It's hard to run with feet chained, part II

Still thinking about the issues discussed in last post. Yesterday during church service, God impressed on me the verse from Luke 10, where Jesus is at Lazarus, Mary, and Martha's house. Martha is busy with preparations and serving Jesus, but Mary is simply sitting and listening to Him.

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

I realized that there are always things we can do to improve our ministry, just as Martha had so many things to get done. We can improve organization, teaching, methods, and ideas, but in the end, we only need to stay close to Jesus. If we launch a new youth/campus ministry, the essential element to our success will be each person cultivating a close relationship with Jesus, through His Spirit, which He sent as our Counselor.

What does this mean practically? Well, as some of you know, our church emphasizes what my pastor calls "the Fire of God." We believe this is an aspect of biblical Christianity that is sadly missing from many churches. It invariably involves physical manifestations of the Holy Spirit during church services. I believe this "Fire of God" is essential to keeping our hearts focused on Jesus, even as we are busied by so many things to do in ministry.

When I am brought face-to-face with God in spirit, the Holy Spirit reveals and cleanses me of impure attitudes and machinations. If we can allow the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of judgment and fire, to work in us regularly, I believe that will be the most sure way to keep our hearts right before God.

I believe vision and inspiration are absolutely necessary to building God's church. But I want to do it right, not depending on human wisdom and strength, but on the Spirit.