I recently attended a ministry conference which had an emphasis on preaching and corporate worship. There was a wide variety of people who were given the responsibility for leading the worship and delivering the messages. As I sat through those meetings, I could not help but notice that some of the leaders were oblivious of themselves and were completely focused on giving glory to God. Unfortunately, a few of the other leaders gave the opposite impression. It seemed that they were saying, "Look at me!"
I recognize that I cannot truly know what is in the hearts of other men and women. However, the spirit or attitude in which one leads is a very important part of communicating the truth of God. Every believer, leaders and followers alike, must fight the temptation to think and act as if everything is about them. Here are a few thoughts on what attitude a godly leader should project:
Humility: a serious grasp of his/her desperate, sinful situation before a holy, righteous, and all-powerful God. This humility should also be a recognition that, apart from God's grace, they lack any ability to lead, to influence people for good, to know God, or to do anything worthwhile.
Confidence: not a confidence in his/her own abilities or qualities, but a solid confidence in Jesus and the truth of God. Where we are weak and insufficient, Christ is more than sufficient. Even in our strengths we must rely on Christ to fully achieve God's purposes.
Discernment: a serious desire to follow God's leading. When everyone is looking to a person for leadership, it is a hard thing to separate one's own opinions and feelings from God's prompting.
Direction: an understanding that there is a purpose and a mission behind what they are called to do. Furthermore, that purpose and mission is ultimately no different than the overall purpose for which God calls any person to faith. Namely, to glorify God by enjoying him in a deep and personal relationship through faith in Jesus and to guide others into that same relationship with God.
I pray that I will not just exhibit these qualities, but have a heart that has these attitudes firmly and permanently established as foundations.
"Great God, teach me to walk humbly before you and before those you call me to lead. Give me unwavering confidence in Jesus who is sufficient for all things. Give me discernment to sense where you are leading me and the direction to follow you passionately and purposefully. Lead me so that I may lead others. Let it be so in my life!"
He must increase, I must decrease.
JasonPS
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
God takes pleasure in me?!
Do you ever wonder what pleases God? It's not what we might think...not necessarily the good works we do or the money we give or the prayers we pray or the services we attend...Those are the outward things that on their own can't please God. Psalm 147 reads, "His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." It is sometimes easier to think that God is just OK with me and holds back his wrath out of mercy...which he does. But it is almost too incredible to think that the Creator of all the universe takes delight in me... and not because of the good I do, but only because I put all my hope in him alone. Powerful...
I am humbled by this truth.
"Lord, increase my faith. Give me such hope and joy in you that I am motivated to labor tirelessly and sacrificially for you! I desire to please you. Show me that it is my faith that pleases you and please make that faith strong and true. Let it be so."
He must increase, I must decrease.
JasonPS
I am humbled by this truth.
"Lord, increase my faith. Give me such hope and joy in you that I am motivated to labor tirelessly and sacrificially for you! I desire to please you. Show me that it is my faith that pleases you and please make that faith strong and true. Let it be so."
He must increase, I must decrease.
JasonPS
Monday, February 7, 2011
Worth the risk?
It's hard to believe the amount of snow we have gotten this winter. Here I sit, watching another southern blizzard raging outside, knowing that when this one is gone, there is an even more severe storm on the way in just a few days. It has been kind of a popular joke that half an inch of snow will bring the south to a standstill causing schools, businesses, and churches to close and prompting a run on the grocery essentials like bread and milk. The number of snow days has begun to climb this winter. I can't imagine that many people mind the occasional snow day to cozy up at home and relax. For that matter, I wouldn't mind that right now.
However, here is the point I am trying to make. Thinking about church life, when is it worth the risk to not cancel our church meetings and worship services? Of course, we don't want any of our church family exposing themselves to unnecessary danger. But when is the danger a risk worth taking? When can we say, "What we are doing as the Body of Christ is worth risking our physical safety."? Or maybe we should evaluate what we do by asking, "Is this ______ worth risking our safety, our health, our comfort?".
Is worshiping the One, True, Living God of the Bible worth dying for? Is teaching the powerful truth of God's Word to hungry souls longing to grow and follow Jesus worth physical injury? Is sharing the Good News of Jesus' salvation with the lost and desperate world worth pain and illness? I hope you can join me in crying out, "Yes!"
Now, I know that it is one thing to talk this way and another to feel the weight of the responsibility for the safety of a church family. But this I do know: We are fooling ourselves when we think that our safety is really up to us anyway. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and die to ourselves. Let's make sure that what we are doing is worth dying for, and then we won't have to worry about whether to cancel services or not.
I am sure that I am in need of other insights on this issue, so I welcome your ideas and comments.
Still, here is my prayer:
"Lord, kill me! Help me die to myself, to my safety, to my comfort, to my health. Instead, make me alive to you, to your desires, to your purposes, and to your glory! Then, move me to follow you with passion and intensity, holding nothing back."
