Our life, Our Work, IS MINISTRY!

By Robert Ricciardelli
www.vision2advance.com

One of the greatest revelations I have learned in recent years is that whatever I do in life, IS MINISTRY.

Every job and every assignment, my family, and every path that the Holy Spirit leads me, IS MINISTRY.

Colossians 3:23-24 

²³Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.

²⁴Remember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Christ.

Everything We Do Serves the King and His Kingdom!

No matter what you are doing, you are to do it all for Him, serving Him and His kingdom. I believe that if every believer catches this revelation and the importance of knowing they are carrying His presence wherever they go, it will transform them and many around them. They will desire to be walking in His nature, His love, and His purposes of establishing the kingdom of God upon the earth today.

When I first began falling deeper and deeper in love with the Word of God, yes Jesus Himself, I thought the natural progression would be full time ecclesiastic, in the four walls, church type ministry. This false idea that this was the obvious progression of loving God more, led me in that pursuit. As I put myself more and more into the ecclesiastical pattern if service, I was getting more and more restless. The Lord finally had to hit me upside the head and say, "Your going the wrong way", for me to finally understand the errors of my way. I finally understood that as I am in Him and He is in me, everything I did in obedience was just as spiritual as being a Pope, priest or pastor. The Father seemed to say to me, "As you continue to hear my voice and obey my words, I will continue to take pleasure in your life."

As the Lord continues to conform us into His image, the world begins to see Him work through us in all phases of life. We then can become pastors and stewards of our families, businesses, and the community we live in. I can steward all the Lord has for me and be a full time minister throughout my business day.  Those that are bus drivers can minister fully as ambassadors for Christ as those behind a pulpit. Mothers, you are full time ministers to your husband and children, even if you never work outside of the home, you have an important ministry. You have a key ministry in the community as you build generationally through your children and impart to others that are seeking truth. 

We become an act of worship to our Father in all that we do. In the name of Jesus, we become a people of character and integrity that bring salt and light to the world around us. In many ways and applications, ecclesiastic ministry may never reach those that we will be able to reach. His church will go outward in power and bring them back in only to train them to likewise go outward for the kingdom. This is truly the "day of the saints", as we all carry His presence into the marketplace of the next great harvest of souls for His kingdom.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 

⁶For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

 ⁷But this precious treasure--this light and power that now shine within us--is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.^[a] So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

We Carry His Presence Wherever We Go!

What an honor and joy it is to know that we bring His glory into every jurisdiction, situation and application in life. Just His presence alone can set people free. I have seen this many times in my life and several others, as the presence of God is carried into a conversation or engagement of relationship to transform lives. I have seen times when the people I am relating with are compelled to confessing their sins and become like low hanging fruit, easy to grab and bring into the kingdom of God.  They then will say, I have never told that to anyone, but there is something different about you. Well we know what that difference is and what it isn't. It is surely not us, it is Him and it His presence through us that will set the blind toward seeing and the lame man toward walking.

Knowing we are activating His ministry every moment of every day, we must continue to be living temples of grace and mercy to all we come in contact with. This does not mean we will necessarily preach, this just means we will be prepared to hear His voice and give what He says we are to give, and many times it is not a bible thumping verse. In fact, if we are not listening to Him and try to wear our own spiritual clothes, it becomes a quick way to get a stiff arm towards the gospel of our Lord. He may want us to give a word fitly spoken without the chapter and verse, or just some comfort and encouragement. We must have an ear to hear which only comes from intimacy and time spent with the Father and His Word. In that intimacy, we then will gain a sensitivity to listen to what He would have for us during those moments of opportunities to serve.

Father, may all of us catch the revelation of relevant service to this world. May every religious tendency die to relevant obedience to your guiding Word. May your people reach out and love the unlovely so that we can populate your kingdom in a greater way. Give us wisdom and revelation as we serve in the marketplace and impart your glory to the world in Jesus name…Amen.