Leader's VITALITY

"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings...(Philippians 3:10)."... but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Dan.11:32).

We talked of Vision earlier. Yes, many preachers and teachers talk of visions, but few ever tell us how to get a vision. Now, let me say something that can help you to catch the vision for Christ and His Kingdom.

There has been one ingredient that has stimulated my desire for a vision and power from God. It is to become sick and tired of where I am. If you are satisfied and complacent the way you are, then you probably need to ask God to make you miserable and give you a fresh vision. Then a craving and hungering for the power to see that vision become a reality will follow. There will be no power until there is a vision which stimulates a hunger and thirst for fresh movement of God in and through our lives.

However, even with a vision we are destined and doomed to nothing but daydreams and air castles unless there is vitality in our lives. In Acts 26:16, Christ tells Paul to stand on his own feet and that indicates that Christ expects us to do something ourselves, and that is vitality. There must be two kinds of vitality.

Physical Vitality: Many christians today have the idea that all you need to do is sit around and meditate and God is simply going to pour out all His blessings. In reality, every great and lasting work we know of throughout history has come, yes, through the power of God, but vitally linked to hard work of some christian or group of christians. God still honours hard work ! (And by the way, real prayers, sacrificial giving, and sincere soul winning, day in and day out, and year in and year out, is some of the hardest work on the earth). We are co-labourers together with God (1Cor.3:9). He expects His child to develop blisters on his hands while bearing the stretchers which are used to carry the world to Christ. (Co1.1:29). Today we have a lot of folks that are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. Enter into the work of Christ and the Church with sleeves rolled up-hands and heart ready for sincere work in the vineyard.

SPIRITUAL VITALITY: Physical vitality alone is but sounding brass & tinkling cymbals. The result will be beautiful but will not be spiritual and fruitful. There will be technique but not the pull of the power of God. The winning combination is the physical vitality linked with the spiritual vitality. The Spirit's indwelling is what allows Christ's outpouring through us. What we are able to do for others will be because of what the power of the Lord has done in us. The Holy Spirit's unction is the vitality and is what we need for our actions. He makes it real and possible all that God has planned to be done in and through our lives individually and corporately. Thus, it is the Spirit that gives power to the physical to make our lives, ministries, and churches productive. Through this controlling of Christ-then, and then only, you will be happy, joyful, useful, prayerful, radiant christian-in other words, a powerfull christian. Jesus' church will be powerful not because of any power in or of ourselves, but because of His power in us -''that the power of Christ may rest upon me'' (2 Cor.12:9). His power in us! Oh, Yes! Amen! and Amen !!!