Teaching Library of Mike Bickle - Devotional Prayer

Session #7 - Ministry to the Lord: Our Highest Privilege and Calling

I. WHY WE KEEP A 24/7 WORSHIP SANCTUARY

A. We keep a 24/7 worship sanctuary in obedience to a specific assignment from the Lord.

15But the priests.the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me. (Ezek. 44:15)

II. GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO MINISTER TO HIM

A. The Levites ministered to God by standing before Him and blessing His name.

19  And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. (Lk. 1:19)

2  And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. (Rev. 8:2)

Elijah

1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, " As  the  Lord  God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." (1 Kgs. 17:1)

John the Baptist

29  He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.  (Jn. 3:29)

The two witnesses

4  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the  God of the earth.  (Rev. 11:4)

The priests of Zadok

15  "But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord  God . 
(Ezek. 44:15)

8At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi.to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day. 9Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance. (Deut. 10:8-9)

B. In the Old Testament, God prioritized and greatly valued ministry to God

Aaron

1 Take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest.3Consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. 4So they shall make holy garments for Aaron.that he may minister to Me as priest. (Ex. 28:1-4)

  41  So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests (Ex. 28: 41)

"And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams without blemish, 

44  So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. (Ex. 29:1, 44)

30  And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that  they  may minister to Me as priests. (Ex. 30:30)

12  "Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water.  13  You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.  14  And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics.  15  You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations."
(Ex. 40:12 - 15)

35  This  is  the consecrated portion for Aaron and his sons, from the offerings made by fire to the  Lord , on the day when  Moses  presented them to minister to the  Lord  as priests. (Lev. 7:35)

13Aaron was set apart, he and his sons forever.to minister to Him. (1 Chr. 23:13)

10  But as for us, the  Lord   is  our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister to the  Lord   are  the sons of Aaron, and the Levites  attend  to  their  duties.  (2 Chr. 13:10)

Levi

  8  At that time the  Lord  separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the  Lord , to stand before the  Lord  to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day. (Deut. 10:8)

  12  Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the  Lord  your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel. 
(Deut. 17:12)

5  Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the  Lord  your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of the  Lord ; by their word every controversy and every assault shall be  settled. (Deut. 21:5)

46  The chamber which faces north  is  for the priests who have charge of the altar; these  are  the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the  Lord  to minister to Him." (Ezek. 40:46)

Samuel

11  Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the  Lord  before Eli the priest.

18  But Samuel ministered before the  Lord ,  even as  a child, wearing a linen ephod. (1 Sam. 2:11, 18)

Now the boy Samuel ministered to the  Lord  before Eli. And the word of the  Lord  was rare in those days;  there was  no widespread revelation.  (1 Sam. 3:1)

Levites

  2  Then David said, "No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the  Lord  has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever. (1 Chr. 15:2)

4  And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the  Lord , to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the  Lord  God of Israel (1 Chr. 16:4)

11  And take notice: Amariah the chief priest  is  over you in all matters of the  Lord ; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters; also the Levites  will be  officials before you. Behave courageously, and the  Lord  will be with the good." (2 Chr. 29:11)

  22  As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will I multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.' " (Jer. 33:22)

Angels

2  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  3  And one cried to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy  is  the  Lord  of hosts;
The whole earth  is  full of His glory!" (Isa. 6:2-3)

People

6  "Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the  Lord , to serve Him,
And to love the name of the  Lord , to be His servants-
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant-
7  Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be  accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
(Isa. 56:6-7)

Priest

17  Let the priests, who minister to the  Lord ,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, "Spare Your people, O  Lord ,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where  is  their God?' " (Joel 2:17)

In the New Testament:

Angels

11  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (Mt. 4:11)

Women

55  And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, (Mt. 27:55)

The Apostles

4  but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:4)

2  As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2)

The four living creatures

8  The  four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

"Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!"

11  "You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created." (Rev. 4:8, 11)

9  And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10  And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."

12  saying with a loud voice:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

13  And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be  to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" (Rev. 5:9-10, 12-14)

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

9  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  10  and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation  belongs  to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"  11  All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,  12  saying:

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be  to our God forever and ever.
Amen." (Rev. 7: 9-12)

  3  They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

"Great and marvelous  are  Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true  are  Your ways,
O King of the saints!
4  Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For  You  alone  are  holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested." (Rev. 15:3-4)

Heaven

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power  belong  to the Lord our God!  2  For true and righteous  are  His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants  shed  by her."  3  Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"  4  And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"  5  Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both  small and great!"

