MINISTERING TO THE LORD THROUGH PRAYER;
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; … As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said…” (Acts 13:1-2).
Note that the Spirit spoke after they had ‘ministered to the Lord’ in the above scripture. This is a very important aspect of our Christian service. Ministering to the Lord is the essence of worship. You will never know the depth in the Spirit beyond the ordinary, until you start ministering to the Lord. Ministering to the Lord is something you do consciously, not passively.
Many Christians wonder why their lives seem so ordinary and they don’t experience the power of God, as they should. The problem for the most part lies in this area. It’s so vital to learn how to minister to the Lord and more importantly, when to pray the prayer of worship.
If you’re ignorant of the things of God and His mode of operation, you wouldn’t know how to put yourself in the way of His blessings. God has already done what He’s supposed to do, but you must put yourself in the right position to receive.
Hebrews 13:15 shows us what to minister to the Lord: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name,” which means ‘the tribute or speech that acknowledges and celebrates the Name of the Lord.’
When you share His testimonies for instance, you’re actually ministering to the Lord. As you make those confessions in His Name, Jesus, being your Great High Priest, presents them before the Father, who receives your words of praise and worship as a sacrifice of a sweet-selling savour. There’s so much to thank Him for, so, lift your hands in worship and adoration, not because you want to ask for anything. Learn to adore Him and to bless Him for who He is.
Further Study:
1 Samuel 3:1-4;
Ezekiel 45:4