Putting Power In His Ministries

If you do not put your foot on the accelerator, the car will not go. If the pilot do not push the lever up, the plane will not take-off. If you do not push a button, nothing will be powered on. Thousands of things in life requires action.

Today, churches in America are "sleeping". There's no exertion of power from their everyday lives. Each Sunday, church pews are filled with members who are doing nothing with their faith except for just "keeping" it. Oftentimes, members of the church run into a snare, no matter how big or small, whether another member offended them, or they found something that wasn't pleasing to them, or a very small matter got them driven up the wall, then quit serving God. "I am going to find another church," they may say. They simply held back their foot from the pedal of faith. God cannot do anymore for them when they call it quits.

The designation active member in most churches simply means those who attend regularly and financially support the church. They want to see their "close friends" and that's all. Not much more is expected.

But God has far greater expectations for every Christian. He expects every Christian to use their gifts and talents in ministry.

If we can ever awaken and unleash the massive talent, resources, creativity, and energy found in the typical local church, Christianity will explode with growth at an enormous rate. I believe that the greatest need in churches is the release of members for ministry.

But there's a problem that may prevent God from growing a "healthy church". An unhealthy minister. Satan does his own job to persuade the Lord's church to heavily depend on His servant (minister) in hope that the minister will be distracted from his service he should do for the Lord and lead him to severe burn-out. It is happening in most of the churches in America.

I think a healthy minister nurtures a healthy church by creating an intentional, well planned system for uncovering, mobilizing, and supporting the giftedness of its members. But that's only if the members are "Spirit-driven" to serve the gift God gave them. Members must be given a simple process that they can follow which will lead them to deeper commitment and greater service for Christ. They need a track on which they can move forward. Get them into the ballgame! It is not a one man team against many. The whole family of God ought to power up their "gifts" to service and glorify God.

Remember that skill, not dedication, is the key to effectiveness at anything. "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." (Eccl. 10:10)

Here are five questions you need to ask about your Christian education program:
1. Are people learning the content and meaning of the Bible?
2. Are people seeing themselves, life, and other people more clearly from God's perspective?
3. Are people's values becoming more aligned with God's values?
4. Are people becoming more skilled in serving God?
5. Are people becoming more like Christ?

If you want to put "POWER" in the gift God has given you but don't know how, communicate this with your minister. Servants shouldn't wait for the minister to call you into His service. Be praying to God, asking Him what He wants you to do, and discuss your vision plan with the church as well as the minister of your congregation. Ask for more training sessions: it may mean you'll have to give up your Saturdays.

The church ought to daily motivate one another toward serving God. When people give their lives to the Lord in baptism, the first thing they need to do is to "get involved in a ministry and serve Christ by serving others. Christians need to be dying and hungry to serve God and to make a contribution with their lives. Just as Rick Warren quoted in the Purpose Driven Life book, "We Are Made For Ministry!" Then ask God to put the power in the gift He gave you and drive His ministry among others in the world!