July 10th, 2023
Written by Amanda Allums
Do you desire to be used by God? Are you holding anything back from God or do you have more that you can give? Do you desire to see the lost saved?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, keep reading. If you think it’s difficult to lead people to Christ, or you aren’t sure how to do that, keep reading. If you are a follower of Christ, God wants to use you to reach others too.
How do we lead people to Christ through worship, preaching, dramas, outreaches, and simply loving people? How does any of that work once people walk onto the church grounds for a service or an event, or we travel to do an outreach or go on a mission trip? We bring it all back to the One, Jesus Christ.
Jason and I have been in ministry for 23 years and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it is God’s grace that has sustained us. Anything great that has transpired has been because of Jesus working through us. We are nothing without Him and we are simply vessels who are willing to be used by God.
Our actions and our words should lead everyone to not see us, but to see God working through us. There are so many people in ministry around the world who allow people to get attached to them and follow them, when we should be leading in a way that keeps pointing them to Jesus. Not our opinions, not our provision, and certainly not our personality. Jesus is the only One who can give people what they are truly seeking and needing: peace, healing, joy, and salvation.
We may be the one up front leading a song or preaching a message, or helping people in general (because someone has to lead) but, when we are leading, we should be leading in a way that people do not see us; rather; they see Jesus in us and are encouraged and inspired to draw closer to Him.
Every week that I lead worship, I am bringing my own requests to God and I am laying things at His feet just like everyone else in the room. So when Jesus shows up, I know it has absolutely nothing to do with me! Jesus doesn’t come into the room because of us, He comes in spite of us! The same way Jesus comforted us, we need to comfort others and point them to the Comforter.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” –2 Cor 1:3-4
Stephanie Gretzinger once said, “True worship is when we withhold nothing from God because Satan dines on what we withhold from the Lord.” So, if you feel like you have more to offer, or if there’s anything you’re holding onto that God is telling you to let go of, I encourage you to give it to Him. Because the closer we get to God, the less we need to carry. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
So I encourage you to give your all for Jesus, even if you’re tired, or you think you’re too young or too old, or if you’re still wondering what you have to offer. Don’t withhold anything and watch how God uses your worship to touch others' hearts. We just have to be a willing vessel and not hold anything back. When we are willing to serve Jesus in true humility and give our all without expecting any accolades or anything in return, it is then that we will see God move in people’s lives and our joy will be when He receives all the glory for it. It is in that moment when we know that we have done what we were supposed to do as servants of Christ because it didn’t lead anyone back to us, it led them back to Jesus!
Do you desire to be used by God? Are you holding anything back from God or do you have more that you can give? Do you desire to see the lost saved?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, keep reading. If you think it’s difficult to lead people to Christ, or you aren’t sure how to do that, keep reading. If you are a follower of Christ, God wants to use you to reach others too.
How do we lead people to Christ through worship, preaching, dramas, outreaches, and simply loving people? How does any of that work once people walk onto the church grounds for a service or an event, or we travel to do an outreach or go on a mission trip? We bring it all back to the One, Jesus Christ.
Jason and I have been in ministry for 23 years and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it is God’s grace that has sustained us. Anything great that has transpired has been because of Jesus working through us. We are nothing without Him and we are simply vessels who are willing to be used by God.
Our actions and our words should lead everyone to not see us, but to see God working through us. There are so many people in ministry around the world who allow people to get attached to them and follow them, when we should be leading in a way that keeps pointing them to Jesus. Not our opinions, not our provision, and certainly not our personality. Jesus is the only One who can give people what they are truly seeking and needing: peace, healing, joy, and salvation.
We may be the one up front leading a song or preaching a message, or helping people in general (because someone has to lead) but, when we are leading, we should be leading in a way that people do not see us; rather; they see Jesus in us and are encouraged and inspired to draw closer to Him.
Every week that I lead worship, I am bringing my own requests to God and I am laying things at His feet just like everyone else in the room. So when Jesus shows up, I know it has absolutely nothing to do with me! Jesus doesn’t come into the room because of us, He comes in spite of us! The same way Jesus comforted us, we need to comfort others and point them to the Comforter.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” –2 Cor 1:3-4
Stephanie Gretzinger once said, “True worship is when we withhold nothing from God because Satan dines on what we withhold from the Lord.” So, if you feel like you have more to offer, or if there’s anything you’re holding onto that God is telling you to let go of, I encourage you to give it to Him. Because the closer we get to God, the less we need to carry. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
So I encourage you to give your all for Jesus, even if you’re tired, or you think you’re too young or too old, or if you’re still wondering what you have to offer. Don’t withhold anything and watch how God uses your worship to touch others' hearts. We just have to be a willing vessel and not hold anything back. When we are willing to serve Jesus in true humility and give our all without expecting any accolades or anything in return, it is then that we will see God move in people’s lives and our joy will be when He receives all the glory for it. It is in that moment when we know that we have done what we were supposed to do as servants of Christ because it didn’t lead anyone back to us, it led them back to Jesus!
1 Comment
Thank you Pastor Amanda. 💜