What is the Most Powerful Ministry in the Church? (Get Ready for a Surprise!)

April 14, 2014 in Children's Ministry, God's Promises, Leadership, Walk of the Spirit with 1 Comment

I know that after reading the next sentence some of you will be persuaded that I have totally lost my mind, but I’ll share it anyways. Here goes … I believe that one of, if not the most important, powerful ministries in any church is the nursery ministry. I know that you have your mind racing trying to be one step ahead of me. Some of you are thinking, yes it is because it removes the baby’s noise and restlessness from the main auditorium so that adults can worship without distractions. Well, that might be 10% of the reason. Others might be thinking that I made this statement because the nursery allows the baby’s parents to give their full attention to the adult service. Again, that might 10% of the reason.

???????????????????????????????I know that you might be puzzled. Why would I make such a statement? What is so important about childcare? That is where the confusion lies. You’re looking at this totally wrong. While childcare is a part of the what transpires in the nursery, the ultimate reason for having a nursery for newborns, toddlers, and infants is because it IS ministry.

I know that I have your brain spinning again. Ministry to a 6-month old? Yes. And, in my opinion, it can be just as important or even more important than the ministry coming from the pulpit in the adult service. Why?  Babies ARE spirit beings, capable of receiving blessings and curses. Their spirit is just as capable of being touched by the Holy Spirit as the spirit of a 6-year-old or 16-year-old or 36-year-old. 

Why do you need a nursery? Because it can be SUPERNATURAL! Sadly, many babies sensed rejection from their mother during the pregnancy. In their mother’s womb, many babies had curses and negative words spoken over them like, “I wish that I had never gotten pregnant” or “This baby is unwanted” or “I can never love this baby”. The child’s spirit absorbed these comments. And, even after birth, many continue to hear negative and even hateful statements that sets the course of their life. But, a Holy Ghost nursery can supernaturally be a life-giving, spirit-changing ministry. From the earliest time of a child’s life, the Word of God that is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword is penetrating into a baby’s spirit and nullifying the attack of the enemy. There are no wasted years. The child doesn’t have to wait until they are in an elementary children’s church or a youth service or an adult service to hear a strong-hold liberating message. Their life is put back on course in each and every service as the anointed nursery worker works together with Holy Spirit.

ConfessionsHow can a Holy Ghost nursery minister to these babies? Let me answer by giving an example of what happens in our His Little Lambs Ministry at Trinity Church International. In each service, the children are individually prayed over. If James 5:16 is true (and it is), when a righteous nursery teacher earnestly prays over a child, that prayer “has great power and wonderful results”. (New Living Translation). Then, our workers speak a biblical blessing over the babies. You can see in the accompanying picture, we have the blessings posted on signs that encircle the nursery. In each service, the nursery’s master teacher holds each child in their arms and speaks a reality from God’s Word over that baby. Can you see how powerful this can be?

Let me encourage you to change your nursery from being a place for childcare into a place where the Holy Ghost can minister. I guarantee that destinies will be shaped from the fervent prayer and the spoken Word. Then, you will join with me in declaring that your nursery is one of, if not the most important, powerful ministries in your church.

Want some ideas for these spiritual confessions? Click here to download.

Have You?

April 7, 2014 in Dream, Walk of the Spirit with 0 Comments

This blog post is probably one of the most important words that I’ve published in my seven years of posting. It all revolves around one question. Here it is … have you encouraged someone today? I know that you’re thinking, “Really? Is that all that he has to say? Isn’t there some Holy Ghost word for the week?” Well my friend, this is as Holy Ghost as it gets!

I’m convinced that there is someone needing to hear the voice of a Holy Ghost filled person who believes in them, somebody who is coming alongside to dream with them, an individual who has the right word at the right time to help them keep on keeping on. There is someone who has rehearsed defeat, insecurities, and fear over and over again in their mind. They’ve had others speak death over their dreams and passions. But there is a someone (that’s you) who has been assigned to step up and be God’s mouthpiece and vocalize the Father’s heart.

phone-callHere’s what will happen as you pick up the telephone and begin your conversation. I believe that you will see a reenactment of Acts 3. When you open your mouth, I believe that you will have a “such as I have give I thee” word for that particular moment. It’s not a sermon but rather a voice from someone who actually cares and believes in them. As you  listen, love, and share, that Holy Ghost deposited word will bring life and restoration to a crippled, damaged dream. Your encouragement will remind them of the size of their God and His abilities. Hearing your voice will remind them that two can put ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30) and you are that second person to walk alongside of them in faith.

If I’ve ever shared a Holy Ghost thought, you’re seeing it right now. There is power in your words. The friendship and love shown through your phone call is as Holy Ghost orchestrated and miraculous as seeing someone come out of a wheelchair or jump up from a death bed. I know from experience. I’ve been on the receiving side of some of these phone calls. There have been times that someone called at just the right time and gave me a word of encouragement. They had no idea of the timeliness of their phone call. After the conversation, I had what I needed to continue the journey.

