PLATFORMS FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

The hospitician auxiliary, like any other auxiliary in this ministry, is designed for one purpose only, and that is for the spiritual development of its members. We are put in a place to be trained in the mindset of a minister as we serve by our intercession and hospitality to the congregation. LOVE – THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY! We are in a place to be spiritually developed into mature saints. Maturity in Christ will be defined by how we love one another. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the various gifts to the Body, then it goes on to introduce the more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 12:29-31

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

For too long we have seen signs and wonders as the most excellent way and have been impressed by them. However, this is not what we have been told in Scripture. Above all else there is the way of love. We are charged to love in every relationship - positive or negative. The antichrist himself will work signs and wonders when he is revealed but the world will know that we belong to Christ by the love we show each other in the body. Love is the most powerful weapon in the universe. It will never fail because God is love and He never fails. Love in the midst of offense is the manifestation of the character of our Father, God.

The training ground for love is in our homes, on the auxiliary board, in our local church and on our jobs. It is not of importance what our ‘gift’ or ‘calling’ is, as all saints of God are called to walk inside of love. Each time we are offended by anyone, saint or sinner, is an opportunity to show love. This is spiritual growth. Love covers a multitude of sins, and shows the offender Christ, so that they may be able to recover themselves.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Our former father, Satan, taught us well how not to love. He taught us to always consider self first and look out for number one. Now the Holy Ghost has the responsibility to re-train us and will orchestrate situations to teach us how to deny ourselves and consider the soul of our offender so that we can reconcile them to God. We are called to be ministers of reconciliation.

THE SERVANT’S HEART

On the auxiliary board there are saints with many different gifts and callings, but we know that God has designed the route for us to be developed and perfected. Elisha is a good example of one who served in small ways as he attended to the Prophet Elijah. Through his obedience and service he was prepared and in place for a great ministry. All ministers need a servant’s heart to be effective in ministry. A servant is one who will deny self in order to be an example of the Word. A servant lays down his life that someone may see God in his life. Jesus said that the greatest one among us is the one who serves. He told us that He came not to be served, but to serve. Tradition and religion have had ministers who have seen themselves superior to the people. God is raising up ministers with a heart like Jesus’ who washed the disciple’s feet. Jesus is the perfect example of a servant. He sought no reputation and did only those things that He heard and saw His Father do and say. Jesus showed us how to lay down our lives and our agendas so that we would do only the will of the Father.

REASONABLE SERVICE AND SPIRITUAL WORSHIP

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. (Amplified, Romans 12:1).

Our reasonable service is that we present our bodies to Him, holy, for His use. God is not going to work without a vessel. We are the Body of Christ. When Christ was to come to earth, He asked the Father to “prepare me a body”. Jesus needed to do His work through flesh. Now we are urged by Paul to present our bodies, ‘a living sacrifice’- to give up our agendas and become available for use by the Holy Spirit. Paul did not say, “present your body any old way”, but it is to be sanctified, “holy and acceptable” and this is our reasonable service. Our service to the Lord is also called our spiritual worship. This is a deep form of worship unto Christ, for what we do to “the least of the brethren” we do unto Him; for as we minister unto the body, it is Jesus that receives it. In order to serve the Lord in any capacity, there will always be a sacrifice of our flesh, because the flesh wars against the Spirit (Galatians 5:17).

We need a servant’s mentality, as we cannot serve the Lord inside of our convenience or comfort zones. The auxiliary is a place where the heart of a servant can be developed in us. It is a place of training. Our ministry as hospiticians will take us into sacrifice of our time and energy, but what the Lord will develop in our hearts is invaluable to the ministry into which He is calling us.

THE WATCHMAN

The ministry of a hospitician is like that of a watcher. The watcher is an angel that works to bring to pass the desire of the Father. It is His desire that all men come to a saving knowledge of Him and that there be order in His house. We are to be in place to do our part to ensure this end. We must see the urgency and importance of our commission as watchmen and doorkeepers. We are similar to the police force. Have you ever been in a traffic jam without any police on duty? It is chaos and confusion, and the drivers get into hostile tempers. It is like that when hospiticians are not faithful in their service to the Lord. The law that we uphold is not legalism or religion, but our law is the righteousness of God - love.

Ezekiel 33:6-7

6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.'

7 "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.

