Ministering to the Lord Pt. 2

To begin with, the concept of ministering to the Lord assumes that He has some kind of need.  To consider that possibility is an anathema to some parts of the theological spectrum.  After all, how can there be any lack with God?  He’s perfect, all knowing, all powerful, etc.  How can He need anything?
Well, it seems like He created us because He wanted something with us.  He spent time with Adam and Eve in the cool of the garden.  We will spend all eternity in fellowship with Him.  It seems that He wants fellowship with His creation.  That’s us.  The action of the disciples as they waited on the Lord and ministered to Him seems to have had some effect.  The Lord seems to want us to have interaction with Him.  How much more significant is it with Him as it takes place in right relationship, recognizing Him as creator God and us as His beloved created children.  Might we suggest that it evokes something from Him?  Possibly.  Probably.
What better way to minister to Him in light of all of this than in praise and worship . . . us in positions of submission to our Savior and King speaking words to Him of adoration and praise?  Telling Him all that He means to us, all that He’s worth to us and reminding Him of all that He’s done for us is certainly one of the ways that we can minister to Him.  And He responds.  He inhabits, or is enthroned, in the praises of His people.  (Ps. 22:3)
That is a very moving experience, not only for the worshipper, but apparently also for God!  It is one of the many things that we can do to minister to the Lord.   It seems from the original text, quoted in last week’s article, that it also can illicit a response from the Lord.  They ministered and God spoke.  God wanted to do a great thing in sending Saul and Barnabas.  This apparently launched the missionary movement of the early church. You can’t miss that fact that He did it through a group of believers who were ministering to Him.
As we put ourselves in that place of proper relationship to Him, worshipping Him, praising Him and ministering to Him, we apparently become attractive tools for Him to use to accomplish His will.  I don’t know about you, but I want that kind of relationship with Him.  I want to be used by Him.  I want to be in the middle of what He’s doing in the earth through His beloved Church.  So put yourself in that place . . . minister to Him in worship and praise.  Do it individually.  Do it corporately.  Just do it and keep doing it until you see what He does through you.
Next week we’ll talk about another way (among many) that we can also minister to the Lord.  Stay tuned.  Get the whole arsenal.  God bless you.
Mike