Stop Waiting on the Church to Use You!

This is from my heart for the Lord today....

I've really been seeking God concerning his scribes and the use of scribal ministry in the local church. My heart cries out for those of you who have been OR are being cast aside or overlooked in reference to your gift. But I really believe God has a greater purpose and a wider message he desires to birth inside you.

Today, as I read a couple of messages in The Scribal Anointing Online Mentoring Group, I heard this in my spirit so strongly:  "You can't wait on the church to use you ...."

Let me explain. The institution of the church that we have grown accustomed to causes some to believe - within their intellect - that our gifts must be used in and validated by our local church or our local leaders.

I want to be VERY CLEAR here before going further: God ordained the local church as our spirits are constantly in need of spiritual food, accountability, guidance and training.  He ordained leadership and service in the church; but for many reasons, not everyone can move or operate in their gifts or within their ministries for varying reasons. We may not like it; but earnestly, it may not be something that particular pastor wants to embark upon at that particular time ... and, yes, that is okay. It doesn't make them poor pastors or anything. It doesn't make the church a negative place. It could simply mean that this isn't an area that the church is ready to address or embark upon at this particular time. What we really need to understand that as members of a local church, we should do whatever it takes to support our pastors and leadership while we are there; and then when the Lord opens the door be ready to step right in to serve in our gifts. In addition, we need to understand that if this doesn't happen -- we must keep our faces before the Lord and attentive to His instructions concerning what we should do and how we should do it.

What you don't want to do, however, is allow the spirit of offense to creep in -- and harden your heart against your leadership, the church or the body of believers. I've met so many scribes who become bitter and angry when their gift is rejected. They fail to recognize the lesson in the midst of this Holy Spirit is seeking to teach. That lesson is one of patience and humility. These two areas are foundational and critical in the life of a scribe. Without them, we are destined to wreck our ships.

In the midst of my "I-want-the-church-to-use-me" experience, I learned that the while I was anxious to do what I wanted to do, I didn't have the wisdom or maturity to operate effectively in it. The Lord used situations in which I was rejected or ignored to mature me in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It was in the midst of these types of situations (and there were many) that I learned to press into prayer concerning my direction.

You see, I know how hard it is sometimes, to sit and worship in a place where you feel rejected, ignored and/or under used. I know what it is to be selfish and self-centered; always thinking about myself. It wasn't until I learned to GIVE UP my will; and allow the Lord to have His way in my heart that I began to see THIS STRUGGLE that I perceived within the local church and other Christian social settings in a different light.

I had to learn that my Father was not looking at what "I perceived" as being done to me, but that He was looking at my response to the situation and circumstances that I faced. I had to learn to press past these "negative feelings" and allow the Lord to minister to me, to teach me, to direct me and to help me GROW UP. I had to learn what it really meant to serve and wait on the Lord... and walk in his timing FOR ME -- not the timing I wanted. It was during this season that this passage of scripture stuck out for me:
 

"Every believer should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."-- 1 Peter 4:10
 

I came to understand one simple truth: "All I had to do was to BE who the Lord had called me to be. All I had to do was trust what Jesus had placed in my hands and walk with it using the patience and humility that had grown in my heart."

There's nothing in the bible that says a "church building or a church audience" is the only place for you to move in or grow in your ministry. Should the church be a place for you to grow and flourish? Yes, it should be. Should the church be a safe place for your to expand and extend your wings? Yes, of course. But the fact remains that for some of you reading this; that's not going to be the case. When you find yourself experiencing negative thoughts along these lines, the best place to run is in the arms of God -- laying everything in your heart on the altar.

The Lord wants us inside and outside of the church. No building, no man or no person is responsible for your destiny -- ever! At the end of the day, your destiny is in YOUR HANDS and the HANDS OF GOD. Your obedience to the Lord , yes your obedience, will determine your ministry outcome. Instead of "moving in your gift in the church" in this season, maybe the Lord wants you to serve in a DIFFERENT capacity. The question is simple: "Will you give up your plans and serve instead?"

If you are already serving and you know without a shadow of a doubt that it's time to step into the next level of your ministry, then RUN BACK INTO PRAYER for strategy. Take the steps the Lord reveals to you. MOVE FORWARD!  Take a chance on him in your life to show himself faithful! It's always OK to share the love of Christ  through your gift to people in need of encouragement, hope and grounding in the word.

God has called you! Let HIM affirm you! Our Father has called us to HIS PEOPLE -- not to a building. Our ministry to one another is BEYOND four walls or, better yet, it's not restricted ONLY to the inside of those walls. You can reach out in your community, in the work place or wherever you may be. But until you see your potential and promise, God can't move.

It's time to break this resentment that many have toward the church and the administration of their gifts within it. It's time to break out thought processes concerning how "we believe" our ministry must go forth. Please rely on this simple truth: "You are in the Lord's hands. He knows more about what's going on than you do... and is MORE THAN ABLE to help you make full proof of your ministry."

In Him, Prophetess Theresa Johnson