"Child Like" Faith

I was on a small plane for a short flight recently when we were hit with violent turbulence. I felt like I was in a toy plane being tossed about in a hurricane. All of the adults were white knuckled with intense looks on their faces. A little girl about 4 years old sat across the aisle from me with a look of glee on her face. She grabbed her seatbelt like they were reigns to a bucking bronco and began to shriek with reckless delight as she rode the waves. It was better to her than a trip to Six Flags or Disney. What a great example of what it means to have Faith Like a Child. Not only to know that Jesus will see us through the storm, but as much as is possible, to actually enjoy the storm as well. So I decided right then and there, no matter what is going on, to grab the reigns, put a smile on my face and let out a good "yee-ha!" Come on everybody! Jesus is in full control!

Gary Wilkerson interview

This is an interview with Gary Wilkerson back in 1985 which I think lends really great insight to ministry. He is the son of David Wilkerson. The source link is http://www.sightmagazine.com.au/stories/interview/wilkerson4.11.05.php

Having a Part with Jesus

I am truly enjoying Easter! As usual... The scriptures are familiar, the story never changes, it would seem that we would get bored but I never do. Instead, I as well as billions of people around the world during this time am reminded of the single most important event ever in the history of the world. Not the death of Jesus Christ but His resurrection!! He is ALIVE!!!

This year I am focused on the fact that with only a few hours left before Jesus was arrested, He spent time doing those last minute things which He knew would be most important. With days to go, He cleansed the temple. With hours to go, He washed the feet of His disciples.

John 13 tells us that Jesus, knowing that God had put all things under His power and knowing that He had come from God and was returning to God got up from the meal, removed His cloak, put on a servants apron and began to wash the feet of His disciples. Verse 1 explains that Jesus was about to show them the full extent (full measure) of His love. Some versions say that He "loved them to the end."

Peter didn't react well and told Jesus that he would never allow Him to wash his feet. I'm glad that Peter did this so that we could get the explanation from Jesus. Jesus said, "unless I wash you, you have no part with me." (NIV vs. 8b) Peter further reacted and asked Jesus to then wash his hands and head as well, but Jesus further explained that it is not necessary to wash in full, someone who is already clean.

I have had my feet washed in a public ceremony and I find it very uncomfortable. Once, it was by a Pastor who I respected very much who was senior to me. How much more uncomfortable would it be if it were Jesus Himself?!

Receiving ministry from Jesus has never been comfortable for me. Responding to an altar call in a Church, being gently (or harshly) rebuked by a friend who was sent by God, confronting my wrong attitudes and sin during times of prayer... All very uncomfortable! I don't enjoy it at all!! I don't like it when it is in private and I don't like it even more when it is in a public setting.

But I need it. Jesus said that unless I allow Him to wash my feet, that I have no part with Him. Wow. Oh my!! He told the disciples after He had cleansed their feet that they should wash one another's feet. That they should conduct ministry to one another. But they could not do that unless they had first had their own feet washed by Jesus.

For a ministry person, ministering to others is much easier than receiving ministry. And that is one of the pitfalls we must avoid at all cost. Otherwise, His blessing will not be on our efforts and we will have no part with Him, possibly even to the point of losing our place in eternity.

You cannot wash someone's feet who is not willing. We must submit ourselves to His cleansing process, even though we like Peter, are already washed and clean. And the hardest one is that we must take the time. They only had hours left... There is always something very important on our plate... But Jesus showed them that there is nothing as important as an intimate cleansing from Him.

Let us submit ourselves to Him and allow Him to minister to us intimately. Even if it is through the ministry of another person that He sends. Then we will be able to Have a Part with Him and we will be able to do the same for Him in the lives of other people.

Have an amazing Easter everybody!!

Melbourne Praise Centre

One more post about the Melbourne Praise Centre. I've been away from that wonderful group of people including Pst Yudah Soetopo and his family now for a few weeks and I keep thinking about them. God is moving in their midst in a truly amazing and gracious way! They are awesome people... Awesome in the Lord! If ever you get a chance to go to Melbourne, or better yet if you are living in Melbourne and don't have a Church home, get in touch with them. You will be blessed! Their Church web site is www.melbournepraisecentre.org.au

Melbourne Praise Center!

