What are you willing to go through personally, professionally, recreationally, financially, emotionally and relationally to be a member, leader or shepherd for the bride of Christ? Are you ready to die? Are you ready to pray and fast? Are you ready to trust Jesus?
1 Timothy 3:1-13
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
John 5:2 – 6
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Timothy 2:1
I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.
#1: Are You Ready To Die?
The question this text evokes is rooted in the phrase if anyone aspires to. What does that phrase mean? It means: Do you desire it or do you want it? Jesus asks a similar question in John 5:1-6 when he asks the sick man “Do you want to get well?” The question for us is not: Would you be willing? The question is: Are you prepared to die? Are you ready to die? Do you want to die? Have you and will you continue to make the changes and the sacrifices necessary to be an engaged member, leader or shepherd of the bride of Christ?
#2: Are You Ready To Fast And Pray?
One of the most important aspects of growing in spiritual maturity as a leader is the discipline of fasting and prayer and I would actually say that these disciplines are non-negotiable for any of God’s leaders. I like to say that fasting is like noise cancellation. It helps me tune out the voices I shouldn’t be listening to and tune into God’s frequency. As members and leaders in the body of Christ we should never worry about building a platform. We must first open the Bible. When we open the Bible God opens His mouth. God will speak to you and then He will speak through you and people will begin to listen because you have something to say. If you aren’t willing to be in the Word of God and listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, you will NOT hear His comforting, forgiving, or merciful voice either.
The reason most people don’t feel intimacy with God is that they don’t have a prayer rhythm. My grandma said that the shortest distance between you and God is the distance between your knees & the floor. Prayer isn’t something we do with our eyes closed. Prayer is something we do with our eyes wide open. Try experimenting with a new posture like walking or kneeling. Try experimenting with different types of fasts – food, TV, sleep, Internet/social media. But remember the key is giving something up and replacing it with prayer.
#3: Are You Ready To Trust Jesus?
A change of pace + A change of place = A change of perspective. If you want God to do something new in your life, you cannot keep doing the same old things. So my advice is… Do something different and you will see what a difference it makes. We are often so afraid of doing the wrong thing that we don’t do the right thing. So here you go… Pray! Fast. Surrender. And then act. Pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you.