This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus.” We have been looking at miracles for weeks now. Yesterday I shared with you some of my personal experiences with hearing from God and being used of Him for His glory. My desire is that you open your heart to whatever God wants to do in, with and through you, in this season. This is how the supernatural will be manifested in your life. Today I am not going to provide you a miracle or a passage. What I will do instead is discuss the broader topic of “ministry” and how God uses humans to reach other humans. I will teach on this, believing that you will see yourself as a candidate to be used of God. Let’s get to i!
Paul taught us that God’s treasure (His Spirit) has been placed inside of us (earthen vessels), so that the excellency and power would be from Him and not from us (2 Cor 4:7). We are the containers, God is the content. We are merely the vessels, God provides the power! All we have to do is be available to be used of God. God is not looking for our ability. He is looking for our availability.
The definition of ministry I use is one I learned from Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe. He said, “Ministry takes place when Divine Resources meet human needs, through loving channels, to the glory of God.” Let’s take a closer look at this definition.
Divine Resources: God is the source! He has the power and the provision. He is the manufacturer and we are simply the distribution centers. As a distribution center, all you can give-out is what you receive-in. Whenever God sets up a divine appointment for you — one where you are in position to be used of God to minister to someone else — you must remember the fact that you don’t have to come up with what to say or do. You are not the source! God will tell you what to say and He will lead you concerning what to do!
Human Needs: What do you think God does all day? He is always working (John 5:17) and He is always speaking! He is looking for ways to reach people in the earth. He wants you to become one of those ways! Sometimes people need a prophetic word. Other times they simply need a kind word or a hug. Sometimes people need money. Other times they simply need advice. Whatever the need is, if they are not in-tune with God enough to hear it or receive it directly from Him, spiritually, then they will need to hear it from another human. You can be that human. Allow God to meet the needs of the others, through you, for His glory!
Loving Channels: You are never to say or do anything for God out of pride, self-promotion, or ulterior motives. Your motivating force as a believer must be the Love of God. You are the conduit through which the blessing will come. God is love (1 John 4:8) and if we say we are His, then we must operate in love. Do all you do simply because you love God and man. Never do it to be seen or with any selfish intentions. Operate in God’s love in every area of your life.
To the Glory of God: Our mandate as God’s children is to bring glory to His name in the earth. Our God is a jealous God. You should never get in the way of His glory. Glory is reserved for God; and God alone! When the spotlight is on you, because of whatever God has blessed you to do, you should be quick to DEFLECT the glory right back to God! God does not have a problem with you getting recognized for what He blesses you to do. But He wants you to acknowledge where the blessing originated. I like to say, “We get the benefits, but God gets ALL the glory!” So, whenever you are doing something for God, remember that it is not your time to shine, but rather His.
So what does this mean to you today? A couple of things:
- You are called to be used as a conduit of God’s glory. Just as Jesus did not have to come up with what to say in order to minister to people, you are not required to. The Father provided Jesus the words and performed the work (John 14:10). The Father will do the same in, with and through you. Have you ever come in contact with someone who really needed Jesus, but you did not know what to say? Have you ever seen someone you really needed encouragement, but you could not find the words? The blessing is in the fact that you don’t have to come up with the words to say. God has given us, as Born-Again believers, His precious Holy Spirit. If we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, He will tell us what to say and do. We are not the manufacturer, God is. We are called to be the distribution centers of God’s love, light and power. God is the source, we are merely the conduits of His glory in the earth.
- The power of the pipe. Picture yourself as a pipe connected to God. He is the source of the water. Water, in this illustration, is symbolic of “The Blessing”. So let’s say that God wants to bless someone. In this illustration this means that He wants to get water on them. He has the water, but He is looking for a way to get the water TO them and ON them. This is where you come in. This is how ministry takes place. When you allow God to use you, it is like you become a pipe that connects to the water source. The water then flows THROUGH you to/on the person God was trying to bless. You did not have to come up with the water. You just needed to be connected to the source. God has the water, but He needs people (or in this case “pipes”), to channel His blessing in the earth. Are you willing to be used as a pipe today? Oh Yeah! One last thing about this pipe. I call this “The power of the pipe”, because the water cannot pass through the pipe without the pipe getting wet! When God blesses others through you, you also get blessed. So, are you ready to get wet? Are you ready to be used of God?
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. This year I give myself over to You, to be used of You in the earth, like never before. You are the source of The Blessing and You are looking for ways to distribute Your blessing in the earth. I declare that I am a distribution center. You live in me. You give me the words and I say them. You lead me concerning what to do, and You perform the work through me. You give me finances and I distribute it to fund Your Kingdom projects in the earth. You send people to me, and You then use me to release Your love, light and power to them. I declare that Your resources will meet human needs THROUGH ME, for your glory! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
