Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].
1 Corinthians 16:14 AMP
Have you ever had a hard conversation with Father God?
I was praying about my ministry and what it is supposed to look like in this new year. What He told me is about me. It may not apply to you and your relationship with Him, but I feel led to share it for those who may benefit from it like I did.
He told me that it’s not about me. It’s about the Kingdom. I have a Kingdom assignment, not a ministry. I minister to people because of my assignment. It’s not about a ministry. It’s not about a title. It’s about being sent forth to function in my purpose!
That helped me to get my head on straight and get some clarity on what I am to do in this season. And it helped me to see the true purpose of ministry for me. See the truth in this quote from Mark Hanby:
“The Kingdom was hidden within Jesus. Only those who could see beyond the man, and beyond their own prejudices, could see into the Kingdom. These were people who desired relationship. We, likewise, need to learn to experience the Kingdom resident within the members of the Body of Christ– to go beyond our fears and our flesh and our preconceived ideas and see the treasure that is hidden within each saint.”
Mark Hanby, “The Ministry of the Saints”
The quote above is about seeing. We have to begin training our spiritual eyes so we can see beyond the natural into the Kingdom and the treasure hidden within each saint. How do we do that? Another key word in the above quote is “relationship.”
“These were people who desired relationship.”
God gave us two commandments, both based on relationship. Are we willing to lay down our agendas and focus on relationships? Relationship with God and with others in our world.
Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Allow me to be very transparent here. This is what the Lord told me:
“If what you do, as a Kingdom citizen, is not because of and motivated by a Love relationship with Me, it is in vain. It may prosper for a time, but when the winds of adversity blow on it, will it be able to stand? Your work for the Kingdom must be totally dependent on your relationship with Me and Your desire and ability to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. There you have it. All ministry must be motivated by Love–Love for Me and Love for My people. And ministry or service is what Kingdom people do.”
As I said before… this is what the Lord said to me as my focus for this new year and this new season. What are your thoughts on this? Post your comments below!!!
9 thoughts on “Focus Forward”
Wow! Love it. People matter to God so they must matter to us.
The Lord spoke this into my Spirit a few years ago, Leisa, I left the 99 for the one. The one matters to Me. Will you make the one matter to you?
That changed how I look at, and do ministry. It’s about Kingdom building and for His glory, not mine. It must meet that criteria.
That is good! Thanks for sharing. Sometimes we get so focused on the 99, but what about the 1? Powerful!
Our relationship with God leads us to our Kingdom assignments. We are assign to labor in love while trusting the process.
Thanks Jo,
Awesome Inspiration.
LOVING in Word and Deeds; We are commissioned to do so…
Thanks so much Jo … I totally agree and my focus will be intentional on what matters to “The Lord “ being mindful of how kingdom assignment work is about true relationships motivated by love and purpose… I’m excited to see how “The Lord “ will be using me in 2023 by assignment , to help grow and expand kingdom ♥️
Thank you 😊 💓 for sharing this. God lead me out of shyness years ago I 🙏, Lord I can’t help others being shy like this, and He changed shyness right then and there. After that I realized if I don’t know what to do, go to him in prayer. This you wrote gives me more encouragement. Thank God 😊 for my sisters in Christ. Love ❤ 😍 💖 and blessings 🙌 🙏
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS! ON A PERSONAL NOTE “THIS IS SO TIMELY!” I HAVE BEEN IN THIS VEIN EXPLORING “THIS HOUR IN MY LIFE” AND READING YOUR BLOG HAS RICHLY BEEN SUCH A LIFE CHANGING REFRESHING HEART FELT BLESSING AND CONFIRMATION TO SOME THINGS I HAVE BEEN PONDERING! “MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR REACHING OUT AND BEING A BLESSING!!!”
THIS IS FOR EVERYONE WE ALL HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT
Thank you Sis Jo for sharing. I love your inspiration & encouragement. I also love 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV) which states: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Our relationship with God is the model for how we should love other people which can be a difficult task sometimes. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will teach and strengthen us to see our brothers and sisters as God sees and loves us. We have freely received love from God so we should freely share that love with our brothers and sisters as God has commanded us to do.