The Power of God is in both demonstration and in Power!

It is a blessing to be a blessing to others and God will reward you for it!

This month God is moving the Church into a direction to work in ministry (some part-time and others full-time, but either way the work must go on) and some will be able to work full-time and other will not in order to get the work done.

But either way, we are called as the body of Christ to be a blessing to the Kingdom in any way that we can.

We are not called to judge and to mock or to make fun of God’s men and women in the body of Christ. And, those whom God has called into Ministry should never be intimidated and insecure when it comes to another man’s ministry!

God has called us not to compete in ministry! In fact, He said, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.

We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, (we should stay in our sphere of grace) but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us — a field that reaches even to you.” We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you, (2 Corinthians 10:12-14).

This is why Apostle Paul found himself defending not only the gospel but his on ministry in the LORD. He wanted the people of God to know why he had voluntarily decided not to receive support from the churches.

It is true that the apostle Paul supported himself as he ministered in Corinth (1 Corinthians 9:12). And, that he drew no salary from the Corinthians. But he made it clear that he did this as a voluntary sacrifice on their behalf, “that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel” (verse 18).

Paul did not take wages from other churches (2 Corinthians 11:8). His arrangement in Corinth was the exception, not the rule. And, God wants the body of Christ to know that every one may not be able to do what Apostle Paul and Barnabas had chosen to do.

Far too many of those in the body of Christ are playing games, muzzling the ox that treads out the corn among God’s leaders and God is not pleased with what we are doing.

Every leader may not be able to do what Apostle Paul chose to do, be self-sufficient, and we are not to judge those who cannot, by not being a blessing and a support to the Kingdom of God.

Now, does this give the leaders a free pass to take advantage of God’s sheep? Of Course it does not, but what it does say, is to know those who labor among you in the Kingdom.

Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice and a stranger they will not follow!” If you have been blessed by the labor and the work of others, then of course you should be a blessing to their vineyard.

Apostle Paul reminded the people that God had given him his Apostleship and that it had been sealed by him. And, that it was God who had blessed him to be able to lead a brother, a sister and others in the ministry.

But, we need to understand something. If we don’t have the power to lead a sister, a brother or others in Christ, why should they be compelled to be a blessing to someone whom God has not called or ordained in ministry?

He reminded the people that they themselves were proof of his Apostleship and that God had indeed called him. He saw that God was blessing them to eat from his table and he gave them some examples of why they should support the kingdom of God. Such as,

“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ” 1 Corinthians 9:7.

The LORD is saying to the body of Christ, that He who labors must be first partakers of his or her own fruit and that the labor is worthy of his or her reward in this season.

Apostle Paul and Barnabas choose not to be a part of receiving and many leaders do, but this in and of itself does not mean that they should not be blessed of the ministries that they sow in, and neither should we as the people of God muzzle the ox that treads out the corn.

Many are walking in deception and they believe that it is okay to muzzle the ox, but today we bring you words of edification and exhortation to the body of Christ to be a support to those who are laboring with you in ministry.

As God begins to speak to your heart to give your support to those who have been faithful in the vineyard of Christ, it is both a blessing to be a part of the receiving and the giving in the Kingdom of God.

For, “The LORD has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” We pay people to prepare and serve our physical food; shouldn’t we also be willing to pay those who see to our spiritual food?

And, honestly, which is more important — physical food or spiritual food — based on Matthew 4:4?

Yes, there are many false prophets and other leaders in the land taking advantage of the sheep. Of course there are, but God has still ordained the church to give and to be a support. And, God has already warned,

“But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the LORD and give you instruction. In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another,” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.

Church elders and those preaching and teaching the gospel should be honored according to scripture and this honor includes wages. They have earned it.

It would be cruel to work an ox while denying it grain, and so we as the body of Christ should take care not to treat our pastors and others in ministry cruelly. For, the Holy Ghost is speaking and He is saying, Let them share in the material and spiritual blessings of the congregations in which they serve or minister.

Our pastors and other leaders are worth more than many oxen.

Come on Somebody, many times a Church is just not able to provide sufficient finances for a pastor. But, the pastor in such cases is forced to be bi-vocational, having NO other choice but to work outside the church to support his family and to over see the church as well.

This can be both time consuming and a burden on those who are working full-time in ministry! This is regrettable, but sometimes necessary. It is usually better for a pastor to be paid full-time, so he or she can fully dedicate themselves to the LORD’s work of ministering in order to shepherd (evangelize, teach, preach etc.) the congregation God has entrusted to him or her in ministry.

 

~ Apostle Geraldine Fisher

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Apostle Geraldine Fisher has a World-Wide-Social Media Net-Work Ministry. As a Missionary, God moved her into the Office of a Prophet, revealing to her the qualities of a True prophet, humility, humiliation, loving others, interceding in prayer, as she keeps her own life clean to accurately hear from God. Since hearing the audible voice of God calling her to ministry, she’s been called to intercede and pray for others in ministry as God speaks, instructs, directs and gives prophetic words for her to give to others. God promised He would bring her to sit and to learn before great men, all of which He did!

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