The Jesus Model of Ministry: Expectation

By Rick Warren

If you want God to use you, you need to expect Him to do so. He’ll do as much in your life as you expect Him to do. No more. No less.
Jesus expected God to work in His life. There are a lot of examples of this in Scripture. For instance, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Remember the prayer Jesus prayed that day? He prayed, “I thank you, Father, that you listen to me. I know that you always listen to me, but I say this for the sake of the people here, so that they will believe that you sent me” (John 11:41b-42 TEV).
Jesus wasn’t tentative, saying, “Gee, God, I wonder if you’d be willing to raise Lazarus.” Jesus was certain God listened to him and that God took his requests seriously. Jesus expected God to use him. Pastor, we should expect God to use us too.
Expectation: We must expect God to use us.
Think of it like this: God will use us as much as we expect him to use us. Paul expected God to use him, and he expected God to take care of him. In 2 Corinthians 1:9-10, Paul writes, “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us” (NIV).
Paul expected God to work in his life. And God did.
What are you expecting God to do in your life tomorrow morning? What are you expecting Him to do in your world, in your neighborhood, and in your ministry?
William Carey once said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”
What are you expecting from God today.
The Jesus Model for Ministry -

·      Identification: We must know who we are.

·      Motivation: We must clarify why we are in ministry.

·      Concentration: We must focus on what is important.

·      Dedication: We must keep our lives pure.

·      Delegation: We must involve other people in our ministry.

·      Meditation: We must meet God every day.

·      Relaxation: We need to take time to enjoy life.

·      Education: We must never stop learning.

Graphic by Kyle Key.