When you want to get started toward being a revelation of Jesus, many “experts” suggest ask religious questions: “Are you born again?” or “Do you confess Jesus as Lord?” or “Do you know where you will go when you die?”
If you do this, what response will you get? The most likely response is whatever the person thinks he has to say to get away from you. He has been trapped before and he has no interest in going through it again.
When you read the story of what Phillip did in Acts 8, you see how he met the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip asked him a question directly related to what the Ethiopian was doing. But he didn’t try to tell him anything about God until the Ethiopian asked him a question.
I suggest to you that one of the single greatest problems in the history of the modern church is that we keep trying to answer questions that nobody is asking. Stop preaching to people who don’t have any questions. There is a different approach that God takes.
The plain truth is that ALL ministry crosses a bridge of relationship. We can never serve anyone with whom we have no relationship. Why is it important for someone to stand up and say things about me when introducing me to my audience? It’s important because in saying nice things about me, he begins the building of a bridge of relationship between me and those to whom I’ve been sent. Thus, when I become their servant, they are able to begin to receive from me.
When I’m invited to speak, I sometimes begin with some funny or unusual stories. When I begin by saying something funny or by asking people questions I am strengthening the bridge. When I poke fun at myself, it may build a stronger bridge of relationship with some folks and because there’s a stronger bridge of relationship, they are able to receive more from me. Consequently, they’ll go away greatly strengthened and built up by the things that the Spirit of God speaks through me.
The same things are true for you. The only people you can really touch with spiritual revelation are the ones with whom you are willing to build a relationship. Efforts to minister to people with whom you have no relationship are totally vain. Start by building relationships with real people and build real relationships with them, not phony religious relationships.
The thing that was so strong and powerful about the impact that Jesus had on the earth is that he loved people. He genuinely loved them. He was a servant to them. He set aside everything that he had a right to in heaven and he took on the form of a servant. If we’re going to be genuine disciple makers as He was, that must be our starting point. We must start by setting aside all the religion that we think we have a right to. Then begin to be a servant to people in a way that builds relationships — genuine, honest, loving relationships.
On one occasion, when I walked into a hotel where I was scheduled to speak, the woman who owns the hotel greeted me. I told her my name and she said “Oh yes, you are Kim’s friend.” I had walked into a place where someone else who had a relationship, had prepared the way for me by building the relationship for me before I arrived.
When we want Jesus to be recognized as he enters into peoples lives, build the relationship with them so that they’ll say, “Oh yes, you’re the Jesus that my friend loves.” You see, relationship is the key to all ministry becoming effective. Without relationship it won’t work !
His, thus Yours,
Stuart
His-Family 