Ministry is Inspired by the Holy Spirit

Scripture: Acts 13:2

While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Insights: Yesterday we learned ministry is initiated by leaders and though this is a true statement it is not the complete process.  If we look at today’s verse, I think we will get a better grasp of the leaders ability to initiate ministry.  The leader initiates ministry to his followers, but who inspires the leader to know what ministry ought to be done?  Does the leader just pick this work out of thin air and say to himself, “I think this ministry is a good idea?”  I think the answer is an obvious, “No.”  The Lord God, through the work of His Spirit, is the One who inspires leaders to do the work of ministry.  It was while the five leaders we read about yesterday were fasting and praying that the Holy Spirit spoke to them and set Barnabas and Saul apart for ministry.  Let me write this idea out in the context of FBCBG.  In December we voted on a formalized vision and mission statement.  Our mission is we at FBCBG are Christ centered, gospel driven, joyfully united and prayerfully obedient.  Our leadership did not just enter into a room one day and say, “Let’s write a pithy statement and tell everyone that is our mission.”  What did take place was literally hours of time in prayer, conversations, research, writing, revising, and clarifying what we sensed the Holy Spirit was telling us as a leadership team.  If the Holy Spirit had not been present in our work, then all we have is a man made concept and it will surely fail.  As a result of having engaged in this vision the Holy Spirit gives us inspiration along the way to meet this vision.  For example, how do we get contact information from a guest without actually making the guest feel uncomfortable like a spot light is shining on them?  Well, through research and the Holy Spirit’s promptings we sensed we don’t need them to raise their hands and be pointed out.  We also sensed through the Holy Spirit and research we did not need to request too much information from them.  It was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the leadership decided the best way to get information was through a contact card for the entire church.  It is for this reason we are requesting you to write your first name only on the paper and then add a prayer request, if you have one.  It literally takes two seconds, but it makes our visitors feel more comfortable because everyone is doing it.  This example is just one of the ways leadership listens to the Holy Spirit and then initiates ministry.

Questions:

1. In what way is the Holy Spirit inspiring you to join Him in ministry?

2. Are you willing to be obedient to the Holy Spirit?

Prayer: Father, leaders may initiate the ministry, but they are inspired by You.  Let me be sensitive to Your Spirit’s voice so I can initiate ministry which has been inspired by You.  Amen.