Happy summer to everyone! Except for our Australian members, the rest of us are in the warm of the riding season. I hope you have been able to get out and ride. In that getting out, I hope you have shared the Word with someone. Let us all keep our eyes open for opportunities that God puts in our path. In this way, we may partner with Him in His work.
I recently was listening to the radio in a truck I was driving and I heard Pastor Chuck Swindoll share a message called “Encouraging Essentials for a Dynamic Ministry”. You may go to his website to look up the message in its entirety. I wanted just to share some outline in order for us to apply it as we minister in the Christian Sport bike Association. He used the text from I Corinthians 15:58 and 16:13-14.
58 - Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
13 - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 - Do everything in love.
His first Essential was being Steadfast. In life erosion happens, our love grows cold, our efforts diminish, and we drift. Being steadfast is being anchored into Christ and His unchanging Word. Personally, it involves living a life of integrity and consistency. As a ministry, it means we keep doing as God directs even if it’s not popular, even if no one shows up, even if no one “likes” it on social media. We stick with God, because He is faithful to us.
The next Essential shared was being Immovable. Personally, we don’t move on items of faith. We don’t chase fads or trends or polls. We stick to the principles found in God’s Word. Our faith is strengthened as we exercise it and wait for God. As a ministry, we aren’t thrown off course by turmoil. We do the right thing all the time. The Winds of Change don’t sway us. We are immovable.
The third Essential was Abounding. When I see this word I think of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh how his emotions were always so extreme. When he was joyful he bounded about the forest, and when he was despondent, he hung his head and trudged slowly. As people, the things that should abound in our life should be love, encouragement, grace, and truth. As a ministry, we should abound in excellence, joy, and kindness. We should overflow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The fourth Essential was Confident. He shared Hebrews 6:10- 10 - God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. It shows that what we do for God matters to Him. So as a ministry we should continue to minister in confidence that God will bring about a harvest in His time. I was once told by a missionary that serving the Lord in ministry is like farming. First, you must plow the field to prepare it for seed. This is hard work and yields no visible results. We don’t have any “crop” from plowing, but you can’t seed, water, fertilize, or harvest without first plowing. So, as you serve the CSBA, don’t give up, exercise your faith that God will bring about results and press on in confidence.
Finally, I would like to share direct quote from Pastor Chuck that I thought was pertinent to our ministry. “If we let down our guard, what was once a passionate pursuit can become a perfunctory obligation.” In our personal life as well as when we minister to others let us put on the full armor of God and be steadfast, immovable, abounding and confident. In this way let us pursue the living God with full vigor. May God bless you all.
