EMPOWERED IN MINISTRY

[Albert Finch]

The early Church did something that few do today or even know about—they ministered to the Lord.

Salvation is more than a legal exchange affecting our position before God. Salvation also includes the exchange of deep loving affections and adoration. God first communicates His enjoyment, longing, and affections for us and, in turn, we respond in a similar way.

If you want to hear from God you must sit at His feet. To effectively minister to others you must first minister to the Lord. When you minister to Him He will speak to you: "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them'" (Acts 13:2).

KNOWING GOD'S CALLING ON YOUR LIFE

When you minister to the Lord He will give you such peace and contentment that you will not wonder or guess—you will know what to do and see God's PURPOSE for your life (John 8:29).  When God reveals your CALLING to you, He also supplies you with grace and a sense of personal conviction that is needed to carry it (our cross). The yoke is easy, joyful and light when He puts it on us.

Unless you first minister to God, much of what you do will be polluted with flesh and not with His anointing. You must learn to minister to Him before you minister to anyone else. That is where you will hear His voice. A priest's first responsibility is to minister to the Lord, and then second, to minister to God's people. God's desire is that we, as a generation of priests, would come to His Mountain to speak directly with Him and hear His voice.

"To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom of PRIESTS to serve His God and Father..." - Revelation 1:5,6

The Holy Spirit does not draw us so we can hang up a "Do Not Disturb" sign and sit in our little comfort zone singing love songs to Jesus the rest of our lives. As fellow heirs with Christ, we are drawn into intimacy, then empowered in ministry to bring others into their DESTINY in Christ Jesus.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
http://afministry.ning.com/