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Ministry is Birthed in the Shadows
Luke 21:7-36 (KJV)
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We have just read a description of the world that we know live in.
Sin has brought about devastating effects in our society.
Homosexuality is invading religion.
People are pushing for us to become farther and farther away from God (prayer out of schools and work places), while yet ignoring that those choices are tearing our families and lives to shreds (Murder, rape, divorce…).
Depression and fear now control the minds of most people.
And the only way we can try to escape these feelings of despair is by ignoring it. “If I get so busy with everyday tasks, maybe this feeling of hopelessness will leave me alone.”
It seems as if there is a shadow of darkness that is enveloping us.
But in all of this doom and despair I have come to preach the Word of God to you!
Jesus said, When all these things come to pass, Look up! For your redemption draws nigh!
Though the shadow of sin is enveloping this world God has given us the promise of salvation.
If you have not yet been baptized in Jesus’ Name and filled with the Holy Ghost as the Bible has commanded, then now is the time!
Jesus was letting us know that in the last days, when things get dark, look to me, and I will bring salvation forth out of the darkness!
In the beginning he spoke out of complete darkness and light appeared!
I want you to know tonight that ministry is born in darkness! The miraculous is born in darkness!
· David’s ministry was birthed in Saul’s shadow.
I submit to you, that in these last days, in the midst of this darkness that surrounds us, God I calling and raising up people to bring redemption to this lost world!
Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Ministry is birthed in darkness!
Noah…
Moses…
Joshua…
Jesus…
In the darkest times in human history, God has sent the greatest ministries to bring redemption to our world!
Romans 5:20 (KJV)
20 …But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Harvest Church, we are not here by chance!
Even while we are living in the darkest times mankind has ever seen, God is birthing ministry in and through us!
Through prayer God has been dealing with me about our church. It is the will of God that every one of us become a minister.
God is right now beginning to call everyone of us into ministry.
I have come with a Word of God for two kinds of people here tonight.
Those that have been living for God for some time now, and those who are just beginning in their life with God.
Ministry in the Bible has been illustrated by giving birth to children… (Soulwinning)
The Bible tells of two women who were very different, but God used both of them to bring about the greatest gift that this world has ever received. And that was Jesus.
The two women that I am referring to are Mary, and Elizabeth.
Mary was a young lady and a virgin. She was pure and innocent, not yet experienced with the ways of the world…
Elizabeth was an older woman, who had been barren all here life. She knew what it was to live through life without knowing the joys of motherhood. She had more experience in the ways of the world than Mary did…
There are those here tonight who have a Mary ministry…
1) You are just getting into this thing
2) You haven’t yet experienced the Awesome power of God in the way that God wants you to. You haven’t been exposed to Him yet.
Then there of those of you here tonight who have an Elizabeth ministry…
1) You have been living for God for some time now but have yet to reach your fullest potential.
2) You have been around long enough to have been exposed to God’s keeping power…
The Bible tells of the differences between Mary and Elizabeth, but then tells us that the both received the same promise.
They were going to bring for children!
I have come to this place tonight that God is calling everyone of us into ministry. He wants every one of us to bring forth children (win souls).
He is issuing the promise to those who have a Mary ministry and those that have the Elizabeth ministry!
He is asking us to rise out of the shadows of this world, and bring Revival to our families, city, and world!
Will you let him use you?