6  And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  7  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. (Rev. 19:1-7)

C. To minister to God includes worshiping Him

1I will extol You, my God.I will bless Your name forever.2Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.5I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty. 6and I will declare Your greatness.7and shall sing of Your righteousness. (Ps. 145:1-7)

Meditating on His glorious name

5  I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. (Ps. 145:5)

Interceding for a breakthrough of His power

17Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, "Spare Your people.why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" (Joel 2:17)

Supremacy of His name would be seen by others.

D. David established over 8,000 paid singers, musicians, and gatekeepers to minister to God by keeping the worship sanctuary in Jerusalem as their main vocation

4  Of these, twenty-four thousand  were  to look after the work of the house of the  Lord , six thousand  were  officers and judges,  5  four thousand  were  gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the  Lord  with  musical  instruments, "which I made,"  said David,  "for giving praise." (1 Chr. 23:4-5)

6  All these  were  under the direction of their father for the music  in  the house of the  Lord , with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman  were  under the authority of the king.  7  So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the  Lord , all who were skillful,  was  two hundred and eighty-eight. (1 Chr. 25:6-7)

4And he [David] appointed some of the Levites [singers] to minister before the ark of the LORD, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD.32They were ministering with music.and they served in their office according to their order.37to minister before the ark regularly, as every day's work required. (1 Chr. 16:4, 32, 37)

E. Ministry to God was a priority to the apostles in the New Testament. Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.

2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2)

4We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4)

F. We need revelation of the significance of ministry to the Lord.

9You are a.royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Pet. 2:9)

G. Isaiah prophesied of the destiny of God's people being related to ministering to the Lord and loving His name and thus experience enjoyable prayer.

6The foreigners [Gentiles] who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD.7Even those I will.make them joyful [enjoyable prayer] in My house of prayer.for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. (Isa 56:6-7, NAS)

III. GOD IS LOVE: LOVE MOVES GOD AND HIS PEOPLE

A. Worship is an end in itself but it does not stop there.

16God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God. (1 Jn. 4:16)

C. Singing God's Word back to Him in worship causes us to internalize His Word.

63The words that I [Jesus] speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (Jn. 6:63)

D. Worship and intercession for others causes multiplied blessings to return to the worshiper.

38Give, and it will be given to you: good measure.and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Lk. 6:38)

IV. WHAT IS GOD SEEKING?

A. Jesus affirmed that the Father seeks to be ministered to (or worshiped) by His people.

23True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth . (Jn. 4:23-24)

C. A premier example of ministry to God is Mary of Bethany-Jesus twice affirmed her publicly for her unusual devotion or ministry to Him

39Mary.sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.42But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. (Lk. 10:39-42)

The Anointing at Bethany

3  And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured  it  on His head.  4  But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?  5  For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.

6  But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.  7  For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.  8  She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.  9  Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." (Mk. 14:3-9)

Jesus made four points about her devotion

  42  But   one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Lk. 10:42)

V. THE PRIORITY OF MINISTERING TO GOD

A. God is forever ministered to around His throne night and day.

10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him [His throne, v. 9]. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. (Dan. 7:10)

8The four living creatures.do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy.!" (Rev. 4:8)

B. I wonder how deeply touched the living creatures and saints are when they worship in the midst of glorious fire.

2I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast.standing on the sea of glass.3They sing.the song of the Lamb. (Rev. 15:2-3)

C. Ministry to God will be the highest calling on the on the earth forever.

11On that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old. (Amos 9:11)

D. It is inevitable that the priestly calling to minister to the Lord will one day cover the whole earth.

10Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. 11For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations". (Mal. 1:10-11)

11My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense. (2 Chr. 29:11)

Devotional prayer Series:

Download the entire Series

Download How to develop a strong prayer life

View How to develop a strong prayer life online

Download How to develop a stronger prayer life

Download Ten Prayers

View Ten Prayers online

Download Trust

Download How to increase your effectiveness in prayer

Download A person of extravagant devotion

Download Ministry to the Lord

DOWNLOAD Session #7 'Ministry to the Lord' Bible Verse Handbook

Download Prayer energized by intimacy

Download Psalm 23 Prayer

Download Nehemiah - Spiritual Reformation

View Nehemiah - Spiritual Reformation online

Download House of Prayer

Download 24/7 Prayer

Much of this teaching will be used by the English speaking Pastors in the Africa Training Bible School.(ATBS)

Each of these ATBS Series includes an audio and handout or study notes to be downloaded as well as a PowerPoint to make the viewing more visual for the Pastors and youth in their churches.