Effective Ministry

» MichelleRichee - Vessels God Will Use

A sister emailed me recently asking for information about going forth in the ministry (what to do, who to talk to, etc.). My first inclination was "Why would she ask me?" I told her to go to prayer and talk to her Father. Then, I said to make the Holy Spirit her very best friend, and she would not fail in what God has called her to do. She was so happy that (1) I had time for her, and (2) I was honest, rather than coming up with some far-fetched, religious formula for answering your call. Someone years ago told me one key to effective ministry is knowing how to relax. I've been nervous and I've been relaxed. Relaxed is better. And, you might say, "Easier said than done!" Just ask the Lord to cause you to be relaxed. He will. And, of course, it always boils down to you'd better have a pure heart. It doesn't matter how relaxed you are, if you aren't clean! To the pure in heart, all things are pure. Something I've seen that saddens me (if this isn't you, it won't offend you) is leadership living in sin and compromising the message of truth. Ministries are suffering because of allowing contaminants of the world to enter in and abide. Purity has been invaded by darkness. To the pure in heart all things are pure. Church members that allow compromise to creep in and begin "playing church", will never have a discerning spirit -- to know what is good and what is evil.

I was thinking about when the Lord spoke to Solomon and told him he could have anything he wanted and Solomon's desire was to have a discerning heart that he could judge the people. If God would give you anything you desire, what would it be? God honored Solomon's request. Solomon got a lot more than he asked for (to him who is able to give exceeding and abundantly above all we can ask or think). His heart was pure. I have a water purifier that filters out the junk that enters into our water plants. We need to stay in the Word and constantly renew our minds. It will purify us and clean us up. It gets the muck off of us. I ask the Lord every day to purify my heart and renew a right spirit in me. Maybe you haven't ever thought about it much, but you should. We become contaminated as we come in contact with spiritual wickedness in high places daily. Have you ever seen a pond that had a sign that read "CONTAMINATED! NO SWIMMING!" The polluted water killed everything. Nothing could survive in the polluted water and dead fish were on the on the banks. The world we live in is polluted by the muck and mire of Satan and his demonic host. It will kill you it you let it. That junk gets on us and in us and pollutes our righteous standards and principles for godly living, and causes us to compromise what we claim to believe! It happens gradually, one little sin at a time. This is giving place to the devil. We are warned to Give no place to the devil! What we must do daily is repent for failing the Lord and not obeying His promptings, and ask Him to purify our hearts and renew a right spirit in us! It is an easy thing to do, and trust me, the Lord honors that! He is so happy when you say, Lord, I have failed you again. I lost my temper -- I had a critical spirit -- I wasn't honest -- I held back on my offering to the church -- I haven't been Christlike behind the scenes, or, whatever area you have missed it in, and say purify my heart, oh God and renew a right spirit in me! God is more than willing to bless you with ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS! He'll clean that muck and crud from this polluted world off of you and cause you to become clean again. Pure. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Do you want to see Him? He's coming. The pure in heart will see Him. I just told someone, I wouldn't want to be one of the chosen frozen when I hear the trumpet sound and the Lord says, Come up here! To have a pure heart, we must remain sanctified and set apart. Set apart from what? From sin, and people who live in and practice sin. Come out from among them and be ye separate sayeth the Lord of Hosts! Well, what do I do then? Wouldn't I be lonely and bored? Not hardly. You will be fulfilled for the first time in your life when you truly make a stand to separate yourself from the world and get in line with the Word of God. Jesus said, blessed are they who hear my sayings and do them. Going to church and listening to the preacher aren't enough. We must act on what God has to say. Take action and be a doer of the Word. As we do, we become purer and purer and the Lord is looking at you and saying that is one blessed man (or woman) of God. A "man of God" refers to someone who can hear from God. Can you imagine hearing God say something, and then ignoring Him? We wouldn't ignore him if we stood face to face in front of Him. We'll all be a lot happier if we can just get it straight right now, before we do have stand before Him. You say, well you don't know all these problems I have. You're right I don't. But, the Greater One is in you, and He is greater than any of your problems. You haven't put your trust in Him. You are not trusting in God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, are you? If you were -- you, couldn't even make such a statement. God has 1,000 ways to bail you out. Have you come to the conclusion that your heart has become polluted by sin? Sin is like leaven. A little leaven, leaventh the whole lump. We all are exposed to the prince of the power of the air every day. God will purify you right now and cause you to experience renewal and blessing immediately. Can you believe that? He said, only believe. That is the message I'm taking to South Asia in September. Only believe. It's a simple message. A child can understand that. Only trust God, like little children trust their daddy. God is our daddy. He is our Heavenly Father. And He is calling for a purging and cleansing of His church with the fire and power of the Spirit. I don't want to be on the outside looking in. Have you ever been there? It's not a good place to be! I love you, and I'm praying for you. I believe anointed, effective and life transforming sermons can only come from pure vessels -- like Jesus.

For more info on Michelle Richee or Mark 16:20 Ministries, visit http://www.mark1620.org

-- posted by MichelleRichee

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