"I don't feel like ministering today. I'm tired and I have just too many things in my mind....". Sometimes you might be feeling like that and you are tempted to refer a help seeking person to someone else or ignore the person completely. What can you do in such a situation?
Pour out anyway! Just think of yourself and when you were in a desperate need and how glad you were when someone took time to help you. Have you ever noticed that the ministry you are doing, that carries fruit, never comes out of yourself? People might call and make demands on you in the oddest moments of your life. In times you don't want to minister or you don't know how to minister. Perhaps you just wanted to go sleep and turn off your computer and just before you click shutdown there is a friend buzzing you on chat. Perhaps you could ignore the request by just turning the computer off anyway.... . But if you just allow the Holy Ghost to operate through your life and bring comfort, a prophetic word, encouragement or healing. You are doing the will of God.
Don't be like a certain priest that passed by on the other side when he saw a men lying on the floor half dead and naked. I'm sure he could have helped, if he would not have had such a hurry..... perhaps it was just "bad timing". The only thing is that he actually came at the exact right time. He could have been a perfect vessel for the Lord and help the robbed men. But he decided to pass by at the other side of the road. A little later, a Levite did the same. (Luke 10:30-34) Those were ministers of God! So, how about you, ambassador of God today? Are you passing by the beggar on the street corner on the other side of the road?
Don't feel condemned now. I think we all have been guilty of such things. But I want you to start thinking and seeing that today in the light of the new testament we often can minister out of the spirit. Because He is doing the stuff! All we need is His compassion. In this story, which Jesus told in Luke 10, it says that when the Samaritan came and saw this half dead man, "he had compassion on him" and he "took care of him". He had compassion! Did you ever feel the heart of God on a person and you felt the compassion of Jesus on that person?
When you have a true compassion for the lost and those in need, it will give you the igniting spark to go and let the Holy Ghost minister through you and let you forget all your own little problems. Even if the timing is as bad as it could be. You will be like Peter who looked at the lame men at the gate of the temple and said: "Silver and Gold I don't have, but such as I have I give to you: IN the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth RISE UP and WALK!".
Peter chose to NOT go to the other side of the road. Instead Peter chose to minister even though he didn't have anything to give. But also, Peter had more to give than the lame ever expected to receive and the Holy Ghost ministered through Peter. Isn't that such an awesome picture? Let the Holy Ghost move now in your heart and let him make your heart soft again. Let Him soften all the hardened parts. Let Him minister to you right now and let His divine love move in your heart.
If you have been in sin, He has forgiven you already. If you have been under condemnation, let me assure you right now, there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ! (Rom 8:1) You are set free, because Jesus had compassion for you. He offered His life for you and He showed you true love by compassion. Receive it from Him so that the same compassion will burn in your heart! If you don't have it, then don't stop there, but ASK for it! It is not difficult. Just reach out the the creator and lover of your soul and cry: "God! I'm lukewarm, please put some fire in me! Let true compassion for those in need arise in my heart! Let your spirit move me anytime! Just come and minister to me and through me!"
So I pray for you right now that as you have cried out to the Lord He will come now and fill your heart afresh. That a fiery burning compassion for those in need will fill your heart right now. Give room to the Lord of Lords! Let Him conquer your heart. Let His Spirit flow through you now and bring forth a compassion of heart. Lord let a strong compassion arise now! Let it come forth! Let it become a strong compassion now! Amen.
Make it a daily prayer to ask the Lord to keep the fire burning and to increase the compassion in your heart! We all need the Holy Spirit to keep the fire burning melting hot. Only the Holy Spirit within us can accomplish that. By His mercy He ignites a fire in our hearts and by His mercy it keeps it burning.
You will never again pass by a person in need on the other side of the road. You will never again be too busy to help. Because you know and you have experienced the compassion that Jesus had on you. But you will walk and minister in the same compassion. |
