Change the World, Start Where?
INTRODUCTION
Being a visionary I can easily be so focused on what's ahead I miss out on what God has put right before me, "trying to save the whole world while the world immediately around me is falling apart. Jesus is the Word become flesh and we flesh are called to become the Word to the world. The gospel message only comes alive when it's words are lived out. Only that which is alive can bring life and transform. We are all called to preach the gospel but it is our living testimonies that validates the message.
SUPERFICIAL MINISTRY
A lot of times people escape from misery through ministry, it is a crutch, something to lean on to avoid falling down, an escape from reality. Ministers, Missionaries, flying here, flying there, preaching, prophesying, healing, delivering, living in a fantasy world while those around them must carry the load of daily responsibilities.
I have heard the crazy excuse some Minister's give their wife when she feels neglected "don't you know you married a preacher." This is utter nonsense! Having a five fold ministry gift from God is not a license to neglect our family and live a irresponsible life. All believers have gifts from God nobody is greater than the other, we must all take equal share in normal daily responsibilities. People whom come to God need our gifting to equip them to minister in all aspects of life including the mundane. If we don't know how to live a normal life we cannot help those that do.
REAL MINISTRY
My definition of ministry is intimacy with Jesus spilling over God's grace drawing those around closer to the Heavenly Father. This requires a lifestyle of worship not some spiritually worked up display. This means the life of Jesus should be evident in one's marriage, child rearing, employment, daily walk.
THE RIGHT MESSAGE
Jesus lived life for thirty years, observing the world around Him, that is why He had such a big audience because He spoke in parables, stories that everyone could understand. How often do we hear messages in parable form, often they are presented in a way that only other preachers can relate with. What the world needs is Christians, who walk with God in everyday life, and therefore have evidence of His existence in relatable testimony. God's greatness is not drawing a crowed but drawing people closer to Him.
WHERE TO START
Colossians 3:18-25 shares our normal daily mission. Wives are to honor and support their husbands by submitting to them, while husbands are to go all out to love their wives in return. Children are to do what their parents tell them and when Parent's correct them it is not to be done in a manner that would crush their spirits. Employees are to do their best at what they are assigned to do, knowing God will reward them, and punish them if they don't. What qualifies us to minister to others is how well we respond to these instructions. If we are going to change the world it first starts right where we are at.
WHERE TO GO
American Christianity, from my experience, has exalted the role of Pastor and Missionary. It seems once one becomes zealous for God they feel a “calling” to the ministry. There is a divide between clergy and laity, where one is more spiritual than the other. It is an attitude that a job outside of the church is just temporary until others recognize their calling and the opportunity opens up.
The holistic-biblical view of calling is that greatness is on the inside of us, we don’t have to strive to achieve it, for God is embodied in man. Therefore rather that striving for position and title we simply need to acknowledge who we are in Christ. This means His greatness can be seen and experienced in every season and facet of life. If we take this approach ministry becomes part of who we are rather than just what we do, and our profession cannot be separate from are calling.
Being a visionary I can easily be so focused on what's ahead I miss out on what God has put right before me, "trying to save the whole world while the world immediately around me is falling apart. Jesus is the Word become flesh and we flesh are called to become the Word to the world. The gospel message only comes alive when it's words are lived out. Only that which is alive can bring life and transform. We are all called to preach the gospel but it is our living testimonies that validates the message.
SUPERFICIAL MINISTRY
A lot of times people escape from misery through ministry, it is a crutch, something to lean on to avoid falling down, an escape from reality. Ministers, Missionaries, flying here, flying there, preaching, prophesying, healing, delivering, living in a fantasy world while those around them must carry the load of daily responsibilities.
I have heard the crazy excuse some Minister's give their wife when she feels neglected "don't you know you married a preacher." This is utter nonsense! Having a five fold ministry gift from God is not a license to neglect our family and live a irresponsible life. All believers have gifts from God nobody is greater than the other, we must all take equal share in normal daily responsibilities. People whom come to God need our gifting to equip them to minister in all aspects of life including the mundane. If we don't know how to live a normal life we cannot help those that do.
REAL MINISTRY
My definition of ministry is intimacy with Jesus spilling over God's grace drawing those around closer to the Heavenly Father. This requires a lifestyle of worship not some spiritually worked up display. This means the life of Jesus should be evident in one's marriage, child rearing, employment, daily walk.
THE RIGHT MESSAGE
Jesus lived life for thirty years, observing the world around Him, that is why He had such a big audience because He spoke in parables, stories that everyone could understand. How often do we hear messages in parable form, often they are presented in a way that only other preachers can relate with. What the world needs is Christians, who walk with God in everyday life, and therefore have evidence of His existence in relatable testimony. God's greatness is not drawing a crowed but drawing people closer to Him.
WHERE TO START
Colossians 3:18-25 shares our normal daily mission. Wives are to honor and support their husbands by submitting to them, while husbands are to go all out to love their wives in return. Children are to do what their parents tell them and when Parent's correct them it is not to be done in a manner that would crush their spirits. Employees are to do their best at what they are assigned to do, knowing God will reward them, and punish them if they don't. What qualifies us to minister to others is how well we respond to these instructions. If we are going to change the world it first starts right where we are at.
WHERE TO GO
American Christianity, from my experience, has exalted the role of Pastor and Missionary. It seems once one becomes zealous for God they feel a “calling” to the ministry. There is a divide between clergy and laity, where one is more spiritual than the other. It is an attitude that a job outside of the church is just temporary until others recognize their calling and the opportunity opens up.
The holistic-biblical view of calling is that greatness is on the inside of us, we don’t have to strive to achieve it, for God is embodied in man. Therefore rather that striving for position and title we simply need to acknowledge who we are in Christ. This means His greatness can be seen and experienced in every season and facet of life. If we take this approach ministry becomes part of who we are rather than just what we do, and our profession cannot be separate from are calling.
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