HOW TO RELATE TO GOD'S SENT ONE TO YOU

09/19/2023

"If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 9:2).

If you belong to God, He places a particular shepherd over your life. Everyone is not sent to your life. And you can't just appoint anyone either. God says, in Jeremiah 3:15, "...I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." He says, He will send you shepherds according to His heart. 

This is why you can't take what another minister has said to his congregation and personalize it to you and your assignment. So, in today's devotional, I will outline a few ways to relate to the man or woman that God has placed over your life. 

First, listen to the one that God has anointed for you. And when I say listen, I mean practice active listening with your pastors and leaders because the focus of their assignment is your precious soul. Active listening entails listening to execute. Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."

Next, realize his or her primary role in your life. Yes, we typically associate our spiritual leaders with the office of pastor, but the Bible says, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers..." (Ephesians 4:11). Your sent one may just be a pastor to you. Yet, he or she may operate in all five offices to you. It pays to realize by the Holy Spirit, the gift that this sent one from God is to you. Otherwise, you may miss out by getting offended, if for example, a straight-talk prophet's anointing is at work when most of your experience of this sent one has been in the very patient office of the pastor. It pays to understand the diversity of his or her ministry in your life. 

Next, catch the spirit of the man or woman of God. And what does this mean? It means maintaining a healthy proximity with him or her that allows for the transfer of spiritual gifts that the Lord would have transferred to you. Romans 1:11-12 says, "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." 

Next, localize the mission of the sent one of God to you in your immediate environment and sphere of contact. Share the message that God has made available through his or her ministry. For starters, it will encourage the graces and angels assigned to his or her ministry to work for you in matters of your vocation, career, and personal life. In assuaging his servant's fears about the spiritual resources at their disposal, Elisha prayed, “...LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). As you encourage the mission of God's sent one over your life, his or her spiritual resources will become available to you. 

Lastly, give to the one God has sent to you. Paul asks, "If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless, we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:11-12). The one that God has placed over your life may never require anything from you, but be smart. The Bible says, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages" (1 Timothy 5:17-18). The double honor referred to here entails your giving.

As you go out today, may God cause His face to shine on you and give you peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Faith-Filled Confession

I honor God's sent-one to me, in words and deeds. I am wise to unlock the gifts of God in this season through my honoring the anointing with every opportunity that I get. Glory to God!

Prayer Points

Pray for outpouring of encounters for Global Day of Praise. 

Pray that our ministry will be received by those whom we are sent to. Romans 15:30-31

Let’s Continue to Pray that God’s people will live revived, broken, and awaken to God’s will, grace, instruction, and correction in righteousness.

Let’s Continue to Pray that God’s people will live undistracted by the pleasures of this world. Also, pray that none of us will yield to the demand of the flesh and the devil.

ONE-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ecclesiastes 4-6; 2 Corinthians 10