Obedience

This is my favorite time of year. I love the excitement that comes when students begin to return to school and the weather begins to change. I am so convinced that a fresh move of God is on our city. His desire is to heal broken hearts and bring us into deeper intimacy with Him.

In all the excitement and expectation of what God wants to do, we must also recognize there is a tremendous amount of darkness in our city. Amidst our great hope, the enemy’s desire is still to bring about destruction. So how do we keep from getting overwhelmed when we look at all the hurt, pain, and desperation in our city and in the world around us? This was a topic we discussed on our University Field Team retreat and I’d like to share with you three points  we discovered in the life of Jesus which kept Him from being overwhelmed.

We find the first key in Luke 5: 15-16 where it says “As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.” Notice Jesus took as many opportunities as possible to spend time with the Father. Are you cultivating intimacy with God? Do you recognize He is the source of all good and perfect gifts and it is only by your focus on Him that you will have anything to give those around you.

Look at John 5:19 for the next key. Jesus tells us that he “only does what He sees the Father doing.” What a tremendous freedom this gives. This was the key to Jesus’ ministry - He did nothing. All the miracles, all the power, and all the powerful words came from Him watching the Father and doing what He did. This is huge for us as we look at the darkness around us. We are not responsible for figuring out what to do. The solution already exists in the heart of our Father. Just like He gave Jesus everything He needed for ministry, if we will watch our Father and be obedient to the Holy Sprit we will also do as we see our Father doing.

The final point comes in the very next verse, John 5:20. Right after Jesus tells us He only does what He sees the Father doing, he tells us, “The Father loves the Son and includes Him in everything He is doing.” Many of us believe God will provide in most situations. We believe if we are acting right and if God is in a good mood then He will give us what we need. This is NOT the theology of Jesus. Jesus never got tired in ministry because He knew at all times and in all situations GOD LOVED HIM. What did that mean? If God loved Him, God would always give Him what He needed in EVERY moment of ministry. If you are in Christ, do you know how deeply God loves you? Do you know His love for you means you have access to all which is His and He desires to give you everything you need?

These are three main ingredients to the stamina of Jesus in ministry. Let’s examine them more closely as we seek to bring light in dark places this year. God is good and He wants to see His kingdom come in this city. By His Spirt He has given us everything we need to accomplish the task. Not by our strength or might but by the power of His Holy Spirit in us.

Shalom,

Kendall McDonald