Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

Acts 3:6 (NKJV)

Our friendship and relationship with God will radically change the way we live and how we view life. When the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and early disciples, they began to accomplish things they had never thought of doing or were too afraid to try. Because they had Christ in them, they began to give to others what they had received from Him.

Consider what Peter said to the lame man, "Silver and gold, I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

One thing we may learn from the early church is that they put God over everything. Luke described how the believers spent their time in prayer and worship. How they relate to God is more important than what they do for Him.

God always provides us with what we require to serve Him. We are set free from the burden of ministry and a performance-based identity when we completely rely on God as our source and provision. If you serve out of compulsion and obligation rather than love from and for the Lord, ministry becomes more drudgery than joy or a duty rather than a delight.

You must learn to see the incredible beauty of your life in Christ if you want to get more out of the Christian life. You don't get more power when you give yourself to prayer and worship. You already have all the power you need because of your union and position in Christ. However, it is through intimacy with God through His Scripture and Spirit that you will learn how to use the power that has been given to you.

God gives us the ability to love and serve Him well through His grace. The more we mature in grace, the more we operate in grace. Grace frees us from the shackles of pleasing others at the cost of our own well-being. As we cling to Christ like a branch to a vine, His grace at work in us will increase our faithfulness and fruitfulness. Then ministry becomes a true blessing from God rather than a burden.