Being led of the Spirit is much more than just being in the ministry. For many years we have looked to the pastor for our guidance and instruction, while mostly ignoring the Holy Spirit for these things. The pastor cannot always be with you, but the Holy Spirit is always present with you. It's not some weird, goose bumps kind of presence in our lives, but a gentle prompting or nudge from within that lets us know He's there.
In Galatians 6:1-10 (Amplified) the Word instructs us to always be willing to help others who have needs. This doesn't mean we're to be foolish, but always open to this. There are many times that the Holy Spirit can move on us in seemingly little things that mean so much to others. A waitress in a restaurant might need a kind word or a simple smile to help on a bad day. Sometimes, the Lord will present an opportunity for just a gentle touch or kind word. It may not seem "spiritual" to us, but to the Lord it's an opportunity to touch someone.
Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) say, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside) (He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God) For whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Many read these scriptures and think they're about being in sin or away from God. These aren't only about walking in sin, but our not taking the opportunity to "sow to the Spirit." We can sow to our flesh by simply missing the appointed thing that the Spirit would use to simultaneously bless others and ourselves. The flesh is always in a hurry to do something for self rather than do for others. We see so many opportunities to help others, but then dismiss them because "Someone else will or should do it."
The Holy Spirit is the Only Person Who can be in more than one place and in all places at the same time. You might be the only person who can see a need someone has and you might be the only person who can meet that need. Galatians 6:9 (Amplified) says, "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint."
There have been many times throughout the years, where I feel like I've let others down because I wasn't there for them when they needed me. I may have even been ministering to someone else and couldn't get to them. There are too many needs for any one person to meet at any one time in this world. Even Jesus needed to appoint other men to meet the needs around Him.
Sowing to the flesh doesn't always mean doing sinful things, but being caught up in the humanity of our every day lives. We can easily become so involved in just living our lives (work, children, home, being a parent, work, bills, etc.) that we don't seize the opportunities of the Spirit. It's not that we don't care, but we simply become "weary and faint." If everyone isn't doing what the Spirit would have them do, then there are so many needs you could easily become worn out.
Paul wrote about Epaphroditus, a disciples and friend in the ministry, in Philippians 2:26-30 (Amplified) saying, "For he has been (homesick) longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill. He certainly was ill (too), near to death, But God had compassion on him and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow (over him) coming upon sorrow. So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted. Welcome him (home) then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him." Verse 30 says, For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his (very) life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me (which distance prevented you yourselves from rendering)."
This young man tried filling in for others, but "because of distance," could not. One would think that someone surely could have aided him, but there was no one. Like him, we are sometime too far away to help others. We might live in another state, city or country, but the Holy Spirit can reach the need if we will make ourselves available to Him.
We might believe that only those who are in full-time ministry are responsible for certain things. We have overlooked the fact that we are all in the full-time ministry. We might not be on the worship team or the prison ministry or an appointed task, but we should be available to do what the Holy Spirit asks of us. Ephesians 4:11-12 (Amplified) says, "His gifts were (varied He Himself appointed and gave men to us) Some to be apostles (special messengers) some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the gospel, traveling missionaries) some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers." Verse 12 goes on, "His intention was the perfecting and full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people); (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church)."
Most of the ministry is not on the pulpit, but the "people" ministry. The pastor cannot go to work with you or to school with you and doesn't know the people you know and meet. Therefore, only you can be the Father's arms or comfort to certain people. This, my friend, is "Sowing to the Spirit."
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