A Fool Proof Way to Turn Around Any Ministry: by Tim Kernan

Luke 12: 27-34
27″Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32″Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This is one of those passages that everyone knows about. Jesus is instructing his worried disciples on faith and teaching them how to deal with hard times. Some of the most meaningful times in our lives and some of the times where we grow the most, are hard times. If God takes very good care of the lilies of the field and knows that we need food and drink, why worry? Instead of running after worldly things Christ instructs us to seek the Kingdom first.

That’s all well and good, but when you have: a bible talk that’s not fruitful, your ministry looks like its going to fall apart any minute, you’ve had some fall aways, your boss is on your case because you’re preoccupied and it’s affecting your work, your wife/roommates is/are not happy and you’re the reason why and the finances are getting tighter and tighter by the minute… lilies and running pagans don’t seem all that relevant. Instead of fighting our way out of our corner, we find ourselves pushed deeper and deeper into it.

Jesus found himself in a very similar situation. He was a poor man, unattractive, humble in spirit and familiar with sadness. He was also living in a war-torn and underdeveloped country, surrounded by illiterate poor people being ruled by a corrupt and armed religious opposition.

The modern equivalent would most likely be to start a ministry in a place like Afghanistan or Somalia. Jesus’ ministry is the ultimate excuse breaker. Jesus starts his ministry in a corner; so how does he fight his way out of it?

Step 1: Fast and Pray

Matthew 4:1-11
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

The people didn’t know it, his disciples didn’t know it, but Jesus was about to commence a one man onslaught that was going to change the world and he had no chance of failure at all. He was condemned to victory because he was building on rock solid principles. The first thing he does is get baptised, then pray and fast for forty days! When his hunger reached its zenith he was attacked by Satan and put him down like a bad habit (not that Jesus had bad habits) with the Scriptures. Fasting, prayer, powerful bible study. That’s what you call coming out of your corner punching!

How is your devotional life? If you can’t convince yourself to get radical how are you going to convince anyone else? You can do this. Take the bull by the horns.

Step 2: Focus on the Few

Mark 3:13-19
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve—designating them apostles[b]—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons.

The next thing Jesus does is carefully pick out a small number of guys that he could work with. This was his group: he had former tax collectors, former tax collector killers, villagers and fishermen. However, from all the gospels one thing is clear: they were reliable and they were teachable (all except one). The passage in Luke 11 where the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray is heartbreaking in its simplicity. Grown Jewish men who ask someone to teach them to pray are very very humble.

Are you working with the committed few? Are they humble and reliable? A lot of times leaders who are discouraged are working with the wrong people. Jesus was very careful about who he discipled… you should be too.
Before you look at who you’re discipling ask yourself this question: are you teachable and reliable yourself? Are you seeking advice, are you close to and are you humble with your own discipler? If you can’t be a good disciple you can’t make good disciples.

How bad do you want to be fruitful and effective? Can you taste it? If so, start with your attitude towards discipling and then call others to the same standard.

Step 3: Preach the Word

Romans 10: 14-17
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Leaders who succeed have a conviction about preaching. Here Paul puts it frankly: “Faith comes from hearing the message”. Christ preached to his guys, Paul preached to his guys, every successful evangelist and leader has preached to his guys. Then his guys get faith and they crank. Everyone who has faith is fruitful. (John 15: 5).

Are you preaching to your guys or just dealing with their problems as they come? Are you having family devos? Do people see you as someone who is inspired by the bible? Let’s be frank: anyone who finds the words of the Almighty God boring doesn’t deserve to live much less be fruitful.

With these three steps you can’t fail to advance your bible talk or ministry. The time for wallowing in self pity and discouragement is over. Lets advance! GO GO GO!

Love,

Tim