Defining the “WIN”
Hello Everyone!
The month of October was an extremely eventful one for me featuring several conferences, normal ministry responsibilities and a week of vacation with the family! So I’m trying to jump back into the blogging saddle once again.
So here we go…
I had the joy of ministering with my father at a men’s conference in Pittsburgh last month. We had a great time with a dear friend, Rick Paladin, the lead pastor at Word & Worship church. In Pastor Rick’s session, he reminded us of the importance of “defining the win” as we attempt to lead in any setting.
I began to ponder this question for the Church as a whole. What is our “WIN?” Where are we headed and how will we know when we get there? What does winning look like?
Some see winning as merely holding the fort until Jesus returns. For these folks, the goal is simply faithful perseverance to the end.
Others preach a salvation gospel. Winning for them is getting as many people “saved” before the ship sinks.
Still others live with the goal of bringing revival. This includes a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit resulting in salvation, healing and deliverance.
What is your definition of “winning”?
I’d like to suggest that all the views mentioned above – faithfulness, salvation, revival, signs and wonders – contribute to victory, however they are not the “win.” God has a larger vision in mind. We’ll talk about it in the next blog.
If our chief end is exclusively Heaven and we’ve no purpose or use in this present age but to remain in silent vigilance until our lives are taken from us, the rational decision would be euthanasia directly following what we call our “salvation experience.” But surely this is not the intent of the God who, Himself, created us. With a unique purpose and use in mind, we were formed from His mind and by His hands. Furthermore, if we were of no use to furthering the plans of His Sovereignty, then why would He have regenerated us to begin with? Moreover, why would He even have caused our existence? The only logical explanation is that we are all somehow destined, holding a particular purpose – a piece to the Mysterious Myriad of His Plan. And if there be a man who is void of any desire to forward that Plan, with every effort graced him, very truly he, himself, may not even have been regenerated. This is no lie, we were meant to forward His Plan and expand His Thoughts across the earth. Those who do not are robbing from their very source of existence.
OOOOO Dr Ron,
Great Hook! You are leaving us salivating!!
Good to have you “back in the saddle again”, you have been missed! My definition of winning? Hmm, how about teaching someone, younger than me, the reason for my hope. Elevating their expectations of God’s purpose for their life, fulfilling the call that He has placed on them, so they will give God His maximum pleasure (thank you Pastor Brock) and fulfill His expectation placed on their lives. What! God expects me to live for Him, why, I’m my own person, I don’t have to do anything for anyone. Bah, how selfish and immature that statement is from so many in their human existence. How shallow the man (woman) who thinks the way our good friend John Staub has put it, in so eloquent a fashion above. That’s what motivates me to get these kids into the “Win” column. I will to make a difference. I Am someone “in Him”. I am a “Winner”!