Deep Into Ministry

Deep Into Ministry

Pastor Ken Crow

Ezekiel 47:1-10 (King James Version)

Ezekiel 47

1Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

3And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

4Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

6And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

9And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

10And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

The fact is this. We can go as deep into ministry as we are willing to go or we can wade around on the edges and never realize our full potential . God leaves this up to us. God does not force us to do anything nor will he somehow magically open the deeper doors of ministry if we don’t have the want to or drive to move forward.

What does it take to move deeper? Tonight we will look at three things we must make part of life as a minister if we wish to reach the deeper waters.

1. Biblical Study

2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Version)

15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Paul in his letter to Timothy stresses without a doubt the need to study the scriptures.

We must know what we are talking about if we are to have an effective ministry.

John 14:26 (King James Version)

26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

This scripture has been taken out of context a lot over the years by those who would say that study is unimportant or not necessary because of the power of the Holy Ghost.

What Jesus is really saying here is that the Holy Ghost will teach us the ways and words of Jesus and bring them to our remembrance as we preach and witness.

The Holy Ghost works along with The Word of God. The Holy Ghost is not intended nor ever was intended to take the place of knowing what God’s Word says.

2. Prayer

We know by the Word that Jesus stayed in constant contact with God the Father.

He accomplished this through prayer.

Prayer will open up doors in the ministry.

Matthew 6:6 (King James Version)

6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

We know Jesus instructed his disciples to pray.

One proof of their prayer life is in the following scripture.

Acts 3

1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

The door of deep ministry opened up as a direct of Peter and John’s prayer life.