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Life in
Ministry With Christ
Not long ago Pastor Joel
was in a small church in Western Russia preaching at
my friend’s church. They were praying for people
who were sick. One of the people at the altar was an
older woman who had walked slowly with her cane to the front of
the church. When Pastor
prayed for her he noticed that she seemed to be
touched by the Spirit of God. Tears were flowing
down her face and she was visibly touched. After a
while all the people returned to their seats and as
the older woman walked slowly back to her seat with
her cane something happened. She dropped her cane
and began to run, well as fast as an older woman can
run. She had not be able to walk without the cane
for years, that night the Lord touched her and she
walked and ran without pain.
This is ministry with Christ.
Jesus said to his disciples in the Gospel of John
chapter 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear
much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. All
service performed in the church is accomplished
through this intimate relationship with Jesus. God
desires to work his works through the believer and
one of the most exciting moments in the life of the
believer is when the life and power of God flows
through them to touch someone else.
This is true ministry-Jesus
living in and through the believer to the extent
that His works are worked through us. This is the
possibility for all believers. Every believer can
pray and experience the miracles of God. The church
should be a place of faith, a community of believers
who don’t give in to the enemies attacks or life
problems, but who rise up in faith and hope to
believe that there is nothing too difficult for God.
Let's talk just for a moment
about what ministry is not. It is not a
performance. It is not accomplished through
selfish ambition or motives. Ministry is not
about sounding good or looking good. It is
truly not about us, it is about Him. We minister to
be a blessing to the Lord and to others.
Whether it is teaching or singing or praying, we are
called to minister for the Lord.
“And now to Him who is able to
do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to
Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
through out all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen. (New Testament, Ephesians 3:20,21 NIV)
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