ve been guilty of the most hindering opposition to ministry . . . presumption. I am sure there are many others who serve the Lord in the preaching of the gospel that can testify of the same. Many of us have been preaching for quite a while. During that time, it is possible to become presumptuous and even arrogant regarding our ability to minister. This presumption is manifested in many different ways.

Once I invited a minister to one of my conferences to hear a revelation God had given me on the sons in eternity. He said he would catch it online. After the conference, I called to see if he understood the message. He said he watched for a few minutes. I said, “Only a few minutes.” His reply was, “Sure, I don’t have to listen but a few minutes to tell where you are going.” This was the typical mindset of those in tradition. They have come up hearing the same sermons repeatedly. They do not anticipate hearing anything they have not heard before. After a few more minutes of conversation, I realized the young man didn’t have a clue of what the Lord had shared with us.

Now I could call out this behaviour as presumptuous and arrogance; but the truth is, I have been guilty of the same spirit. I would get so busy in ministry and its administration that I didn’t spend enough time in prayer and supplication before the Lord. Because I am learned in the Word and accomplished in ministry, I was always able to perform. But within, I knew that there was something missing. I knew I needed to spend more time with the Lord. But I would continue to work and work until I got frustrated or burned out. At that point I had to stop and seek the Lord. It was as if the Lord was shutting my body down so that I just couldn’t go anymore.

It is arrogance to get up before the people of God to minister His Word. Not to study His word first and then consult with Him for clarity and understanding. Whenever we rely on our own ability to minister, we are presumptuous and arrogant. This arrogance also goes with us in prayer. We often approach the Father with petitions without first acknowledging His great mercy towards us. I speak not of the mercy He extends in the forgiveness of sin, but the mercy that allow us to continue in ministry and servitude. It is this acknowledgement that keeps us from becoming exalted in pride. Consider the following passages.

Psalm 138:6

6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Zechariah 9:9

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation;

lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Matthew 11:29

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Lowliness was and is the character of our Savior. But many of us ministers have abandoned lowliness. Especially those who know that ministry is what gave us a life. We can become exalted in our station and begin to covet reputation among the people of God. In doing so, we forget that we are nothing without Him. Oh, we might say we are nothing without Him, but our ways and actions speak differently. Many of us have fallen in love with authority and position. We have abandoned meekness and humility seems to be a threat to our authority.

Beloved, be not deceived, it is impossible to be truly humble, meek and lowly in prayer, but proud and arrogant in our ministerial walk. These are manifestations of our character. It doesn’t suddenly change in prayer. If we come out of prayer arrogant and high-minded, that is the way we went into prayer. Perhaps that is why the Father has withheld the Jesus ministry from us.

Acts 14:3

3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

This scripture refers to Paul and Barnabas as they went into Iconium to preach the gospel. Many believed, but the Jews stirred up the Gentiles against the apostles. Therefore, they were forced to remain there to establish the converts in the faith. But something happened during their persecution. The Father granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. These signs and wonders were proof of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. They needed that help from the Father, and they got it

.

But they were never presumptuous in or out of prayer. They always acknowledged the Father as the source of their power and the recipient of all glory. If we truly believe God is demanding meekness and lowliness in prayer and in our walk, then we would certainly embrace that truth and change our disposition and interaction with others. Without this meekness and lowliness, there is no true fellowship with the Father. The proof of this is in the fact that most saints are not sure of the voice of God. They don’t know His will nor do they feel led by Him.

All these things exist due to a lack of fellowship. And that lack of fellowship is often due to our arrogance and presumption in prayer. Most of the time, humility is only seen when there is sin that needs to be forgiven. But the lowliness the Father requires is a state of being that is consistent to our nature.

2 Corinthians 4:1

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

When we approach the Lord in prayer for the sake of ministry, He exercises His mercy by giving us the wherewithal to perform ministry. We must recognize that ministry is a privilege. With that said, we must approach God humbly bearing in mind that we can do nothing without Him.

At Bible Teachers we have received much truth and revelation. The revelation of the mystery of Christ has truly transformed us and we believe in the oneness that we have with our Father. However, the knowledge of oneness was never supposed to replace fellowship and supplications. God wants to be sought after. He wants us to know that the power to work ministry comes only from Him. Thus, when a miracle is performed, we can genuinely say, “All glory to God”, because we know that it was only by His mercy that He allowed the work to be done through us.

This is why Paul fasted and prayed often. He knew the power to work signs and wonders was a gift of God. A gift that came only through sinlessness, suffering and fellowship.

Acts 9:40

10 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Peter raised the young girl from the dead in this 9th chapter of Acts. But we must consider his mindset before he came to this encounter with Tabitha.

Acts 4:29-31

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with

the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Peter prayed for signs and wonders to be done by the name of Jesus. Is that so hard for us to do? Will we be real with the fact that we do not approach ministry in this manner? We might pray for signs and wonders, but not with the belief and purpose of heart Peter and the other apostles had. We are too mindful of our own individual lives. This is a direct contradiction to the life of the early church.

Acts 4:32-33

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Those who believed had one heart and one soul. The material things of this world were used to finance the gospel and to make sure none had lack. But the truth is, the church of today does not have that mind. It is the mind of the world that rules the saints of God. It is every man for himself. But the question is, “Where do we go from here?” The answer is simple. Until the people of God, take on the mind of Christ, they will never please God. We will not make God a liar. He made us one with Him and His Son. We all have the Spirit of God in us. Therefore, we were made one with each other. It does not matter who decides to challenge this mind of Christ, it will always be the criteria for pleasing God and working ministry. Without it, we can do nothing. Neither will we enter into the kingdom of Christ at His return.

Philippians 2:3

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Mercy not only speaks to prayer but also the disposition of heart we should have when we pray.