Go for the training of the Spirit (2)
Revelations 2:5;
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
As a believer, if you don’t get tested, you will lose out on progress. Thus, you must train yourself to face tests because when you fail tests, it exposes who you are. Tests are not meant to disgrace you, they are meant to show your ability. Prepare for the tests – it doesn’t come once or twice; it’s all your life.
Looking at Joseph. He started with the excitement stage – with his dreams – he told everyone. Then his brothers were offended, and the first test came; his brothers sold him to Potiphar. Tests expose a person, but Joseph did not grumble or murmur. He escaped the test with potiphar’s wife and landed in prison. We ought to get the training to withstand tests, sometimes it’s a test of followership or money or emotions – the test will keep coming. For Joseph, the prison was progress (even though it didn’t look like it).
If you want to make progress in ministry, you must be trained to win the tests. The training Joseph had with his brothers, with Potiphar, in the prison all came together when he wanted to interpret the dream of the Pharaoh. Then he became the prime minister. To make progress, you have to go through the test. Train yourself with the word, and you will see progress.
Joshua 1:8;
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
To have good success, you must meditate on God’s word, and train yourself with God’s word.
Psalm 1:1-2
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
When you see people making progress in the work of ministry, follow their labour, not the results.
There is the training of prayer. Jesus took his disciples to the Mount to pray, but they were sleeping – the real issue was not the time of the day, it’s that they don’t pray. Prayer can go years ahead, so learn to take it seriously.
The training of the spirit cannot be faked, it’s the fabric of God’s man, it is the grace of ministry and the strength of years to come. The training of the spirit will help in ages to come.
Ministry cannot be done without the training of the spirit. From today and beyond, go for the training. The training starts when you stop being self-aware. Receive God’s training.
Say this: I go for the training of the spirit, I won’t run and hide, the hand of the Lord is mighty on me.
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – Jeremiah 49-50
TEACHING OF THE DAY
This is holy ground (3)