A fourth ministry designation is identity. We have a space to occupy in the battle; a given role in the Kingdom, a relationship in the church family, a particular part of the body of Christ to become. Identities are attached to everything we are and all that we do.
In the natural world we have multiple identities but only one personality. A man can be a son, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle, husband, father, grandfather, friend, colleague, and employer, all of which are relational. A woman has the female equivalent. When we get together at family events, we naturally fall into expressing many of these identities intuitively. We would not speak to our grandfather as we would our nephew, or our brother as if he were our uncle.
Add to these identities are functional relationships of apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist, elder, counselor, mentor. We have multiple identities in Christ that enable us to relate to people within the context of both friendships and functions.
We have two distinctive relationships with God. Mary represents our personal intimacy, devotional relationships, and is primarily concerned with learning to be with God. Martha represents our ministry designation and the role of giftings he has provided as we learn to work with God. True identity is the blend between both of these distinctives.
Jesus constantly proclaimed his identity in the I AM statements. I am the bread of life, light of the world, door, the good shepherd, son of God, son of man, Lord and teacher, resurrection, the way, the truth and the life, the true vine, etc.
Our identity is who we are in Christ, but there are designations or functions in that.
Paul spoke of his identity as a bond servant, apostle, wise master builder, farmer, father, leader. He was a teacher, evangelist, groundbreaker, Apostle, and ambassador of reconciliation.
God gives us identity so that we can discover what he wants to be for us in those specific areas. Each identity has its own distinctive anointing, favor, and relationship with God attached to it. When the father speaks to us from scripture, he begins to declare to us how he sees us in Christ. Out of that declaration he begins to shape a life that corresponds with his image.
It is part of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that favor is attached to identity and that alone can mark us out as different. Favor is God’s intentional bias towards us. It is important to know the intentionality of God within the specific identities that he is cultivating within us. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will lead us to fullness and abundance. Multiple identities in Jesus enable us to experience fullness on a much broader level. Of (origin-proceeding from as a source-the point where action proceeds with the idea of abundance) his fullness have we all received (John 1: 6).
In ministry, when we call up our identity in a particular situation, we also call up the favor that is attached to it. That specific favor has resources attached to it. It will provide an experience of God. Favor is about embracing the power of God’s goodness and provides permission and authority in ministry.
Identity is the fact of being who we are. It is the practice of that which brings us into harmony with the life that the father has chosen for us. It is the development of these characteristics which determine our contribution in the Kingdom. We bear a close similarity to the person of Jesus and we have an similarity with his ministry.
Practicing our identity is what makes us consistent in life. Conformity to Jesus means that we live, move, and have our being according to his personal disposition (Act 17: 28). A good mentor will ask a disciple questions about their identity, both in character and function.
The natural progression to dialogue about identity would be the establishing of a calling. This is a strong sense of being chosen for a specific purpose or set of purposes. It is an assignment that carries with it a sense of a particular mission, any specific role and ministry.
When we are in the ministry, we should not take speaking engagements, only assignments, what I call mandates from heaven. We are given a scroll, a certification, a piece of legislation.
We should only accept invitations to places where we believe the Lord has given us a specific assignment. When we go to that place it is usually to establish or release something. It can be all to overthrow something perpetuated by the enemy. The assignment can be to equip, arouse or awake. It can be to open up the next level of the Spirit or to strengthen a work that is under attack. We love assignments and the fight that goes with them.
We need our eyes open. An illumination within that sheds purposeful light on who we are, and what we are called to do (Ephesians 1: 18). We must cultivate A favorable and confident expectation of breakthrough wherever our assignment takes us. It is important to have a specific expectation of good around the ministry. We are at our sharpest and best when we live in anticipation with pleasure regarding what God is going to do.
There’s no pressure in ministry. There’s a distinctive pleasure in being in Christ and partnering with the genius who is the Holy Spirit. Ministry is our reward. It is a prize that we constantly move towards as we continually define our upward call in Christ (Philippians 3: 14).
Receiving the next upgrade of our Calling at the time of its release is vital. There are many ministries with unclaimed upgrades that have become weary and disillusioned. Life in Christ is forever upwardly mobile. Most of our upgrades become available to us in times of adversity since the father loves to crown difficulty with blessing. Only Unchanging, overwhelming goodness would think and act in such a wonderful way. Whatever God is, he is relentlessly. His actions, surrounding us, when we are under pressure are the source of legends. He works everything out for good. Our part is to abide in the beauty and power of this love and remain firmly on our purpose. Everything comes to the one who is wonderfully loved and who loves in return.
