Hey Called Creative!
The following Word may not be for all of us but it most certainly is for some of us; and ya'll know those types of messages hit the target with no misses!
This episode is entitled Small Beginnings: Submitting Ourselves to the Work of the Lord.
When the Lord instructed me to begin producing this series of bi-weekly videos and blog posts, I assumed that it was going to take off! Since the Lord gave me this idea with the instruction to begin now then surely the analytics of viewership and the readership would at least be in the thousands by my third installment.
Because immediate results of abundance and increase are the only way God rewards the swiftly obedient, right?
Can you relate, Called Creative?
Are you faithfully laboring in a project that may be starting small to the natural eye?
Clearly, we had a misunderstanding but I wasn’t mistaken that I did indeed hear the Father correctly so I made up my mind and assumed the heart position of faithful obedience regardless of what the natural circumstances looked like.
Shortly after I made up my mind, the Lord gave me the following message about this side effect not only for me but also for you:
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”
(The seven lamps[a] represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)
Zechariah 4:10 NLT
This wasn’t the first time I heard this scripture nor was it Holy Spirit’s first time expressing it to me but He wanted to remind me again: the Lord rejoices to see the work that we have been instructed to do, begin! He delights in our obedience.
That’s very encouraging and shapes a new perspective.
Thus Says the Lord..
Carefully consider the following scriptures:
Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.
Haggai 2:4 NKJV
Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!
Haggai 1:3-5 NKJV
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
“A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”
Isaiah 60:22 NKJV
Thus says the Lord to his Called Creatives working from small beginnings:
Just do the work that the Lord has gifted you to do! He is with you as you are working.
Don’t even consider how it looks as you are building. Don’t consider earthly, natural logic.
Instead of focusing on how your ministry (business, brand, project, organization, any vehicle of yours the Lord is using) can build and advance, focus on how your ministry is successfully building and advancing the kingdom of God here on earth.
Instead of focusing on how your ministry can be expanded, how more eyes can make it to your project, how your product can make it into the hands of more customers, focus on and joyfully meditate on how your ministry is being used as a vessel to expand the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Assume the heart posture of the Lord: rejoicing! When you are focused on the former instead of the later, this invokes a Haggai 1:6 response:
“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
The Lord instructs us to consider our ways. Think about how you’re building your ministry. Why are you building this ministry? Is it for fame and money or is it for the Lord's approval and glory? What is the mission? What is the end goal? Ponder about the position of your heart and it’s state as you’re building. This is everything.
Warning Against Negligence
Our Father also warns us from being spiritually negligent regarding our ministries.
My 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 Chronicles 29:11 NKJV
Negligent: (adj) lazily careless
Our ministries are gifts from the Lord. He has gifted us with this project, this business, this brand and is allowing us to creatively express His heart in such a way that only we can do! We are to revere it as such: as a gift and precious vessel from our gracious Father.
You are indeed working hard in the building of your ministry in a natural sense - producing the content, creating the product, overseeing the logistics, but are you actually spending as much time praying and fasting into the work that you have been assigned?
“I have chosen you”, says the Lord, “to do this great, exciting, creative work so that you can stand before me, to serve me, to minister unto me, with this work; to pray and intercede regarding this work”
Called Creative, this work that we have been assigned is supposed to bring us closer to Him!
Let us offer it as an offering back up to the King, asking questions like,
“Lord God, what are some creative ways that I can bless your people this week through my business?”
Let us speak the Word of God over our ministries so that it can be everything He has intended it to be.
“I decree and declare that this little community I have been assigned to serve shall become a thousand and my small business shall become a strong nation for the glory of Christ in the name of Jesus!”
Just because your beginning is small doesn’t mean the Lord intends for it to finish that way.
Character Development
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
If you are being raised like me in the house of the Lord, our Father is having you do the work and create in the secret, hidden place, without praise or handclaps, so that you can be developed properly as you work.
The Lord wants to fortify us and make us immovable to both the upcoming praise and criticism. Allow Him.
Think about it; Because you submitted to the process of building in the current secret place, only being sensitive to the voice of the Father, creating and producing for His glory and approval only, you won’t be swayed by the suggestions of loyal fanbase to return to what brought you success in the past when the Lord is pivoting you in a new unfamiliar direction.
Or you won’t be moved by the less-than-constructive criticism from a sea of naysayers when the Lord is calling you to blaze a new trail.
You will be immovable!
As pioneers, everyone won’t understand the ark we are building until it starts raining and the flood waters burst forth.
There is a refining taking place in our characters that will allow us to be sustained and to finish well. Our small beginnings are not without purpose, Called Creative.
The Lord is getting the last minute touches of our hearts completed before we inherit, possess and acquire so that we don’t ruin the blessing with our own hands.
Praise the Lord!
So be encouraged! Allow Holy Spirit to change your perspective about your small start. He is pleased.
And know that the glory of your latter house shall be so much greater than the glory of your former! (Haggai 2:9)
I love you, Called Creative.
xoxo,
Khiara
A Called Creative for Called Creatives
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