Come on, invest a few minutes into someone’s life. Stop what you are doing right now, pick up your phone, and be God’s voice. Someone is counting on you. In fact, there are a lot of someones counting on you. Destinies are awaiting your Holy Ghost directed voice. Now pick up the phone and start shaping someone’s future.

The 3 Big Questions of Revival

March 31, 2014 in Revival, Walk of the Spirit with 0 Comments

I am convinced that the blockages of a powerful move of God’s Spirit don’t originate in heaven or even hell, but rather here on earth.  What are the blockages? If I were to ask 100 people to provide this answer and explain why today’s church is in its present condition, I would possibly get 100 different answers. Excuses and reasons abound.

What is stopping an outpouring of God’s power? To be honest, it has nothing to do with the condition of our nation or even your church, its history, or its people. It has everything to do with the person reading this blog post right now (that’s you!). For too long, you have relegated a move of God to begin with another person at another place at another time. All the while, God has been looking at you to initiate this great move.

Question-Mark-Blue

Pardon me for perhaps being too simplistic. I believe that the removal of these blockages is simple. A genuine move of God is guaranteed to the individual who correctly answers these three simple questions:

  1. If not you, then who?
  2. If not here, then where?
  3. If not now, then when?

A great, unprecedented move of God’s Spirit is waiting on you to initiate it. Once you recognize that God in all of His wisdom has determined that _____________ (fill in your name ) has been strategically placed at _____________  (fill in the name of your church) and is resolved that as of _____________  (fill in today’s date) to totally yield to the leading and promptings of the Holy Spirit, there will be a massive outpouring of salvations and healings and deliverances  and restorations and … well, whatever is needed. A genuine revival will be birthed.

The questions are simple. The answers are even simpler. Now turn off the computer and begin to tell God your answers and then let Him confirm your answers.

Got Room for the Holy Spirit?

March 24, 2014 in Children's Ministry, Leadership, Walk of the Spirit with 1 Comment

Several years ago, we were blessed to have the author of The God Chasers book, Reverend Tommy Tenney, as the keynote speaker of our national Ignite the Supernatural Conference. In an attempt to help reduce the expenses for the travel and accommodations, I asked a friend about the possibility of connecting Tommy with a large Pentecostal church in the area for a service on the following weekend. With the two meetings splitting the costs, these necessary expenses would be greatly reduced for both of us. Without much thought, my friend told me that Tommy would never fit into the mode of this church. I learned that their services were structured and orchestrated to the very minute and didn’t have room for a Spirit-following, highly unpredictable Tommy Tenney. They knew that at 10 AM sharp the choir would open the service with an anthem. At 10:05 the Pastor would come and do an opening prayer followed by three songs ending at 10:21, followed by … well, you can see what I’m talking about. Needless to say, I never contacted that church.

Before you criticize this church for being over-structured, it might be wise to take a step backwards and look objectively at your service. We all have our formulas and ways of doing things. While it might go unsaid, we have an idea that by so-and-so time, we need to be doing ***** (you fill in the blank).

I would ask that you consider the words of the great 19th century missionary to China, C.T. Studd …

“How little chance the Holy Ghost has nowadays. The churches and missionary societies have so bound Him in red tape that they practically ask Him to sit in a corner while they do the work themselves.”  ~ C.T. Studd

limitNo great dissertation is needed to expound upon the quote. Instead, turn off the computer and then ask the Holy Spirit to speak freely about His level of involvement in your ministry. You might learn that you’ve limited Him in so, so many ways. Starting today, let’s remove the limits and allow Him to be Himself and do what only He can do.

Powerless?

March 17, 2014 in Children's Ministry, Walk of the Spirit with 0 Comments

Have you ever stopped to recognize that the New Testament Church was birthed with power (Acts 1:8), experienced exponential growth by demonstrations of power (Acts 2:41), and kept on course through demonstrations of power (Acts 5:1-11)? It was only through the Holy Spirit’s power that the Church was the Church. (I’m using an upper case “c” to refer to the body of Christ and not a building.)

Is this a reflection of today’s Church? Let me answer this question by sharing a quote from one of my heroes, the great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor.

“Since the days of Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon Him for ten days, that the Spirit’s power might be manifested? We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power.”

powerIf this supernatural power birthed on the Day of Pentecost is only obtainable through waiting on the Holy Spirit, why have we replaced the Holy Spirit with method, machinery, and resources? The answer is quite obvious. These substitutions take little time to obtain  and require absolutely no sacrifice on the part of the seeker. Those waiting in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost pushed aside schedules to await the outpouring of God’s Spirit. It was a sacrificial act of obedience. But, waiting for His presence brought the Holy Spirit and His power and gained about 3,000 people for the Kingdom.

This is so simple. If there’s no resemblance of what you read in the Book of Acts Church to be found in your personally and in your church, check your connection with the Holy Spirit. Push aside the substitutes. Forget about the present day ministry click-and-download mentality. Learn the joy of waiting in His presence. In doing so, you will see the Book of Acts replicated over and over again.  God’s power will show up. People will be saved. Lives will be transformed, healed, and delivered. The Church will grow.

Now, close this blog post, turn off your computer, and let the waiting begin.

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