Part of our partnership with the Holy Spirit is our faithfulness and commitment to God’s nature. In this way we can walk worthy of our calling which is always to represent his heart to others. His goodness needs to be uppermost in our hearts and minds. Our ministry is surely to fulfill every desire for goodness to triumph and overcome (2 Thessalonians 1: 11).
The need to treat our Calling as holy and to establish a public life in grace is absolutely crucial. We are in ministry to serve his purpose with outstanding grace (2Timothy 1:9). We represent heaven, not the church (Hebrews 3: 1), therefore our encounters and testimony is more powerful and glorious. All ministry must have a radiant testimony of God or it cannot rise to the height of God’s fullness and intention. It is the always astonishing Holy Spirit who encourages us to become diligent with regard to our Calling. His enthusiasm for us and our Calling is our main source of motivation. His intentionality empowers our diligence (2 Peter 1: 10).
Mentors impart the sense of privilege that all disciples should feel at being inspired to serve the Lord. Within the realm of that invitation, we must discover the power source that is readily available to each of us. We should never separate power from presence. We are not merely prophesying as much as releasing the life of the prophet within. We can all prophesy simply because Jesus within us is our prophet, priest, and king. We release Christ the healer, Christ the deliverer, Christ the Redeemer, because we do everything in his name and nature. Our source for power is our own intimacy with him supported by the person of the Holy Spirit. Our foremost passion is to receive Jesus in his fullness and release that to everyone, everywhere we go.
When we are filled with the Spirit, we live in his passion to reveal Jesus. We embrace that same spirit of disclosure. All ministers live in the glory of covenant with the father. That covenant is revealed and released to us joyfully in Christ and wonderfully supported and empowered through the indwelling Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is to be overflowing with covenant.
Obedience to the Spirit of covenant releases presence, it pours out of us. Obedience makes the Christ life uncontained, free flowing. Abiding is the key New Testament practice. It is a passion that cause us to joyfully remain in the center of God’s affection. We obey covenant by living up to God’s nature in all circumstances. The New Testament teaches relentlessly about relationships and the nature of God.
His promise is incredibly trusting in full permission: if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). Abiding releases exponential life while keeping us grounded in God’s nature. Our goal in abiding is to come to the place where we are so one with his heart that there is little difference between our desire and his; freedom in and through relationship; power revealed in and through the passion of intimacy.
The father cannot be properly represented aside from goodness. God is good. It is the goodness and kindness of God that leads us to repentance. We overcome evil with good. God’s glory is that he is amazingly and most wonderfully full of goodness. He causes his goodness to pass before us and it makes our face shine. His goodness is our radiance. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.
In Christ, we are learning to fulfill every desire for goodness (2 Thessalonians 1: 11) and the work of faith and power. The work of faith is love (Galatians 5: 6). Love and goodness are two of the most powerful representatives of Kingdom life. God is slow to anger and so he cannot be represented by it. If we have not fully embraced love as the passion of our hearts, then we will most assuredly sin when we become angry (Ephesians 4: 20-27). People who have not been taught to live in Christ are vulnerable to their own sin habit. We must lay aside everything that does not represent life, love, and godliness. Our thinking must be renewed so that the way we live our life is transformed. The likeness of God is everything! Only in the context of his true nature can we afford to speak the truth. Speaking the truth without love empowers the enemy. It provides him with an entrance and an opportunity.
The religious spirit can never represent God, only its own denominations or network. Whenever we see or hear ministry moving in anger, judgment, or negativity we’re observing a person whose own life has not been upgraded by love. Something is missing.
Anointing and revelation must emanate from an encounter with presence, or we simply are watching a person moving in God rather than enjoying God moving in that individual.
Power is God confirming what we speak about him. He exhibits what we expound. Our declarations put his beauty on display. He follows through on our faith in him. Nothing happens without proclamation, which is why our testimony is so vital. Our testimony of Jesus is the very essence of prophecy (revelation 19: 10). Testimony releases people to see God differently.
Testimony is a revelation of God’s nature and passion for us combined with the anointing to pass on that intentionality. This is what God did for me and now he will do the same for you!
