Ministry is always about the person we minister to.

Journal Entry 2,

For those of you who are reading. I have the opportunity to serve as a leader in Rock Solid Ministries southern division. We get a chance to visit our local juvenile detention center each week.  I have always wanted to "keep track" of my thoughts and experiences as I serve in this capacity.  Thanks to the internet its easy to put this out there for myself mainly to look back on all the Lord has done.  These are my personal thoughts and events that happen while we minister.

This week, like always, is amazing that God would want to visit with us and meet many people even though they never asked Him too.  I didn't feel a direct direction this week.  Last week I was led to tell my friend who goes in with me to preach on a parable that the Lord showed them.  What I originally heard from the Lord was that He wanted us to spend time preaching about the Kingdom of God.  Like Jesus did as He was here.  This week as we met before we went into the building, my friend agreed that we continue preaching the kingdom.  He shared a parable about the boy who had a demon that would throw him into a fire and cause a seizure. and the fact that Jesus asked the father if he believed.  The father said I believe but help my unbelief.  This is an amazing principle that shows up many times in the Word.  Abraham despite unbelief believed God and it was credited as righteousness (Rom 4:18).  We get to minister twice each night so I felt like that may be for one of those.  We started at the girls. I felt led to start. to sum it up I preached on the fact that we look to be numbed from reality or what we are going through.  This is not a bad desire but when we do this without the Lord we always end up empty and the result is not what we desired. But with the Lord we get peace that passes understanding ( no understanding why to have peace but we do), and joy unspeakable and full of Glory.  We also have a Father who loves us and gives us Grace that surpasses everything we go through. Ultimately His plan for us is the best possible life available. 

Then at our church, my pastor has set a goal for us to get at least 365 people saved.  Although this ministry is not part of that church I still have felt led to tell him those who receive the Lord each week. and for that number to be counted.  Now this was most difficult for me.  I never count how many who make a decision for Christ.  Its just not me.  King David once counted how many troops he had to show how powerful he was.  God frowned upon that and he paid a price.  So its not bad to count.  Many times God had His people count.  But only count when the Lord leads.  But we are a body and no matter what ministry we are its all 1 Kingdom.  So I was glad to report that 5 out of the 6 who we preached to received the Lord. I usually bring the people I preach to, to the place in the night where they can make a decision this can be done many ways. As the Holy Spirit leads. some times we do it silently in prayer as I pray I tell those who want to receive the free gift of Salvation to get it... so they know they did it.  this time I provided that but I felt led to have them repeat a prayer of salvation.  I seen in the Lord, that many needed to hear themselves say it.  So despite me being uncomfortable.  I did that for them.  Because in ministry its not about me.  and many times the Lord will have us do things that are uncomfortable for us. but its not about us its all about the people and what they need.  Then I asked them if they wanted individual prayer.  They all wanted it.  I prophesied to all of them.  then we were done.  the guards a the jail said that they didn't have enough guards for us to go into the boys to minister so we went home.  this was difficult because I didn't have my friend minister.  This also goes against much of what I believe.  My heart is to provide opportunities for those who come in with me to minister to so they can grow by exercising their faith.  but many times as a leader in ministry, you minister to "show how it can be done" or to provide a night where those who come in with me understand how the ministry operates. or how to handle situations as they arise. so its important for those who come in to see different ways to minister.  so the next time they minister they believe they can do that too.  or add that type of ministry to the way they do it.  because its effective and they got to see it in real time with real people.  Opposed to being in a conference hearing about how to do it. 

So a unique night.  But good praise to the person who came in with me.  It didn't bother him that he didn't get to minister.  Its all about God all the time and the people.  Thank God I have people coming in with me that are not concerned about themselves and what they can do.  We can all flow and we all play a huge part.  I know that he was praying as we were ministering and that helped the peoples heart to receive all that the Lord had for them tonight.

Thought process behind Minstering, and then what happens. Rock Solid Ministries South.

