Power Supply

The last few weeks have been very “full.” On September 4th I officially began my position with Global Media Outreach. This comes almost a year after I began moving this direction — including several months of developing the financial support I needed to do it. At the end of August, God moved in a clear and affirming way to provide the necessary funds for my ministry.People often ask me if I wished I didn’t have to raise financial support. My pragmatic side says “yes” — but the spirit within me says “no.” I’ve come to realize that God’s present calling for me is, first and foremost, to be a missionary. Through my ministry I am giving people an opportunity to be involved in a tremendous work they might not otherwise experience. I’m an investment advisor, helping Christians turn their earthly wealth into heavenly treasure: people who make decisions for Christ. I’ve also seen firsthand how God’s work through me encourages others’ faith.

Trusting God to provide financial resources also builds the spiritual qualities I need for ministry. As I see God provide the funds I need to live on, how much more am I able to trust Him in reaching the lost? Over and over, God has shown me the importance of my relationship with Him in pursuing the ministry He’s given me. And few things encourage one’s dependence on God like finances!

My time away from the office has also been good for reflecting on my ministry experiences and future ambitions. God has helped me to recognize that one of my greatest challenges in ministry doesn’t come in the form of finances, hardened hearts, or even software bugs. Rather, my biggest hurdle is simply yet completely walking and serving in the power of the Holy Spirit. In retrospect, I can honestly say that much of the frustration and angst I’ve experienced in ministry has originated with, or been amplified by, my failure to do rely on God’s power. Looking forward, the picture is very disturbing without my increased attention to this fact: any work not done in the power of the Holy Spirit is doomed to failure.

Quite simply, you can’t expect to do something for God — living a Christ-like life or sharing the gospel — without earnestly and sincerely relying on God. Ephesians 2:10 says God “has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” And just how are we going to do this? Through “the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him… the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…” (1:19-20).

Practically speaking, my ministry role requires both technical expertise and creative skills. It’s a huge temptation for me to fall back on my own abilities to produce “passable” results. But when I am working in the power of the Holy Spirit, I find myself accomplishing things I’d never imagined I could. And the process is much more enjoyable, too. As Ephesians 3:20 says, “[God] is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” That’s an incredible thought to this big-thinking guy working in a ministry with an incredible vision.

Yours in Christ,