God will hold us responsible for the welfare of His people. Our weapon is love and our focus is righteousness. We are on guard against the enemy who is always seeking for an opportunity to bring confusion and division among the saints. We guard, not only by our continual quiet intercession and presentation of sincere love, but by knowing the enemy too can use us, we have to be wise and empty ourselves of iniquity. In this way, he will not have a ‘hook’ in us to use for his destructive purposes, as he can only gain entry by our un-renewed minds. RELY UPON THE SPIRIT

Psalm 127:1

1 except the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

We have to walk in the spirit or our service will be in vain. Nothing done by flesh will have any effectiveness, “not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” Many people have learned how to socialize and to be hospitable from the world but God desires to re-train us to minister out of our innerman. There may never be any recognition for our labor. If we work to please man, we have no reward with God. We must be continually aware that the Lord is present and entreat each person with the reverence of Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work with us to fulfill our purpose as hospiticians. To walk in the spirit is to walk inside of peace, trusting God in all matters, regardless of what is going on. In the midst of the storm, the disciples lost their peace and became frantic and anxious forgetting who was on board their ship. In the same way, we need to know who is on board our ‘ship’. We can trust who has called us and who is the perfector of our faith.

The moment we step into any sort of anxiety or offense we are reacting in the flesh which has no good thing in it. The only power of the flesh is iniquity. If our desire is to please the Lord in all things, and see Him as the focus of our service, the Holy Ghost will come with a Spirit of Might and Wisdom and we will experience the ‘yoke’ of Christ; which is light and easy. CRITERIA In order to be a hospitician, one must be a member of MARY BANKS MINISTRIES. The hospitician should have or be actively seeking the Holy Ghost. It is mandatory that all auxiliary members take classes at BTI Training and Resource Center and attend Worship Services and Ministerial Staff Development Classes regularly. He should be pressing into holiness.

MEETINGS

It is mandatory that hospiticians attend meetings regularly. This is the most important facet of being a part of an auxiliary. In meetings you get to know each other on the board and have an opportunity to be developed as real-life issues are dealt with. Here is where the messages are discussed and broken down and applied to our personal situations, circumstances and relationships. The majority of meeting times should be spent on spiritual matters with lesser time on business. These meetings should be used to transmit righteousness to each other as each joint supply the other. The auxiliary is for our spiritual growth and not to perform mechanically among the saints. The anointing will flow from a board that is walking in love with each other and in their private lives. The auxiliary should meet at least twice per month. The time used for meetings is vital for the development of the board. We need to become of one mind and heart so there will be no confusion or divisions among us as we serve in the congregation. These meetings are priority and all must come open and vulnerable as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).

SHUT-IN AND TRANSMITTALS

These are group meetings held to discuss spiritual issues. Shut-ins and transmittals are held at least once monthly and usually last overnight. The Holy Spirit sets the tone for the sessions and specific situations and spiritual dispositions may be dealt with during these settings. The greatest deliverance can take place during these sessions because of the time allowed to informally sit and deal with the mindsets that would oppose our ministry. Confrontation is the catalyst for change and is crucial to spiritual development. It allows us to come face to face with those things that cause us to walk contrary to God’s will. It identifies the things that have become so much a part of us, but which are evil, even our personalities. When these negative mindsets are exposed and we submit to the truth, we move from one spiritual location to another - this is maturity. To shut-in takes discipline. Our flesh does not want us to make this sacrifice. Normally, sleepiness or negative attitudes are our greatest hindrances. The fleshy mind will produce excuses, ranging from not being able to stay awake to not seeing the reason for meeting for that length of time. Whatever the reason, the enemy will try to allow his presence to be manifested, as he realizes how effective this method of purging has become within the ministry as it allows spiritual wickedness to be addressed and dealt with directly. PRAYER Prayer at least once a week as a group is mandatory. The scripture instructs us that “. . . men ought always to pray, and not faint, . . .” (St.Luke 18:1). It also states that “. . . the prayer of a righteous man availeth much . . .” (James 5:16).

We have seen this to be a reality in ministry. Prayer has been, and is, the weapon that has brought us closer together. It allows us to feel each other’s infirmity. Without prayer, we lose touch with each other and many of the goals set by an auxiliary cannot be reached. Negative mindsets will begin to thrive and order is lost. Flesh must be challenged, whether in prayer, shut-ins, or transmittal sessions. We must always walk in holiness, in order to be able to pray at a moment’s notice and we need to know that God will answer. Sin makes us unmindful of spiritual things and neutralizes our prayer life and blurs our identity in Christ. With our responsibilities, we must develop an attitude of prayer in order to be able to intercede for our leaders and each other. Prayer sessions will allow us to do this. We should not only pray as a group, but also praying individually is very important as well as praying for each other.

