As church leaders, we are highly encouraged to go to events that teach us methods of successful ministry in the work of God’s Kingdom.  We attend grand seminars, local workshops, along with denominational gatherings eager to learn the best ways to reach more people.  We hear from those who do the work well.  These men and women have accomplished attendance goals, created great programs of ministry, and have the latest and best ideas about how to do the work.  These professionals tell of the “must have” resources that will take us to the “next steps” of greater ministry.  After a few days of energetic presentations, we are convinced. 

Then we walk down the mountain, to the front lines of what God has given us to do at home.  It seems all that we learned we cannot mimic much less apply to where we are.  We are discouraged.  We think we will never be “good enough” to do what others have done.  Why?  The enemy loves it when we in this position of comparing ourselves to others in ministry but Jesus has the answer!  Jesus steps in and brings us back to who and what is Truth!

Luke 9, The Message

^37-40 When they came down off the mountain the next day, a big crowd was there to meet them. A man called from out of the crowd, “Please, please, Teacher, take a look at my son. He’s my only child. Often a spirit seizes him. Suddenly he’s screaming, thrown into convulsions, his mouth foaming. And then it beats him black-and-blue before it leaves. I asked your disciples to deliver him but they couldn’t.”

⁴¹ Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring your son here.”

^42-43 While he was coming, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into convulsions. Jesus stepped in, ordered the foul spirit gone, healed the boy, and handed him back to his father. They all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God’s greatness, God’s majestic greatness.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The disciples tried to heal by copying what Jesus did.  They probably said what Jesus said while making the same moves as He did, but they did not have the same results.  So, what went wrong?

Jesus tells them.  They somehow left God out of the equation!  Jesus exclaims, “No sense of God—no focus on God!”  Ouch. 

If they were paying attention more to the habits of Jesus than they did His results, they might have picked up on the God in Jesus.  Jesus never did and said anything without first going to God, His Father.  Jesus consistently got away by Himself to ask for God’s will concerning all things in His earthly ministry! 

Ah, the secret sauce…seek God first. Be still before Him.  Be still.  Be. While in the humbled posture of “being” before God, we ask what HE wants.  “May your Kingdom come; Your will be done” as the beginning conversation.  Then we listen.

Seek God first.  Believe what God says.  Trust and obey His direction and His timing. We become anxious, tired, discontented, and discouraged in the work when we do not.

What are those things that Jesus consistently told his disciples?  (“How many times do I have to go over these things?”)  How about this for starters? —

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:31-33

I know what you might be thinking… but to attract people who don’t know Jesus, we need…(the list is endless) great, powerful resources.  I agree—but first God!  We must go to God first and focus on what God says about when and how to do it!  God will decide and provide where He guides. 

Do we really think God doesn’t know what will attract people to His relentless love, unchanging compassions, and faithful promises?  He knows.  And get this, most times, God uses our lives (not our stuff) lived in front of people to draw them to Jesus who lives in us! 

When God is the details of our lives—it shows!  We are different and live differently when led by God.  THIS is what attracts people to God in us, who lives in us, because of the work Jesus did for us!  “SHINE, make ‘em wonder what you’ve got…”

“For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” Colossians 1:27, NLT

After many years of workshops and seminars while called to be and do God’s Kingdom work, it has become crystal clear to me—God first. God in the middle of it all. God in every detail.  God leading us in the race “to the finish.”  (Even as I write this, I pray, “God lead me” with every word…)

Jesus also said that our greatest resource is our strong attachment to The Vine!

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 

Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 5:4-8, NLT

The Holy fruits, that please God, being produced in us are, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” – some of the traits of God’s character!  (Galatians 5:22-23)  Our “goodness” come from God who is Good.

People are more attracted to God’s character growing in us, after the gatherings in His Name, because of their daily need of a Savior and Lord.  They watch to see what we do who say we believe.  Living God’s way, by His Holy Spirit leading, while attached strongly to Him, is what makes us different and stand out to a dark world in need.  But, remember it is God who heals the broken hearted, mends troubled minds, and fills seeking souls—we merely point the Way to God through Jesus our Savior.

The disciples learn a hard but detrimental lesson in faith and following. And we have, too.  Seek, focus, listen and obey God. He knows what He is doing. 

Believe and be saved.

Lord,

Thank you for these thoughts that center our being once more.  We haven’t arrived and still need the work of your salvation in us.  Lead us, Lord.  All day long and into the night may your will be done.

In Jesus Name, Amen