Launching New Ministries
Listening to God, Part 1

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole Temple. Around him flaming creatures were standing, each of which had six wings. Each creature covered its face with two wings, and its body with two, and used the other two for flying. They were calling out to each other: "Holy, holy, holy! The Lord Almighty is holy! His glory fills the world." The sound of their voices made the foundation of the Temple shake, and the Temple itself became filled with smoke. I said, "There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, "This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven." Then I heard the Lord say, "Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered, "I will go! Send me!"

Isaiah 6:1-8 (TEV)

1. GOD CALLS ME TO KNOW HIM

God says,

Be quiet and know that I am God.

Psalms 46:10 (NCV)

Focusing on yourself will never reveal your life's purpose. You need to focus on God. He created you and wills you to live. Your life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not for using him for your own purpose.

People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6 (CEV)

For we know that Christ has been raised from death and will never die again - death will no longer rule over him. And so, because he died, sin has no power over him; and now he lives his life in fellowship with God. In the same way you are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concerned, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:9-11 (TEV)

2. GOD CALLS ME TO FOLLOW HIM

Teach me to follow, Lord, and lead me on the right path.

Psalms 27:11 (CEV)

Jesus said... follow me.

Matthew 16:24 (TEV)

  • CLASS 101: Discover my church membership
  • CLASS 201: Discover spiritual maturity
  • CLASS 301: Discover my ministry
  • CLASS 401: Discover my life mission
  • SURGE 220
  • Small Groups: Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Saturday

WHATS THE BENEFIT IN LIVING THIS KIND OF LIFE?

A. I live a new life

...those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

B. I am no longer bound to habitually practice sin

We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin.

Romans 6:6 (CEV)

C. I am to live for God

When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God.

Romans 6:10 (CEV)

When was the last time you emptied yourself for someone else's benefit? You can't be a servant if you're full of yourself.

Real servants don't try to use God for their purposes, they let God use them for His purposes!

  • In 1993, LBC was started
  • In 1999, LCA was started
  • In 2003, LDC and TVRC was started

My servant... thinks differently and follows me completely.

Numbers 14:24 (NCV)

3. GOD CALLS ME TO THINK MORE ABOUT OTHERS THAN I THINK ABOUT MYSELF

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.

Philippians 2:5 (MSG)

When you stop focusing on your own needs, you become aware of the needs around you.

4. GOD CALLS ME TO THINK ABOUT MY MINISTRY, NOT WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING

we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Galatians 5:26 (MSG)

Real servants:

  1. Don't complain of unfairness
  2. Don't have pity parties
  3. Don't resent those not serving
  4. Don't compare or criticize other servants

Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether his servant has been successful.

Romans 14:4 (GW)

5. GOD CALLS ME TO THINK OF MINISTRY AS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT AN OBLIGATION

God gives you opportunities to meet the needs of others around you.

One huge need around us is helping pregnant adolescents/adults.

According to West Virginia Vital Statistics in 2003, there were:

  • 55 adolescent mothers in Cabell County
  • 84 adolescent mothers in Kanawha County
  • 14 adolescent mothers in Lincoln County
  • 21 adolescent mothers in Putnam County
  • 174 between the ages of 12-19

There were 25 adolescent divorces in 2003

Teenage mothers become more dependent on their mothers and grandmothers

In research completed in 1995, of 341 adolescents said they wanted to become pregnant.

25% of girls said they were 14 when they had sex.

30% said they wanted to become pregnant, Why?

  1. To keep a boyfriend
  2. Thought it would be fun
  3. To spite their parents
  4. They wanted to feel loved by someone
  5. They want to keep up with their pregnant girlfriends
  6. They expected childrearing to be easy

Another huge need to meet is a home for pregnant girls and kids on addiction

According to Patty McGrew: with WV Family Planning [1-800-642-8522]

There is a huge need

There is not program locally in the state

In March, There was a town hall meeting at the YMCA, adolescents said "there is no one for kids to turn to."

We need "Home care for girls and a home for kids on addiction."

40% of adolescent pregnancies end in abortion.

There's an average of 2786 abortions in West Virginia every year. [Historic abortion stats, WV]

Only 4% of adolescents choose adoption as an alternative to abortion or parenting.

Teenage fathers need programs to help them stay actively involved in raising their children.

Teenage fathers have more:

  1. Negative educational attainment
  2. Less likely to receive regular diploma
  3. Less likely to marry mothers of their child

On February 7-8, 2006 God called me to relocate our church to the interstate. We are on the verge of relocating our ministry to help people in a greater way.

Like Isaiah, God said, "Whom shall I send?" God has called us to be his messenger and minister to people.

What is God calling and challenging you to begin?

Prayer:

God help me to know you better, to follow you completely, to think about others more than I think about myself, to think about my ministry, not what others are doing, to think about my ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. In Jesus Name, Amen!