Minister to Him

Last Friday, the Holy Spirit really impressed upon my heart a question: What is the difference between to minister and to do ministry work? From then on, I really sought for an answer for it and day by day it has been coming unto me. And such a question was really by Divine timing as in a few days time I too would be sharing for the 1st service. Now that it's over, the sharing of mine I mean; I can now freely share it here without any constraint of time whatsoever. I found that the answers that Elohim had revealed to me, whether through circumstances or people were so vast that a half hour would not suffice to properly explain it. So, I begin.

What is the main difference between ministering and ministry work? Well, for one thing ministry work does not profit us one bit in the long run. Whereas when we first begin to learn how to properly minister unto the Lord then even our ministry work will be affected by it. Ministry work does not affect our ministering no matter how much good we've done, but ministering unto Yahweh affects our ministry work by the plenty. I also found that signs and wonders, healing of the sick and even raising the dead; all these miracles only extend so far into ministry work and does not actually contribute to our right standing before Yeshua Messiah. It doesn't matter if our prayers are answered, if we can raise the dead, cast out demons; these things are only the outworking power of the Holy Spirit in us. It doesn't mean that internally we are aright with Yeshua. It's a familiar verse:

[Mat 7:21-23] Not every one that saith unto Me, My Master, My Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, My Master, my Master, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

We performing ministry work doesn't actually mean that we know Yeshua. It takes ministering to Him that we truly know Him for Who He is. Another difference is that ministry work is external workings whereas ministering, something internal takes place. Someone can be doing something good on the outside but inside their nature and character might still be bound to the course of this world. In fact, one can be so deep into ministry that they would actually miss the times of visitation from Elohim. Take Annas and Caiaphas for example. They were the father-in-law to the high priest and the high priest respectively and yet they missed the Messiah, they even aided in His death. You would think that someone who was in the office of the high priest would know when the times of visitation were and yet Caiaphas still missed it. He even prophesied about Yeshua but it did not profit him one bit, he was simply caught up in his ministry that he forgot to minister unto Yahweh.

[Joh 11:49-53] And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of Elohim that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death.

Both Annas and Caiaphas missed it by a long shot. But that wasn't the case for Simeon and Anna, who were found ministering in the temple. They knew of the leading of the Holy Spirit and thus were directed by Him to meet the Messiah at His birth.

[Luk 2:25-27] And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen יהוה's Messiah. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua, to do for Him after the custom of the law,

[Luk 2:36-38] And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served יהוה with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto יהוה, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

They knew how to minister and thus were always found in the temple, and were watching and praying until the coming Messiah Yeshua. To minister unto Yahweh allows us to tap into the spiritual realm where the Holy Spirit will have free reign to lead and guide and teach and mould us as He sees fit.

[Joh 16:13-14] Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Ministry work adds no benefit whatsoever to us except that it is an outward manifestation of what is inside of us. The way we handle the responsibilities given us tells of our character, one way or otherwise. It doesn't help to change our character but ministering unto Yahweh can. Another thing to note is that anyone can perform ministry work, only those who are truly His knows how to minister to Him. Not even many Christians understand, I realised; what it exactly means to minister unto Him. People tend to take it as another term of serving Him which is true in many senses but to be able to minister to Him means that Yahweh Himself has graciously chosen us. He's called us by name to draw near to Him and in like manner He will draw near unto us. One can be as busy as they are and yet still be connected to the presence and leading of the Holy Spirit throughout but at the same time one can be praying and worshipping but experiencing nothing, simply going through the motions. Just because we pray and worship doesn't necessarily mean that we minister, it takes preparation of the heart.

What is your mindset when it comes to different responsibilities? A pleasure that wells up from deep within, or a sigh of drilling fulfilling another part of yours as a helper or a staff even? Is prayer and worship a duty or a pleasure to you? Do you enjoy the hours you have been placed on for to actually minister to Him or do you count it as yet another ministry work time! From personal experience, it takes preparation of heart to be able to shift from one mindset to the other and not just anywhere but in the presence of Elohim itself.

Even the seventy elders that were appointed by Yahweh to help Moses in taking the issues of the people could not first perform their roles unless the Holy Spirit took them over as well. The apostles also realised that the thing that sustains the revival during the days of Acts was not their constant serving to the people but of ministering to Yahweh by the Word, by prayer continually. What more now?

[Num 11:16-17] And יהוה said unto Moses, Gather unto Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

[Act 6:2-4] Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of יהוה, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Note that before the seventy elders were able to bear the burdens of the people they were first to be filled with the same Spirit that was upon Moses at the time. And even the apostles noticed that the only thing keeping them afloat amidst all of their ministry work is first of all their time to minister unto Yahweh. And even for those appointed to minister to the people like Stephen was, they had to be full of faith and of the Holy Spirit and that took time to minister firstly.

Anyone can work the ministry work but without first of all time to ministry unto Yahweh, then eventually the ministry itself shall collapse like a heap. Because what sustains a ministry is not the many good things we are able to do and have done, even if they are signs and wonders accompanying; it is the Spirit of the Living Elohim and to allow Him to take over all that we set our hands to do because even the works that we ourselves do are prepared by Elohim Himself.

[Eph 2:10] For we are His workmanship, created in the Messiah Yeshua unto good works, which יהוה hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

[Phi 2:13] For it is יהוה which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

In fact, those who strayed from Yahweh, the people He has called by name who have tasted the good pleasures of ministering to Him; in their pursuit of other gods they have been cursed to no longer minister unto Him but to still continue to minister in the care taking of the sanctuary and to minister before men.

[Eze 44:10-14] And the Levites that are gone away far from Me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from Me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity. Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them. Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up Mine hand against them, saith the Sovereign יהוה, and they shall bear their iniquity. And they shall not come near unto Me, to do the office of a priest unto Me, nor to come near to any of My holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed. But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.

The thing that separates religious person from a true believer of Messiah is simply because a true believer can and knows how to minister to the Lord. Anyone can do charity work, only we Christians have the privilege to minister unto Him.

Let me ask, what does it mean to minister properly? Let it be answered in the next post, Elohim willing. This has been far too long already.

-Monday, 1st May 2017, 1 year 7 months 24 days, 2128