He must increase, I must decrease!
JasonPS
However, here is the point I am trying to make. Thinking about church life, when is it worth the risk to not cancel our church meetings and worship services? Of course, we don't want any of our church family exposing themselves to unnecessary danger. But when is the danger a risk worth taking? When can we say, "What we are doing as the Body of Christ is worth risking our physical safety."? Or maybe we should evaluate what we do by asking, "Is this ______ worth risking our safety, our health, our comfort?".
Is worshiping the One, True, Living God of the Bible worth dying for? Is teaching the powerful truth of God's Word to hungry souls longing to grow and follow Jesus worth physical injury? Is sharing the Good News of Jesus' salvation with the lost and desperate world worth pain and illness? I hope you can join me in crying out, "Yes!"
Now, I know that it is one thing to talk this way and another to feel the weight of the responsibility for the safety of a church family. But this I do know: We are fooling ourselves when we think that our safety is really up to us anyway. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and die to ourselves. Let's make sure that what we are doing is worth dying for, and then we won't have to worry about whether to cancel services or not.
I am sure that I am in need of other insights on this issue, so I welcome your ideas and comments.
Still, here is my prayer:
"Lord, kill me! Help me die to myself, to my safety, to my comfort, to my health. Instead, make me alive to you, to your desires, to your purposes, and to your glory! Then, move me to follow you with passion and intensity, holding nothing back."
He must increase, I must decrease!
JasonPS
Thursday, February 3, 2011
What does a church need to do to grow?
I was recently asked, "What does a local church need to do to grow and become all that God designs that church to be?" Here are my beginning thoughts on the matter.
I must say that this is one question that is easier to answer than to accomplish. When the local church is made up of followers of Jesus who deeply love God more than they love anything else, that sets the stage for powerful growth. Such a group of people will not let anything stop them from making much of Jesus in their daily lives, in the way they care for people, in the way they worship, and in the way they intentionally share the gospel. Creating such a consuming adoration for God in the hearts and lives of the church members should be a priority of the church. Powerful Bible teaching and fervent prayer are essential to leading the body as a whole and as individuals to follow Jesus with abandon.
"Lord, create in my heart such a love for you that I desire nothing more than I desire you and that will motivate me to pour out everything I am and have to bring you glory by making much of you in my life and in the lives of those around me!"
He must increase, I must decrease,
JasonPS
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Goals of My Ministry
As a minister of the Gospel I often think about why I do what I do. Here is a brief outline of my current thoughts on the purpose and goal of the ministry to which God has called me.
I do not desire to make a name for myself. Instead, I desire to make much of the name of Jesus both in my life and in the lives of others.
I do not desire to build a ministry. Instead, I desire to build the Kingdom of God by meeting needs and touching lives with the powerful truth of the Gospel.
I do not desire to grow a church. Instead, I desire to grow genuine disciples of Jesus Christ who will join together as the local church to cooperate together and encourage one another for accomplishing God's purposes.
I would love to flesh these out and add more but this is where I am in a nutshell.
I have so much room for improvement to live up to these goals!
"Lord, mold me, shape me, conform me, chisel me, prune me. I am yours and I exist for your glory. Make it so in my life!"
He must increase, I must decrease!
JasonPS
I do not desire to make a name for myself. Instead, I desire to make much of the name of Jesus both in my life and in the lives of others.
I do not desire to build a ministry. Instead, I desire to build the Kingdom of God by meeting needs and touching lives with the powerful truth of the Gospel.
I do not desire to grow a church. Instead, I desire to grow genuine disciples of Jesus Christ who will join together as the local church to cooperate together and encourage one another for accomplishing God's purposes.
I would love to flesh these out and add more but this is where I am in a nutshell.
I have so much room for improvement to live up to these goals!
"Lord, mold me, shape me, conform me, chisel me, prune me. I am yours and I exist for your glory. Make it so in my life!"
He must increase, I must decrease!
JasonPS
Monday, January 24, 2011
Contentedly Dependent...
About a week ago, I heard a sermon that caused me to start thinking about the need for me to recognize my daily dependence on God. My sinful self wants to believe that I can be self-sufficient and that I can meet my own needs or take care of myself. However, God wants me to live each day in complete dependence on Him. God's goal is not to restrict my life but to free it. He has my best in mind and living close to Him is the only way that I can experience the joy and ultimate satisfaction that He alone can provide.
This prayer seems to be a powerfully dependent prayer:
Proverbs 30:7-9
7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
It must take an immense amount of faith to pray this way. I am tempted not only to ask for more, but to actively pursue more and more.
"God, give me the faith to walk with you each day and be contentedly dependent on you for my needs. Crush my desires for anything more than you give. May I find my satisfaction in you and may this bring you glory."
He must increase, I must decrease.