    I am part of ministry called Rock Solid Ministries. In that ministry, we minister to the juvenile detention center here and my local town. Every week we have been ministering there since the year 2001. Each week I would like to highlight things the Lord showed us or may have done. This is more for me then for anyone reading this.  I have always wanted to do this, to one day, to look back and see what the Lord has done. Now with technology we can do it so much easier than writing in a notebook and losing the paper some where.

   Our goal in this season is to preach the Kingdom. Jesus preached how the kingdom of heaven is like. Also the Word says when you preach the gospel, signs, and wonders shall follow. I felt led to ask my friend to minister tonight by picking one parable that lines up with what the Lord is speaking to his heart.  He ministered about the Camel going through the Eye of the Needle in a city. In this parable, Jesus dealt with the fact that we have to let everything go, for us to go after God . In this parable the Lord reveals how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom unless they let go of there need to have everything at all times. Not saying riches are bad. But can we let go of always needing them? Like they some how hold us up, or they give us some value?  How about King David who worshiped the lord in his underwear.  He had no problem stripping everything away, even though he had a kingdom on earth.  Then began to minister to the kids about his testimony. How God rescues him and delivers him all the time. Instead of being addicted and lacking why not be addicted to having the fruits of the Spirit.  To be addicted to love, joy, peace, etc. When he finished speaking I felt led to highlight a few key things that I seen the Lord doing as he spoke. One was the fact that we are on a path with God, not just a one day emotional encounter.  Like the camel going through the needle in a city, its constant, not just one time.  When he spoke about his testimony. He spoke it as though God continually broke him free of stuff, and continued to transform him. 

 For the First time in a long time I seen the kids in the room have a lot of faith.  I seen that they were engaging with the fact that this is possible with them, even though they're in jail and not doing well. It appeared that they were thinking  "wow this joy would be make my life better" and it was a little easier to let go of all the issues because, they were grabbing hold what God had for them. He finalized stating, as Jesus did, with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.

  I seen the Lord all over this night. I spoke to the kids that this is possible, that they could have faith in God not faith in themselves. It is impossible to please God without faith. Many people have faith not even having faith in God, and still overcome amazing obstacles because they believe. However when we believe in ourselves, we are limited because when we mess up we lose faith because we are not perfect however, if we put our faith in God he is perfect.  He has a plan that goes way beyond our understanding. To mature each one of us, and that will be a light to others of who God looks like for them. So imagine if we really invested in everything God had for us. We would have faith in Him, and when we fall short He helps us overcome our weaknesses because He is strong.

As we were going to walk out, one of the kids asked if we could pray for them.  I originally wasn't going to, in fear that they would forget what we spoke on, but I thought sure.  What I heard earlier was that the Lord wanted us to preach the Gospel and that signs and wonders would follow. Specifically that we would preach about the Kingdom of God.  Then it hit me while praying, and I called out a time for God to heal them.  Every disease, addiction, relationship issue, diabetes, teeth issues, incurable diseases, and anything else that we didn't say.  I was like the room was super charged with faith in their hearts.  I could tell they were believing God to touch their life individually.  Wow. what can I say.  He did it.  He always shows up.  He loves those kids and us so much.

In Ministry, God heals and touches people all the time in spite of us.  My doctrine or capabilities are limited. I am not perfect.  But I do believe He can do whatever He wants to.  All I have to do is see Him, recognize what God is doing, then speak it to others.  We can have the most amazing messages and faith on our end, but that alone won't activate much in the people who are listening.  The people receiving must have faith on their own.  Many times, during ministry, we do whatever we have to do to get them in the best place possible to receive, and then preach what God wants us to say,  so they don't miss out on what God has. 

Like I said this is a online journal for me.  But if you are reading this thanks.  I appreciate it.  Hopefully it blesses you.  It blesses me to see God do His thing in the earth and the great mystery is that He wants to do it with us and in us.

We will continue preaching about the Kingdom and expect God to show up and minister to everyone who wants Him.