Working with God

We are coming off of a great time in the Holy Ghost in the state of Tennessee. Last week pastors and saints from all across the Tennessee District met in Murfreesboro, TN for our annual Camp Meeting. This years speakers included Bro. Aaron Bounds (a personal favorite of mine) and Bro. Stan Gleason. Both men ministered under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and spoke timely messages, in fact Bro. Bounds preached one of the best messages a young minister could hear called "How to Kill a Witch." However it was something that Bro. Gleason said that has stuck with me and in my mind since I heard it... "I must pray like it depends on God. But I must work like it depends on me."

Bro. Gleason's message was titled "The Other Side of Prayer" and was inspired by Mark Batterson's book The Circle Maker, a book that I enjoyed, and one that I hear quoted a lot.  The book's purpose is for the reader to start "praying circles around your biggest dreams and greatest fears." Mr. Batterson has done an excellent job at explaining just how a person can do this, and I do recommend my readers to take time and read the book. It's not a very long read at all.

Bro. Gleason had made a comment that we must "reach for things that require God to help us in order to reach our goal." He stressed to the congregation that if we don't reach for the impossible then how will people see the hand of God in our lives. Moses is a great example of someone who had to depend on God and one that Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the Hebrew children could not argue that had the hand of God moving in his life. God was there to help this shepherd during the plagues, the Exodus of the Hebrews, the Red Sea parting, as well as the Manna from heaven.

So now I know that I need to reach for big things. But now what? 

Have you ever set out to do a job and realized along the journey that in order to finish the job you would need some help? "I must pray like it depends on God. But I must work like it depends on me." I love this statement because it shows me that God and I are working together. I have made the mistake in my ministry where I have waited for God to do something without working towards it myself. I've also tried to do things without going to God first. Maybe you can relate.

If you are in the ministry, which every believer is (Matthew 28:19) then we must remember a key. "You cannot take your ministry anywhere you haven't been before. First you go spiritually (in prayer), then you can go and lead physically."  It takes both prayer and action... It takes the supernatural in God and the willingness of those called to reach this world.

If your prayers and goals get you in trouble then you are ok, think on Daniel whose prayers got him thrown into the lion's den. Yeah I agree, this seems a little too much. However when the hand of God delivered Daniel it caused an entire nation to repent and turn to God. If we are going to have success in the kingdom of God then it starts with prayer. Every failure we have is because of a prayer failure. And that thorn in your life may not be a bad thing. Paul prayed for God to remove the thorn in his side three times, yet God responded that it was to humble Paul (2 Cor. 12:8). If God places a thorn in your life then it's to humble and send you to prayer. However God always has your best interest in mind.

So let's join together, you and I with God and believe for big things. There are still many people to reach and disciple, and I know a God who is ready to save.