All of us have a ministry. There are people that you can reach that will not give me the time of day. That is not a problem, it is actually a solution and it explains why we are so different. Since we are all part of one body, each one of us is necessary. Every one of us has a specific DNA that give us an edge in the world to make a change in one way or another. Finding out where we fit is the challenge.
Sometimes we look around and think we have nothing to offer when it comes to ministry. We may feel our purpose is only to go to church, give and support another's vineyard. That is good, but you are created for a purpose, YOUR purpose, finding it and working it is necessary for a full life.
WHO YOU CAN REACH
I speak to many people who think that they are not needed or that they cannot reach someone for the glory of God. They may cite their previous lifestyle, their inability to quote or find specific scriptures or the fact that there are many in their circles that are doing so much better than they are. I want to encourage you today. There are two ways that determine how great your reach is.
1. How well you match what you say you believe with what you do
2. How well you yield to the Holy Spirit's nudging
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Do what I say, not what I do.."?
Those are the words of someone who does not want a great reach. People don't pay as much attention to what you say, when they see what you do is contrary. So keeping your words in sync with your actions is a must. If your lifestyle says the opposite of what your faith says, you will struggle because your reach is only as far as where your words and actions connect. If your actions fall short, your words will too. Our actions are seen more than our words are heard and they speak much louder.
Along with that, realize you will not be able to reach further than the impact of your 'own' words on your OWN life. If I don't benefit from my own 'ministry', others may not either. The crowd I reach best looks like ME. My experiences, my struggles, my victories and my beliefs add to my audience. My experiences and my lessons increase my reach, if I don't believe it, others won't either, if I don't benefit from it, others think they won't either. If I don't believe in healing, I am limited in talking faith to those who need it. If I don't think it is possible to live a life before God, then I will be limited when faced with someone else's struggle. I show that I believe it by living it and benefiting from it.
"But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." James 2:18
REACHING BEYOND MY EXPERIENCES
But in contrast, even if we have never lived a life of drug abuse, or physical abuse, if we've never needed healing or had relationship struggles in a marriage, if we believe that God's word holds answers.... we will always be able to minister outside our experience! You will be able to speak to someone you have NOTHING in common with and help them. That is why it is necessary to respond to the nudging of the Holy Spirit, He is hearing prayers and answering them and will use us! Any day, any time, any place for any one.
One reason we can minister effectively is that our lives are not the standard, God's word is. Even if you can't find the verse and chapter, if you have gained faith in what you have heard in the word of God, if you are yielded to the Holy Spirit, you have already expanded your reach. God can bring things to your remembrance that you forgot you heard, just so He can touch one that He is reaching for through you. So even without the personal experience, God's word allows us to minister in a ripe field without experience.
PURPOSE FULFILLED OUTSIDE GOD?
What about those who are progressing without God? If you look over your social media accounts, you can find so many life coaches, people who are motivational speakers and help others become better versions of themselves. All of this is done and they make it happen sometimes opposite a relationship with God. Knowing and working your purpose is not limited to church talk. People on your job are looking for it, neighbors may have found it and others may be depressed because their purpose seems to elude them.
Whether we admit it or not, there is a REASON we are all here, everybody fits in, we just have to figure out where. Many people can find their niche outside being a Christian, but know that they may miss the "God factor" As Creator, He is the one who gives purpose, so working it outside His direction may look good, people may benefit from it, but it will never reach full potential without God.
Think of someone today who is not a believer but is working their purpose and it really looks GREAT! They may be rolling in money, donating to many charities and employing many people. Some of those same people find themselves unfulfilled and searching for more, even while impacting the world. Now...imagine what they could do connected to God.
Final thought:
Whether you think so or not, you are needed. God has gifted you purposefully for such a time as this. You were born during this time to meet a need that no one else can meet. Yes, you will find people who do what you do, but they will never do it with your history, your thoughts or your relationship with God. If you spend your time trying to fit in and do what others have done, who will do YOU? I encourage you to find and work your purpose. Grow in God and believe God further than your experiences to expand your reach. This world needs you, the body can't function to its fullest without you.
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