Do You Want to Minister Like Jesus?

Recently, I was ministering to a person who was struggling with depression and loneliness.  My prayers and the scriptures I shared seemed to fall short of the need.  I felt poorly prepared, weak in my response, and lacking anointing.  Perhaps you’ve been in a similar situation?  I know that Jesus would have ministered much more life and hope in this situation, and I want my ministry to be like His.  When I questioned Him, here is what Jesus told me about it:

“The life journey of a disciple is to learn how to believe fully in Me.  My true disciples know Me, and they know that I am completely with and for them.  They believe to such an extent that they can live it.  This is what it means to put on Christ.”

 How do I do that?

Sustaining faith is a key to abundant life

“Sustaining faith is the sureness of My presence and continuing work as you walk with Me.  It is the realization that by truly knowing Me, you know, believe, and live out a life completely dependent on Me.  This is a dependence based on love, My love for you, and your confidence in My love. This is the faith that sustains you.  This is the faith that gives you life and hope.  It is the fruit of knowing Me and thereby seeing Me at work in you.

When you believe and act in accordance with this belief you have abundant life!  You are fulfilled, and you fulfill your destiny.  Worries, cares, and concerns evaporate before this sure knowledge that I am with you always and I am always working for good in your life. “

Faith for the moment (action faith)

“There is more.  There is the faith of the moment.  This is the faith to act and live My way in all you do, the faith to activate life and ministry.  This is the faith that empowers you, that releases My gifts to work through you.  This is action faith, the faith that heals, delivers, and even moves mountains.”

How do I get to this level of faith in my life?  What does it look like in my everyday life?

Developing faith that empowers life and ministry

“This faith is the product of seeing Me and experiencing My life working in and through you.  Every time you see Me act through you, you see My works and your faith grows.

The difference between sustaining faith and action faith is time.  It is the time I need to answer, to act, to create and produce My intended results.  

Sustaining faith keeps you for a lifetime.  But action faith is birthed in your heart when the experience becomes a living reality. One is the faith to believe for your life, another is to believe for the moment of need.  One is ongoing, steady realization of My presence working in your life journey.  The other is the assurance of My power released in and through you for the need of the moment. 

Both sustaining and action faith grow as a mustard seed nourished by My presence and through experiencing My works in you!”

How can we build our faith?

In my walk I have learned ways to build my faith.  I have seen my faith grow by seeking opportunities, ministering when the opportunity arises and by remembering the results of these encounters.  Most importantly, I have found that these principles hold for every area of life and ministry.

For example, I am passionate about healing.  Therefore, I often ask God for opportunities to pray for the sick wherever I go.  And, in response, He has given me divine appointments to pray for healing.  In these times I have seen many people healed.  While in some cases instantaneous healing doesn’t occur, the people are always touched by God’s love and appreciative.  Most importantly, I write down the results of these prayer encounters, because nothing builds faith like remembering answered prayer.   I reread and share these testimonies.  In this way I am encouraged and my faith grows.

These simple steps of asking, taking action, and remembering have really helped me.  The more I pray, the more people I see healed and the more faith I have for healing (increased action faith).  Over time my ministry confidence grows (sustaining faith).

I would love to hear your comments and experiences; the more we share together the more we grow together.  You can share your comments below, or ask me any question by emailing me (contact Michael) and I will get back to you.  

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