“Lord, what are You doing? I have every confidence that you have placed this vision, this dream within my spirit but it seems to be going nowhere fast! I praise You, I trust You, but I’m struggling to make sense of this season – HELP!” Have you ever prayed that kind of prayer? Today’s Shepastor highlights some great words of encouragement from noted author and Pastor, Rick Warren. In his article, “How God Builds You While You are Building Your Ministry,” Pastor Warren provides practical guidance on how to recognize and navigate the phases and stages of ministry and leadership growth.
Read on and be blessed!
Shepastor Highlights: "How God Builds You While You are Building Your Ministry," By Rick Warren, Saddleback Church & Pastors.com
(Excerpt from the Christian Broadcasting Network, CBN.com)
CBN.com --Did you know that God uses a very predictable process to build your character? I call this process the "Six Phases of Faith." If you don’t understand this process, you’ll get discouraged when problems arise. You’ll wonder, "Why is this happening to me?"
But if you understand and cooperate with what God is doing in your ministry, your faith - like a muscle that is stretched - will develop great strength.
Phase 1: A dream
God gives you a dream – an idea, goal, or ambition. Every great accomplishment first begins as a God-given dream in someone’s mind. "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” (Eph. 3:20 LB)
Phase 2: A decision
A dream is worthless until you decide to do something about it. For every 10 dreamers, there’s only one decision-maker. This is the moment of truth where you decide to invest your time, money, energy, and reputation and to let go of security. If you want to walk on water - you must get out of the boat! "You must believe and not doubt … a double-minded man is unstable in all he does.” (James 1:6, 8 GN)
Phase 3: A delay
There is always a time lapse before your dream becomes reality. God uses this waiting period to teach us to trust him. Remember, a delay is not a denial. Maturity is understanding the difference between "no” and "not yet.” God says, “These things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Hab. 2:3 LB)
Phase 4: A difficulty
Now the problems start popping up. The two most common types: critics and circumstances. Don’t worry. It’s all a part of God’s plan. “At the present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident – it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 Ph)
Phase 5: A dead end!
Your situation will deteriorate from difficult to impossible. You are backed into a corner, you reach the end of your rope; it looks hopeless. Congratulations! You are on the edge of a miracle. Trust God. “At that time we were completely overwhelmed … in fact we told ourselves that this was the end. Yet we now believe we had this sense of impending disaster so that we might learn to trust, not in ourselves but in God who can raise the dead.” (2 Cor. 1:8-9 Ph)
Phase 6: A deliverance
God provides a supernatural answer. Miraculously, things fall into place! God loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections so you can see his greatness. “I expect the Lord to deliver me once again so I will see his goodness to me ….” (Ps. 27:13)
This article originally appeared in Rick Warren's Ministry ToolBox, a free, email newsletter.
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. Rick is also author The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, and founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for those in ministry.
To read more, visit
http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchandministry/clergy/warren_ministrydevelopment.aspx
Have you experienced or are experiencing a season of spiritual drought, waiting and discouragement? Has God birthed a dream within you that has come to pass? Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com
Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
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