Thanks for meeting us at the prayer circle.
In last week’s Prayer Circle, we talked about the challenges of beginning or reviving a ministry. Now once we’ve started, where do we go next?
We desperately need God’s direction in every facet of our lives, ministries, and churches. Find out how being on the same page with one another and with God is the next step to fruitful ministry.
A subject for consideration that relates very closely to the idea of where real ministry starts is that of where ministry should go once it starts. We need God’s direction in everything we do.
Right now, I am relating to a church that is experiencing great prosperity. They have a large, growing congregation full of educated and skilled people with much experience and their coffers are running over with money. They have realized the blessings are from God, so they proclaimed a time of 40 days of prayer and fasting to know God’s direction in their abundance! To date they are not only getting God’s direction, but they are also having many spiritual breakthroughs in lives. They realized they needed God’s direction in the days of prosperity as well as adversity.
The idea here is oneness with God and each other. Jesus prayed for this in John 17:20-23 (NKJV), “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us. That the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” With all the current pressures, modern trends, brittle traditions, and comparisons, somehow we need to get on the same page with God.
If the early church is our model, then there are four non-negotiables for oneness:
1. The written Word of God is our final authority of faith and practice. There is much pressure today to compromise the clear teaching of the Word of God. The attitude of the world creeps into the church and blurs the absolute truth of Scripture which veils the holy character of God. Remember that God is light and His love comes out of that.
2. The Living Word, Jesus, must be intentionally recognized as the active head of the church. Colossians 1:18 clearly states that He is to have the pre-eminence as He fulfills His promise to build His church. The life of the body flows from the Head (Colossians 2:19). But the church must believe, welcome, and submit to His active headship in the same way as they actively embrace His Saviorship.
3. A congregation in united prayer—we sometimes think we will automatically arrive at God’s place without a concerted effort to dialogue with God in prayer. This should be Christ-centered, Scripture-based prayer. There is great power unleashed in a church when all agree together with God about His absolute truth. This is the whole church saying, “Yes, Lord!”
4. Branch leadership that abides in Christ as a lifestyle—maverick, rowdy leaders are unique, fun and often followed, but somewhere in the background of all public displays, leadership must be rooted in an abiding, private life in the vine (Jesus). Some soulish energy can come from man, but real life can come only from Jesus.
So, add them up.
1. The written Word
2. The Living Word
3. A praying congregation
+ 4. Lead by a “branch” leader
Arriving at God’s place and enjoying His direction.
Let us hear what the Spirit says to the church.
Joe Humrichous is the executive director of Paradigm One and Bible Prayer Fellowship. The message of the sufficiency of Christ for both the pastor and the local church was birthed during a time of brokenness in his early ministry. Now after 50 years in ministry, Joe is passionate to share this reality as it applies to corporate prayer and church leadership. He recently served as a pastor at First Baptist Church in Covington, Indiana. He and his wife Teresa have 5 children and 13 grandchildren.
