I was in prayer recently, and the Lord was speaking to me about people, ministry and advancing the kingdom. We can force ministry doors to open and can make things happen in order for us to enhance our ministry, but are God’s blessings upon it? Do we want God to bless our ministry or honor our ministry?
God will honor the things we do to share His word and grow our ministry. However, when God orchestrates our advancement or the event or action in which He has called us to do, He will bless that which He has called.
I remember years ago, I was jealous because my friend paid to have a ministry center. I thought, “God, I’ve been more faithful, have a larger ministry” and so on. But God showed me this as one of the many differences between blessing and favor and growing a ministry or advancing His kingdom. My friend gave up his ministry center a year later because God’s blessing was not upon it. My friend created it to happen out of God’s will.
People burn to do ministry. By burn I mean they are set on fire and passionate about doing ministry. Because of this burn and passion, they try to create things and make it happen. I once asked God, “Lord, why do you make me burn for ministry so much and then not give it to me?” He replied, “Because you would give up in the waiting.”
We could easily take the ball and roll with it. If God showed us the big plan, we would run ahead of His plan. That is one of the reasons prophecy is in part.
Is your desire to grow a ministry or advance His kingdom? We could focus on growing our ministry all day long creating ideas, planning and implementing. However, how many of these things last? Are we more concerned with growing a big ministry to earn a full-time income, excel over a fellow minister or have our destiny finally released, or are we concerned with advancing God’s kingdom and loving on people and serving the Lord?
We live in a competitive world and in an impatient society. Sometimes, we are more ministry-driven than kingdom-focused. We need to take a step back and evaluate why we do what we do. Are we doing ministry for ourselves so we can release our anointing and preach, pray and prophesy, or are we genuinely in love with God, desiring to release the Spirit of God within us?
It is time for a heart check. Why are we doing what we are doing? Are we serving ourselves by putting forth our agenda, or are we interested in advancing God’s kingdom? Purity and honesty need to be put back as the focus of ministry. We would never get burned out if we followed God’s plan instead of our agenda. If we step back and focus on the Spirit of the Lord and His instructions, we will advance His kingdom, which in return will change many lives. {eoa}
Kathy DeGraw is a prophetic deliverance minister releasing the love and power of God to ignite and activate people, release prophetic destinies and deliver people from the bondage of the enemy. She is the founder of Kathy DeGraw Ministries and Be Love Outreach. She is the author of several books, including: Speak Out, Discerning and Destroying the Works of Satan, Identity Invasion, Who is Speaking? and Warfare Declarations. You can connect with Kathy on Facebook at facebook.com/kathydegraw/ or visit kathydegrawministries.org/.
Curt Landry 
Michael L. Brown 
Rabbi Eric Tokajer