Prepare For Ministry

The Sword and The Rose!
~Word of God and Love of God ~

Prepare For Ministry

All of us Born Again, and having God's Spirit living in us, carry God's anointing. God has a purpose and plan for our lives....a ministry, even if it is behind closed doors of our prayer closet as a Prayer Warrior which is a very important ministry! We are all part of the body of Christ which is so much bigger than some realize or will ever admit. We are ALL called to minister. Not just the leaders. We are ALL anointed of God! Not just the leaders. How we live our life is a ministry. 

A Successful Ministry must entail two very important things:

1. The Word of God
2. The Love of God

THE WORD OF GOD

The Word of God stands sure (Isaiah 40:8) and God's word is even above His name! (Psalm 138:2) THAT is how important God's Word is.

The Word of God is inspired, alive and living in us! (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Psalmist asks “How can a young man cleanse his way?” He answers, “By taking heed according to Your Word". (Psalm 119:9) Just a few more verses later v:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” God's Word keeps us from sin and keeps us on His path, as the Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm119:105) in a dark world.

He sent His Word to heal. (Psalm 107:20) and His Word sent forth (spoken) doesn't come back void, but accomplishes what it's sent forth to do. (Isaiah 55:10,11)

THE LOVE OF GOD

God is Love. (I John 4:8) The Love of God is unconditional, desired by all. The sweet fragrance of God's love is what draws men to Him, (2 Corinthians 2:14-16) and if we do not have it, we have nothing. We can do all kinds of works, but without love, it profits nothing. We can operate in whatever gift He has given us, but without His Love, first and foremost in operation, we have nothing!! You can speak in tongues all you want, you can prophecy all you want and have word of knowledge, and great faith, and give all you have to the poor, but have not love, you have nothing! (I Corinthians 13:1-3)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails
(I Corinthians 13:4-8)

Our faith will not even work without His Love. (Galatians. 5:6)

Love for one another is what shows people that we are a disciple of God. (John 13:35) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(I John 4:8)  And it is totally impossible for us to love others if we do not first love ourselves. We must pray for a greater revelation of God's love, for we cannot give something that we don't have ourselves. (Ephesians 3:14-19)

The reason many ministries struggle, and even fail and many people get hurt is because of the lack of love and because of unforgiveness. The problem is, people are entering churches as walking wounded in need of love and healing, but instead end up leaving, even more broken. It's important as leadership of a ministry that you allow God to heal all of YOUR wounds and that you carry no bitterness or unforgiveness in YOUR heart of past or present hurts, because we as leaders, if we walk around wounded and hurt, we will then hurt others, unintentionally of course, but it's a vicious cycle that happens when we do not let go of our hurts and let God heal.

What matters most is the two greatest commandmants: That we love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. See how important it is to love yourself? And we can't do that without the revelation of God's love for us! It ALL works together!

FORGIVENESS

One strong requirement needed for all this to work is FORGIVENESS! God gives it freely without us deserving it, so we must also give it freely to even those who don't deserve it. (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13)

We all have been hurt and I guarantee you that there are going to be many more times of hurt throughout your life. This is why we must LIVE TO FORGIVE. (Matthew 18:21-22) Guard your heart from offenses. (Psalm 4:23) Let them go before they even have a chance to enter the heart. They start as a thought that needs to be captured and cast down and out and not received. You have the power to what you receive and not receive within your heart. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) Whatever you allow in your heart, determines the course of your life. If you do not take care of your heart, instead of your life AFFECTING others in a good way, it will start INFECTING others in a bad way and begin destroying your own.

Ministries fail because they change the Word of God by using their own interpretation of Scripture to fit their own doctrines, they do not truly comprehend the Love of God in their own life thus causing them not to be able to portray God's unconditional love to others, and they have so many issues unresolved in their life because they are unwilling to forgive those who have caused hurts and disappointments in their own life.

Word of God - Let the Spirit of truth guide you into all truth (John 16:12-15)

Love of God - Pray for a greater revelation of God's love (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Forgiveness - Live to Forgive (Matthew 18:21-22)

Be sure you have TRUTH, CHARITY & FORGIVENESS before ever attempting to minister.

Connie Schmoll