The best time to deal with burnout is before you burnout.
In 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 Paul shares seven principles that will help you run the distance and last in ministry –
1. Remember God's mercy (v. 1): God has given us our ministries. We don’t have to prove our worth through our ministry, and we don’t have to wallow in our mistakes. You don’t have to earn your place as a pastor or leader in the church.
2. Be truthful and honest in all you do (v. 2): Maintain your integrity because integrity produces power in your life, while guilt zaps your energy. You need to finish with your character intact. Your integrity includes how you handle the Word of God. Don’t distort it or make it confusing.
3. Be motivated to work for Jesus’ sake, not out of selfish desires (v. 5): We need a right motivation. We should start as servants and end as servants, not celebrities. You need to learn to live your life for an audience of one, and that one is Jesus Christ.
4. Realize that Christians are only human (v. 7): We must accept our limitations. The quickest way to burn out is to try to be Superman. Humility is being honest about your weaknesses.
5. Develop a true love for others (v. 15): Churches thrive, grow, and survive when love endures. You must love your people or you won’t last in the ministry
6. Allow time for inward rejuvenation (v. 16): I have a motto -- Divert daily, withdraw weekly and abandon annually. You need to take time off to re-charge.
7. Stay focused on the important things, not distracted by momentary troubles (v. 17-18): Keep your eyes on the goal, not the problem. Only God who sees the invisible can accomplish the impossible. To be a winner in the marathon of ministerial service, we need trust God even when things don’t make sense. If we run from problems, we’ll never mature into who God wants us to be.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Church Explosion
#1 – Jesus said that HE would build His church…that is a promise and it is true of OUR CHURCH! Matthew 16:18 (New International Version)
18And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it.[c]
#2 – Jesus said that HIS Word would not fail to produce a harvest…so if you are faithful in declaring HIS Word then something GREAT is taking place, even if you can’t see it yet!
Isaiah 55:8-13 (New International Version)
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
#3 – You are meeting resistance…which means the enemy is pissed! Stay focused on Christ…you KNEW this would happen
(Ephesians 6:12 (New International Version)
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version)8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.)…
entrust yourself to Jesus
1 Peter 2:21-25 (New International Version)21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."[a] 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
and believe that
Isaiah 54:17 (New International Version)
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
#4 – God is raising up leaders, who want to OWN the ministry and be participators rather than spectators. Ones that comprehend the meaning of
Ephesians 4:11-16 (New International Version)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
#5 – God started our church…and He will bring it to completion…HE’S NOT FINISHED WITH US YET!
Philippians 1:6 (New International Version)
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
#6 – The church is STILL His plan, He has NOT changed His mind…and He loves our church just as much as He loves any church!
#7 – He is leading you towards greater steps of faith…which means you are becoming more desperate for Him…and when THIS happens He shows up in amazing ways and does the unexplainable and the undeniable!
Hebrews 11:6 (New International Version)
6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
#8 – Though we may feel discouraged and disheartened…we STILL believe in WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS CALLED US TO DO! We may have suffered some setbacks lately…but there is something inside of us telling us to not give up on the God who has never given up on us! That we've done what Josua and Caleb have done. We have seen the promised land and are not afraid of the obstacles before us. We’ve STILL got a fire and a hope!
Numbers 13:30 (New International Version)
Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
Numbers 32:11-12 (New International Version)
11 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- 12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.'
#9 – God has given our Pastor a vision…God has given you a vision that is going to be birthed from here, one that is HUGE…one that keeps you up at night. And the fear of NOT doing what HE has told you to do is beginning to trump the fear of man!
#10 – His church is coming together like never before to begin completing each other instead of competing against each other!!! When we all cheer each other on and work together…it speaks VOLUMES to a world that is desperate for Jesus!
18And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it.[c]
#2 – Jesus said that HIS Word would not fail to produce a harvest…so if you are faithful in declaring HIS Word then something GREAT is taking place, even if you can’t see it yet!
Isaiah 55:8-13 (New International Version)
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
#3 – You are meeting resistance…which means the enemy is pissed! Stay focused on Christ…you KNEW this would happen
(Ephesians 6:12 (New International Version)
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version)8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.)…
entrust yourself to Jesus
1 Peter 2:21-25 (New International Version)21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."[a] 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
and believe that
Isaiah 54:17 (New International Version)
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
#4 – God is raising up leaders, who want to OWN the ministry and be participators rather than spectators. Ones that comprehend the meaning of
Ephesians 4:11-16 (New International Version)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
#5 – God started our church…and He will bring it to completion…HE’S NOT FINISHED WITH US YET!
Philippians 1:6 (New International Version)
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
#6 – The church is STILL His plan, He has NOT changed His mind…and He loves our church just as much as He loves any church!
#7 – He is leading you towards greater steps of faith…which means you are becoming more desperate for Him…and when THIS happens He shows up in amazing ways and does the unexplainable and the undeniable!
