A Newsletter of Biblically Balanced Ministries, Inc.
Power Needed to
Balance (June 1999)
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala is a must read book. The book has reinforced several things we have been teaching about being a Biblically balanced ministry. Proverbs teaches,
"The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his
way" (Proverbs 16:9). The balance in this verse is that it challenges us to "plan" and trust God for the His leading. Another way of thinking about this balance is to realize the balance between planning and prayer. Brooklyn Tabernacle (the church which this book is about) is demonstration of the power of prayer to transform lives. The following thoughts are reflections stimulated or reinforced by
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.
First, remember that planning without prayer neglects the greatest source of power for the accomplishment of anything to the glory of God. One of the principles we have been teaching is that the ultimate goal of strategies in ministry is to glorify God. Sincere prayer is a channel which the Holy Spirit uses to empower us toward His glory. The book of Acts demonstrates to us that each time there was a mighty moving of the Spirit it was during a time of concentrated prayer.
Prayer is an expression and acknowledgment of weakness. Jim Cymbala states,
"I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can't resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for His
power."1 Any planning that begins with a sense of one's own strength or that of a church is doomed to be man centered. God loves to demonstrate His power through our weaknesses. The reason is simple,
"that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of
us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Secondly, we need to always make
prayer the first, continual and last part of planning. Prayer meeting has become the least attractive service and is all but dismissed as if it were for a bygone age. Cymbala speaks of a turning point,
"From this day on the prayer meeting will be the barometer of our church. What happens [at prayer meeting] will be the gauge by which we will judge success or failure because that will be the measure of by which God blesses
us."2 The mistake is often made of measuring success by how well our plan is executed rather then what God does by His power for His plan and glory.
Thirdly, let me speak to my fellow preachers.
Prayer is more important then our preaching. The grace of God has been demonstrated many times with great blessing and then there have been those other times in my almost thirty years of ministry. I can remember many of those times of great blessing and behind it was a praying church and prayer worriers. Cymbala challenges us by asking
"Does the Bible ever say anywhere from Genesis to Revelation, 'My house shall be called a house of
preaching?"3 And, he follows that question with
"I have seen God do more in people's lives during ten minutes of real prayer than in ten of my
messages."4 We need to humble ourselves before God and realize God is more concerned about our prayer life then he is our preaching.
When prayer is the first priority the preaching will be anointed with power. Acts 6:4 gives the order, "we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word."
The church today needs to be sensitive to what God is using to build His Church. A danger in understanding our culture and ministry effectiveness is we can be diverted form the real source of power. Cymbala mentions three diversions:
"The Lure of Novelty, The Lure of Marketing, and The Lure of Doctrine Without
Power."5 His points are well made and should be considered in trying to be Biblically Balanced in ministry and life. God certainly can and does use strategic planning but these tools can never replace the power that only comes through prayer. Let us keep the balance by keeping the most important things most important, particularly prayer.
One additional reminder is given
"It takes more than academic rigor to win the world for Christ. Correct doctrine alone won't do
it."6 People are looking for something authentic to happen in their lives. The greatest power source we have to change peoples lives is God Himself. One might say but
"the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two - edged sword..." This is certainly true but, remember
"the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of
God." The Holy Spirit is our dependency, not our ability to weald the sword.
"We should make
plans—counting on God to direct us" (Proverbs 16:9 The Living Bible [paraphrased]). A balanced ministry is a ministry that recognizes the importance of planning and the priority of prayer. One without the other results in imbalance. We should plan but the power for ministry is prayer.
by Gary R. Becker, President
(Quotations: Jim Cymbala,
Fresh Wind, Fresh Spirit published by Zondervan Publishing: # 1 p. 19, 2 p. 27, 3 p. 70, 4 p. 71, 5 p. 197, 6 p. 138)
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