Appropriate preparation is essential to maximize our effectiveness in ministry. Jesus did not send out the twelve on the first day of their discipleship; and He did not send them out without detailed, specific instruction. At least five aspects of preparation are needed to ensure victory upon being sent out into the darkness:
1. Equipping
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Training
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Practice
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Confidence
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Availability
Let’s examine these five aspects in a little more detail.
Preparation Piece 1: Equipping
Equipping is acquiring the power and tools needed for effective, victorious ministry. Equipping is a work of the Holy Spirit and may be imparted by church leadership through the laying on of hands. Equipping is impartation of the Spirit of God and spiritual gifts. Jesus imparted power to His disciples before He sent them out.
“And Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.”—Matthew 10:1 (AMP)
“And He called to Him the Twelve [apostles] and began to send them out [as His ambassadors] two by two and gave them authority and power over the unclean spirits.”—Mark 6:7 (AMP)
“Then Jesus called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing.”—Luke 9:1,2 (AMP)
“The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name! And He said to them, I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from heaven. Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.”—Luke 10:17–19 (AMP)
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples were instructed to wait in Jerusalem before they ventured out, so that they would be endued with power. In Acts 1, Jesus made it clear that this power would come through the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He also indicated that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was necessary before they could be effective witnesses for Him.
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised. But for now, stay in the city. Stay there until you have received power from heaven.”—Luke 24:49 (NIRV)
“One day Jesus was eating with them. He gave them a command. ‘Do not leave Jerusalem,’ he said. ‘Wait for the gift my Father promised. You have heard me talk about it. John baptized with water. But in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria. And you will be my witnesses from one end of the earth to the other.’”—Acts 1:4–8 (NIRV)
Years ago, I was attending a Streams Ministries conference in the Boston area. Thursday night was a special night for partners of the ministry. At the end of the meeting, John Paul Jackson hugged each one of us and prayed for us to receive an impartation from the Holy Spirit. When he came to me, John Paul gave me one of his characteristic bear hugs and prayed for me to receive gifts of signs and wonders according to my heart’s desire… or something like that. I don’t remember the exact words he used.
The next day, there was a special luncheon for partners of the ministry. I happened to sit at a table with people whom I had not met before, but we enjoyed getting to know one another. On my left sat Emily and her friend Mary, who was a pastor’s wife.
I ran into Mary again later. In between conference sessions, as I was making my way from one meeting room to another, Mary saw me in the hallway and turned back to another lady, saying, “Here he is! Here is the man I was telling you about!”
Mary explained her reaction by telling me that when we had been sitting together at the luncheon table, my hands were on fire! She said that every time she looked at my hands, she saw bright orange flames coming from my hands!
She told me that she had not said anything about it while we were sitting together because, based on our reactions, she could tell that the rest of us didn’t see it, and she didn’t want us to think she was crazy! This was even more remarkable because she told me that she had never seen a supernatural vision before. For me, this was confirmation that I had received a significant spiritual impartation from John Paul.
I had not seen the “flaming hands,” nor had I felt anything after John Paul prayed for me, but I had obviously received something powerful! I learned that day that, just because I don’t feel anything after prayer, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t receive!
The Purpose of Church Leaders
Years ago, I sat in a theater and listened with the rest of the audience as a prominent deliverance minister told us story after story of how he had dramatically delivered people from the influences of dark spirits. After listening to several of these stories, I found myself wanting to shout, “Enough stories! Teach me how to do that!” I didn’t want to just hear stories about dramatic deliverances. I wanted to be equipped to do that myself!
A word to church leaders:
If, as church leaders, we are doing most of the work of the ministry ourselves, we may be missing our calling. Church leaders are given to the church to equip others to do the work of the ministry.
“And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church).”—Ephesians 4:11–12 (AMP)
Elders and other leaders in the church can be used to administer the baptism in the Holy Spirit and to impart power, gifts, and anointings to help equip the Body of Christ. In fact, that is one of the main purposes of the five-fold ministry.
“Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given.”—Acts 8:18 (NKJV)
“Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].”—1 Timothy 4:14 (AMP)
“That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].”—2 Timothy 1:6 (AMP)
