"If you find any comfort from being in the Anointed, if His love brings you some encouragement, if you experience true companionship with the Spirit, if His tenderness and mercy fill your heart; then, brothers and sisters, here is one thing that would complete my joy—come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love." (Philippians 2:1-2 The Voice)
The church must take up the mantle of unity. However, that can only happen when we take up the mantle of Jesus and not creating ministries.
"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:32 NLT)
The Holy Spirit can do what no marketing plan will ever do. When lifting Jesus up is the focus then lives will be impacted and transformed! And no matter what, for our message to be heard and impactful, we cannot conform to this world. We cannot look like the world! When we do then we have diluted the message of Jesus. When our actions, words, and responses, look like the worlds then the message we have sent is having Jesus changes nothing!
"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:1-12 MSG)
Focus on God, making His Name great, not yours, your church, or your ministry. We lift. He, God, does the drawing, the increase. Too many are trying to do the drawing and want God to do the lifting. Stop focusing on numbers, filling seats! Start focusing on souls that are on their way to hell while we put our programs in place! We should always be focused on spiritual growth, equipping the believers, introducing the lost to Jesus, and lifting Jesus up! Anything else is a waste of our time and effort.
Preach and teach the uncompromising Word of God. Leave the results to God. That's His area. You work yours. Gods got His.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase." (1st Corinthians 3:6 AMPC)
The Bible emphasizes qualitative growth, not quantitative growth. Paul never wrote to any church to thank God they were increasing in numbers. He talked about how they were growing in faith, hope, love, and grace. Let this, people growing in faith, hope, and love be a true indicator of your fulfilling the Great Commission, instead of a packed house! Numbers will never tell the full story or show the overall impact. Focus on God, not numbers. Trust God, not numbers.
Be Encouraged! ❤
(Updated From the Vault of LWM)
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