Follow-up to May 8th teaching
It’s not about what you don’t have
If I were a musician and could sing, I might be inclined to use my abilities for the Lord on the worship team. But I can’t sing nor play, so it has never crossed my mind to be on a worship team.
It is easy to forget though that a worship team consists of more than just the singers and musicians. It includes the sound person or the person who handles the projection of the words to the songs on the screen.
You see, the natural tendency we have is to focus on what we can’t do or what we don’t have. Ministering to others is not so much about what we can or can’t do, it’s a question of – “is this an opportunity God has put before me?”
In Acts chapter 3, Peter and John are heading into the temple for a time of prayer. As they get close to the gate Beautiful, there is a man who has never walked a day in his life begging for money. They had probably passed by this man on other occasions.
In themselves, neither Peter nor John had the ability to make a man walk. Nor did either of them have money to give to the man. It would be understandable if they had just walked past him as they had at other times.
But this time would be different. Why? Because Peter and John’s focus was not on what they didn’t have. Their focus was on the Lord Jesus. As such, they were sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
On this day, the Holy Spirit leads them to bring healing to this man. In obedience to what God was leading them to do, they step out. Through the gift of faith and the gifts of healing this man was made whole.
Peter and John, as well as the other 10 Apostles, were able to carry out the Great Commission and their calling as Apostles, because of two things. An understanding of the Gospel message and the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember that chapter 3 happens after chapter 2 where the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the 120.
Every day there is a potential opportunity to minister to someone. God has given you what you need; the Gospel message and the Holy Spirit and whatever else you will need.
Do you need resources to carry out what God has called you to do, remember Paul’s words – “And my God will supply every need of yours.”
Do you need a particular spiritual gift – “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit”
Do you need wisdom – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God”
Do you need counsel - “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (Counselor), to be with you forever”
The reason I say it’s not about what you don’t have is because of Him whom we serve. God has given us our mission and with it the ability to carry it out.
So, as you go forth into your day, if you are presented with a ministry opportunity, trust God and watch what He does through you.
If I were a musician and could sing, I might be inclined to use my abilities for the Lord on the worship team. But I can’t sing nor play, so it has never crossed my mind to be on a worship team.
It is easy to forget though that a worship team consists of more than just the singers and musicians. It includes the sound person or the person who handles the projection of the words to the songs on the screen.
You see, the natural tendency we have is to focus on what we can’t do or what we don’t have. Ministering to others is not so much about what we can or can’t do, it’s a question of – “is this an opportunity God has put before me?”
In Acts chapter 3, Peter and John are heading into the temple for a time of prayer. As they get close to the gate Beautiful, there is a man who has never walked a day in his life begging for money. They had probably passed by this man on other occasions.
In themselves, neither Peter nor John had the ability to make a man walk. Nor did either of them have money to give to the man. It would be understandable if they had just walked past him as they had at other times.
But this time would be different. Why? Because Peter and John’s focus was not on what they didn’t have. Their focus was on the Lord Jesus. As such, they were sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
On this day, the Holy Spirit leads them to bring healing to this man. In obedience to what God was leading them to do, they step out. Through the gift of faith and the gifts of healing this man was made whole.
Peter and John, as well as the other 10 Apostles, were able to carry out the Great Commission and their calling as Apostles, because of two things. An understanding of the Gospel message and the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember that chapter 3 happens after chapter 2 where the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the 120.
Every day there is a potential opportunity to minister to someone. God has given you what you need; the Gospel message and the Holy Spirit and whatever else you will need.
Do you need resources to carry out what God has called you to do, remember Paul’s words – “And my God will supply every need of yours.”
Do you need a particular spiritual gift – “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit”
Do you need wisdom – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God”
Do you need counsel - “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (Counselor), to be with you forever”
The reason I say it’s not about what you don’t have is because of Him whom we serve. God has given us our mission and with it the ability to carry it out.
So, as you go forth into your day, if you are presented with a ministry opportunity, trust God and watch what He does through you.
Posted in Sunday Follow-up
Recent
Archive
2024
January
January 1st DevotionDecember 31st follow-upJanuary 2nd DevotionJanuary 3rd DevotionJanuary 4th DevotionJanuary 5th DevotionJanuary 8th DevotionJanuary 7th Follow-upJanuary 9th DevotionJanuary 10th DevotionJanuary 11th DevotionJanuary 12th DevotionJanuary 15th DevotionJanuary 14th Follow-upJanuary 16th DevotionJanuary 17th DevotionJanuary 18th DevotionJanuary 19th DevotionJanuary 21st follow-upJanuary 22nd DevotionJanuary 23rd DevotionJanuary 24th DevotionJanuary 25th DevotionJanuary 26th DevotionJanuary 29th Devotion1-28-24 follow-upJanuary 30th DevotionJanuary 31st Devotion
February
February 1st DevotionFebruary 2nd DevotionFebruary 5th DevotionFebruary 6th DevotionFebruary 4th Follow-upFebruary 7th DevotionFebruary 8th DevotionFebrtuary 9th DevotionFebruary 12th DevotionFebruary 11th Follow-upFebruary 13th DevotionFebruary 14th DevotionFebruary 15th DevotionFebruary 16th DevotionFebruary 19th DevotionFebruary 20th DevotionFebruary 21st DevotionFebruary 22nd DevotionFebruary 23rd DevotionFebruary 26th DevotionFebruary 27th DevotionFebruary 28th DevotionFebruary 29th Devotion
March
March 1st DevotionMarch 4th DevotionMarch 3rd follow-upMarch 5th DevotionMarch 6th DevotionMarch 7th, 2024March 8th DevotionMarch 11th DevotionMarch 12th DevotionMarch 13th DevotionMarch 14th DevotionMarch 15th DevotionMarch 18th DevotionMarch 19th DevotionMarch 20th devotionMarch 21st DevotionMarch 22nd DevotionMarch 25th DevotionMarch 26th DevotionMarch 27th DevotionMarch 28th DevotionMarch 29th Devotion
April
April 1str DevotionApril 2nd DevotionApril 3rd DevotionApril 4th DevotionApril 5th DevotionApril 8th DevotionApril 9th DevotionApril 10th DevotionApril 11th DevotionApril 12th DevotionApril 15th DevotionApril 16th DevotionApril 17th DevotionApril 18th DevotionApril 19th DevotionApril 22nd devotionApril 23rd Devotion
No Comments