14
2010
My Evil Plan to Save the World
An article by 
I have a confession.
I often find myself utterly convinced that God needs my help.
I have a hunch that there are many of us in church leadership that feel this way… that God would not have wired us the way that he did and called us to what he called us to if he didn’t feel like he would not succeed without our help. And so we go and make our plans to ensure success… and get frustrated when our plans fail.
This morning I was reading Galatians 3 and verse 4 reminded me of me: Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? I find myself falling into this trap over and over… the Spirit gives me a vision for something and I begin to pursue it. After pursuing this calling for a little while I find myself striking out on my own, instead of waiting on the leading of the spirit.
Some years ago the greatest Christian music band ever sang about this:
It is said that during a Roman Triumph that a slave would ride in the chariot of the general being celebrated holding a golden wreath above the head of the general and whispering in his ear “Respice te, hominem te memento” or “Look behind you, remember you are only a man”. I think that there are times that I, and all of us who serve in ministry could use someone to whisper the same in our ears. I have been fortunate throughout my life to be surrounded by men who have no problem reminding me when I am depending more on my abilities to grow a successful ministry than on the Holy Spirit. It is my hope that all of us have, or may find the same.
How do YOU make sure that you are relying on the Holy Spirit and not your own abilities to lead a ministry?
About the Author: Matt Steen
Over the last fifteen years I have been a Church Planter, Youth Pastor, Executive Pastor, and now I serve as a Church Concierge with churchsimple.net. I love Jesus, my wife, the Redskins and Capitals and am currently living on Long Island striving to properly pronounce the word G'island.
