One of the greatest keys that I have personally learned in ministry is how to Love the One in front of me.
Many view ministry as a mechanism to get you to a place of personal recognition from others, (in other words personal popularity), but it was never designed to be that way.
All ministry from Jesus Christ should flow directly out of the filter of Jesus’s Love for every single Son and Daughter. While many of us have read 1 Corinthians 13, many of us still don’t seem to understand that even if I am operating in all of the gifts of the Spirit towards another person, but I don’t love them with God’s Love, all I’m doing is making a lot of noise.
“If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers ([b]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).” 1 Corinthians 13:1-2
While many of us are trying to learn how to Love (Agape), God’s Love isn’t something that you can learn as much as you’d like to, but rather it is something that God Pours into you by the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit:
“Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, FOR GOD’S LOVE HAS BEEN POURED OUT IN OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US.” Romans 5:5
Even Peter who denied the Lord 3 times at His crucifixion had to admit (in John 21:15-17), that he didn’t have the Love of God even for Jesus Himself, Peter only knew how to love Jesus Christ as a friend.
It wasn’t until I experienced the Agape (Love) of God for myself, that I found myself able to really minister to other people effectively. Even though I learned how to teach the Word of God, (until the cows come home), I found it only had a small impact upon those people around me, but when I began to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through me with His incredible Love for others, that I really started seeing a Massive transformation of other people’s lives!
GOD’S LOVE IS THE FILTER THAT ALL MINISTRY FROM JESUS CHRIST MUST BE RUN THROUGH if we really are to see a Massive impact upon the world around us. While you can learn the other types of Love (Eros (romantic love), storge (love for your kids) phileo (friendship love)), in the natural realm, Agape (or God’s love) can only be imparted to you by God Himself.
Agape cannot be manufactured or created by people, because it is the Substance of Who God really is!
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HAS NOT BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH GOD [does not and never did know Him], FOR GOD IS LOVE.” 1 John 4:7-8
The more that I connect with the Holy Spirit, the more that the Holy Spirit pours the Substance of Who My Heavenly Father is, into my life! God’s Love is absolutely essential to having a real life-changing ministry, so it is out of my personal relationship with Him that all of my ministry should pour forth from.
If I can’t love (agape) my brother or sister that I can see, then I can’t love God who I cannot see (1 John 4:20)! Those ministries which are borne out of real relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will carry the Substance of God’s authentic Love upon them and the fruit of the Spirit will be the evidence of it.
I am still learning because the Lord is still showing me what real Love looks like each and every day!
Today if you’ve never encountered the Love of God, ask the Holy Spirit to bring that Substance of Who He is into your life! Engage with God, and He’ll not only transform your life but everyone else’s lives around you as well, as His Love begins to fill your life and heart.
MINISTRY HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT PERFORMANCE IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST!!! If you want an effective ministry, you must LOVE THE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU!
Featured Image by truthseeker08 from Pixabay
