Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)   Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”  (2^nd cor 6:1-10) 

When we look back on the work of the Apostles, we see how they labored through much persecution, trials, tribulations and such to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord.  They most certainly did not have “A Ministry of Convenience” nor did they seek for such, but faithfully and obediently, picked up their cross and followed The Lord declaring the word of the Lord in and out of season.   And, whether it was convenient or not they were faithful to the calling of the Lord and preached the Gospel wherever the Lord sent them.  Despite much ridicule and persecution against them, they still pressed forward and moved on FAITHFULLY to the very end, with many suffering up to their last breath.  None of the Apostles of our Lord had it easy, None had a life of convenience where everything worked out perfectly according to their desires.  They did not dictate to the Lord how they wanted things to operate within the ministry, but SURRENDERED themselves completely to HIS will, HIS way, HIS plan.  TRULY Jesus was the LORD of their lives as this was demonstrated through their action of surrender.  When they suffered much for the sake of the Gospel they rejoiced calling it a blessing rather than a curse.  There was no murmuring, nor complaining over their many trials and tribulations, but instead the only sound was the sound of rejoicing as the Apostle Paul declared in the book of Romans: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom 6:17-18) and again the Apostle Peter declared in the book of 1^st Peter: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But REJOICE, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1^st Pet 4;12-13)  Thus, their sufferings were great and they accepted the call knowing it would be such.  Through blood, sweat and tears, through heavy burdens, many trials, tribulations, sorrows, imprisonments, beatings and the like, through hunger and lack of much, they still joyfully and faithfully declared the word of the Lord. 

Not so in the church (body of Christ) today, for many of those professing to be ministers. seek more OF “A Ministry of Convenience” where everything must be perfect and without trial.  If just one thing does not go according to THEIR plan, it then becomes an “attack” from the enemy rather than simply noting that if we are to expect to Glory with the Lord, then we must ALSO suffer with Him.  If things were not easy for the Apostles of Christ, what would make one today expect things to run smoothly for him?  Are any of us better than they, or even Christ?  If HE suffered, surely we shall suffer tribulation.  However, man’s idea of suffering in the church today is having to hold meetings in a basement until they’ve received enough monetary gain to purchase a “grand” building.  Or, being ridiculed by the “world” who may have publicly criticized their ministry proclaiming it and them to be frauds and fakes.  Come on, this is foolishness!  If anyone assumes THIS to be suffering, such a person has NEVER KNOWN true persecution!  Have you yet to be imprisoned for declaring the word of the Lord?  Have you been striped of your clothing and beaten because you spoke of Christ?  Have you suffered great loss where you don’t even have a place to lay your head in peace without fear of being murdered by those who despise the message of our Lord?  Have you been threatened with death if you so much as whisper the name of Jesus?  I could go on….. Having not enough funds to purchase a grand building is not suffering, is not persecution, my God if you are seeking for a place to fellowship, MEET IN YOUR HOMES, meet in the public parks, meet on the public beach, and stop whining over the building as the building is NOT the church, the BODY is the church and wherever you meet, it is THE CHURCH!  While you still have freedom to speak, MEET wherever you can for what difference would it make whether you meet in a building, or in a public place!  Stop valuing the building, and emphasize the IMPORTANCE of the Body!  It’s not the building our Lord is interested in, but the Body IN the building!  Your priorities are out of spiritual order!   

