July 28th, 2010
With the Spiritual Gift of Pastor
to be responsible for spiritually caring for, protecting, guiding, and feeding a group of believers entrusted to one’s care
Servant #1: He directed a ministry. His biggest asset was not in making administrative decisions but in ministering to the staff. Though people would get frustrated with the process of getting from point A to point B, they knew he was there for them and tended to overlook his errors in judgment.
Servant #2: He pastored a church. His biggest asset was not in dealing with the details of programming but in caring for its members. Though people would get frustrated with his lack of excellence or quality, they appreciated his heart and usually would cut him some slack.
Servant #3: He directed the church’s small group ministry. His biggest asset was not in coordinating the various groups but rather in nurturing the small group leaders. Though people would get frustrated with his last minute scheduling and poor planning, they kept him in this position because he knew how to build a team of leaders.
None of these servants had the gift of administration, nor a personality that lent itself to good organizational skills, but they did have the spiritual gift of pastor. Consequently, under their leadership, things were often left undone, done poorly, or at the last moment. Their focus was on looking after people, not administrative details.
Lessons to be Learned:
People with the spiritual gift of pastor often find themselves in positions of leadership, even when they do not possess other leadership gifts or skills. To minimize the frustration their kind of leadership can bring, they need to surround themselves with other types of leaders to bring some quality and continued growth into the picture.
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July 26th, 2010
- Prayer allows us to have intimate communion with the Lover of our souls as He delights in spending time with us.
Ministry is empty without this connection. John 15 draws the parallel to Jesus being a vine and us the branches. In verse five Jesus emphasized the importance of such a connection when He said, “apart from me you can do nothing.”
- Prayer enables us to work in cooperation with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as we get involved in the lives of people in our communities, across the nation, and around the world without even having to leave home.
Ephesians 6 pulls back the curtain to the spirit world to help us understand the battle going on around us. Verse sixteen concludes, “With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
- Prayer gives us a means of showing compassion toward other believers and the world around us as we take them and their needs to a God who cares and can help them far more than we could ever hope to do ourselves.
Read through the Apostle Paul’s letters for the many prayers he offered on behalf of those He served and you will sense not only his desire for them to walk close to God but also a heart of love.
Of course, the list could continue. I just wanted to share a few reasons we don’t always think about in conjunction with ministry. These three reasons alone are enough for me to ask, “How Can We Not Pray?
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July 21st, 2010
With the Spiritual Gift of Faith
to be firmly persuaded of God’s power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction
Servant #1: She was a missionary who wasn’t afraid to put herself in the line of fire for Christ, wholeheartedly believing in His ability to use her regardless of her circumstances. People saw her as an example of faith.
Servant #2: He was a pastor who prayed fervently, never wavering or doubting God to come through. Others turned to him when they needed a faithful prayer warrior.
Servant #3: She was a Bible teacher who experienced many setbacks in life yet kept her eyes on the Lord. She inspired others to trust God in their circumstances as well.
Each of these servants had other gifts but the spiritual gift of faith seemed to permeate all they did. Not every missionary intentionally opens themselves up to persecution. Not all pastors have a good prayer life, albeit a dynamic one. Not all Bible teachers’ lives inspire others.
Lessons to Learn:
Certain spiritual gifts, like faith, knowledge, and wisdom, rarely seem to be stand-alone gifts in people. They tend to compliment or supplement or even help define how the other gifts are used. People with the gift of faith are not afraid to live on the edge in their ministries. They often find themselves turning to God in prayer. And, all their life activities, not just their ministry efforts, tend to be characterized by a deep-rooted dependency on God and expectancy in what He will do.
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July 19th, 2010
Throughout the years people have been convinced that Jesus would return at any moment.
Anyone remember back to the early 1970’s to Hal Lindsey’s best selling book, The Late Great Planet Earth, and also the film, A Thief in the Night? (Maybe I’m dating myself!) We were ready for Christ to come. But, the 70’s and 80’s went by and still no Jesus.
There was a lot of talk about the world coming to an end at the turn of the millennium. Remember all the Y2K alarmists? A decade later and Jesus still hasn’t come!
As Christians, we should always be ready: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come” (Mark 13:32-33).
So, let me ask you a couple of questions:
First and foremost, are you ready to meet the Lord? Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Are you resting solely on the all-sufficiency of the work that Christ did on the cross for your salvation?
Click on the link for a list of resources that can help you better understand salvation: Becoming a Christian
Second, if you do know Him, are you ready to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ? This judgment is not a time to determine your eternal destiny. That was taken care of when you put your trust in Christ alone to save you. The Judgment Seat of Christ is for those whose destiny is already determined in heaven with Jesus forever. This judgment is for what you have done with what He has given you —”his work will be shown for what it is … the fire will test the quality of each man’s work” (1 Cor. 3:13).
Ministry Tools Resource Center exists to help you be ready for that day — to help you use what He has given you effectively and with eternal impact. At the core is discovering, developing, and using your spiritual gifts.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a Comment »
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