JasonPS
This prayer seems to be a powerfully dependent prayer:
Proverbs 30:7-9
7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
It must take an immense amount of faith to pray this way. I am tempted not only to ask for more, but to actively pursue more and more.
"God, give me the faith to walk with you each day and be contentedly dependent on you for my needs. Crush my desires for anything more than you give. May I find my satisfaction in you and may this bring you glory."
He must increase, I must decrease.
JasonPS
Friday, December 10, 2010
Change Me...
I find myself praying this prayer often. Can you relate?
"Lord, you know my heart. You know that I am sinful to the core. You know that I have bad attitudes and that I think things that are unholy and that I desire things that are unrighteous. You know that I put myself before others and often even before you. You know my arrogance and my laziness. You know my heart.
"Lord, you see my actions. You see that I do things that are wrong. You see my self-indulgence and my self-righteous pride. You see the ways I hurt others and you see the times that I dishonor Christ. You also see the times that I refuse or neglect to do the good things that you desire for me to do. When you prompt me to say a word of encouragement or to reach out to someone or to spend time interceding for a need and I choose not to follow your prompting. You see my actions.
"Lord, my sinfulness is not hidden from you. This is not the person that I want to be! If I could drink a potion or take a pill that would immediately and completely change me into the man that you desire for me to be, I would do it in a heartbeat. I long to be a man that follows you closely, walks with you daily, forsakes everything that is not honoring to you, lives passionately for your purposes, rejoices in your presence, hungers for your revelation through your Word, chases after opportunities to share your love and grace with others, leads powerfully in my home and community and church, and loves you more than anything else. This is the man I want to be. I pray that you would change me into that man at once. I know that you can transform me. Why don't you?
"Lord, I think I am beginning to understand that you, too, desire for me to become this man but you have a purpose behind the struggle. You have a purpose in the battle that I fight to be your man. The moments of hard decision, the internal war between holiness and ungodliness, the daily choice to put one foot in front of the other to follow Jesus, the constant awareness of my weakness, the ever-present thought that I am one wrong step away from disaster, the feeling that on my own I will loose this battle, and the weight of my sinfulness that I cannot lift are all important in my life. They teach me to depend completely on you. They prevent me from thinking that I am the source of my own power. They strengthen my faith by making it necessary for me to constantly lean on you.
"I admit that there are times that I want the struggle to be over. Sometimes I ask you to take me home with you so that I won't have to fight the battle anymore. But I know that you have placed me in this fight for a reason. Give me strength to stand in this moment and keep me leaning on you each successive moment. Let your power and righteousness flow through me to accomplish your purposes and let me deeply enjoy your presence with me.
"I long to be yours completely and I will fight each day until I am."
Fight with me!
He must increase, I must decrease.
JasonPS
"Lord, you know my heart. You know that I am sinful to the core. You know that I have bad attitudes and that I think things that are unholy and that I desire things that are unrighteous. You know that I put myself before others and often even before you. You know my arrogance and my laziness. You know my heart.
"Lord, you see my actions. You see that I do things that are wrong. You see my self-indulgence and my self-righteous pride. You see the ways I hurt others and you see the times that I dishonor Christ. You also see the times that I refuse or neglect to do the good things that you desire for me to do. When you prompt me to say a word of encouragement or to reach out to someone or to spend time interceding for a need and I choose not to follow your prompting. You see my actions.
"Lord, my sinfulness is not hidden from you. This is not the person that I want to be! If I could drink a potion or take a pill that would immediately and completely change me into the man that you desire for me to be, I would do it in a heartbeat. I long to be a man that follows you closely, walks with you daily, forsakes everything that is not honoring to you, lives passionately for your purposes, rejoices in your presence, hungers for your revelation through your Word, chases after opportunities to share your love and grace with others, leads powerfully in my home and community and church, and loves you more than anything else. This is the man I want to be. I pray that you would change me into that man at once. I know that you can transform me. Why don't you?
"Lord, I think I am beginning to understand that you, too, desire for me to become this man but you have a purpose behind the struggle. You have a purpose in the battle that I fight to be your man. The moments of hard decision, the internal war between holiness and ungodliness, the daily choice to put one foot in front of the other to follow Jesus, the constant awareness of my weakness, the ever-present thought that I am one wrong step away from disaster, the feeling that on my own I will loose this battle, and the weight of my sinfulness that I cannot lift are all important in my life. They teach me to depend completely on you. They prevent me from thinking that I am the source of my own power. They strengthen my faith by making it necessary for me to constantly lean on you.
"I admit that there are times that I want the struggle to be over. Sometimes I ask you to take me home with you so that I won't have to fight the battle anymore. But I know that you have placed me in this fight for a reason. Give me strength to stand in this moment and keep me leaning on you each successive moment. Let your power and righteousness flow through me to accomplish your purposes and let me deeply enjoy your presence with me.
"I long to be yours completely and I will fight each day until I am."
Fight with me!
He must increase, I must decrease.
JasonPS
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