FASTING

To fast means, according to Webster’s Dictionary, means:

• To Abstain from food.
• To eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.

The Hospiticians must conduct a fast at least twice a month. We may fast on our own (as a group), or corporately with the church. Fasting is a vital part of any spiritual body, as it helps to sanctify the flesh, allows for quality time with the Father, and is necessary in seeking further direction from Him. Although effective, when done for the right reasons, fasting is one of the greatest areas of opposition from the enemy (Satan), because most people love to eat; or they think it is obsolete and old-fashioned to fast. The flesh does not want to give up a meal, not even for a day. The fleshy mind (brain) will come up with all types of justifications why we cannot fast, such as our jobs or being too busy that day to participate. The fleshy mind will also discredit the need for fasting. However, the Bible often talks about fasting, usually in connection with prayer. Let’s consider the following examples:

• Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast when the enemy approached (2 Chronicles 20:1-3).
• Esther requested a three day fast, without food or drink, before approaching the King with the problem of Haman (Esther 4:15,16).
• Daniel fasted for three weeks as he was seeking understanding about a vision he was given (Daniel 10:1-3).
• Moses, Elijah, and Jesus each fasted for forty days, and Jesus also expects us to fast, for He says in; Matthew 6:18

“When you fast . . .” Not if you fast.

A. Why should we FAST? We will let the scripture answer this. Let’s go to Isaiah 58:6-7

Amplified version 6 [Rather] is not this the fast that I (God) have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every[enslaving] yoke?

7 Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house—when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?

Satan is the enemy of SOULS! Therefore, in addition to setting free the oppressed, Fasting and Prayer can also obtain direction and discernment for other tactics and strategies to use against him. It is important to pray and use God’s Word, our sword, when we fast. We must expect opposition from Satan and/or his cohorts. However, we must ask for God’s strength to overcome any attacks of exaggerated hunger pangs, weakness, nausea, or headaches. We must be determined and place our trust in God’s ability to take us through. The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the same ability Christ had, and just as He responded, so can we: “. . . Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (St. Matthew 4:4) Amplified Version)

B. Motive For Fasting

Your motive for fasting is important. In fact, your motive is more important than the length of the fast. Fasting for the wrong reasons will get you no where with God. Let’s go back to Isaiah the 58th chapter:

Isaiah 58:4-5 Amplified Version

4 [The facts are that] you fast only for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickedness. Fasting as you do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul?

(Is true fasting merely mechanical?) Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him (to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have)? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Now let us look at the words of our Lord in Matthew 6.

Matthew 6:16-18 Amplified Version

16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.

17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,

18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

As Christians, our lives are to reflect Christ; and nothing was more important than His communion with the Father. Jesus gained strength through His time spent ALONE with God, and when we choose to do likewise we too, will have the power the Father gave to Him. The whole point of fasting is to have more TIME with the Father. Those who fast, for the right reasons, are in effect saying, our dependence upon God is more vital to us than even food and drink. Because your motive is important, I feel it most necessary to state what fasting is not:

1) It’s not an automatic way to miracles. It isn’t a spiritualized form of magic. Fasting is not a secret of power for just anyone; it has power only for those who have an intimate relationship with their God.

2) It is not a way of earning God’s blessing. He provides His help and blessing because He loves us.

3) It is not a way of bypassing obedience. Our heavenly Father will not hear our prayers, even if we add fasting, if we refuse to walk in obedience to His Word and will.

4) It doesn’t accumulate power to us personally, so that we can display it at will. We cannot and do not use the Holy Spirit--He uses us! The moment a person decides to brag or boast about his or her power, it is gone. (Taken from the Armed & Dangerous Prayer Warriors Resource/Training Guide).

Note: “If for health reasons you cannot go on an extended fast, you can try a modified fast. Or you can give up a favorite food as an act of denying yourself during a specific period set-aside for prayer. Start with one-day to three-day fasts before attempting.

ng a prolonged period, and drink lots of water or diluted clear juices while fasting.” (Taken from the Spiritual Warrior’s Prayer Guide, 69, Sherrer & Garlock).