As the Holy Spirit, has been preparing me and you for our specific calling(s) in Christ, one aspect of revelation or "taking off the veil" has to do with revealing the nature of different spirits that attach themselves to members of Christ's body.
Recently, he's been revealing to to me the spirit of "competitiveness," or "competition," operating in the body, and warning me not to operate in that spirit, when the time comes for me to walk fully in my calling, once the Father releases me, from my "baby" training stages.
The Spirit of competition be bound in Jesus name! It has no place, operating in the Body of Christ. Can one be a servant and a competitor at the same time, within the body? Operating in competition with other persons, or even harboring an attitude of jealousy or envy, suggests that one is operating in pride versus humility, -which could possibly mean delay in one's ministry blossoming. Ding-Dong Candace- this is no accident. Pride operating within full-time ministry is dangerous? Hmmm...We also know that pride comes before a fall.
The celebrity factor, in ministerial efforts should not come to anyone as a surprise. After all, Satan fell to his demise, because he was operating in pride... It is as a great teacher of mine says, "delusional thinking," when you are waiting for Father God to bless a certain something, while operating in a spirit that he perhaps detests.
I'm not sure if we are always aware of what spirit we are operating under, but when pressing forth not in ministry, but in one's consecration to God, the Holy Spirit has promised to reveal the "truth to us." It seems consecration should be the full-time effort! So being, honest with ourselves, seems to be half of our agreement to co-labour with Christ, in terms of dealing with the Holy Spirit re: consecration?
The Father said, "Be ye Holy as I am Holy," so it must be possible. Do most of us, operate in lasciviousness, or laziness, attempting to also be released to minister at the same time?
The Father promises that if we will "seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness," all of these things will be added unto you." No, I'm not saying that you do not do the work, the physical labour that God has told you to do to manifest what he's called you to co-labour with him in...what I allude to is.....if you're running around, breaking a sweat for years at a time, and there has been little to no growth in one's ministry, perhaps Father is sending you a correction. The point, perhaps is not to go chasing after building a ministry, but to chase after God, and allow him to "open doors that no man can shut?"
Dr. Shine of Save the Seed Ministry put it perfectly. "Servanthood is the way into the Spirit," not a celebrity spirit posing as a servant. No doubt, we all, myself included want to have meaning, and value, and self worth, and accomplishment- yet the truth remains, this should not be rooted in our works...but in our righteousness. Our works must be a reflection of our God, and the state of our heart attitude towards Him.
God indeed is clear about his intentions for us to be great, to allow HIM to radiate THROUGH US. The law of least effort, in the natural sense doesn't seem too farfetched. Could it be true, that your outward ministry will grow or bloom according to the level in which you press in the spirit?...."prospering as one's soul prospers?" Hmmmmmm.......
