Month: January 2015

For Those Who are Called

“And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him.” ~Deuteronomy 34:9a

What a testimony for the young man Joshua. He was full of the spirit of wisdom because a man of God, who had lived in the presence of the Lord, instructed and mentored him. Moses laid hands on the young man and something happened; God’s spirit was transferred into the life and spirit of Joshua!

Here are just a few good recommendations for all who are called to ministry:

Know who you are.

Know your strengths and abilities, as well as your weaknesses.

Find leadership.

Get under the leadership and guidance of someone who has paid the price to be there. Allow yourself to be taught, trained and corrected if necessary, without a hint of rebellion or any desire to retaliate.

Believe God for a Moses in your life.

Pray for one who will come beside you and guide you. One who has the ability to discern and see in you what God sees in you. One who will encourage and bring out the best in you.

Draw close to the Lord and seek His anointing.

The anointing is the tangible manifestation of the presence and power of God. Ironically it is often the missing element in ministry and yet it is the very thing absolutely necessary to effectively minister Christ.

“But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in Him.” ~1 John 2:27b

A Heart Check for 2015

The following are not New Year’s resolutions. This is about an ongoing heart check as to how we are living in our personal lives, as well as within the ministry the Lord has called us to. This short list below includes just a few disciplines that we all need to focus on this year.

Prayer

Prayer is essential: 

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…” (Luke 18:1)

“And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

Personal Bible Study

The Word is our foundation and personal Bible study is necessary.

“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Marriage and Family

 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that is should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.” (Ephesians 5:25-29)

Love and cherish your wife and family like you would take care of yourself. Look at verse 29 again and never forget to nourish your family and love your wife ever as much as Christ does the church.

Biblical Prophecy and End Times

It’s quite alright, and indeed necessary to know prophetically the times in which we live. Just like the sons of Issachar of old knew and discerned the time, and understood what Israel should do. (I Chronicles 12:32) So must we, but we must also understand our first commission from the Lord. We must remember His heart and the reason He came to this earth. He came to find the lost, to heal the hurting, to save and restore souls, to deliver the captive. (Luke 4:16-21) He came to love and forgive. (John 3:16,17)

Look up!

 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:16-18)

I pray this year of 2015 is a year of recovery and restoration. Together let’s continue with hope and perseverance to labor in the fields bringing in the harvest, and looking up, our eyes on the prize for our redemption is near. Amen! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. May You come, Lord, not as a reward, or as an escape; we just want to see You… and come Home!