MINISTRY SUCKS LIFE OUT, JESUS GIVES LIFE!

Ministry Sucks Life Out, Jesus Gives Life!
by Joni Ames www.joniames.org


There is a lot of talk lately about a "civil war" of sorts in the church. I don't know what that means to anyone else, but to me, that is good news. It is a call to contend for freedom from the bondage and slavery of religion. - Truly, it is time for us to GET REAL, in the way JESUS tells us in His Word to get real, and stop embracing some fanatical, crazy, mentally retarded, mentally ill version of Christianity. "His yoke is easy, and His burden is light." (Matt. 11:30)Have you given yourself to ministry all your life, yet felt as though you have been left high and dry? Have you lost interest in "church?" Are you left wondering why there are 'prophetic words' you could never reconcile yourself to, which have never come to pass? Are you asking, "What was that all about?!"  
 
The bottom line is, we are in a time when we NEED to GET REAL - with God, ourselves, our families, the Body of Christ, and the "world." - I believe that as we "GET REAL," the church will actually get saved enough that the "world" will truly come into the Kingdom.
 
We all have to read the Word, interpret It's use for our lives for ourselves, and engage JESUS - not what we may have been taught that 'ministry' is. Enough people are getting tired of jumping other's hurdles, trying to fulfill other's visions, and fulfilling and performing and conforming to others' 'performance' mentality, that we are beginning to experience a "Boston Tea Party" in the Spirit, and to "wake up and smell the coffee!" -YAY GOD!
 
The fact is, many burned out pastors are even leaving the 'church' to go into the Marketplace so that they can do TRUE ministry! - And not have to be "owned" by those who want to try to "puppeteer" them. Many are now pressing more into a Marketplace/Harvest Field anointing than the old picture of "ministry." - And in the process, they will accomplish more of TRUE ministry than ever! The Marketplace is truly a great Harvest Field in this day.
 
I've seen a lot of destroyed lives because of so-called 'ministry.' - 'Ministry' which was actually being slaves to men, rather than God. They would slave endlessly, for little or no pay, which left them and their families without relationship, not having time for each other, busy being servants to a big name ministry machine, rather than being a Friend of God, and having true relationship with Him and with their family. What has paraded itself as real, often was not. Running to and fro from meeting to meeting takes you into "sugar highs" that crash you to a major "sugar lows." - And leaves you with no true sense of the 'reality' of Jesus Christ. In fact, many times I've seen families who have given their "all" into such situations, yet are dropped like a hot potato once they are spiritually, emotionally, physically, or financially tapped out and end up with needs of their own. Rarely would they even get a parting "pat on the back" when it was over, and they would be quickly forgotten and replaced by the next one who was enamored by feeling that they were a part of the show.
 
Gal. 2:6 says: "But from those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man--for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me."
 
Gal. 4:17 says: "They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them."
 
TRUE MINISTRY is not a building, a book, a ministry machine, or a conference. - Those are all good tools, when used properly and not set up as idols. - TRUE MINISTRY is not focusing on the 'latest new thing' going on, or on some sort of manifestations. Focusing on manifestations or trying to live up to the 'elitist' demands of a 'ministry' of any kind is very shallow and hollow, at best.
 
Some who read this may be way beyond this point - "been there, done that, got the T-Shirt" and are now flourishing in what is 'true ministry." - But if we are at a place where we are uncomfortable and our 'ministry' nest is being un-feathered, maybe it is so that we can really 'soar' in the truth of the Lord and do TRUE MINISTRY! - So, if this describes what you have been going through, get "over" feeling 'unsaved' about it all! What you are experiencing is the reality of a true walk with Jesus Christ and what He is all about.
 
I'm NOT saying to hate, disengage from, or be condescending to what you consider to be the church. You can't help what you hate. But I am saying it is time for each of us to personally disengage ourselves from the bondage of "Zombie" Christianity.
 
I'm NOT denying Jesus Christ. Rather, I'm denying being controlled by demanding religious garbage. Instead, I'm embracing Jesus more than ever by doing my best to put my personal focus on HIM and what HE says in His Word, rather than what 'people' think or say. - And believe it or not, some would call going back to the Word "religious." - The truth is, when we do that, we have a religious spirit about not having a religious spirit!
 
Thank God for the real peace and real joy there is in allowing the simplicity of Jesus Christ to override all of the other 'chatter.'
 
We are to be mentors, not tormentors! - Operating in the anointing, not the 'annoying!' - Launching others into TRUE ministry, not misery!
 
If I were to put it on a bumper sticker, it would read like this: "'MINISTRY' SUCKS LIFE OUT; JESUS GIVES LIFE." I'm not trying to be crude, but the truth is, ministry as we have known it truly sucks the life right out of you. But Jesus gives life! More abundantly than we can imagine! It's time for TRUE MINISTRY.
 
What does JESUS describe as TRUE MINISTRY?
 
(31) "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. (33) And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. (34) Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; (36) I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? (38) When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? (39) Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' (40) And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' (41) Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; (43) I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' (44) Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' (45) Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' (46) And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matt. 25:31-46 )
 
It is time to serve God, not man. We are NOT for sale! We were bought with a price! - The Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! - The Word tells us, "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1 Cor. 7:23)
 
This article is not meant to "slam" the Church, or any ministry. I love the Church, and I love, respect, and appreciate the ministries I've worked for and with throughout my lifetime. What I'm describing here is where I've been personally, where I'm at personally, and what I feel the Lord has shown me through it. I believe I'm in a time of "personal revival," closer relationship with Him, and of coming into a season of fulfilling more of my purpose, call, and destiny than ever. In that, it's my desire to help encourage and cheer others on into being birthed into theirs. Not a clone of mine or anyone else's, but to walk in what they are called to do. And it is my prayer that, if you are walking through a similar time, this will be encouragement to you.
 
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PRAYER
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Lord, I pray for all who read this that you would love on them real good today! Please seal them with the seal of your Holy Spirit and cover them in the protection of the name and blood of Jesus, that they would not pass through this earth without walking in the fullness of all you have called them to. In Jesus' name, amen.