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"REACHING OUT TO OTHERS"
~ L.D. Oxford
I am frequently asked by a number of people who either call in or write into the network, the following questions. These are only a few of those questions that are asked during the first part of some of those conversations.
WHAT IS MY CALL AND WHAT IS MY MINISTRY?
What is MY call? ... and what is MY ministry? I need to know what MY ministry is. I'm not sure what MY call and ministry is. Can you tell me? I need God to speak to me and tell me what MY ministry is because i cannot hear God tell me what MY call and ministry is.
I need a prophetic Word from the Lord concerning MY ministry, because i don't know what He wants me to do. As you can see above, there is the word "MY" typed in capital letters 7 times. "MY" ministry. :)
FIRST MINISTRY: A PERSONAL INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Well, your first ministry is to walk closely enough with the Lord and to study to show yourself approved unto God through His written Word ( 2 Timothy 2: 15), so that you will be able to correctly discern His voice when He does speak to you during your talks with Him.
Your first ministry is to the Lord Himself, and to come to the place in Him where you learn to spend quality time with Him, and to love, commune and worship Him from the heart.
It is not a religious ritual but is a living relationship of growing in intimacy with Him. He is our God, our Father, our Love and greatest Friend. And it is all done through faith in the finished work of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through Him, we have full access to the Father and can boldly and freely enter into His presence as often as we will. Walking in His presence should become a life-style by being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and by staying filled in our on-going walks with Him. It's not a one-time experience, but an on-going relationship with many experiences of being re-filled and refreshed, along with other divine encounters in His presence.
This is your first and most important ministry. Your ministry is to the Lord first. Without Him being central, there would be no other ministry to be concerned about. All other ministry will flow out of your love relationship with Him.
SECOND MINISTRY: FAMILY -- YOUR MISSION FIELD
Your second ministry is to those who are closest to you, such as your husbands, wives and other family members; such as the children and then on to your other relatives. If you are not married, then it can be to your mother and father and then, other relatives.
Your second ministry also involves all of the other menial tasks and disciplines involved that are neccessary for all family life. It includes everyday normal living. The Lord adds His "Super" to our "Natural." Our everyday life with family and God is super-natural living and we should all learn to walk in the Spirit with our families included.
THIRD MINISTRY: COMMUNITY - NEXT LARGE MISSION FIELD
The third ministry is to the community around you where you live, such as in your occupations, your neighbors, friends, local fellowship and to the needy and lost that are all around you in your own community.
This also includes everyday normal living and reaching out to others on that day to day journey of responsibilities. Note: There is enough ministry here to consume all of your time and to keep you busy until the next millenium, if you could live that long. :)
FOURTH MINISTRY: TO THE WORLD AT LARGE: OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMMUNITY - ANOTHER MISSION FIELD
When you have gained training, discipline and experience in all of the other ministries mentioned above, then you may be ready to go to other places to build ministries, reach the lost in other regions, or to go on the foreign mission field, according to how the Lord has called you in your life.
By the time you successfully minister in the first three areas of ministry, then you will most definitely know what the Lord would have you to further do and will be ready for the next phase of ministry.
The first three are your foundational training and preparation to do greater things. The knowledge and understanding of your call will be very clear as you do what you already know you should do. It all starts with obedience in doing what you know is right in light of the Word of God. A good rule of thumb for your call and ministry is to do "what you are gifted to do instead of trying to do what you are not really gifted to do."
Where you are gifted is where you will find favor in ministry. And where the Lord wants you to be, will also come the needed favor to accomplish His Work. You will not need a Ministry Title to prove anything, (Servant, a better title) but your true gifts and talents will make room for you in the Body of Christ where you will have the favor of God when the timing is right.
Or, it may be in a normal everyday occupational setting, in a local ministry or both, where the Lord would desire to use you. The Lord will show you through the favor that comes in the areas where you are most gifted.
REACH OUT TO OTHERS
In the mean time, Reach out to others, going beyond yourself to experience the release of God's greater blessings for your life. Get off of your chair, shutdown your computer ...then go and become a blessing to someone else today. Needs are all around you.
Being preoccupied with your own problems and needs is where the real hinderance lies and God does not usually answer selfish prayers. Remove the roadblocks and hinderances in your life by making the decision to become a blessing to others. The Lord will meet every need and bless you with the miracles you ask of Him when you position yourself to "become that miracle and blessing" to someone else.
The needs are all around you every day. When you cross paths with the needy, your co-workers, the hurting, the widows and the fatherless on your daily journey, do you ask God to bless them and pass them by, when He expects you to be that blessing and to help them? Or do you go out of your way to help others when there is no one else around to help them?
Selfishness and Me-ology appear to be the prominent trademark of many who call themselves believers, which is in direct conflict with the teachings of Christ.
BREAK OUT, BREAK LOOSE, BREAK FREE!
Break out, break loose, break free and become a blessing wherever you go. And go prepared to reach forth out of your own need to help that one who has been left for dead (physically, emotionally or spiritually) on the side of the road. This is true ministry.
Be that good Samaritan by pouring in the oil and the wine and by binding up those wounds, proving yourself as a true and worthy servant of the Kingdom of God. Then, you will be truly blessed and as a result, the release of miracles and provision will be yours in many areas of your life.
You will reap whatever you sow, therefore, do not turn a deaf ear to others and become a blessing to someone who needs you today. Then the Lord will hear your cries when you are in need, and you will see the turn-around, change and the answers to those prayers that you have been asking Him for.
It comes by moving beyond the flesh and selfishness to truly follow the Lord, by choosing to love others in our everyday walks with Him. Not in words only, but in deeds and actions. This is what it means to Love God. Loving and helping others is the primary way to measure ones love towards God.
ONE OF MANY PROMISES -- IN REGARDS TO HELPING THE NEEDY
Psalms 41:1-3 - Blessed is he that considereth the poor; < (meaning: weak or needy) the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
vs.2, The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
vs 3, The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.< (meaning: of strengthening and restoration from the sick bed). - KJV
THIS PROMISE RESULTS IN:
1. Deliverance in time of trouble.
2. The Lord will preserve and keep you alive.
3. You shall be blessed upon the earth.
4. You will not be delivered over to the will of your enemies.
5. The Lord will strengthen you on your sick bed and restore you on your bed of illness.
CHRIST'S LOVE COMMANDMENT
(which sums up all other commandments)
Luke: 10: 27 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor AS YOURSELF. -NIV
WHO IS THE REAL NEIGHBOR?
REMEMBERING THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN:
Luke 10: 30 - 37 - A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
vs 31, A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
vs 32, So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
vs. 33, But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
vs. 34, He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
vs. 35, The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. Look after him, he said, and when i return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.
vs 36, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers.?"
vs. 37, The expert in the Law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "GO AND DO LIKEWISE." - NIV
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