Jesus partnered with the father. He said what the father was saying and heaven demonstrated that truth. Faith comes by hearing the very words of God. We have a responsibility to live out our relationship in public, with or without a microphone!
Presence and Kingdom are intertwined. The affection of God is the beginning of maturity. Growing in love and grace is the maintenance of maturity. Expressing the heart of the father is the evidence of a mature personal covenant. As he is, so are we in the world.
Good mentors help disciples to desire and seek after presence as a way of life and the only power source for ministry.
Our final ministry designation is authority. In Apostolic language there are two types of authority. For even If I boast somewhat further about our authority, which Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame (2 Corinthians 10: 8).
The authority that edifies does so by seeking the highest good of another. It builds up, releases, and empowers by providing permission and approval. Let all things be done for the purpose of edification (1 Corinthians 14: 26). We want to lead people as God leads us. All shepherds except Jesus are sheep also.
To be sure, in our authority it is necessary to bring a measure of correction specific to the problem we encounter in people. We do so with great patience and instruction (2 Timothy 4: 2). The best authority is used in the context of coaching, training and discipling. Effective discipline requires a learning environment. Without it, we may be administering punishment rather than development.
In the world, authority chiefly stands for the power or right to give orders and enforce obedience. It is concerned with Exerting control in a particular sphere. Jesus declared that human authority without godly influence would cause leaders to Lord it over the people in their exercise of authority. When people feel a right or privilege over another, then an abuse of authority is about to take place.
Jesus presented an alternative to worldly authority when he placed authority squarely in the place of authentic servanthood (Matthew 20: 25-28). Real leaders serve others; They do not exercise mastery and control over them.
When we use worldly habits of authority, then we can become spiritually authoritarian. We enforced strict obedience to our authority at the expense of personal freedom. We use censor, judgment, and fault finding over people, to exert pressure on their lifestyle. Instead of provoking people to love and good works, we put a heavy burden on their behavior that provides the enemy with an opportunity to increase disobedience. When we are heavy-handed, we create a hard heart. There is a place for rebuke with strength, but it is only when all other avenues have been carefully explored.
In the Corinthian church, the gross immorality of one individual necessitated direct action. In this case, although authority is used strongly, it still does not include punishment; but that the flesh (sin habit)is destroyed so that the spirit may be saved (1 Corinthians 5). Paul wrote it in tears and with great sorrow, which is revealed in his second message on the matter (2 Corinthians 2: 1-8) Where he urges the church to reaffirm their love for the individual and restore fellowship. The language that Paul uses in this incident is hugely indicative of the heart relationship that he has both with the Lord and with God’s people.
Authority with people lies in the power to influence through our own exemplary behavior. When the issue of personal greatness caused a dispute among the disciples, Jesus asked a couple of questions.
Luke 22: 27 for who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
The attitude and approach of Jesus regarding personal position and authority provides us with the clearest example concerning our personal approach. Right people have certain expectations, yet he was among us as one who serves.
Authority is not connected to age, but example. The way in which we speak to people is of equal importance to how we conduct ourselves before them. Our pattern of behavior includes an object lesson in loving people, demonstrating faith, and exhibiting purity in all things (1Timothy 4: 12). If we have to rebuke, the objective is to create a greater respect and reverence for God in the hearts of all who witness that incident (1 Timothy 5: 20).
Authority is connected to destruction, but only in the context of the enemy, not people. We do not fight against flesh and blood but against rulers, powers, world forces of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:12). Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3: 8) while not judging the world (John 12: 4) but acting as savior (John 3: 16-1.
When we judge people, it can often be according to our own flesh (sin habit), which is a carnal standard of behavior. Jesus is not judging anyone in that context (John 8: 15-16). Judgment in the flesh involves condemnation, but by the spirit becomes an assessment of where people are and how they may upgrade their lifestyle.
This is of critical importance to the work of the ministry. If we include people in our judgments, then our authority over the devil is weakened. If our authority with people does not involve their freedom, then we are less likely to release captives and open prison doors. No ministry involving people can act as advocate and jailer. This is double-minded and will only produce instability in those we minister among.
Destructive authority is reserved for a battle with the enemy (Luke 9:) The true expression of the Kingdom is found in (Matthew 10: 7- 8 in Mark 16: 16-18).
Matthew 10: 7 and as you go, preach, saying, the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leopards, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give.
Mark 16: 16 he was believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he was disbelieved shall be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; They will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Peter ‘s original testimony to the gentiles was that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power and went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him (acts 10: 38).
