Do I have the intimate relationship with FATHER I fully desire?
Do I want to be known as a minister of the Gospel (what I do) or as a Son of GOD (Who I am)? As for me, fully walking in an intimate relationship as a Son is my focus. Without HIM, I am nothing. The ministry is a result of who I am thus the ministry will be empowered by My Heavenly Father and HE will guide me in all areas.
We have the power and authority to follow Jesus and become imitators of Him. There is a difference in knowing the Scriptures in this area and walking in the revelation of being an imitator of Christ. Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 12:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The above directive requires commitment on our part. Commitment is what is left after the emotion of the moment has passed. People will start the year committed to lose weight but their commitment often wanes after a short time and nothing has changed.
How committed are you to daily presenting yourself to FATHER? I do not look at it as a duty or obligation but instead it is an honor and privilege to do so. I know that if I have become a fully mature Son, the ministry and results will follow. In the past, most have not considered an intimate relationship and have moved directly to ministering in whatever capacity of their anointing. Solomon did not ask for riches but instead asked for Wisdom. Wealth came as a byproduct of walking in Wisdom from Above.
The adversary wants to distract us from this Truth. Without the proper foundation of intimacy with FATHER, any ministry we walk in will have a shaky foundation. A wrong foundation results in wrong results.
In Galatians chapter 2, Paul also wrote by The Holy Spirit:
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The two principles expressed here are: die to self and live by faith. Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 9:
23 Jesus said to all of his followers, “If you truly desire to be my disciple, you must disown your life completely, embrace my ‘cross’ as your own, and surrender to my ways. 24 For if you choose self-sacrifice, giving up your lives for my glory, you will embark on a discovery of more and more of true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will lose what you try to keep. 25 Even if you gained all the wealth and power of this world, everything it could offer you, yet lost your soul in the process, what good is that? 26 So why then are you ashamed of being my disciple? Are you ashamed of the revelation-truth I give to you?
“I, the Son of Man, will one day return in my radiant brightness, with the Holy angels and in the splendor and majesty of my Father, and I will be ashamed of all who are ashamed of me. 27 But I promise you this: there are some of you standing here right now who will not die until you have witnessed the presence and the power of God’s Kingdom realm.”
There is not one thing more important at this hour than pressing in to that level of intimacy with FATHER, Lord Jesus, and The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us into the Holy of Holies where Agape Love prevails in all areas of our life. What better foundation can we have than that of the Presence of FATHER!