The order of God’s dealing with creation, and the administration of His purposes in the earth is first with an individual through whom He establishes a family, and that family becomes the corporate body that He uses to impact the nation – the earth realm, to establish His purpose. This is clearly seen in the patriarch Abraham, his family and for the nations.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, ……..I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing…..and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” – (Genesis 12:1-3).
“The LORD said to Himself, “I should tell Abraham what I am going to do, since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all other nations on earth.” – (Genesis 18:17-18 CEV).
The promises of God to Abraham was so weighty, yet his greatness and the fulfilment was not in himself, but in his seed (son), to whom the promise was given, and who becomes the instrument of releasing God’s fullness and blessings upon the earth.
This brings us to an understanding that makes “family” the order of God’s first institution established by the covenant of marriage through which the nations of the earth are blessed. God is a loving Father, who is family oriented. His aim is not the restoration of an organization, but a family – a peculiar tribe of people who are separated to be His treasured possession.
“The Lord also says….I will welcome you and be your Father. You will be my sons and my daughters, as surely as I am God, the All-Powerful” – (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 CEV).
“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you….” (Deuteronomy 7:6 -8 ESV)
The primary interest of God is not in the building of our personal ministries, which in most cases, is our own agenda. If you want to make God laugh, then show Him your own ministry plans and watch Him go hysterical. His aim is the restoring of the ministry (personality) that will establish His kingdom family in the earth.
Family is of important interest to God. Ministry is important, but it can also become a monument and a stumbling block to the people of God and His purposes when it is not rightly defined. This we must understand that our ministry loses value in the environment of relationship and divine intimacy with God if it becomes a distraction – even though it is positive.
See Luke 10:38 – 42 – Martha was distracted with much serving (ministering), and neglecting what was necessary. Valuable things can draw our attention away from what we should be paying attention to. The hospitality of Martha to minister to the Master was important, but it was not needful of her at this occasion. The priority was to be ministered to, rather than ministering to – sitting at the feet of the Master and hearing His voice.
So many leaders are cumbered today about much ministry and ministering to people which is frustrating them and causing many to burn-out, rather than sitting down and be ministered to by the Lord. The effectiveness of our ministry will flow out of our relationship with God; because as priest, our priority of ministry is first to and with God, before the people.
Prayer Topic: “Lord, help us to return to that which is needed. Give us discernment in our priorities and that which is valuable – to be seated at the Lord’s feet and listen to what He is saying now”.
Copyright © 2017 by Israel Onoriobe
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