Bethel Church LJ Podcast

While we all fall short in numerous areas, there are three basic character flaws from which those called to ministry and leadership must be delivered in order to stay on the path of life and true ministry. Each of these flaws involve selfishness and are found in the epistle of Jude. We saw in contrast to these character flaws the perspective of the Apostle Paul. Ministry and leadership in the Kingdom is not using others for what you want, but submitting your desires to the Lord in service to Him in the advancement of His Kingdom.

We saw that Elisha received the empowerment of God to accomplish the purpose of God for which he has been set apart and sent. Elisha was anointed and empowered by God, as his name implies, to bring God’s salvation, deliverance, and victory to the people, that is to deal with the people’s real life problems in the sphere Elisha was sent to minster to.The miraculous interventions of God through Elisha to bring God’s power to bear in the everyday lives and problems that people face as the God’s salvation was made evident through God’s anointed and empowered man, Elisha.

(6/12/2024) We’ve all encountered moments in our spiritual lives when we prayed with no results. Apparently the people to whom James was writing his epistle were having the same experience. Just as you have probably asked yourself at one time or another, it appears that these believers were also asking, “Why aren’t our prayers being answered?” We can surmise that they were asking this question because James provided an answer in James 4:3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss....” Knowing what to pray and how to pray is vitally important. So always keep this in mind as you get ready to make your requests known to God: God listens for His Word, and He responds to faith. When He hears His Word prayed from a heart of faith, He is compelled to act.

Jesus’ ministry was a supernatural ministry and He commissioned us to the same kind of supernatural ministry. Yes, ministry is about getting people saved, and about helping the needy; but it’s so much more than that.

It’s about moving in the power of the Spirit of God and in His power, breaking the power of darkness in people’s lives and setting them free to live the victorious, overcoming Christian kind of life that then God uses to supernaturally set others free and on the path of wholeness and victory.

To do this God-commissioned ministry, He sent the Spirit to equip us with power to do the same works that He Himself modeled for us – His church.

Elijah was sent to anoint Elisha as the next prophet of Israel. Elisha accepted the call and began his ministry life in service to Elijah.

In mentoring Elisha, we could say that Elijah was laying the foundation not only for Elisha’s life, but also for his future ministry. The foundation is that the Lord is God. Or we might equally say, God is the Lord! As Lord, He is the only one deserving of our honor, fidelity, and worship. This is captured in Jesus’ reply to what is the first and greatest commandment.

 We recognize through this text that God’s miraculous intervention, God’s suddenly, often take more time than what we think, or we often give God the freedom to do in our lives. Like this widow woman, if we come to God for His help, we must also take Him at His Word and by faith walk it out to completely to see the fulness of His great promises and supernatural power come to pass in our lives as well.

But first seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.....Matthew 6:33

 

God brings light and order into darkness and chaos. What He did directly, He still does through His creation – you and me. As Abraham affected his world, so are we to do the same. We are not to allow the world to affect us like it did Lot; instead, we are to bring Heaven’s economy, the Kingdom of God into this earth and bring God’s light into this dark world in which we have been placed and sent forth into.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven....Matthew 6:10

 

 

1 John 5:11- And this the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son.

Your walk with Christ should be even deeper and stronger than a tree rooted by a water source. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness. So many in this nation are living in a state of ungratefulness and a lack of thankfulness, I know why. They have no true relationship with Jesus Christ, God has not overlooked you God sees you right where you are.Let your lives be built on Him.

 

I  want to acknowledge the boldness and the courage of Micaiah to declare the Word in the midst of such a contrary situation. Although faced with opposition and certain dire consequences for speaking the truth of God’s Word, he did not acquiesce. He is a shining example to all who aspire to proclaim God’s Word. He is a model of what it truly means to be a faithful herald, preacher, and prophet of God. In the NT, the apostle Paul counseled Timothy as he faced mounting pressure and opposition. Paul himself was facing prison and death for his proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In spite of this he wrote to Timothy saying:

2 Ti 4:1–5 (NKJV) I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.