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
-
Training
-
Practice
-
Confidence
-
Availability
We examined Preparation Piece 4: Confidence in the last newsletter. Let’s go on now to look at the 5th Preparation Piece in a little more detail.
Preparation Piece 5: Availability
In order for God to use you in ministry, you must put yourself into a situation where ministry can occur. You must make the first move.
Peter was the only disciple who walked on the water, but he never would have experienced that if he hadn’t stepped out of the boat. What about the other disciples who were in the boat with Peter? Could they have walked on water as well? Was the invitation open to them, too?
“For there is no partiality with God.”—Romans 2:11 (NASB)
If they had desired it enough, wouldn’t Jesus have bid them to come as well?
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you.”—Luke 11:9a (KJV)
But they didn’t ask. They didn’t put themselves into position to experience the miracle.
It is the same way in ministry. If you want to be used by God in ministry, you must desire it. You must get off the couch. You must place yourself in a position to be used in ministry.
Remarkable things begin to happen when people simply step out and place themselves in positions where ministry can happen! I have seen this more than once. People who have never received words of knowledge from the Holy Spirit for another person begin to receive clear revelation after they venture outside the walls of the church with a small team to seek out people to whom they can minister.
Joe and his wife Pam attended a prophetic evangelism workshop that I had organized at our church in the Dallas, Texas, area. On the last day of the workshop, we all went out to a train station in Dallas. Those who had attended the workshop were divided into teams of two or three and sent out to find people to minister to in the power of the Spirit.
Joe had accompanied his wife to the workshop, but it had not been his intention to actually participate in the outreach.
After several encounters at the train station, we switched people to different teams. We did this to allow more practice with different partners. As people changed partners, Joe’s wife ended up on a team with no men.
I asked Joe if he would mind walking along with these ladies because I didn’t feel comfortable sending two ladies out on the streets of Dallas by themselves. Being the gentleman that he is, Joe agreed.
Then a funny thing happened. As Joe accompanied the ladies when they approached people on the street, he began to receive revelation from the Lord about the people they approached! It was undeniable! He began to receive revelation from the Holy Spirit for people they encountered only after he took a place on a team at the train station. Before that, when he had stayed on the sidelines, even though he was interceding for the outreach, he received no revelation.
Start with Your Neighbor
Where do we start? Jesus described our neighbor in Luke 10 as anyone who crosses our path who has needs. After relating the story of the Good Samaritan, He commanded us to “Go and do thou likewise.”
We don’t have to be concerned about launching out to a dark, foreign country to minister. As we are faithful to meet the needs of those who cross our paths, God will expand our ministry—possibly into dark places, but only as we are ready for it. God is trustworthy. We can trust Him not to throw us to the wolves, unprepared and unprotected, so that we end up in a position of danger like the sons of Sceva.