Authority that involves destruction is concerned with two things regarding the enemy. These are ascendancy and jurisdiction. Ascendancy is connected to the resurrection and the surpassing greatness of God’s power to those in Christ. All key ministries have a revelation of (Ephesians 1: 18-23) in regard to their own anointing.
Good mentors check out people’s credentials in the spirit regarding authority over the enemy. Is there enlightenment within them, concerning the substructure of our whole approach to ministry, in the clash between 2 kingdoms? Everything that we do for God, we automatically do against the enemy. Are rejoicing blessings the Lord well grieving the enemy. Our goodness glorifies the Lord and weakens the devil. Anytime we move in the opposite spirit, we depress the devil.
To work with the Lord and know the conscious damage to the Kingdom of darkness that our service creates, is a powerful weapon, and most enjoyable.
Does this disciple have a responsible, rational approach to spirituality or have the eyes of their inner man of the spirit become truly acquainted with the demands of heaven on earth? Does this individual really comprehend, by experience, the full anticipation and expectation that they can have permission for in Christ? If the glory of God is that he is good (exodus 33: 18-19), then what has this person encountered as the riches of God’s glory?
Are we familiar with our own inheritance as a joint heir with Christ? Do we have any revelation regarding God’s inheritance in US and what that may mean in connection with the capability of heaven on earth? Do our experiences include becoming overwhelmed by majesty? Do we have any clue about the surpassing greatness of his power and what it might look like in a modern world?
Are we encountering heaven in any usual way? From our seat with Christ in heavenly places, what is our viewpoint on the warfare that is being waged from our side? In our engagement with the enemy, what is changing regarding his subjection to Christ in the earth?
Good mentors do not disciple people in the sub routines of life and the spirit. If we expect to fulfill Isaiah 61: 4 in reality, then we need to ascend to the right place in the spirit. From that vantage point, when we spy out the land that God is giving us, we must recognize that it now belongs to Christ, and we have jurisdiction. We have delegated authority and power over that territory. We say what happens in a city or region, state or Providence, nation, and continent. The power of the One with the one is all embracing. God is the one, true, great territorial Spirit who marked out Israel’s territory as part of their inheritance in him (Joshua chapters 13-21).
Every believer has territory assigned to them. It may be our street or place of work. It may be a people group or an institution of society. It could be an event or a gathering.
Part of our inheritance is land. Jurisdiction is having and exercising authority over assigned territory and empowering believers to rise up and occupy the space around them. That territory may be a neighborhood, business, local government, a culture, or society.
We have a favorable and confident expectation of something good. We anticipate with pleasure the majesty of God to overcome the enemy. God’s Word comes fully equipped. We shut off access to that power by defining our lives outside of what God is saying and doing. A powerless gospel is of considerable benefit to the enemy. A non relationship with the Holy Spirit seriously empowers the darkness around us. The natural mind with its predisposition to logic, reason and rationale is a formidable impediment to faith in a supernatural lifestyle. I am not against logic, reason or rationale. I love them. I use them daily. In my experience, being renewed in the spirit of the mind is of paramount importance in developing the mind of Christ.
I have chosen a mindset on the spirit to determine my way into revelatory truth and experience. Wisdom is the key to life in the spirit.
Logic and reason often talk us out of supernatural encounters. Wisdom enables us to behold and become what the father sees in heaven.
Authority over the devil is concerned with ascendancy and jurisdiction. We are made alive in Christ and raised up with him and seated with him in heavenly places (Ephesians 5-6). Being in Christ in actuality is everything. It is a specific encounter and an ongoing series of experiences to enable us to grow up in all things in Christ.
We must examine our ministry designations as an important part of our growth in the function of anointing and ministry. Visit them with friends and colleagues in the Kingdom who understand and practice such attributes. Our ministry designations are:
Devotion- involving prayer, meditation and praise.
Inspiration-whether consciously or unconsciously apply.
Influence- throughout all our relationships.
Identity- compatible with God’s perception of us.
Calling that has a specific rather than general burden.
A power source that fulfills every desire for goodness.
Authority that has ascendancy and jurisdiction.
There are many questions that we may ask in the context of defining ministry and calling. There are other designations also. These are the ones that I’ve found most useful in my development of people. There is a huge arena of overlap within the dialogue that they generate. These are but the headlines.