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MESSY DISCIPLESHIP: Quit Fantasizing A Pristine Ministry

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“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.”(Proverbs 14:4, ESV)

The point of this Proverb is pretty obvious-
Oxen = Ministry to People
Abundant Crops = Fruitful Ministry
Fruitful ministry only comes through raising up strong people.
People come with their own problems and mess.

Summary: If you want the abundant crops of ministry, you must be responsible for the abundant crap of people.

Abundant Crops = Abundant Crap.

Starting off this year has reminded me of this truth once again... Every day I am in the mess with men... guys on the verge of divorce, addicted to porn, losing a child to miscarriage, complaining about our statement of faith, dealing with a loss of income... and identity. It never ends...

OXEN are a Privilege to Steward, not a Problem to Eliminate.

Quit fantasizing about clean mangers and pristine ministries.

Jesus dealt with crap constantly, so did Paul and the other Apostles.

What makes you think you should be different?

Gut Check: What is the greater honor? Standing on a platform as a featured speaker... or, walking with a brother through his darkest valley?

God has totally reframed my thinking on this- Being invited into a man's darkest troubles and most secret sins is a tremendous honor. It means that he trusts me, and God trusts me to bring Christ into that man's life at just the right moment.

Think about this...
God uses the STRENGTH of the OXEN to PLOW the fields,
but He also uses the MANURE of the OXEN to FERTILIZE the fields.

Our goal in discipleship is to create strong men, who can plow the fields of Gospel ministry. The harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few, and you can get a lot done with just a few strong oxen.

But, God can also use all the manure, the crap that men are going through to fertilize the fields of Gospel ministry.

Stop fantasizing about a pristine ministry.

Roll up your sleeves and get in the mess.

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To Equip & Encourage

MESSY DISCIPLESHIP: Quit Fantasizing A Pristine Ministry

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