Thursday: Learning Through Success
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
There are two areas in which we can learn through success. There is the area that can be called practical/procedural and the area that can be called spiritual cooperation. Although it can be rightly argued that there is a spiritual aspect to both areas, we will deal with them separately in order to better highlight what can be learned from success.
The practical/procedural is where we learn from what we actually do. For instance, we learn the most acceptable sequence in which to present Bible studies in our area. We learn which preaching venue is best, which advertising draws the most people, and a host of other practical and procedural choices that best fit our particular location.
Spiritual cooperation is an emphasis upon the fact that God is intimately involved in the believer’s witnessing and evangelism. After all, it is God’s will that everyone be saved.
Read 2 Peter 3:9. What crucial lesson must we take from this verse that we should always keep in mind and claim in all our witnessing activities? See also 1 Cor. 3:6.
It is no use planting if no one is going to water the seed. Likewise, it is no use watering if you don’t put the water where the seeds are planted. And even if the sower and the one who waters get it all right, there is still no increase unless given by God. As we see the blessing of God bringing success to our humble efforts, we learn. We learn the extent to which God is, and wants to be, involved in our endeavors. We learn to trust Him more. We learn the importance of a close spiritual cooperation with God as we strive to reach the souls for whom Christ died because there isn’t a person you witness to for whom Christ has not died and whom He doesn’t want to see saved. How important it is that we never forget that crucial truth.
How do we take the words of Jesus in John 15:5 and make them practical and real in our life, particularly in our work of witnessing and evangelism? How can we as individuals or as a team ministry truly experience what Christ tells us in this text? What things must we change in order to have that kind of connection with Him?
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I believe that we need to use our resources to the maximum. There are hymns that are conducive to bringing people to God. The music department of the church should plan thoroughly. The special songs should match the theme of the sermon of the day and if possible one should be sung before the sermon and one at the end. Children should be used in evangelism. Those who show oratory skills should be coached to share God's message. In every house call, a child should be placed in the forefront to present God's message...the impact will be great and God will take care of the increase! Let us be unified! Let us spread the Word with power through the ministry of the Holy Spirit!
We can only learn from success if we go back and chart review our success to evaluate where we can make improvements, and fix in our mind the salient plans that made us successful. Yes Christ made us successful by His power and we give him the glory. But we need to keep these tools and gifts that made us successful in the forefront. Another point today is that success is not measured by numbers, which many have pointed out in various other blogs. I count success as doing, then leaving the numbers to Christ as long as I sow, water, and harvest when needed irrelevant of time and not necessarily in that order.
God Bless you all in your sharing the gospel, which is also the love of God, God's love for us, and what He has done for us.
Good Day
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). This is the key for success. People who understand this point and abide in Christ no matter what will succeed in both spiritual life and evangelistic thrust. Trying to do anything without Christ is of no use. Let us all abide in Christ and reap the fruit of success. God bless you all.