Are You Seeking God's Power?
Discover This Shocking Truth

RIGHT TO THE HEART OF WOMEN EZINE

Dear Sisters,

Ministry can be so overwhelming that we lose sight of First Things First. Editor Rebekah Montgomery challenges us to take a New Year's inventory of our priorities.

Rebekah Montgomery: Editor
and Linda Evans Shepherd Publisher

Reminder: The Right to the Heart of Women's Conference -- March 2 & 3rd, 2007 in Georgia, see: www.AttendNow.com

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First Things First

By Rebekah Montgomery, Editor

I recently had a disappointing setback in my ministry. Seeking the Lord's face, He brought this question to my mind: "If you never ministered again, what difference would it make it make in our relationship?"

That made me think long and hard.

It boiled down to this: In ministry and life, I could either seek God's hand (His power and blessing on my family, writing, speaking, finances, health, etc.) or His face (an better understanding of His nature and character). I could not make both my primary aim.

Neither can you. Think carefully before you choose.

Although Moses empowered by God in his leadership of the Israelites, Moses' primary relationship with God was friendship. "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend," says Exodus 33:11. If God had said to Moses, "You can go back to sheepherding," likely their friendship would have changed very little.

Contrast Moses with Simon.

Simon was a talented showman. When he became a Christian believer, he wanted to expand his performance skills to include demonstrations of the Holy Spirit. He offered Peter and John money to show him how.

"Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit," he asked.

He wanted this anointing, not because he wanted to know Jesus more, but because he wanted to impress others. He wanted God's power for his own benefit.

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you! You thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." (Acts 8:19-23 NIV)

"Full of bitterness?" "Captive to sin?" Do you "minister" because you want power over other people?

At the end of a ministry seminar, the speaker invited the audience to divide themselves into two groups for prayer. "Those who want more intimacy with Christ in your life, go to the right. Those who want more of the power of God in your ministry, go to left."

The majority of the audience went to the left. They wanted God's power.

The speaker prayed for the group on the right: "Thank you, Lord, that they have first things first. Give them Your heart so they can filled with Your power."

For the group on the left, the speaker prayed, "Lead them to repentance for seeking second things first. Teach them to seek You, the Giver, and not just Your gifts."

The Holy Spirit isn't given to simply enhance our ministries. He is given to draw us close to Jesus. Nor do we draw close to Jesus to get a blessing from Him. We draw close to love Him in spirit and truth. He knows the difference.

A new bride giggled as confided that she selected her husband largely based on his bank balance. "Mom always said I could love a rich man as well as a poor one," she added. "And the richer he gets, the more I'll love him!"

She sounds like a real gold-digger, doesn't she? But let me ask you this: Are you a "spiritual gold-digger?" Are you only using God like a good luck charm to bless and prosper your life and ministry? Or do you love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind?

Rebekah Montgomery is the editor of Right to the Heart of Women e-zine, a publisher at Jubilant Press, and the author of numerous books on spiritual growth. She can be contacted for comments or speaking engagements at rebekahmontgomery.com

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