#4 - We’ve Got To Dream Big - John 14:12
Out of all the verses in Scripture that both excite and confuse me—this one takes the cake.
However, I believe what Jesus said here is true…and so one of the things I always want to be accused of is dreaming big.
How about you? For some reason the children of the King are the smallest dreamers on the planet. In church would we have let Vegas and Hollywood outdo us—UNACCEPTABLE!
And personally..I’ve seen way too many people live for lesser dreams when God has an Ephesians 3:20 life that is merely a prayer away!
I personally think the church should be outdoing Vegas and Disney! I think we have not only the ability to create…but the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT! Having Him actually empowers us to both dream big and then accomplish the very dreams that He placed inside of us!
I believe God wants MORE for the church…and I wand to see what Jesus was talking about in this verse happen!
#5 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Stay Connected - John 14:15, John 14:21, John 15:5
Jesus said if we love Him that we will obey Him…but the only way to do this is by staying connected with Him on a consistent basis.
I believe that satan doesn’t want to necessarily make us sin…he just wants to get us so busy that we don’t have time to consistently connect with Christ.
When I travel my computer will often flash up a message, “You are about to lose power—please connect to a power source and recharge your battery before you lose everything.”
DANG…I think Jesus was saying that same thing in John 15:5!
One of the biggest temptations of a pastor is to become busy. Most of us have cell phones and gadgets strapped around our belt…we don’t look like a pastor—we look like flippin’ Batman. I once heard Rob Bell say, “If I were satan I would invent a device that people carried that made sure their calender was always in front of them!”
The enemy can make us so busy that we don’t necessarily sin…we just don’t have the time to live our lives in complete obedience!
#6 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Play Hurt - John 15:18
Life hurts…pastors and Christians are often carrying wounds with them…but—we CAN’T GIVE UP!
Jesus went to a cross…and took a beating before He went. The least we can do is endure a little criticism and being kicked out of the social club at work and school!
Pastors, if you are leading then you will be condemned and criticized…move on…play hurt…and talk to God a lot about it. David, a man after God’s own heart, did in the Psalms. He was so honest with God that it scares me just a little.
Pastors—we need to play hurt. If the devil takes us out it needs to be done in WAY more dramatic fashion that a blogger, and anonymous letter or a church member on his 4th church because “he can’t find one to meet his needs!”
#7 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Be Spirit Led - John 16:12-14
One of the most awesome privileges of following Christ is having Jesus with me every single day through the presence of His Holy Spirit.
I am NEVER alone…and I do not have to figure life out all by myself.
I always advise pastors and Christians to take some time to pray…and then LISTEN. I believe that God is ALWAYS speaking…but many times we aren’t listening, thus being the reason that we miss Him at times.
I have made SO many mistakes in life when I didn’t listen to the Spirit’s leadership!
Those are the seven things—hope they help!