I can’t help but see this quote in the way Jesus lead His disciples. Yes, for a season they did “follow” Him. He did call them to follow Him after all, so to be anywhere else would have not been good. But there comes a transition between where Jesus is and where we are.
In Luke chapters 9 Jesus calls the 12 disciples to Him and He gives them authority and tells them to go. And in Luke chapter 10 Jesus calls others, 70 others to Him and does the same. Both groups return and tell the stories of what happened as they went. Amazing to me and on a side note, the 12 disciples and the 70 others went out and did relatively the same things. I guess it doesn’t really matter if you’re a “professional” minister or “lay” minister. If you’re sent in the Name of Jesus Christ, His power and authority, you’re a minister!
At the close of the Gospel’s Jesus commissions His disciples and in doing so, invites them to begin to do in His place what He did with them and often for them. So much so, that as He departs to heaven, angels tell them to stop standing around! What were they supposed to do? Go to Jerusalem and wait there for the Holy Spirit to give them the power to go out and be witnesses to Jesus in all the world. GO!
Are you getting the picture? He calls them to follow Him. He walks with and works with and teaches them. He says to them, now you go out and do it too. Come back and let’s “review”. Now, you’ve got it! Go! Go out and do what you have seen me do! It’s time for you to lead. Its ok, I’m with you. I’m behind you. I’ve got your back! I believe in you more than you believe in yourselves. You’ve got my permission. Be who you were created and called to be! I’m releasing you, I’m resourcing you, I’m supporting you, I’m behind you all the way! Go for it! Go!
Yes, this is how I see Jesus leading. Look how many people He is behind. His servant-leadership challenges me to the very core. Every motivation and inspiration is purified by His heart. “Not My will be done, but Yours.” He calls them. He walks with them. He sends them. He backs them. He stands behind those 5 fold gifts that He gave to the church; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor-teachers. He stands behind the missionary, the artist, the musician, the poet, the dancer, the writer, the actor, the singer, the song-writer, the sculptor, the leader, the servant, the host, the healer, the giver, the exhorter. He stands behind the church, just as a husband stands behind his wife with loving support and affectionate strength. He stands behind you!
For me, this is the way I want to lead. I want to get behind and encourgae, equip, empower and release others into the "work of the ministry". To be and do what God has created and called them to be and do. There are many who haev done this for me. And doing this for others is what I'm called to do. If you are someone who needs encouragement to do what you believe God has called you to do, to breakout and into something more, email me. I would like to hear your story and what you believe god has called you to do. If we can't help you, we will point you and connect you to those who can!
One of my main desires is to work with individual and groups who have a desire to build "community" based on Christ. I would like to work with people who want to step out and begin to explore and discover what "Church" is outside of the walls of what "church" has become. From autonomous, simple, house churches to networks of the same. I am called to help connect, ignite, stir-up and spur on those who are searching for "The Kingdom" in their midst. I want to walk with those who see the land they stand on as their "mission" field.
For the last four years my family has been on this kind of a journey. We left the "institution" in search of the Kingdom and the Church. And we were lead right smack dab into it! Right here in our front yard! How could something so grand and divine be in front of us for so long and us not see it? Amazing! Thank God for His grace to give us eyes to see and ears to hear! And we walked away and out of so much! But we have come into so much more! SO MUCH MORE! There is always MORE in the Kingdom! And most of all, we have come to know just how truly Jesus is behind us all the way!
I know this to be true. Isaiah said it this way, “And the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard”. Jesus is behind you. Just go!
Tim Crozier
