I was listening to a sermon by Bill Johnson, and he said something that really struck me.  It was so simple but yet so profound.  He said if “you engage with the Holy Spirit because you want to merely be effective in ministry then you’re developing professional intimacy, and what do we call people who are intimate as a profession?”  He never used the term whore but it’s pretty evident what he meant without saying it outright. So, what does a whore do?  They engage in the ACT of intimacy without having true intimacy.  There is no relationship, only the gratification of time spent performing an act without any devotion, commitment or loyalty.  The nature of the “relationship” is inconsistent in fact it doesn’t even have to occur more than one time.  With that said; how many of us spend time with God because we have a speaking engagement or new ministry opportunity???  Or how many of us create MORE time to spend with Him when ministry prospects arise?  It is so imperative that we develop a relationship with God for pure intimacy with Him over demonstrating being “spiritual.”

You should live in constant communion with Him.  Because you can be Bishop this, Apostle that, or the Great and Mighty Prophet all you want, but that means nothing if you don’t truly possess the nature, characteristics and qualities of the one that you say SENT you.   You only develop those things by spending time with Him.  And what I mean by that is this; you can show forth signs and wonders etc… without having a relationship with God.  That’s unmistakable because witches, warlocks, mediums, psychics etc… can perform signs and wonders by the influence of familiar spirits, and look like they are of God and they aren’t.  What makes you any different if you only spend time with Him because your aim is to “perform” well behind the pulpit?  That’s called prostituting a relationship.  Just because He uses you doesn’t denote a relationship.  Matthew 7:20-23 says, 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

People become so blinded by gifts and anointing that they don’t even recognize the fruit or lack thereof on people’s lives.  They mistake operating in signs and wonders as a relationship with God.  Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with praying for your ministry and any engagements that you may have, but that shouldn’t be the end all be all of you dedicating time to God.   John 15: 14-15 says, 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Being a friend of God signifies relationship, you can’t call someone your friend if you don’t spend quality time with them, and a true friend doesn’t spend time only when they need something.  “A servant obtains His favor by what He does, a friend by the relationship” (Bill Johnson).  It is that developed relationship that gets enjoyment by just being able to be with that person and not just doing a task.  John 15:4 says ABIDE in me…  Abide in the Greek means to stay, continue, dwell, endure, remain etc.  We must abide in Him, not just to preach, prophesy, perform miracles etc… but we must abide in Him because we love Him and want to be with Him, and you only want to be with Him by being WITH Him.  It’s totally backwards from our natural appetite.  Example:  when it comes to eating natural food, you don’t become less hungry by NOT eating you become hungrier.  When it comes to God, you become less hungry for Him the less time you spend with Him.  So if your “relationship” with God is only based on performing in ministry then that will be the extent of where you will go in God.  You will only pray when it comes to ministry and that will be the lid that YOU placed on your connection with God.  “He will use you but you will have a limit on where you can go because He won’t be able to trust you with too much because you will think that it’s you” ( Bill Johnson).  And who wants that type of relationship with God?   So, the question that I would like to submit to you is, are you a spiritual whore, or a true friend of God???