Present Pain...Future Ministries

“Everything must be fulfilled that is written…’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ‘I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’” Luke 24:44-49.

These powerful promises are given to us today just as they were given to Peter before his commission to go out and build His church. Peter was given a vision from Jesus before His death as to what his assignment would be. Several things had to happen before Peter put into action the ministry for which He was chosen.

Today, our assignments from God are no different. Before we can accomplish the mission for which we have been assigned God must do some work in our hearts.

Step 1 is for Him to fulfill in us the necessary adjustments in our character to match our assignments. This is important work and usually accompanies tough times. We learn more about God and ourselves in the deep valleys than on the mountaintops. ‘You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.’ 2 Co. 3:2-3. Once God has transformed our hearts to be used for His purpose we are ready for the next step.

Step 2 is His guidance through the Scriptures. He will open our minds to receive the guidance required in our assignment that match our hearts. There will be a synergy between the two preparing us further in accomplishing His will for our lives. Through prayer and the meditation of His word we will gain the step by step guidance revealing and understanding His plan for our lives.

Step 3 is sometimes the most difficult… ‘staying in the city until we have been clothed with the power.’ Waiting on God once He has given us His plan is sometimes the most difficult offering to Him. We cannot move ahead of God but must stay in His timing to accomplish His will. He has many details to work out and sees the ultimate picture in accomplishing the ultimate victory.

What is to be accomplished in our ministries must first be accomplished in our hearts.