Restoration of Ministry

Restoration of ministries

Song 4:2
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep which have come up from the washing, every one bears twins and none is barren.

This is a picture of Jesus sending his disciples out two by two to bear fruit for the kingdom. This is a year when God will restore ministries and visions. Many who have become discouraged or disillusioned will find new strength through friendship. God is partnering his people together. As we find those we are called to minister with we will find strength and fruitfulness. As individuals we see what God is doing in part, but as the parts of the body of Christ come together we will see the big picture of what God is doing. We will not find victory alone. It is about interdependence.

We will not attain to the full measure of Christ until we embrace all the gifts that God sends. Many will miss what God has because they do not receive those who God has called to walk with them. Many will reject the other gifts of the body and will thus be weak themselves. This is a test of our humility. Watch for those who God sends to walk with you, even if they are from other congregations, are gifted differently, or have different doctrines.

Ephesians 4:11-13
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

It will be important to recognize those who have a true call from God as Apostles, prophets, and Evangelists and so on. People will gather around those who have truly been sent from God. These who are anointed by God will be Fathers who know how to release the Children of God into the earth. They will bring a maturity to the body. This is only the beginning. True maturity will happen over time. The test will be whether we receive the gifts He sends.

Dream: There were people in a boat helping drowning victims out of the water. The important thing is that there was a captain in the boat organizing and unifying. When the captains arise then the captives will be free.

Jeremiah 18:4-5 (New International Version)
4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Vision: A young man was in a church building. He could hear the roar of water under the floor, but could not see the water. He began to tear up the floor searching for the water, pulling up tile to get to it. As the floor was torn the water began to seep through.

This is a year of restoration. The potter is at work. Many have learned that the flesh and religion have not worked or produced fruit. It is a year of mercy, when the potter will refashion many lives and ministries and families. Those who yield to the work of God will be prepared to produce much fruit in the kingdom. The secret will be found in being humble before God and before others.