A Vision For Spirit Empowered Ministry
- Posted by Julee Huy
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“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
In his recent book Still Not Professionals, John Piper wrote these words:
Among younger pastors, the talk is less about therapeutic and managerial professionalization, and more about communication or contextualization. The language of “professionalization” is seldom used in these regards, but there is a quiet pressure felt by many pastors: Be as good as the professional media folks, especially the cool anti-heroes and the most subtle comedians. This is not the overstated professionalism of the three-piece suit and the power offices of the upper floors, but the understated professionalism of torn blue jeans and the savvy inner ring. This professionalism is not learned in pursuing an MBA, but by being in the know about the ever-changing entertainment and media world. This is the professionalization of ambience, and tone, and idiom, and timing, and banter. It is more intuitive and less taught. More style and less technique. More feel and less force.
And then Piper asks, in classic probing Piper way, these questions to:
Is there professional praying? Professional trusting in God’s promises? Professional weeping over souls? Professional musing on the depths of revelation? Professional rejoicing in the truth? Professional praising God’s name? Professional treasuring the riches of Christ? Professional walking by the Spirit? Professional exercise of spiritual gifts? Professional dealing with demons? Professional pleading with backsliders? Professional perseverance in a hard marriage? Professional playing with children? Professional courage in the face of persecution? Professional patience with everyone?
Supernatural Salvation
It’s an awesome thing to remember that a sinner turning to Christ by faith is not the same as a bad person rehabilitating their life. Salvation is from beginning to end a supernatural process that requires the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-15). This is true once a person comes to faith in Christ also. The Holy Spirit is the one that will enable the justified sinner to live a justified life. It is His ministry and care that unites each person to the atoning work of the cross and righteous life of Jesus that ultimately brings us to heaven.
Supernatural Mission
This is the ministry of the church. It is not to entertain, it is not to “make a person better”, it is not to clean up people’s lives. It is to participate in the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. So often I easily forget this. So often I put my trust and faith in the programs I lead, in the sermons I preach, in the structures I set up. How utterly futile. The mission of preaching the gospel and making disciples is a supernatural mission.
Supernatural Need
I am convinced that our need at FHG is a baptism, anointing, filling, empowering of the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is our need personally and our need corporately as a church. If this does not happen, then For His Glory Community Church will be nothing but a shell, a building with people but lacking any real power. Our hope, my expectation, is that like in the book of Acts, as we pray as a church we will see as a church, the power of the Holy Spirit enabling us to do what He calls us to. This can still happen: “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
2013 – A Vision For Spirit Empowered Ministry
For His Glory!
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