Christian leaders embrace the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the foundation of their life in Him. It’s also the basis for life-giving rebirths within their ministries. Let’s look at the essential elements of ministry resurrections.
I experienced a practical resurrection during the renovation of our 35-year-old kitchen. When the estimate on my plans exceeded our budget, my late husband Ron urged me to go back to the drawing board. The only way to stay within budget was to eliminate a new pantry. It was painful to erase it from the sketch, but I did. Meanwhile, Ron began calling my friends who’d sung the praises of their own pantries. He was convinced, and we agreed to draw the pantry back in. Forevermore, it’s called the Resurrection Pantry.
Much more significant was a resurrection within our ministry. I was receiving numerous invitations to share about a new paradigm, and board discussions were tense. Was it mission drift? Would it overshadow my other ministry responsibilities? When another invitation came, I included it on the board meeting agenda. During worship at the meeting, I sensed the Lord saying, “Lay it down.” I quietly pleaded and chafed, but eventually laid it down. I shared with the board my willingness to forego speaking invitations into the future, since we weren’t experiencing unity and peace. We all agreed. Several years later, God brought us to a clear understanding that we were called to steward the paradigm and share it with others. It’s been a priority ever since.
The following elements mirror the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. As we follow His example, we can walk in His resurrection and life.
1. Obedience. Jesus did what He saw the Father doing, and said what He heard the Father saying. As we’re in close communication with our Father, we’ll know what He wants and be able to carry it out—even when it becomes difficult.
2. Surrender. Jesus said, “Not My will, but Yours.” This is an essential posture for us to have in every aspect of ministry—whether it’s our tried and true ways of doing things, or a brand new venture.
3. Death. Jesus said of His own death, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn. 12:24). We don’t have the same foreknowledge Jesus did about His resurrection, but we still need to let things “die” as God leads—trusting Him for future fruit.
4. God’s power. In Ephesians 1, Paul refers to God’s resurrection power as “His great might” and “the immeasurable greatness of His power.” He extends that same power toward us and displays it in our ministries when He brings about a rebirth.
5. New life. Jesus calls Himself the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25). The culmination of our obedience, surrender, death, and God’s resurrection power is LIFE—CHANGED LIVES in our ministries that can only be attributed to God Himself.
When God exerts resurrection power within the life of a ministry, it’s because He’s also exerted resurrection power within the lives of those in leadership. Leaders and ministries that are willing to obey, surrender, die, and be resurrected by the Lord experience new life in Him.
“Leaders and ministries that are willing to obey, surrender, die, and be resurrected by the Lord experience new life in Him.”
- Lisa Hosler
For more basking on the victorious resurrection of our Lord, listen to this song—Resurrecting—by Elevation Worship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cg2AtRc11o
Think of a time when something died and was rebirthed within your ministry. Feel free to share the story in the Comment Section below.
