16/06/2024
The Ministry, Power and LOVE... IF YOU ARE NOT SENT TO CRY IN THE WILDERNESS,WHY ASKING FOR THE ANOINTING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST???
The time I understood God's distributional system of gifts, I stopped praying for power. Most believers get offended because they believe that certain spiritual gifts they covet is not working in their life.This manner of offence is obviously informed by their self-justification of having-paid-the-price. In as much as it's crucial to believe in the power of prayer, understanding God's ways of administration and principles stand out. When we want to discuss God, the first context that comes to mind should be His kingdom,then His righteousness : meanwhile, the Greek name for 'righteousness' is 'dikaiosunē ' which means 'equity of character of act' . So, even though Jesus came primarily to save the world; His message spanned from the gospel to declaring the character and the ways of God of the kingdom. Perhaps Jesus would have just hidden and come out to die at 33, if not that the kingdom's essence doesn't stop at salvation. Thus, He taught to the extent that He corrected most of the acts in Old Testament:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well( Mathew 5:38-40)
There is another place He was correcting the order that Moses gave; although He explained why Moses gave it, the fact remains that Moses gave it:
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning(Mathew 19:8)
Now, my emphasis is how Jesus did a systematic justice to Kingdom's order. And out of many things that He taught, emphasis was given to love. I believe it when Jesus said no one has seen the father before. Yes, because no one ever preached love. In fact, Jonah almost got offended because He was sent to warn a nation. Elijah called down fire on his enemies; but when the son of thunder wanted to do so Jesus rebuked them. The emphasis is that Elijah and Moses knew power, Joshua and Elisha enjoyed it so much,the only thing they hoped to see was the Love of the Father. So,power had been from ages, the only thing that only became known at the manifestation of Christ is Love!
Many believe it was prayer and power that helped Jesus' ministry. No, it was the revelation of the Father:
You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we DO KNOW...(John 4:22)
This means it's abnormal to want to work for or with what you don't know. The most amazing thing is that out of many descriptions of the father that Jesus gave, love was emphasized. According to him, the essence of the law and prophet was not fulfilled because it could not birth love. Law and prophet only became fulfilled when Jesus manifested!!! Glory!!!!
So, Jesus made us to understand that the father is in a Kingdom called the Kingdom of God and His ways are rapped and revealed in love. By equation, if God is love , then we can call His Kingdom the KINGDOM OF LOVE. And His acts are love-sponsored!
The foundation of the Kingdom is on righteousness; and this righteousness is strengthened by love. So,when it comes to Kingdom's activities, LOVE is what regulates them:..And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all(1Cor 12:4)
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1Cor 13:1)
Maybe you are surprised that one can speak in tongue without love. Stroll up , I have already justified that.
Yes, this is the very beauty of the kingdom we have been called into. This is the characteristic of New Testament--- CALLED BY LOVE, LIVE IN LOVE AND LIVE FOR LOVE.A man that has accepted this will understand the kingdom's order of priority and why and how gifts are administered.
Jesus would have also won the devil if He turned the stone to bread, but he would have lived for Himself not the Father--- this is an option that is always available for men who are power-intoxicated. Many times, they win battles that heaven they claim to represent does not win and even gather people for celebration .
As I said , kingdom's activities are regulated by love. This applies to gifts and manifestation of power. In as much as power is good, it's simply a tool for ministry. Ministry here is the name given to the activities of any believer in the Kingdom---- whether headship-ministry or help-ministry. Meanwhile, Paul emphasized the the essence of ministry that it's for edification and maturity. paul says in ephesians 4: 10-12
He that descends is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things. and he gave some ; apostles; and some ,prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of saints,for the work of the ministry ,for edifying of the body of Christ
Although the ministries listed here are headship ministries, it should be established that the dimension of power and grace that each believer wields is in tandem with the form and type of ministry he has been given. So,the best way to manifesting power is to be at one's allocated ministry---- not necessarily prayer. jesus was about the business of His Father and the anointing that had been prepared for Him to carry out the ministry was in operation. We begin to covet power unnecessarily when we abandon our duty post. God is not interested in everybody becoming Idahosa or Bonke(respectfully speaking) He rather wants everybody to use the ministry allocated to him and grace that comes with it to express the love of God in serving. You will be surprised that the Apostle you want to be like is amazed at how you usher people in with such aura of courtesy and skilfulness. When the apostles were being tormented in Acts 4, they did not pray for more power, they rather asked for boldness. YES,THE SENSE OF SERVICE IS THE SENSE OF POWER .It is the will of God for us to minister. In fact,that is our default mode at salvation:
Who also hath made us able MINISTERS of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Who has made us COMPETENT TO BE MINISTERS of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit .
Meanwhile,it is one thing to be ministry-conscious, it is another thing to understand one's dimension and grace of ministry. I do tell people that they should not be offended by how anybody ministers at any spiritual event or program. Two Prophets can minister in different fragrance of the prophetic , one should not say the other is bad . Apostle that operates in the dramatic should not blame the one that do more of exhortation and exegesis. They both have the ministry but unique grace to carry it out. "John came eating honey but Jesus came eating bread----they were both 'sent' eventually "
HAVING SAID THIS, WHO IS NOW A MINISTER? A MINISTER IS A MAN OF LOVE WHO REPRESENTS LOVE IN THE CAPACITY GIVEN TO HIM THROUGH LOVE BY LOVE AND IN LOVE .
IF WE TRULY MINISTER FOR GOD , WE WILL MINISTER IN LOVE!!!