AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD: THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE – LET HIM SPEAK TO YOU TODAY – AND EVEN NOW!
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD, and fasted, THE HOLY GHOST SAID, Separate me Barnabas and Saul FOR THE WORK whereunto I have CALLED them . . .” Acts 13:1-12.
You can hear the VOICE of the Holy Spirit today if you let Him. He does SPEAK, and I know that for SURE and CERTAINLY.
Will you let Him SPEAK to you TODAY and even NOW?
It is high time individual BELIEVERS in Christ developed more of the subconscious ATTITUDE of MINISTERING TO the LORD before MINISTERING FOR the LORD, so that they can HEAR the SPEAKING VOICE of the HOLY SPIRIT.
It is upon being WITH THE LORD first that He EMPOWERS you to go FORTH and DO His Kingdom mandate in grace and with speed, unhindered
“He went up on the hillside and CALLED those WHOM He Himself wanted and CHOSE; and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve [disciples], so that they WOULD BE WITH HIM [for instruction] and so that He COULD SEND THEM out to PREACH [the gospel as apostles—that is, as His special messengers, personally chosen representatives], 15 and to have AUTHORITY AND POWER to cast out demons . . .” Mark 3:13-19/Amplified.
Do not be so madly and crazily desperate for God’s POWER as some are, compared to having a strong desire to be with Him primarily and principally in FELLOWSHIP, to ensure RELATIONSHIP in doing LIFE and living GODLY in the GRACE in Christ Jesus’ stead.
For His POWER is for His PURPOSE in us, and PURPOSE can only serve as a good KINGDOM CAUSE in God’s BLESSEDNESS in Christ Jesus, when it is known and understood and applied according to His will as called in His grace. [Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:10-12; 1 Corinthians 1:9].
And God’s PURPOSE can only be made known and understood through communion — FELLOWSHIP — with Him, to get the needed INSTRUCTIONS not ADVICE, to enhance the RELATIONSHIP with Him as Jesus did and experienced for our example in relation to Father God and mission on earth [Luke 4:1, 14, 16-18]; and to help us know and understand His PRINCIPLE for your RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY for the given cause.
For ABUSIVENESS in anything is a result of limited knowledge and understanding, born from assumption and presumption in ignorance of God’s PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT.
The early, or first Disciples who became Apostles and pioneers of the Faith were firstly and primarily called to BE WITH THE LORD, so that the LORD WOULD BE FOR THEM, in EMPOWERING them as He sent them FORTH for the GOSPEL with a commission mandate for the mission — Mark 3:13-19.
Do not go hastening FOR the LORD’S Kingdom mandate; instead go MINISTERING TO the LORD in person, and He will in turn BE with you in all Plans, Purpose and Pursuits. Psalm 16:11.
This is how to win your day for good in Ministry, Marital relationship, Any other Relationship, Business, Career, Education, Entrepreneurship, Conflict Resolution and such like.
It is time to develop the heartfelt love that MINISTERS to the LORD always. For in His PRESENCE is the fullness of joy and life for evermore.
DO YOURSELF A GOOD FAVOUR IN MAKING A NEW START TODAY — Psalm 16:11.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“Thou wilt SHEW ME THE PATH OF LIFE: in thy PRESENCE is FULNESS OF JOY; at THY RIGHT HAND there are PLEASURES for evermore” Psalms 16:11
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD, and fasted, THE HOLY GHOST SAID, Separate me Barnabas and Saul FOR THE WORK whereunto I have CALLED them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7 which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 and said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord” Acts 13:1-12.
“He went up on the hillside and CALLED those whom He Himself wanted and chose; and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve [disciples], so that they WOULD BE WITH HIM [for instruction] and so that He COULD SEND THEM out to PREACH [the gospel as apostles—that is, as His special messengers, personally chosen representatives], 15 and to have AUTHORITY AND POWER to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17 and James, the son of [b]Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 and [He also appointed] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew (Nathanael), and Matthew (Levi the tax collector), and Thomas, and [c]James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas the son of James), and Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him” Mark 3:13-19 Amplified.
SUMMARY
The message is a charge to prioritise MINISTERING TO THE LORD in FELLOWSHIP before MINISTERING FOR THE LORD in SERVICE, so that we can HEAR THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and be empowered for His Kingdom mandate with grace, accuracy and speed.
It uses Acts 13:1-2 and Mark 3:13-14 as the pattern: God first calls us to BE WITH HIM, then He sends us FORTH with power and purpose. The core is: Relationship before Responsibility. Presence before Power. Hearing before Doing.
KEY POINTS
- THE BIBLICAL PATTERN: MINISTER TO THE LORD FIRST
Antioch Example – Acts 13:1-2
“AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD, and fasted, THE HOLY GHOST SAID…”
Direction, calling and sending came out of worship, fasting and fellowship, not out of striving.
The 12 Disciples Example – Mark 3:13-14
Jesus “appointed twelve, so that they WOULD BE WITH HIM [for instruction] and so that He COULD SEND THEM out to PREACH”.
First: BE WITH HIM. Second: BE SENT BY HIM.
- THE HOLY SPIRIT STILL SPEAKS TODAY
You CAN hear the VOICE of the Holy Spirit TODAY and EVEN NOW if you let Him. He DOES SPEAK for SURE and CERTAINLY.
He gives INSTRUCTIONS, not just ADVICE, when we come to Him in communion and fellowship as Jesus did. Luke 4:1, 14, 16-18
- THE DANGER OF WRONG PRIORITY
Do not be madly and crazily desperate for God’s POWER more than you desire FELLOWSHIP with Him.
God’s POWER is for His PURPOSE. Purpose is only fulfilled as a good KINGDOM CAUSE in God’s BLESSEDNESS when it is known, understood and applied according to His will and grace. Romans 8:28-30, Eph 1:10-12, 1 Cor 1:9
ABUSIVENESS in ministry, life and relationships comes from limited knowledge and understanding, born from assumption and presumption in ignorance of God’s PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT.
- THE EFFECT OF MINISTERING TO THE LORD
RELATIONSHIP is enhanced – We learn His PRINCIPLE for our RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY.
EMPOWERMENT for MISSION – The Lord will BE FOR YOU and EMPOWER you as He sends you FORTH.
CLARITY and SPEED – We do His Kingdom mandate in grace and with speed, unhindered.
VICTORY IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE – Ministry, Marriage, Relationships, Business, Career, Education, Entrepreneurship, Conflict Resolution and such like.
- THE FOUNDATION SCRIPTURE
Psalm 16:11 – “Thou wilt SHEW ME THE PATH OF LIFE: in thy PRESENCE is FULNESS OF JOY; at THY RIGHT HAND there are PLEASURES for evermore.”
In His PRESENCE is where joy, direction and life are found.
CALL TO ACTION
- CHOOSE FELLOWSHIP FIRST: Develop the subconscious ATTITUDE and heartfelt love that MINISTERS TO THE LORD always, before you minister FOR the Lord.
- POSITION TO HEAR: Create time to be WITH THE LORD in worship, fasting and communion so the HOLY SPIRIT CAN SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AND EVEN NOW.
- SEEK INSTRUCTION NOT JUST ADVICE: Come to Him for God’s PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for your life so you do not run in ignorance.
- ALIGN POWER WITH PURPOSE: Pursue God’s purpose in His will and grace, knowing His power is given to fulfil His cause.
- MAKE A NEW START TODAY: DO YOURSELF A GOOD FAVOUR. Go back to the place of MINISTERING TO THE LORD. For in His PRESENCE is the fullness of joy and life for evermore. Psalm 16:11
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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