THE WALK
“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who
WALK not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:4)

PART 8
LEARNING HOW TO WALK V

THE WALK OF MINISTRY: If you have been involved with any kind of ministry for the Lord, I know you have wondered at times why things have not turned out like you thought they would. It is true, there are many different “conditions” associated with our destiny just like with everything else that is connected to the will of God – and the will of man. There are people who have been blessed with amazing talents and have been given gifts that are nothing less than miracles but He is not always necessarily searching for ability – He is seeking availability. Christianity is not a talent show – it is all about attitude! It is not about who can do the most but rather who has the pure heart, the holy motive and intention that only has God’s will as their purpose. Let us take another look at what Jesus was saying when He was watching people give their offerings. “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing (2 cents). And He called His disciples, and said unto them, verily I say unto you, that this poor widow has put in more than all the others which have given into the treasury. For they all did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:41-44)

Do we actually believe that we can impress the one who created everything? When God calls someone to do something, He has a complete understanding that we cannot do it on our own. If we had the wisdom, power and spiritual perception to be self sufficient, we would not need to worry about the indwelling Holy Spirit, the revelation of His Word, His super-natural anointing, or the privilege of prayer. And even if we did accomplish some things in our own power, it would be noted that WE received the commendation, honor and glory. Those who pull themselves up by their own boot straps and have the single vision of their own imagination often forget that even the blood racing through our veins and the air we so freely breathe is a gracious gift of mercy and grace from our loving heavenly Father. I know people who think they have the world by the tail but will never give The Lord any acknowledgement. I have seen people receive awards of great accomplishment and never even mention God’s Name. If anyone has an ability to do anything – it is because our loving Father has placed His gift within them! This anointing was never intended to be abused or used selfishly to bring us all the attention. The ability was given that we might be used as a special instrument to bring Him ALL the glory and that He might “USE US” to execute His vision!

I am convinced that in the spiritual journey of following Christ, that EACH person is so complex and unique that Father must consider them an individual “world” within the universe of mankind. The depth of His infinite power to create so many different people as they connect with and influence each other AND be able to monitor each one – every second, is mind boggling. He has mapped out a specific destiny for every person. He watches and knows if they will eventually choose to follow Him or follow their own ideas in EVERY decision they make. Those who DO make the commitment to trust Him as their Lord and to WALK in His ways will discover that He carefully draws an exciting blueprint of divine appointments that is completely original and unprecedented. This divine path is called “His perfect will” and it is similar to when He created the earth and released His dream of how everything would exist simultaneously. He has created each person to follow a certain mission and be used as a “tool” to accomplish His plans, but what happens when the tool is broken or needs to be adjusted? They are placed into “patience” mode until they receive the revelation of what He desires from them. Many “tools” are so busy trying to work on projects that have nothing to do with God’s plans and this is called, “leaning on our own understanding”. Of course, He can use another tool that is ready and “available” to get the job done, while He lays the other ones on His workbench to receive His attention. Are you a usable tool today in the hands of the Master or is there something wrong within your heart that is preventing you from being used? Do you need a maintenance check and a cleaning?

If we are willing to allow Him to do whatever He wants to make us useable, then we are destined to please Him. If we disagree with His ideas and refuse to submit, then we are put on a shelf until we can gain more MATURITY. This could be the reason that many in the body of Christ have not reached their full potential in their calling. It is not God’s fault and He is not trying to deny our success, it is that we have not received the revelation of divine order that opens the doors to His miracle power. This divine order is the revelation of spiritual priorities that we must understand because it is the spiritual “LAW” by which the Father operates. For example, if someone is infected with the sin of “gossip” and is out of control with no sense of discernment then it would be completely understood why Father would NOT allow them to prosper or succeed. To Him this is envy, instigating and strife and His Word says, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and EVERY EVIL WORK.” (James 3:16) Since they have not repented and do not even see their transgressions, it is not difficult to see how they CANNOT be used in areas of crucial responsibility. They actually become an enemy to the cross and a hindrance to the plans of God. This ongoing, unrepented SIN can actually keep the person out of the holy of holies and sever their intimate relationship with God. They have created a distance between them and God and have come to place of being confused as to why they do not feel Him anymore. Sometimes those who have become deceived in their sin blame the pastor, the church, their family, other Christians and the entire world for their failure and disappointment. The truth is that our effectiveness is based on our pure heart, our attitude, obedience and God’s timing. If we are not advancing in our ministry and we do not sense His presence or anointing, then maybe we have been taken out of commission BY HIM because pride has distracted our focus.

Many times we do not realize where we are in God’s process. If we have lost the connection or our tuner has drifted off the station, we might be going one way while God is going in the opposite direction. These are times when fasting and fervent prayer is needed for us to “re-connect” with Him and to KNOW what is going on. The Lord will always do things His way because He can see the big picture and we cannot. If there is a character flaw that we have not learned to control, then we are a target for the enemy and destined for another problem. Much of what we learn about spiritual warfare is revealed as a FLESH problem and the big question is always whether or not we choose to deal with it. If we have a weakness that we have not conquered, then it would only make sense that God desires to see us OVERCOME it so we will not REPEAT our failures. It could be a strong probability that our inability to overcome sin – is the very thing that is closing the door to our advancement. For example, why would God allow a man with a sexual addiction to become a summer camp leader for teenage girls? Or why would the Lord allow a person that is vulnerable to pride, control and politics become a pastor? Maybe the reason why many have never reached the true potential of their destiny is because God is waiting for them to say goodbye to their old nature and bury their carnality deep in the grave. How can we grow stronger and continue to advance in our learning if we have never passed the basic tests? It would be like progressing to algebra when we cannot even add and subtract.

When we abandon our carnality the enemy cannot push our old “buttons” and get the same old results. Cutting the wires makes our buttons useless and allowing ourselves to be melted into His image is the ONLY THING that can give us His strength to cut them. We are not strong enough in our own resolutions but we can do ALL things THROUGH Him and His supernatural power! He can bring the “180 change” if we become determined to let Him flood our senses! WE built the damn and we are the only one that can tear it down! He can take away our sinful desires if we ask Him to fill us with His REFINING FIRE! He can clean up our messes and cleanse us from the filth and darkness we try to hide, but He waits for us to SERIOUSLY repent and that means to STOP doing what we are doing – forever! We can go as far with God as we want and we can have as much of Him as we desire – but these decisions must come from the fervent zeal to love Him with ALL our heart.

Religious spirits love to play games and ACT like an overcomer but it is only mimicking the genuine. Hypocrisy is saying all the right things but NOT doing them. It is time to realize that our words are seeds and all the words we have spoken have grown and are growing to produce a harvest whether good or bad. When these “seeds” begin to produce fruit they can change the course of our destiny. Today is the day to repent of every negative word and every sin of our flesh. Spending more time confessing God’s Word will increase our “planting” which will generate a spiritual renewal of our mind. Many have missed God’s purpose by saying, “I am just leaving everything up to God” but if you have ever raised a garden you know that is not the best idea. If you turn your garden over to whatever comes up in it, you will be disappointed because it will be full of weeds. Not because it is God’s will – but because the earth is under a curse. Living in the “default” is automatically receiving what the world has. We have been called to live in God’s divine reality and that is what makes us EFFECTIVE ambassadors for His Name. Watering His Word develops our faith harvest! Selah.