Ministers of God

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. – Romans 13:1-5

God uses the governing authorities to purge us and refine us, that we would be made holy. These authorities aren’t just human authorities, either. Last post I spoke about demonic principalities… Perhaps some of you thought that maybe you didn’t want the scroll in Jesus’ hand just yet, since the first seal to be opened is the revealing and releasing of the Antichrist. Good! Use that revelation to prepare yourself for those coming days. But let Paul’s words above encourage and comfort you. The Antichrist himself, though he will be given the very throne and power of Satan (Rev. 13:2), will be God’s minister to the saints in those days, as a gift from the Father that will produce a Bride who is made ready before the second coming of Jesus. But do not be deceived – she can not make herself ready apart from enduring tribulation by God’s grace (Acts 14:22).

Before a corporate church can ever sing the new song of Rev. 5:9-10, there will come the birth pangs (Matt. 24:3-14). These pangs are the beginning of God’s promise to shake all that can be shaken, “that the things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Heb. 12:27). This great shaking will not only act as a refiner’s fire to burn off all of our dross (Heb. 12:5-11), but will cause a great falling away from the faith as well (Matt. 24:10,12; 2 Thess. 2:3,9-12). Revival does not come apart from pain. But this pain also acts as a minister of God, just as the governing authorities do, in that the unshakeable will receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:28).

This kingdom houses the throne of God, who is the King above all kings, who “removes kings and raises up kings” (Dan. 2:21), who gives ear to our prayers. To agree with sin is to interceed for God to give you over to the darkness of which you are asking for (Rom. 1:18-32). But when we interceed for wickedness, ministering spirits are sent forth to minister to our desires (Heb. 1:14). Not all demonic oppression is from agreeing with darkness though – we are in a spiritual battle which rages on! Again, demons do not get their way apart from man’s wicked heart. But remember Rom. 13:1-5; God puts demons in places of authority unto something – our good, and we have nothing good apart from Christ (Ps. 16:2).

When Israel wanted a king instead of a theocracy under God, they were given a man after the people’s heart, Saul (1 Sam. 8). And just as it took a Saul to produce a David, it will take these ministers of God to produce a ready Bride. Ministers who are wicked men; ministers that are demons; ministers of pain through God’s chastening and wrath. But truly, because we are to be servants of all (Mk. 10:43-45), then our ministers are anything and everything, and anyone and everyone, that we come into contact with in our day-to-day lives. Every moment, whether good, bad, or bland, is orchestrated by God as invitations to intimacy with His Son, the Man Christ Jesus.

James knew what he was talking about when he wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. … Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jas. 1:2-4,12).

But I promise you, that it is not only pain and oppression that act as invitations to loving Jesus whole-heartedly. When we receive our resurrected bodies, just breathing will be exhilarating! Simple things like eating food or drinking water will fill us with love for Jesus! But beloved, I tell you, we can have this love now – we don’t have to wait! Anything can and should be a minister to you. As with all things, we only need but ask Him for it. Just don’t be offended with the way He decides to give it to you…

In Christ, BMV