I'm in Melbourne, Australia with the Melbourne Praise Center for two Sundays, the primary reason was for a camp this last week-end but also for a variety of other engagements ranging from a leaders meeting to home meetings and then finally a Sunday service for their City Congregation this coming Sunday. Tonight we had a combined cell ministry service and on Saturday we will have an evangelistic service. Exciting and awesome!!!

Tonight I met a young lady at the service who is now living in Melbourne who was previously at a Church I ministered at in Indonesia, I'm thinking about 4 years ago. She reminded me of how I had spent 15 minutes ministering to her specifically to help her to forgive her brother. I remembered it and how she had been a particularly difficult case but had finally received a breakthrough. She then introduced me to him tonight and hugged him, saying that she love's him so much! She encouraged me to keep ministering because I don't know what the results are going to be. I needed to hear that tonight.

With that, I want us all to be encouraged that even when we spend a few minutes with someone, we never know how life changing it can be. The greatest investment that we can make in someone's life is to take the time to pray with them and stand in the gap for them in their time of need. God always wins, and we need to enforce His victory in prayer.

Follow to Lead

Sometimes, We must Follow to Lead

I was walking with my 9 year old son Ethan on a very busy street with no sidewalk and huge trucks zipping along. It was actually pretty scary. We had to go single file but I did not want him to follow me because of the danger. I put him in front of me and walked him along with my hands on his shoulders while keeping a watchful eye on the situation. I led him by following him. The Lord spoke to my heart at that time, “This is how you must lead people so that they will learn how to become leaders themselves.”

With all three of my sons, I have coached them in sports. As I have taught them how to swing a bat or a club, often, I have stood behind them, showing them the best placement of arms, hips, best stance, etc. Again, standing behind them to lead.

At Church on Sunday, a dear woman came up to me and said, “Pastor Steve, the Lord told me to tell you, that if you want to lead these people, that you must follow them to lead them.” She had no idea what she was telling me. She could not have possibly known about my experience on the road with Ethan just days before.

Athletic teams often have coaches and team captains. The team captain is a player who is in leadership, but he is submitted to the coach and cannot actually do the job of the coach. Sometimes in ministry, people who are supposed to be coaches end up being more like team captains, spending so much time doing the work, that never coach anyone, never train leaders. The Apostle Paul explained in the Bible that the more senior leaders of the Church are called to train the people for works of service.

I admit that one of the hardest things for me to do is to delegate. To allow less experienced people to do too much. Partially because I am somewhat a perfectionist and also because it is usually less bothersome to simply do things myself.

And so I humbly receive this correction from the Lord. I am determined to do more leading by following. How about you?

A Season of Cleansing and Growth

Yesterday evening was amazing! We baptized two precious people at a Life Group in a community swimming pool! Awesome! The Life Group is a new one held every Thursday night in the Valley Verde area of Pasig, Metro Manila. Please let me know if you are interested in joining. The group runs just over 10 people, mostly consisting of people who know nothing about the Bible. They come from a tradition where they attended a service but were not trained to read or think for themselves. It is very basic and powerful. Most of our other Life Groups held throughout the week get deeper because the attendees are seasoned Christians. Whatever your need, we can place you in just the right environment. Contact me directly at pastorstevemckinney@gmail.com or on Facebook using the same Email address to look me up.

We have also been cleaning out closets as a Church, burning relics and idols and all kinds of related activities. The past month has consisted of messages and prayer times focused on making our lives as pure and pleasing to God as possible, which includes getting rid of all the physical things and the attitudes that hinder us.

It is amazing what God is doing and I would encourage all of my readers to do the same thing. There is a song entitled "Pleasing to You" by Jared Anderson which has been instrumental in this process for us as a Church which I would like to share with you. Click on the link below to view it on YouTube with the words.