09/12/2018
I almost gave up pursuing my Ph.D. because I wanted to dedicate all my time preaching the word of God. I was miserable, I wanted to preach God, minister His word daily.
Serving God by preaching the Gospel was (and still is) my ONLY desire.
BUT the Holy Spirit spoke to me 3 years ago through my eldest sister.
He said 'you can minister my word, share the gospel and bring the Kingdom on earth in EVERYTHING you do'.
Listen beloved, ministering the gospel is not limited to being a pastor, a gospel singer or an evangelist. There are problems in your church, surroundings, and society God wants you to solve.
Jesus didn't say when I was hungry, you prayed in tongues for me. He said YOU GAVE ME TO EAT!
He didn't say when I was homeless, you organized a gospel concert. He said you sheltered me. Don't get me wrong, prayer is so very important. But so are other factors. We don't eat prayer, we eat food that someone planted, harvested, marketed and we bought. If everyone preached, no one will have food to eat.
Everything we do like feeding the hungry with food or with knowledge for the good of people and advancement of the Kingdom is MINISTERING UNTO CHRIST.
We have been made to believe in some churches that you have to stop school because God has called you to be in full - time service. LIES THE TOLD!
God wants us to acquire KNOWLEDGE because knowledge is POWER. If people perish for lack of knowledge, then the reverse is true:
PEOPLE PROSPER IN FULLNESS OF KNOWLEDGE.
And God's Kingdom is advanced when its children have knowledge on WHO God is, WHAT God can do, our ASSIGNMENT as kingdom citizens and HOW we can advance God's kingdom using His blueprint.
There is a reason why obtaining that degree in software engineering is necessary for you and for the Kingdom. In Exodus 35:35 the Bible tells us the people were filled with SKILL to do ALL KINDS of WORK for building the tabernacle.
Exodus 31:3 - 5 says the same thing: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.
If Noah didn't receive the knowledge on the architectural design for the Arc, they would have all died in the flood. The flood was the problem, the arc the solution but SOMEONE had to build it!
You see the reason why we continue to be beggars in the kingdom is that we refuse to acquire knowledge to solve problems in our own lives and in the lives of others. We think that we can fast and pray our way into solving our issues. WRONG MIND-SET beloved!
God created trees but gave us the wisdom to create chairs. If you can sit today it is because someone knew not only to pray but also to use the things God created and the wisdom imparted us at creation to do something.
When Jesus gave us our Lord's prayer, He didn't ask us to pray to go to heaven. Instead, He asked us to pray that the Kingdom should come to earth. We are channels the Lord wants to use to bring the Kingdom of God to earth.
God wants to use you to bring kingdom economics to earth. You can be a minister even in the marketplace my beloved! Don't limit yourself by refusing to acquire knowledge. God can use your expertise for His glory.
Let us stop believing the lies the devil and his advocates (in the form of some family members, church leaders or politicians) tell us and start living out our fullest potential for the betterment of our lives and the advancement of the Kingdom.
Be blessed beloved.
Zita Bernice Tiena