Shammah Ministries International
Sandi Niven
2 Walton View, Chapel Brae, Bucksburn,
Email: sandiniven@hotmail.com
Phone:
01224 773828
September
’06, Newsletter from
I
want to share something the Lord has been speaking to my heart lately.
I was doing a study recently in Ephesians and for the first week I couldn’t get
out of Eph1:1. I’ve read that verse – rather have skimmed over that verse
– hundreds of times but for the first time, the Holy Spirit caught my attention
with the words “by the divine will and purpose and the choice of God” (this
from the Amplified of course). It has been such a treat meditating on
those words and “seeing” God’s hand in everything I do and all that I am.
I knew the Lord had a purpose in bringing this to my attention.
So often I feel people question God about their circumstances and question Him
about why they are in the position they are in, and it all comes back to the
“divine will and purpose and choice of God”. I know this because I’ve
done it myself. And, Yes, I know the enemy is at work, but if God is allowing
it then it is still “the divine will and purpose and choice of God”.
In the past couple of weeks I have been counselling
several fellow believers and most of it has to do with stewardship. Not only of their gifting, but also of their finances. They
have fallen short of God somewhere along the line, have repented but are now
questioning why it is taking so long to get back to where they were or feel
they should be. Not unusual in a “quick fix” world.
One instance is a friend back home who is a
Realtor (Estate Agent for the English speaking among us)<grin>. She
is born again and spirit-filled but some where, some how developed an addiction
to gambling. She was making excellent money and it started with just a
few bucks here and there at the casinos. She eventually started gambling
online and made money to start with but slowly but surely started losing and
eventually got herself into serious trouble. God’s grace was at work
though and she eventually spoke to a counsellor at
her church. She didn’t want to admit to her problem but the Holy Spirit
prompted her and she came clean. The counsellor
prayed with her and did some deliverance and she hasn’t gambled since.
Praise God! This was back in April of this year. Well since then she
hasn’t made a single sale – still gets the clients and the properties but
someone always pips her at the post for the deal. This
all just by the way of background to what the Lord started showing me.
For too long now the body of Christ has seen ministry as that which takes place
in pulpits in churches and maybe out on the streets in the form of evangelism
or somewhere on a remote mission field. What we would term “temple
ministry” – ministering within the church settling and for the church. Well I
have news for you. We all have a pulpit, whether it is in the market
place or in the church. We all have a calling and whether we fulfil it in a pulpit in church or in a boardroom in a
large corporation, or sweeping streets, or cleaning bathrooms, if it’s by God’s
divine will and purpose and by His choice then we are in ministry! The
five-fold ministry gifts are as active in the market place as what they are in
the temple. They are by God’s divine will and purpose and choice.
So often I have heard people say very piously that they have dedicated their
business or what they do to the Lord. But they operate by worldly
principles and standards and what they do in business often has nothing to do
with the fact that they are Christians. In fact some of the Christian
business people I know, I wouldn’t have anything to do with because they are
unethical and have the worst business practices I have encountered. And
unfortunately there are several ministries I know who are doing the same.
Shame on them. I believe it’s an abomination in
the eyes of God and grieves the Holy Spirit.
Time to walk what we talk!!
You and I are here on this earth, at this time, for this season, by the divine
will and purpose and choice of God. What are we doing about it?
My counsel to this friend (and to whoever else feels it appropriate) is that
she needs to see her business as her mission field. That whoever the Lord
directs to her for business is for a reason. The reason could be for her to
pray or develop relationship with that person, where she would then be able to
minister the love of God and salvation – if they aren’t saved. Also, that
she needs to ask the Holy Spirit to show her what the reason is for the
contact. It could be more than just selling the person a
house/property. It could be a life or death situation which the Lord
needs ministered to. That she needs to pray over each and every person
and ask the Lord to reveal the reason, and to show her the perfect property for
that person. It’s not about the commission she makes. It’s got
nothing to do with the finances. It’s all to do with advancing the
If we are to advance the Kingdom then we need to get the revelation of God’s
will and purpose for us in this earth. We can’t be Sunday morning (and/or
evening) Christians. The
We are so good at singing about them and quoting the right scriptures but we
are lousy at DOING. There is so much deception in the Body right now and
it’s got to stop or we will all fall away.
Arwel did a very profound teaching a couple of
Sundays ago. He spoke of
If God’s divine will and purpose and choice for us are to be fulfilled we need
to KNOW where and how and what. Are we seeing the power of God active in
our lives? Are we endued with that power that makes us effective
witnesses (martyrs is the proper translation) here on earth? Or are
we just getting fat on the word each Sunday and blow the rest?!
I don’t believe anyone as an excuse for not ministering in and for the
Kingdom. And that ministering is NOT your own religious endeavour. It is effectively seeking the
We need to remember that we are here by God’s divine will and purpose and
choice. Do you know what that constitutes for you? If you don’t. Then please seek Him – wait on Him and
He will endue you with power from on high to fulfil
His heart’s desire.
God bless you all. Thanks for your prayers and thanks for your support.
Blessings,
Sandi
"Where there is no continuous
prophetic revelation, My people dwell carelessly"
http://sandiniven.tripod.com/
.