When you are involved in a church or a ministry, it is so easy to get distracted from the main source, minister and gift-giver: Jesus. It is easy to lose our focus and serve the ministry over the minister, take pleasure in the gift rather than the ultimate gift-giver and settle in ministering to the ministry and people rather than ministering to the Lord.
In Luke 10:38-42, Mary and Martha were both there to serve Jesus. When Mary decided to spend time listening to Jesus, Martha was focused on preparations, doing work to serve Jesus. When Martha displays her need for help in preparation Jesus replied, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42b, NIV). When we are ministering to the people, the sick, the hurt and the lost, God is pleased with our serving heart. However, it is ministering to the Lord that provides substance to our heart and deepens our intimacy with the Lord, growing our ability to hear His voice and know His will. If you are being a worker before His lover, you may be missing the true focus.
Separate: To Be Set Apart, Sanctification to Holiness
When you start ministering to the Lord, spending intimate time and worship in the Spirit, He calls you into a separation, to be set apart. In Acts 13:2-4 “while they [the prophets] were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” As we seek the Lord, our mind, heart and desires start to shift, and He starts to open the doors of our desires that align with His.
Sent: Walking Into Calling
When you are sent by the Holy Spirit to complete God’s assignment, you will witness miracles, meet divine appointments and see God’s promises unfold right before your eyes. Learn more in this episode of the Raised to Deliver Podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}
Vladimir Savchuk is the lead pastor of Hungry Generation Church and author of Break Free, Single, Ready to Mingle and Fight Back. He is also a founder of a virtual online school. To download free e-books, sermon series and small group study guides go to vladimirsavchuk.com.
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