3 Tools to Pray for Before Starting a Ministry (Luke 4:36)
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“And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, what a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (Luke 4:36, KJV)
When God calls you into ministry, He entrusts you with a spiritual task. Unlike earthly endeavors that depend on human effort and skill alone, ministry requires spiritual tools. The tools for handling spiritual matters are unique and essential for success. Luke 4:36 highlights three indispensable tools Jesus used in His ministry. Let us delve into these three essential tools and explore their significance.
Tool One: The Transformative Word
The first tool Jesus demonstrated in His ministry was the Word. The crowd marveled, saying, “What a word is this!” because Jesus’ teaching was different from anything they had ever heard. His Word carried life, truth, and transformation. Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
Also, Hebrews 4:12 declares, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God is a living force that penetrates hearts and minds, bringing conviction, healing, and renewal.
The Word is vital for ministry because it is the foundation of faith. Romans 10:17 states that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God“. Without the Word, ministry loses its divine essence and becomes a human effort. Jesus consistently used the Word to teach, correct, and defeat the enemy. For example, in Matthew 4:4, Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation by saying, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” The Word is not only the weapon for spiritual warfare but also the food that sustains spiritual life.
When preparing for ministry, pray for a deep hunger and understanding of God’s Word. Meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:8), allowing it to shape your thoughts, actions, and character. The Word of God equips you to preach, teach, and counsel with wisdom and authority. Without the Word, your ministry will lack depth and eternal impact.
Therefore, in ministry for God, the Word you carry must be more than memorized scripture; it must be incarnated – lived and breathed. It should flow from a heart intimately acquainted with God’s character and purposes. When you speak, let it be not just with human eloquence but with divine unction.
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, grant me a profound love for Your Word. Open my eyes to behold wondrous things from Your law. Grant me understanding beyond intellectual knowledge, that I might speak with Your heart and purpose. Let Your Word dwell richly in my heart, shaping my life and ministry. Teach me to rightly divide the Word of truth and to proclaim it boldly and faithfully. Infuse my heart and lips with Your living Word. Let my message be not of human wisdom but of spiritual power. Sanctify my tongue to be an instrument of Your divine communication. Amen.”
Tool Two: Supernatural Power
The second tool Jesus wielded in His ministry was power as explicitly stated in Acts 10:38: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
Power in ministry is a divine gift, not something earned or achieved. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I give unto you the power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” This verse supports the fact that power is God’s supernatural enablement meaning it is not self-generated but divinely bestowed.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit, as described in Acts 1:8, is the conduit of this supernatural enablement: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
After we receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we must activate the power through long prayers and fasting as Jesus did. After his baptism both in water and the Spirit, He was led into the wilderness where He prayed and fasted for 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:1-2). After the 40 days, it’s stated in Luke 4:14, “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”
Therefore, the power of the Holy Spirit is the driving force behind effective ministry. It is the evidence of God’s presence and the assurance that His work will bear fruit. For example, in Acts 8:5-8, Philip’s ministry in Samaria brought great joy to the city as unclean spirits were cast out and many were healed. This demonstration of power validated his message and glorified God.
Also, this power in an insurance policy that guarantees a believer divine protection and victory. It assures believers that no harm shall come to them as they operate under God’s power (Mark 16:17-18).
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, Lord, I ask for Your power to rest upon me as I step into ministry. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and grant me the boldness to proclaim Your name with signs and wonders following. Let Your power flow through me to heal the sick, and deliver the oppressed, not for personal glory, but to demonstrate Your kingdom’s reality. Empower me to be a vessel of Your miraculous intervention. Amen.”
Tool Three: Established Authority
While power is a gift, authority is rooted in relationships. Authority comes from being with Jesus and walking in obedience to Him. Mark 3:14 states, “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.” Notice the sequence: the disciples were first called to be with Jesus before they were sent out. The primary qualification for ministry is an intimate relationship with the Lord.
Authority allows believers to enforce God’s will on earth. A police officer’s authority is not dependent on physical strength but on the badge and uniform that signify their position. Likewise, spiritual authority is not about charisma or talent but about being commissioned by God. Only those who have cultivated a deep relationship with the Lord can wield true authority in ministry.
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, draw me closer to Your heart. Let my ministry flow not from personal ambition but from an intimate relationship with You. Teach me to abide in Your presence and to walk in obedience to Your Word. Grant me the authority to speak and act on Your behalf, bringing glory to Your name. Let my life bear witness that I have been with Jesus. Amen.”
In conclusion, ministry is fundamentally a spiritual enterprise, requiring spiritual equipment. The Word to communicate, Power to demonstrate, and Authority to establish God’s kingdom. Remember, these are not acquired through human effort but received through humble surrender and an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Before embarking on any ministry, take the time to pray and seek God’s equipping in these areas.
As you pray for these tools, trust that God will equip you abundantly for every good work for “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Exodus 4:10-12; Judges 6:14-16). Step out in faith, knowing that He who has called you is faithful to complete the work He has begun in you.
Final Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I thank You for calling me into ministry. Equip me with the Word, power, and authority to serve You faithfully. I declare that I shall be equipped, empowered, and established in my divine calling. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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