Hebrews 11:6 (New International Version)
6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
#8 – Though we may feel discouraged and disheartened…we STILL believe in WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS CALLED US TO DO! We may have suffered some setbacks lately…but there is something inside of us telling us to not give up on the God who has never given up on us! That we've done what Josua and Caleb have done. We have seen the promised land and are not afraid of the obstacles before us. We’ve STILL got a fire and a hope!
Numbers 13:30 (New International Version)
Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
Numbers 32:11-12 (New International Version)
11 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- 12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.'
#9 – God has given our Pastor a vision…God has given you a vision that is going to be birthed from here, one that is HUGE…one that keeps you up at night. And the fear of NOT doing what HE has told you to do is beginning to trump the fear of man!
#10 – His church is coming together like never before to begin completing each other instead of competing against each other!!! When we all cheer each other on and work together…it speaks VOLUMES to a world that is desperate for Jesus!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
U
Isaiah 60
The Glory of Zion
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the arm.
5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come. HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Sometimes it seems like there's no hope and no help. Like you
have no more strength or ability to go on. You're at the end of
yourself and just can't do any more.
Don't worry. Just hang on to your faith in God.
God is faithful. He will not forsake you. He has not forgotten
you. (It just seems that way when you face a trial of faith --
but it's a lie.)
It may seem dark and hopeless, but God is holding on to you.
God is working behind the scenes. Things will work out.
When you don't know what to do, just continue to trust in God,
and know that He is helping you. Persevere even when you feel
like you can't. Just don't give up.
JAMES 1:2-4 BARCLAY
2 My brothers, you must regard it as nothing but joy when you
are involved in all kinds of trials,
3 for you must realize that when faith has passed through the
ordeal of testing the result is the ability to pass the
breaking-point and not to break.
4 This ability must go right on to the end, and then you will
be perfect and complete, without a weak spot.
Trials are no fun. But we should not be surprised when we find
our faith being tested.
The devil is doing his best to steal your faith in God, but his
best is not good enough. God is greater than the devil. Hang on
to your faith!
Remember that God is for you. God is on your side. God will
help you and see you through.
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep praising
and thanking God -- especially when you don't feel like it.
Don't give up. Hang on!
The Nature of Discouragement
Psalm 16:7-11
Discouragement is a powerful, destructive force. Before we can understand how to rid our lives of this deadly landmine, we must recognize its harmful nature.
Understand that discouragement...
1. Is something we choose. Nobody else can make us discouraged; it is a choice that we alone make when facing disappointments.
2. Is universal. Everybody will face periods of disappointment and discouragement from time to time. This simply cannot be avoided, because we live in a seriously flawed world that is filled with equally flawed people.
3. Can recur. Sometimes we think we've settled an issue, which later resurfaces when we least expect it. Or, we may have old emotional wounds that are torn open by something a person says or does.
4. Can be temporary—or it can destroy our life. The choice is ours. If we refuse to deal with discouragement head-on, we are opening the door for it to completely dominate our life.
5. Is conquerable. With the Lord's help, we can choose not to be discouraged. If we don't believe discouragement can be conquered, then we're actually saying that God doesn't want His children to have a rich and fulfilled life.
Are you stuck in the throes of discouragement? If so, it will simply be impossible to experience the peace and inner joy that God wants for His children. Let Him help you out of that lowly state: start by believing that the Father wants to lift you up and get your life back on track with Him.
Be a LEADER who provides STRENGTH to others
Be full of Persevering Faith
Focus on the end product of what God is doing with people’s lives. Gal. 6:9” We will reap if we faint not.” Unchangeable faith.
Look and Ask for the Goodness of God
We need to show the positive things in the will of God not negative appearances. Good will show a spiritual good from any bad situation. Psalm 27:13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Keep Yourself Unspotted from the World
Keep away from the world. The trap Esau fell into for a meal. Matt. 13:38 the field is the world. No leader can minister to others if the world is warring inside of him. No energy left.
Pray Constantly
Converse with God. Not only for myself but for others. Luke 18:1 Now He (Jesus)was telling them a parable to show at all times that they ought to pray and not to lose heart.
Receive the Mercy of God
Paul said,”Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not faint, but we have renounced the hidden things because of shame. 2 cor. 4:1. We must understand the process of confession of sin, total repentance and faith in God’s cleansing power.
Consider the Sufferings of Jesus
Our sufferings are nothing compared to His. Heb. 12:3 For consider him who has endured such hostility of sinners against himself, so that you may not grow weary and faint in your minds.
The more we remember His sufferings the more we will be strong in our times of testing.
Allow the Daily Renewal of the Inner Man
We need the Holy Spirit to be active. We need His spirit to touch our spirit to create new life within us. 2 Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not faint, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
God has a proceeding word for each of us, but until it comes, the word of God will try us in order to get us ready to walk in the preceding word. The Hebrew word for tried is tsaraph ( pronounced tsaw-raf) and means to refine, to melt, to purge away. It has a connotation of a gold or silver Smith working with the gold and the silver until they are purified. Our perfection as believers will come through the purifying fire of God. Mal 3:3-4
The story of the silversmith. When the silverSmith is working with silver he has to put the silver in the center of the fire and let it heat up that's where the flames are the hottest. This is where it will burn away all the impurities.
