Page 58 - SABBATH

Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who
had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And while they were
ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, when they had fasted and
prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the
Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

How critical are these words, “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit...” All true
ministry will bear this witness; it will begin at the Spirit’s initiative, it will be empowered
by the Spirit, and it will be continually guided by the Spirit. If men are merely sent out by
their own will, or at the hands of other men, they may make a lot of noise and they may even
build impressive ministries and make a name for themselves, but when their work is tested
it will be burned up. All that which is born of the flesh of man or the soul of man will not
stand the test of fire.
Although Paul is a great example of a kingdom minister, Yahshua is even a greater
example. As we saw, He submitted unto His parents and awaited the day when the Spirit
would lead Him to begin His ministry. The Spirit initiated Yahshua’s ministry, and He will
initiate the ministry of all who follow in Yahshua’s footsteps.

Matthew 3:16-4:1
And after being baptized, Yahshua went up immediately from the water; and behold,
the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and
coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Then Yahshua was led up by the Spirit
into the wilderness...

How many ministers today can attest to the fact that the Spirit initiated their
ministry? How many can proclaim that the Spirit led them to where they were to be? People
make many such claims today, but are they true? Has the minister gone through Yahweh’s
school of preparation to prepare him to be a humble servant, or has he followed a course
of man’s devising and choosing?
What is the fruit of the minister’s labor? Does the church exist to provide a platform
for the minister to perform his calling, or does the minister live to wash the feet of the
saints, to equip and release them to do the work for which they have been called? Has the
minister’s position resulted in an attitude of pride, or does he walk in humility esteeming
others more highly than himself?
It is difficult to walk the path that Joseph, David, Moses, Yahshua, Paul and others
walked to be qualified for ministry. It is excruciating at times to wait upon the Spirit of God
to declare, “Now is the time!” But if a minister is to lead others into the Sabbath rest of God,
he must first enter in himself. This is an important matter, and many failing to grasp and
adhere to the truths spoken of here are building that which will not stand the test of fire. It
is my prayer that they will receive eye salve that their eyes might be opened and they can
see the truth. The days are short and the Sabbath is upon us.