For the last five days I have been traveling in Eastern Europe with my spiritual mentor and co-laborer Lee Grady in a city just inside the western Romanian border in a city called Oradea meeting with Christian leaders, pastors, and missionaries encouraging them to continue the work of God. Spending time hearing the local struggles and difficulties they face and the walls of religion and denomination power struggles begs to ask a simple question: Why is it so difficult to encourage sisters and brothers in Christ who live in the same city yet we cannot reach out and hold a prayer meeting or conference together? Even as far as not visiting with local leaders from the same church to just affirm, encourage, and support their passion for the Lord. I believe its time to break the spirit of spiritual pride, elitism, and religious domination so that we can let the Holy Spirit teach us humility, love, and grace.
Where are the spiritual fathers?
Apostle Paul was trying to model the concept of being spiritual fathers to the church in Corinth when he wrote to them saying, "for though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me." Christian laborers young and old, European and American, women and men, feel discouraged at the lack of affirmation and encouragement that must be poured into their hearts. One common phrase that I hear very often among many many leaders is that I never had a spiritual father. What blocks this? Why is being a well known teacher, evangelist, author, or pastor so heavily pursued yet thousands of spiritual daughters and sons are left abandoned and orphaned spiritually. The bottom line is we need each other to not only further the gospel of Jesus Christ but to have deep, genuine, and heartfelt relationships in the Christian walk.
Being Relational is Vital
I have been greatly blessed to have met young men in Oradea who travel great distances to not only be taught God's Word but just have the opportunity to spend time talking and hearing and feeling encouragement. I believe it is vital to be relational in our relationships and have the humility and love to just be with people who need even a hug. Have we as Christian leaders become so full of pride that we can only focus on the ministry work and not on those who minister? I challenge you to invest into the lives of others relationaly. Find someone and mentor them. Be proactive in pouring encouragement into each other. There is never " too much" encouragement. I heard at times that if we encourage someone too much they may get too prideful. That's a cold heart of religion. It is the heart of Jesus to be with people and love them!
Our conversations should not make us look hyper spiritual but simple and approachable. There is one example of one minister in Hungary, where i am currently ministering, that a local pastor shared with me how this minister went to heaven and met with the apostle Paul. Not only did he claim he met with him but that Apostle Paul laid hands on him and anointed him as a prophet to Hungary. The discernment should be evident to us that this minister is so clothed with praise and adoration that he is so spiritual that only apostle Paul can commission him into the prophetic ministry. There has been too much praise of men, yes Christian men, that the regular Christian has an extremely hard time relating. Friends, be full of faith, love, humility, patience, and let your life be surrounded by spiritual sons and daughters in whom you pour encouragement.
It is not difficult to encourage those who are weary and wounded. Just start! Let people have easy access to you, so they can not only hear and feel encouragement but also see it with their eyes. Christians, especially in America, have shifted to a selfish and me only mentality. We have become lazy and conceited in finding the needs of those around us and pouring encouragement out. Job is a perfect example of everything that went wrong in his life and yet he found the love to bless his friends that were accusing him of being sinful in his actions. The book of Job gives us a model in chapter 42 verse 10, "and the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."
Challenge
Encourage those around you! Become a spiritual father or mother to those that need the love and compassion and support of God the Father! Invest time being with people! It is more important to be relational than to prosper in ministry. Jesus wants our heart and he wants each of our lives to reflect His heart and His love. Encourage someone today!
Twitter: @PaulMuzichuk
