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Episode Notes to Podcast 006
Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Rev. Jim W. Hollis
Hello and welcome to the SIXTH EPISODE of the Ministry Encouragement Podcast, an experience that will touch you at the point of one or more of your greatest needs, lift your life spiritually AND provide you with new Christ-empowered motivation to move fully into the JOY of discipleship and the ADVENTURE of ministry. I am SO appreciative of you allowing me to share in your life today through this Podcast!
I am Rev. Jim W. Hollis, the Founder and Executive Director of Proactive Ministries. This ministry has grown from a spiritual vision and a Staff of one – ME – to a ministry Staff of 22 today. Proactive Ministries has provided ministry coaching and training to more than 900 congregations across North America since 1993.
On this, the sixth Episode of the Ministry Encouragement Podcast, I will be sharing about Leadership for us as Christ Followers. Today we look at:
- “Four Steps to Serving as an Empowered Leader With Christ”
Step 1: DECIDE if you truly want to go spiritually to the next level
Step 2: PREPARE with discipline and expectations that are large
Step 3: PROCEED TO RISK, reaching out and sharing Christ’s Love
Step 4: ADVANCE to a new level of joy and spiritual adventure in ministry
- Our major Encouragement Scripture: Numbers 13 & 14 (New International Version)
This is the Old Testament story of Moses and the Leaders of the Israelites preparing to go into the Promised Land. Moses sent out a designated group of leaders from each of the Twelve Tribes. They followed directions and came back with a good report.
Caleb encouraged the entire assembly to ready themselves to “go up and take the land” but suddenly a group of negative, pessimistic fear-spreaders from the leaders who had gone into the land decided to make up a “bad report” of what they saw. Suddenly, the entire spiritual posture changed and the people became gripped by fear, doubt and anger. This anger led to them wanting to return to Egypt to slavery again.
Caleb and Joshua tried to rally the people by reminding them of the greatness and faithfulness of God with them, but by this point, everyone else was furious with Moses and Aaron for bringing them into a place of certain death and suffering at the hands of the “Giants” who were occupying the Promised Land.
Things went from bad to worse as fear and negativity spread through the crowd and tribes like a horrific disease. The people followed the lead of the negative leaders and prepared to stone Moses and Aaron to death.
Suddenly – God showed up and was not pleased! God pronounced to Moses that he would simply destroy the rebellious people as they did not seem to recall their provisions from God or the many ways he had blessed their lives and journey. Rather than Moses cheering their destruction on, he actually went into praying and pleading with God on behalf of the rebellious people. God changed his mind and spared the people, but only Caleb and Joshua’s families would be able to go into the Promised Land.
We are reminded vividly of HOW in our meetings and assemblies today great negativity can break out and become paralyzing from God’s progress moving forward. We are encouraged to overcome this fear, doubt and negative attitude while not taking in the poison that will come by resistant followers.
We cover most of Numbers 13 and much of Numbers 14. In the end, Joshua will lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, but with far fewer than originally thought.
- How to apply what we have gleaned from this Episode to your daily life as an Effective Leader With Christ
Your input and comments are very important and encouraging to me. Think about these two questions:
1) What kind of situations have you been in where you faced great negativity and pessimism? How did it make you feel?
2) What was your response to this kind of challenge?
Our ministry Website: www.proactive-ministries.org
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jim,
Thanks for such a positive and joy-filled look at the power of love and the glorious opportunity to follow God’s path in ministry! The world needs hope, joy, love and compassion, especially in the leadership of church, and state as well!
So the reality of life is that there is hurt and misunderstanding in the church. There is fear of ‘the dying church’ and the change that comes from the dying off of the old framework. There is hurt and misunderstanding when fear and ignorance permeate the decisions and choices of leaders. Will you say a little about that?
Thanks for your thoughtful comment and I will be addressing your question about fear and ignorance permeating the choices of leaders in one of the upcoming Episodes. Blessings!
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