Going All In

Our ministries

Analogy: ministry and our walk with God is like the beach/ocean.

• Some just go every now and then to look at it and watch other people experience it.
• Some go to just sit at the edge where the waves crash and feel the water every now and then.
• Some go ankle deep. Always just a little in. 
• Knee deep, waist deep, chest deep, chin deep. All different levels but all keeping their feet on the ocean floor and standing cause that’s natural, normal, feels safer, and is less exhausting. 
• Then there’s the “crazy” people. They swim out way past where they can stand, just to feel the freedom of being totally submerged in the water. 

It’s time to go deeper.  Quit testing the waters.  God is calling us to swim out to sea.  It’s time to go all in. 

One way we can go all in is re-purposing “pass times” for “ministry time”.  For me this is social media.  I’ve used it as a huge pass time for a long time now.  God is calling me to re-purpose this time I spend on it. (I spent the time this week that I woulda been on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter preparing this.)

You’re always on mission.  Everywhere you go, people are watching and judging.  How you act is supposed to reflect the God you serve.  If you are treating people well, non-believers will be attracted to learning more about the God you serve.  If you’re a jerk, who would want any part of anything you believe?  Are we acting Christlike?  Are we acting right?  Let’s show people who Christ is with our actions. 

The number one reason, in my life, that I have passed up on ministry opportunities is fear. 

 What fears do we have keeping us from doing God’s work?  I want to cast out those fears in Jesus’ name, through scripture. 

• Too young.

Ø  1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

• Too old.

Ø  Job 12:12 “Is not wisdom found among the aged?  Does not long life bring understanding?”

Ø  Genesis 17: Abram was ninety-nine years old before God changed his name to Abraham and gave him a son through his wife, Sarah.

• Not smart/wise enough.

Ø  Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…”

Ø  Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Ø  James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

• Not enough talent or experience.

Ø  Exodus 3:11-12 “But Moses said to God ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘But I will be with you…’”

Ø  Exodus 4:10-12 “But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’  The Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth?  Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’”

• Whoever God is calling me to witness to isn’t receptive of what God has to offer.

Ø  Exodus 3:19-21 “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.  So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.  And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,…”

• Never done it before / scared of change. 

Ø  Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

• Failure.

Ø  2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

• Heartbreak from not seeing (immediate) results.

Ø  Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

• Not the “right” timing.

Ø  Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

• Not enough money. 

Ø  Phillipians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

• Language barrier. 

Ø  Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

• Others doubt what I am called to is of God. 

Ø  Exodus 3:13-14 “Then Moses said to God, 'If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?’  God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’  And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent you.’”

“God won’t call you to something bigger than you can handle.”

No.  Wrong. 

God won’t call you to something bigger than HE can handle.  You just get to experience it.  On our own, we wouldn’t be able to handle most things. 

One more I didn’t mention.  You’re afraid of what people might think of you if you step out into God’s callings.  THEY'RE JUDGING YOU ANYWAYS.  And their opinions don’t matter. 

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

He wants your AVAILABILITY, not your ABILITY.  He, who is the creator of all things, will give you what you need to serve the purpose He has for you.  You just gotta be available. 

God is calling us to something bigger.  A deeper level of ministry. 

Lord, guide me.  Show me how and where to go deeper serving you.  Speak to me and speak through me. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.