The Silversmith has to sit there with this over the whole time because if the silver was left even a moment too long it would be destroyed by the flames. How do you know when the silver is fully refined? The silversmith said oh that's the easy part when I see my image reflected in it. That's the same way with God, when we are feeling the heat of the fire, we have to remember that God is with us always keeping his hand over us watching us until he sees his image in us.
The Glory of Zion
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the arm.
5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come. HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Sometimes it seems like there's no hope and no help. Like you
have no more strength or ability to go on. You're at the end of
yourself and just can't do any more.
Don't worry. Just hang on to your faith in God.
God is faithful. He will not forsake you. He has not forgotten
you. (It just seems that way when you face a trial of faith --
but it's a lie.)
It may seem dark and hopeless, but God is holding on to you.
God is working behind the scenes. Things will work out.
When you don't know what to do, just continue to trust in God,
and know that He is helping you. Persevere even when you feel
like you can't. Just don't give up.
JAMES 1:2-4 BARCLAY
2 My brothers, you must regard it as nothing but joy when you
are involved in all kinds of trials,
3 for you must realize that when faith has passed through the
ordeal of testing the result is the ability to pass the
breaking-point and not to break.
4 This ability must go right on to the end, and then you will
be perfect and complete, without a weak spot.
Trials are no fun. But we should not be surprised when we find
our faith being tested.
The devil is doing his best to steal your faith in God, but his
best is not good enough. God is greater than the devil. Hang on
to your faith!
Remember that God is for you. God is on your side. God will
help you and see you through.
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep praising
and thanking God -- especially when you don't feel like it.
Don't give up. Hang on!
The Nature of Discouragement
Psalm 16:7-11
Discouragement is a powerful, destructive force. Before we can understand how to rid our lives of this deadly landmine, we must recognize its harmful nature.
Understand that discouragement...
1. Is something we choose. Nobody else can make us discouraged; it is a choice that we alone make when facing disappointments.
2. Is universal. Everybody will face periods of disappointment and discouragement from time to time. This simply cannot be avoided, because we live in a seriously flawed world that is filled with equally flawed people.
3. Can recur. Sometimes we think we've settled an issue, which later resurfaces when we least expect it. Or, we may have old emotional wounds that are torn open by something a person says or does.
4. Can be temporary—or it can destroy our life. The choice is ours. If we refuse to deal with discouragement head-on, we are opening the door for it to completely dominate our life.
5. Is conquerable. With the Lord's help, we can choose not to be discouraged. If we don't believe discouragement can be conquered, then we're actually saying that God doesn't want His children to have a rich and fulfilled life.
Are you stuck in the throes of discouragement? If so, it will simply be impossible to experience the peace and inner joy that God wants for His children. Let Him help you out of that lowly state: start by believing that the Father wants to lift you up and get your life back on track with Him.
Be a LEADER who provides STRENGTH to others
Be full of Persevering Faith
Focus on the end product of what God is doing with people’s lives. Gal. 6:9” We will reap if we faint not.” Unchangeable faith.
Look and Ask for the Goodness of God
We need to show the positive things in the will of God not negative appearances. Good will show a spiritual good from any bad situation. Psalm 27:13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Keep Yourself Unspotted from the World
Keep away from the world. The trap Esau fell into for a meal. Matt. 13:38 the field is the world. No leader can minister to others if the world is warring inside of him. No energy left.
Pray Constantly
Converse with God. Not only for myself but for others. Luke 18:1 Now He (Jesus)was telling them a parable to show at all times that they ought to pray and not to lose heart.
Receive the Mercy of God
Paul said,”Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not faint, but we have renounced the hidden things because of shame. 2 cor. 4:1. We must understand the process of confession of sin, total repentance and faith in God’s cleansing power.
Consider the Sufferings of Jesus
Our sufferings are nothing compared to His. Heb. 12:3 For consider him who has endured such hostility of sinners against himself, so that you may not grow weary and faint in your minds.
The more we remember His sufferings the more we will be strong in our times of testing.
Allow the Daily Renewal of the Inner Man
We need the Holy Spirit to be active. We need His spirit to touch our spirit to create new life within us. 2 Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not faint, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
God has a proceeding word for each of us, but until it comes, the word of God will try us in order to get us ready to walk in the preceding word. The Hebrew word for tried is tsaraph ( pronounced tsaw-raf) and means to refine, to melt, to purge away. It has a connotation of a gold or silver Smith working with the gold and the silver until they are purified. Our perfection as believers will come through the purifying fire of God. Mal 3:3-4
The story of the silversmith. When the silverSmith is working with silver he has to put the silver in the center of the fire and let it heat up that's where the flames are the hottest. This is where it will burn away all the impurities.
The Silversmith has to sit there with this over the whole time because if the silver was left even a moment too long it would be destroyed by the flames. How do you know when the silver is fully refined? The silversmith said oh that's the easy part when I see my image reflected in it. That's the same way with God, when we are feeling the heat of the fire, we have to remember that God is with us always keeping his hand over us watching us until he sees his image in us.
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