And why concern yourself with what the WORLD thinks of you?   If they spoke evil of our Lord, SURELY they will speak evil of you, so why concern yourself with their speech?  I’ve even witness some professing to be ministers of the Gospel, actually curse those who have spoken against them while the whole congregation applauds the curse.  This is biblically incorrect, for the scriptures tell us that we should PRAY for our enemies, NOT curse!   They are of the world, they are spiritually ignorant of the things of the Lord for such is foolishness to them as they lack wisdom and understanding, thus you should PRAY that they would come to the knowledge of the truth, rather than become angry and bitter over their harsh words spoken publicly against you, whereby cursing them.  The Lord did not curse one who spoke evil against Him, what makes you better?  Again, the scriptures clearly states to “Bless them which persecute you: BLESS, and curse NOT” (Rom 12:14)   And again, the words from our Lord declares: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you FALSELY, for my sake.   REJOICE, and be exceedingly glad: for GREAT   is your reward in heaven: FOR SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPHETS WHICH WERE BEFORE YOU!” (Matt 5:11-12)  Therefore, stop murmuring and complaining over false accusations men of the world speak out against you.  If they speak evil of you, REJOICE, for you must be doing something right for if the world truly thought of your speech as foolish and of no threat, they would not seek to discredit you, but you would simply be to them a lunatic hardly worth their time.  If Paul and the other apostles concerns were only what people said about them, they would have considered their work to have been an EASY one!  Where you indeed called by GOD as HIS minister of THE Gospel?   Well, EXPECT suffering, expect ridicule and trials, tribulations and sorrows, and stop seeking for a ministry of convenience where ALL has to operate perfectly in the manner YOU choose.  As true ministers of the gospel you are to be surrendered to HIS leadership.   You go where HE says go, and speak what HE says speak, do what HE says to do, and forget about convenience for a truly GREAT ministry and convenience do not go hand in hand.  There is no convenience for a TRUE minister of the Gospel for there will be times when you MUST speak, while you are told to remain silent.  There are times when you will have nothing that would be considered “rich” by others, and yet the words you share to those who are lost would be so full of wealth that others would receive the gain, and YOU would receive the reward of leading lost sheep to the great shepherd.  There are times when you must make do with what you have as long as the Gospel is STILL being preached.   This means if you cannot afford to operate using today’s modern conveniences, SO BE IT!  For example, if you cannot afford your own plane to go quickly from place to place, get on the next public flight to where the Lord has told you to go and preach the word and while you’re on that flight, minister the gospel to the man/woman seated next to you.  Stop seeking for convenience and simply seek to do the will of GOD.  If He’s called you to a specific place, he will indeed GET YOU THERE!  You don’t need to fleece the flock, to fulfill a plan of God’s.  IF it is HIS plan, HE will do it!  Consider the work of the Apostles, as they fulfilled perfectly the will of the Lord without causing anyone to stumble, and lacking all the conveniences that the church today assume they cannot do without!  The call of the Lord is not an easy one for if it were we would get nothing done for many would become to complacent and satisfied (as some already are), comfortable with the way things are seeking no change, and seeking no growth!  We are called to DENY ourselves and follow Him, and if we are UNWILLING to surrender ALL to follow Christ Jesus, then we cannot be in a position of leadership at ALL!  Leadership is serving, NOT to be served.  If one desires a ministry of convenience where he wants to speak at a time he feel is appropriate, go when everything works out according to his plans, do what he desires to do at a timing he feels is right, then such a one needs to re-examine his calling.  Are you seeking the Lord’s will, or desire your own?  There are NO celebrities in the body of Christ.  The red carpet will not be rolled out for you, while being snatched from under the foot of your brother, ALL are the SAME in the Body of Christ Jesus our Lord!  If you are called into leadership, if you are called into shepherding, then YOU will NOT be served, but YOU shall indeed serve in a ministry of inconveniences, OR step aside allow another who is willing to take the position of servant and suffer whatever inconveniences, trials and tribulations that may come his way for the sake of the Gospel!  Ministry is NOT a career choice, but a CALLING! 

I know this message may seem pretty harsh to most, but I am compelled to speak boldly the truth for I indeed Love you enough to do so, and desire that we ALL would pick up our cross and TRULY follow The Lord, WHATEVER the cost!   That we would share HIS Gospel of truth despite any persecutions and/or inconveniences.  A ministry is not a game, NOR is it a business, thus it should not be operated as such.   There is but one purpose and that is to GO into all the world and make disciples of ALL nations.  Not when it’s convenient to go, but even when it’s inconvenient, through tribulation, through persecutions, through trials, through pain and sorrow, through afflictions, even if we ONLY have the cloths on our backs but the WORD on our tongue, STILL WE MUST GO and not wait on “A Ministry of Convenience”.  The Apostles of our Lord did it, and so can we!

I love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

The Lord be with you this day and always!  Shalom Uvracha (Peace and Blessings)…….. 

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,
Adonai Elohim Tzeva-ot
Asher Hayah Va-ho-veh VaY’vo

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always……

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God