Your expectation of blessings

When you hear the word “Blessings,” what comes to your mind? It could be good health, more than enough money, good behaving children and grandchildren, plenty of food, a lovely house, excellent business or job, and all the happiness you can think of in life.

But you know there’s a difference between your expectation of blessings and God’s way of blessings? His way of blessings doesn’t always look like blessings in times, although they will be in the end when you finally see it. It’s confusing, especially when you know what God has promised you, but what you see with your eyes is different.

Ministry 101 – Sink or swim

Living by faith is more challenging than talking about it sometimes. Faith isn’t a fuzzy feeling to live through every day. But it takes your action to jump into the things that you don’t know the outcome. It’s a “sink or swim” decision. The bible says,

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. – James 2:14-26 NIV

Ministry 101 – Your confidence

Have you ever wondered when or how you can ever feel “You are enough” and confident about it? No matter how many times you’ve practiced, you think you didn’t do enough. No matter how many schools or classes you’ve taken, you haven’t learned enough. Do you ever feel confident doing your ministry?

It is funny to think that Moses felt the same way you and I sometimes think when God chose to use him in a mighty miracle. He thought he couldn’t speak well, or people won’t listen to his leadership. But Moses had the highest education as a son of Pharaoh. He could be confident more than anybody.

Which side are you fighting from?

Have you wondered why you still have so many battles in your life even though you serve God faithfully? Did you think your life struggle was over when you gave your life to Christ? Did you think your sickness be gone, and your heartaches will mend? Why are you continually have troubles in life? Are these troubles ever end?

Everyone wishes the same. Nobody likes life issues and heartaches. The fact is God never promised that you wouldn’t have any problem. You don’t like uncomfortable, pains, and ongoing struggles. It’s understandable wishful thinking. What the bible says is quite the opposite.

Get rid of the complaining spirit!

Are you a complainer? Even if you aren’t, it’s not natural to you. The complaining spirit has embedded in the human soul since the sin came into humanity. You don’t have to practice to be a complainer because you were born with it. You could be complaining about anything from too cold, too hot, too little, too much, too loud, too quiet. You’ll never be satisfied if you don’t learn to be thankful.

Do you know God hates the complaining spirit? It bothers Him every word you complain. He was greatly displeased when the Israelites complained.

Ministry 101 – School of the Holy Spirit

Are you confident enough doing your ministry by educations and training you had? Or did you even have any schooling? It’s always a question of whether you need schooling or don’t to make your ministry successful. In the secular world, your history of education has ever questioned for finding a job or promotion. People will assume your quality of life and your being by looking at the list of education history. But God’s Kingdom principle is so much different than what the world expects. The bible says,

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. – Acts 4:13 NIV

Ministry 101 – Walk with them

One of your ministry purposes for the Kingdom is to bring people to Christ. You are called to share the good news. But sometimes, your ministry won’t end there. There are times you have to walk with people until their walk be established and steady. That’s called “Discipleship.” Are you committed to the people you minister?

Peter and John had a ministry opportunity at the temple gate that was called “Beautiful gate.” They brought a miracle of healing to a man who sat at that temple gate every day for many years, begging the gifts from people because he couldn’t walk since his birth. They commanded the man to walk in the name of Jesus, and he has healed completely.

Do you hear it?

Do you know how to hear the voice of God?

Do you hear it by your physical ears?

How do you know that was His voice?

If you don’t know how to answer those questions, you might have irritated by some believers’ comments by saying, “This morning God told me…” or “I sensed God is telling me…” The Bible says,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27 ESV

Knowing someone’s voice requires a relationship. It’s not the relationship that you know who that person is, but a close relationship that’s close enough to heart the person’s voice. As your baby knows your voice, or your dog knows your voice differ from others, you would learn and understand your master’s voice.