by Fred Goldschmidt.
Driving up the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago some 18 years ago, it was a chilly December evening with a light drizzle descending. I was returning my fiancée home late that night when, upon rounding a curve onto a bridge deck, my tiny Honda Civic began to spin wildly in circles on invisible black ice. I was no longer in control of the direction or speed of the car.
Carla was asleep in the passenger seat and awakened only to experience the last two spins. When we came to a surprisingly safe stop in the middle of the freeway, her only words were “That was scary!” I replied, “You should have been awake for the whole ride!”
There are times when ministry resembles that cold December adventure. You’re driving along in the night and come to a sudden realization you are doing little more than spinning around. You are moving at full speed, expending energy, knuckles whitened, the ministry “engine” firing on all cylinders…but in a scary moment you come to see your efforts are not producing the impact you know you are commissioned to make.
What makes a ministry effective? The full power of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of your daily, well-organized activities. Yes, I know that all of us who respond to the call to “go” should give ourselves to learning and improving the way we serve God and minister to people. Developing effectiveness through study is non-negotiable.
But in all our learning and improving, the power of the Holy Spirit must never be left in the background. The Holy Spirit has a larger repertoire than just inspiring sermons, convicting people of sin, and giving insight to counseling. He also gives subtle direction to daily events, guides in miraculous timing, makes sense of senseless situations, and guards the hearts of very busy people.
Consider Philip and his first-century Day-Timer. As a member of the original seven deacons, he was an organized man–able to get things done with a combination of faith and wisdom (Acts 6:5). Though busy with all the activities that accompany the work of God, he was interrupted with a divine message to take a walk down the road leading toward Gaza (Acts 9:26). Later that day, the Holy Spirit told him to approach a chariot (vs. 29). After ministering to the royal occupant, the Holy Spirit whisked him away (vss. 39-40), transporting him directly to his next appointment in another town.
My point is this: Involving the Holy Spirit in the management of events, schedules and projects makes ministry truly effective. Consider these suggestions for becoming more effective in Spirit-empowered ministry.
1. Renew an early-morning prayer time. While I’ve always believed in praying first thing in the morning, nothing inspires me to arise early more than Psalm 5:3. “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (NIV). I have found that if I get up for prayer while it is quiet and dark, I spend more time praying and less time planning. After my time of prayer, I can, as the psalm says, go about my day watching to see how God works around me. I seek God’s attention for my problems, projects, schedule, and words; I fully anticipate that the Holy Spirit will guide my path, arrange my day, and inspire my words.
I’m not saying people shouldn’t pray at night. I’m just suggesting that it is easier to watch for God’s work in my day when I pray before the day begins, rather than after it is over!
2. Develop a “walk” with God. After praying at the beginning of the day, converse with God through the day. A favorite verse for many is Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (NKJ). In other words, as you go about in the course of your activities, acknowledge that God is with you–right there at that time and place. Doing so enables God to put your feet in the right direction, make you both effective and efficient, and lead people in Spirit-filled ministry. This manner of “praying without ceasing” is what Paul identifies as part of the unquenched Spirit ministry of the church (1 Thess. 5:17,19). You will find yourself often in the right place, doing the right things, prepared for every good work as the Spirit himself intercedes for you on your behalf according to God’s perfect will (Rom. 8:27).
It may seem that organization or streamlining for effective ministry is the balance needed for Spirit-filled ministry–giving order to the free flow of the Spirit. In reality, they go hand in hand. The Bible often indicates that God arranges events in specific times (40 days, 40 years, 1360 days, etc.), and he is never late. He names the stars, counts the hairs, arrays the lilies, and manages to remember the good works of every believer for eternal reward. Moreover, by the Spirit, he sets every gift in every church just as he sees, and knows to be, fit. If God so orders the universe that we can predict to the minute the next arrival of Halley’s Comet, he can help you streamline your ministry for maximum effectiveness.
This past summer I took my father-in-law and two daughters fishing on the St. Louis River, just up from Lake Superior. This spot where the walleye are plentiful is the usual fishing place for many boats. But not on this day–hardly a boat was in sight. Without a single bite an hour later, and with ominous black thunderclouds swiftly approaching, we needed to get off the river quickly.
For the first time ever my reliable 130 hp inboard motor would not start. It was several minutes before I spotted a single oncoming boat on the river. I flagged him down, explained my dilemma, and asked for a tow to the dock.
Much to my surprise, he declined and went to turn away. Considering the precious cargo in my boat, I did something I’ve never done before. I looked at the uncaring man and said, “I need your help now.”
He hemmed and hawed, then reluctantly came about to attach a line.
I relate that story to say this: No matter how well organized or prepared, educated, fine-tuned, capable and ordained you are-you need God’s help. The sooner we all get that straight, the more effective we will be.
Fred Goldschmidt is Associate Pastor of Cloquet Gospel Tabernacle, Cloquet, Minn.
