Jesus prioritized time with the Father even in the busiest seasons
In all the hustle and bustle of ministry, Jesus still found time to be with his Father. It’s easy for the pace of life to squeeze out what’s most important. Have you ever said to yourself, I’ve got so much work today. I don’t have time to read God’s Word and pray. I’ll pick it up tomorrow. We’ve all done that from time to time, but not Jesus. The busier life got, the more determined Jesus was to go deeper in prayer with his Father.
Jesus chose prayer over rest even after exhausting days
We see this in Mark’s Gospel as Jesus had just been up until late in the night healing the sick, casting out demons, caring for hurting people. I’m sure at the end of the day he was completely exhausted. If there was a day to hit the snooze button, it would have been that day. But no, Jesus was up early:
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying. Simon and his companions searched for him, and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.” He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (Mark 1:35–39)
Going deep with God is the foundation for lasting ministry impact
Why is this important? Jesus modeled for his men an important principle: you must go deep to go wide. The deeper you go in prayer, in God’s Word, and in knowing and following Jesus, the deeper God will use you to advance his kingdom. A lot of people get this one backward. We think if they focus on how wide their ministry will go, then it will result in a deeper walk with God. But that is not the case. The deep things of God produce the wide reach of ministry.
A lack of intimacy with God leads to empty ministry activity
Chuck Swindoll underscores this desperate need for a deeper walk with God. He recalled a pastor who came up to him following a meeting and confessed, “I’m operating on fumes. I am lonely, hollow, shallow, enslaved to a schedule that never lets up.” Reflecting on that man’s honest and vulnerable confession, Swindoll writes:
“As a result of my observations and that recent encounter specifically, I decided to do some serious thinking and reading and praying. My journal became the anvil on which most of my private thoughts were hammered out. Thankfully, I have had the time to let those thoughts linger and spawn other thoughts that drove me deeper until I arrived at the heart of what seems to be the core issue – a lack of intimacy. Pure and simple, that best defines the problem. An absence of intimacy with the Almighty. Involvements, yes, but no intimacy. Activities and programs aplenty, but not intimacy.”
Ministry without intimacy creates a dangerous disconnect
Swindoll’s observations are on point with the struggles of most ministry leaders. The pace, the perfection, and the performance expected of ministries leaders often create the perfect storm that causes many to put on the appearance of spiritual health while inwardly they struggle.
Your Team Leaders must learn this now. Neglecting their personal walk with God will hinder their ministry and put their soul in danger.
Many pastors who chase after the lure of a sweeping, wide ministry to the neglect of their intimacy with Christ will find the ground give way as the erosion of their souls causes them to fall into personal sin.
Jesus stayed focused on the Father instead of chasing popularity
Jesus didn’t give in to the swell of popularity. He didn’t chase after society’s approval. Being a celebrity didn’t entice him. He walked with his Father and was focused on the Father’s will.
True fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ
Toward the end of his ministry, Jesus surfaced the need for intimacy with the Father again. Under the glowing light of the moon, Jesus led his men toward the Garden of Gethsemane, and he stopped to examine a grapevine. He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me” (John 15:5). Just as Jesus was dependent on his Father, Jesus’ followers must be dependent on him. His deeper life is found in ongoing intimacy with Jesus.
Leaders must be trained to pursue depth before multiplication
Your Team Leaders need to grow in this area. And this is a tremendous opportunity to disciple these Team Leaders and show them how to feed themselves with God’s Word, how to put Jesus at the center of their lives, and how to pray effectively and passionately. Teach them how to pursue holiness and run from compromise. Show them how to walk in grace and pursue biblical community. You must go deep to go wide.
This blog features an excerpt from one of our books, The Disciple-Making Leader.
