Soon Marty Aubol, Ross Nelson and Craig Brooks will be heading to
RADICAL – THE WAY GOD DOES MINISTRY
Radical. What thoughts come to you when you see that word? Depending on our upbringing and even personality, there will be a whole variety of opinions from that word. It would be pretty safe to use “radical” to describe Acts10.
First we are introduced to Cornelius, a Roman (non-Jew) centurion (soldier), who is described as God-fearing. He had a regular prayer life, was generous to the needy and respectful of the Jews. He possibly could be seen hanging near the synagogue on the Sabbath, wanting to hear what was being shared inside.
We read also that he had a vision from God (and he was not even a Christian yet!) in which he was instructed to send for a Jew, Peter to come to him. Can God communicate with non-Christians and does God use visions and dreams today to reach people? These are some questions to ponder.
While this was going on for Cornelius, over in Joppa (verses 9-16), Peter was having a trance (dream) while waiting for a meal. In a previous article (go to www.myhcy.com and click on Oct, 2007 Titus Email to read that article), the discussion was what was on the sheet Peter saw and what are the implications for us today. What is on your sheet? What do you consider unclean or “can’t touch” that God wants to use in your life? What traditions are we holding on to that are keeping us from effective ministry?
Why is God dealing with Peter here in Acts 10? Perhaps the reasons include, at that time Peter was considered one of the key leaders of the early Church. God raises up godly leaders who are influential or potentially influential to lead radical change in His Church. Peter is in that position.
While Peter is thinking about this dream, the three people Cornelius sent, showed up at the Jewish house Peter was staying at. Non Jews could not simply walk into the house of a Jew, so they shouted from outside the gate. The Spirit then prompted Peter to go out to the men.
Peter found out that God has orchestrated not only his dream but also what He was doing in a non Jew’s life miles (kilometers) away. So Peter invited the non Jews into the home of a Jewish man. (I wonder if Peter asked Simon the tanner if they could do that, seeing that it was his house Peter was staying at.)
“Unclean” was coming into a house of the clean.
Radical - all the way through this story. Jews hanging out with non Jews over spiritual issues, unclean entering the presence of clean, God working in the lives of unbelievers. We could go on. God is a radical God. He works in mysterious ways which often becomes ministry we would not get involved in. It is easy to get set in a certain way ministry things are done. To change or veer from that is radically hard for us. Yet being a spiritual leader God wants to use, He will at times, introduce ministry opportunities that are nothing we are used to because He wants us to lead the way. That is scary but what a gracious God to use us to impact the Kingdom that way.
Having done some international traveling, my ways of ministry and why I believe what I believe are put through cultural versus biblical standards. I cannot let my cultural ways of doing ministry and Christianity keep others from different parts of the world from ministry. What I share with them needs to be definitively biblical so they can make the correct applications for themselves.
How does God want to use you? He may stretch your comfort zone of ministry.
YOUTH MINISTRY INSIGHT
DANIEL’S STANDARDS
In Daniel 1:8-14, we are introduced to Daniel as a young man. He was part of the group of handsome, smart and good looking guys that the foreign king Nebuchadnezzar took back to
Along with Daniel, three of his friends also were taken. So these four guys, who girls would have taken a second look at, ended up in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. The whole bunch from Judah got new names, were taught the best subjects known to mankind at that time, learned a new language and had nothing but the finest foods offered day after day. What a life. Could you image how great that would be?
Simply put, Nebuchadnezzar was brainwashing these young men because they would soon become leaders in his kingdom. This strategy has continued down through the ages to modern day with Communist regimes and Muslims indoctrinating many young people. If you can form the thoughts of a person early in life, you have them to influence others for potentially many years because it is easier to mold a young mind.
Daniel resolved that he would not eat food that went against what he had been taught in Hebrew tradition. Would the food actually defile him? It was more of a question of disobeying a standard God had given to the Israelites and if he lowered his standard in one area, soon other areas would follow and he would spiral downward in sin.
Two insights to consider here about Daniel’s situation. One is it is so easy to begin compromising standards God has that you have adapted into your life by allowing little things to slip. Say you have resolved to not get involved in sexual activity until you are married. Where is the line you will not cross until marriage? If you say you will not go all the way but have no precautionary standards prior to going all the way, chances you will go all the way. Precautionary standards could be we will not lay next to each other in private or we will always have a plan to where we are going and what we will be doing on a date prior to the date. There are many precautionary standards you can put in place to keep you from going over the edge.
The second insight is Daniel did not simply pout, scream and holler when he told the official that he could not eat the food. Rather he came with an alternative suggestion that he felt would still accomplish what the king wanted. This gave the king’s official a way out because his own head was literally on the chopping block. By offering an alternative, Daniel was still respecting his authorities while honoring the standards he had placed in his life. Too often when we do not want to do something for good or bad reasons, we create a scene because we have not really thought through the situation, taking the time to project possible results of actions we take. Granted we might not be able to always offer an alternative or the situation will not allow us, but in many cases, providing alternatives to something we do not want to do show maturity and leadership qualities.
What Biblical standards have you placed in your life? Are they non-negotiable? Have you thought about when a standard is challenged, or you are put into a compromising situation, what will you do? Think through how you will protect that standard so you do not get into a situation of a point of no return. Let us all be like Daniel this way.
ILLUSTRATION
When you see geese flying along in a “V” formation, you might be interested in knowing that science has discovered why they fly that way. Research has revealed that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly fells the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the “V” and another goose flies the point.
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed. Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunfire and falls out, two other geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the goose until it is either able to fly again or dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.
QUOTES ON MINISTRY
“My spiritual experience has been revolutionized recently. I must confess, as many a Christian worker must, that it’s very easy to become compulsively active. It is hard to learn the lesson of the barrenness of busyness. Activity simply becomes the anesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life. And if we get off long enough, we discover we have activity without accomplishment.” Howard Hendricks
“The issue isn’t whether or not you are in ministry, but whether or not you are faithful in the ministry God has given you.” Patrick Morley
“1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.”
“50 percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.”
“80 percent of seminary and Bible students who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.” Statistic in 2004 from Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
