"YOU did not choose Me, but I CHOSE you and APPOINTED you that you should GO AND BEAR FRUIT, And that your FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."
John 15:16 (NKJV)
• It is important to note that your ministry or the person of you, might not be relevant without God's approval. God's approval comes after a various number of thorough dealings, that is, when the tests brought your way had been passed (1 Timothy 3:10).
- Becoming fruitful or being a success in the ministry without a crucifixion or being broken, is a mirage. If the lifting should happen at all, the falling of the person is inevitable.
- Charisma might lift or announce a person, but It is only the character that would keep him or her up in that exalted position.
- This is the reason why, whoever God wanted to lift, he or she had to be thoroughly broken, the character defects in such have to be thoroughly dealt with—before the lifting or promotion.
- It was the crucifixion that gave Jesus Christ the throne, the exalted position, which He occupies today:
5 YOU MUST HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD. 6 THOUGH HE WAS GOD, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 INSTEAD, HE GAVE UP HIS DIVINE PRIVILEGES; HE TOOK THE HUMBLE POSITION OF A SLAVE AND WAS BORN AS A HUMAN BEING. WHEN HE APPEARED IN HUMAN FORM, 8 HE HUMBLED HIMSELF IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND DIED A CRIMINAL'S DEATH ON A CROSS. 9 THEREFORE, GOD ELEVATED HIM TO THE PLACE OF HIGHEST HONOUR AND GAVE HIM THE NAME ABOVE ALL OTHER NAMES" (Philippians 2:5-9 NLT). - Without the crucifixion, there is no enthronement in the ministry work. And, any enthronement that circumvented, avoid having to comply with the process of God, especially through cleverness or deviousness, would eventually lead to a deposition or dethronement.
• Thus, for fruitfulness, or Increase, there had to be a constant pruning, which is also known as, mortification of the flesh, or the putting to death of the flesh or the members of your body:
"THEREFORE PUT TO DEATH YOUR MEMBERS [of body] WHICH ARE ON THE EARTH: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5 NKJV).
- Pride, egos, and the like, had to die, for God to reign, in your life and ministry.
a. Until you allowed God's Will, to prevail, both in your life, and in the work you claimed to be doing for Him; greatness or fruitfulness would be a mirage or be farfetched.
b. Until you get to the point of saying, Not my Will O Lord, but Yours, you might not experience the True move of God.
c. Until you had no opinion of your own, there might be no True explosion or Increase in the ministry work you do. - The truth is, God does not use the opinionated ones, those who are full of their opinions, and would not want to embrace that of His—God.
YOUR personal opinions had to die If you wanted a fruitful ministry. - You should get to the point of wanting God's Will alone, and whatever would not glorify Him, would not be of interest to you.
- It is at this level of growth that God would begin to announce Himself through your life and ministry.
YOUR work would begin to gain momentum, speed of movement or impetus—you be on your way to elevations.
• Your obedience when a test of faith is brought your way and you succeeded in it, It eventually announces your work or ministry.
THE results of the test you passed would get the attention of all, whether friends or foes.
- The test of faith is when you are asked to do that which is beyond your resources, or what is beyond your experiences in the ministry work, or whatever. When you take a step on it and obey, and come out with excellent results—It announces your work.
- Knowing that, without God's help, whatever you were asked to do, could not have been done or achieved, even if you put together your experiences; years of experience in the work and all the material resources you had.
• Faithfulness in the assignment, and your level of obedience, determine the flow of finances. - Correct understanding of the assignment, and your faithfulness, determine the flow of the finances in the work you do for God.
- If you did not understand your assignment, you might not get or attract the right people, and having a wrong people around you, would not take you anywhere.
- Where you had a wrong set of people, around you; you cannot but be having chaotic situations, disorderliness, rebellions, and at the end, frustrations—aborted purpose.
- Provision would be denied when the assignment is not well understood and pursued. It is one thing to understand the assignment, and it is another thing entirely to be faithful in it and be obedient to the instructions given by God.
- Some did understand their assignments, but they are not faithful in doing or running with the Vision.
- Whilst in some people's cases, they are not obedient at all, to the instructions given by God, on their assignment.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
- Living in health is God's Will for your life, as a Believer in Christ Jesus; Thus, whatever is contrary to your health is rebuked and rooted up in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!