TAKE YOUR ROOM IN MINISTRY

 TAKE YOUR ROOM IN MINISTRY

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:16

Topic: Take Your Room In Ministry

"...and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-Meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet IN THY ROOM.” 

                                                                                                                                                 1 Kings 19:16 

God has called many of us. However, you have to pay the price in order to take your place in the ministry. Your place in the ministry is also called your “room” of ministry. Everybody has a room or position that he occupies in ministry. This room of ministry defines your standing before God. It also identifies and classifies you among the ranks of God’s numerous servants. It requires something to occupy that room. You need to pay the price to occupy that place. The gift or the sacrifice is what will make room for you. 

"A man’s gift MAKETH ROOM FOR HIM, and bringeth him before great men." 

                                                                                                                                             Proverbs 18:16 

One day, when you get to Heaven, you will either have a room waiting or not. This will depend on your obedience to the Lord. The gift you give creates a space, and makes room for you. 

You Can Be Replaced 

Even while in your room of ministry, you can be replaced by someone else. Elisha was given Elijah’s room of ministry. He complained about the ministry. He felt he had sacrificed so much for the Lord. He erroneously thought that he was the only one doing something for the Lord. God told him, “There are seven thousand pastors and churches you don’t know about.” 

“And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have LEFT ME SEVEN THOUSAND IN ISRAEL, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” 

                                                                                                                                            1 Kings 19:13-18 

Many years ago, I had a strange vision. In the vision, I saw a man sitting on a chair. I did not know who the man was. Suddenly, a hand appeared and this hand picked the man by his collar and lifted him out of his chair. The hand then lifted me by my collar and placed me in that chair. The Lord revealed to me that I was replacing someone. He said to me that I was to occupy a chair that someone else had occupied before. There are many reasons why God may replace you. You can be replaced if you do not sacrifice to take your room. There is a place among the Christian heroes for you. I’ve known people who failed to stand in the room that God gave them. It wasn’t long before somebody else took up that room. If you fail to take the step when you should, others will be brought in to replace you. 

Are You Worthy of the Room? 

Jesus was placed in a position of honour. He is the only one who sits at the right hand of God the Father. He was the one who was allowed to open and to read the book. He was found worthy to do these things because He is the “lamb that was slain”. 

“Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals because thou art the lamb that was slain.” And I wept much, because NO MAN WAS FOUND WORTHY to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, THOU ART WORTHY TO TAKE THE BOOK, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

                                                                                                                                            Revelation 5:4-9 

Credit: Excerpt From

Take Up Your Cross

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills