The Way-Paver Society eBooklet by Stephen Bly
Sally and Don are ready to join the Way-Paver Society.
Sally is a young housewife and mother, she quit teaching school when her first child was born. She wanted to get together with other young mothers to share problems, needs, and ideas. So, she started a weekly young mothers’ group where both friendship and faith could be freely exchanged. The program was very successful. But there was a hitch. All those noisy, messy kids caused problems at the church facility. What to do about the children for this growing young mother’s group?
Don attempted public speaking at the local Christian Men’s Club. He related his story of how he came to Christ and changed his philosophy of running his hardware business. The audience really responded with lots of applause and kudos. Except for some who accused him of showing off.
Both Sally and Don felt discouraged by criticism and lack of unanimous encouragement. But to be a successful spiritual way-paver there are certain principles to learn.
John the Baptist was a way-paver.
Fiery prophet John earned a national following in his time and inaugurated history’s greatest movement. Courageous, noble, revolutionary, he operated from great conviction.
Jesus considered John the Baptist a great man. He said, “Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28). John rated as high as Moses, Elijah, and Daniel. Yet, John’s ministry lasted three years at the most. He never performed a miracle. His life ended with prison and beheading.
How come Jesus considered John a spiritual success? What was his secret to greatness? What kept him going when the trail got tough?
Four Secrets To Spiritual Success For A Way-Paver
1.) John knew his life mission. He understood his specific task and how to do it. He preached a simple, direct, clear, and positive message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
If you sailed down a river with good friends on a beautiful spring day, the anxious shouts of a bystander on the riverbank might be very annoying. If he shouted, “Stop! Turn around! Don’t go that way!” you might tell your companions, “He sure wants to spoil our fun. What a pest.”
Yet if he warned of a treacherous 100-foot waterfall around the next bend, and you paid attention enough to avoid it, you’d consider him a life saver. John tried to do that. And kept doing that whether others responded or not.
2.) John respected his relationship to Jesus. He knew he was second fiddle and always would be. He settled into that role. He gave everything to that purpose.
He said of Jesus, “After me comes One who is mightier than I. And I am not even fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.”
Even when it meant losing some of his closest followers, John didn’t hesitate to point them to Jesus. He was always aware of who he was and who he was not. Numbers didn’t matter, whether large or small. He knew they would come and go.
3.) John refused to let personal desires divert him from his divine mission. When the ministries of John and Jesus overlapped, John’s disciples pointed out Jesus drew bigger crowds. “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven,” he said. Jesus was the bridegroom. John was the best man. “He must increase, but I must decrease,” he insisted. John had humility and listened to detractors.
4.) John took his doubts and fear of failure to Jesus. John was very human. He could get discouraged. When John was thrown into a dark dungeon, doubts assailed him. He needed to know he’d been given the right message. He had to be certain he sent the people to the true Savior. He sent two of his disciples to Jesus.
“Go tell John,” Jesus said, “The blind see and the lame walk. The lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear. The dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:2-5).
Ministry was happening without him. He accepted his place in God’s plan. He knew he was a way-paver for Jesus’ ministry.
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Check out “Frontier Faith” blog and audio podcast by Stephen Bly here FRONTIER FAITH
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AVAILABLE NOW! All nine eBooklets. Collect them all on your digital reader. Look for other Following Jesus Series eBooklets at your favorite online eBook store.
The Way-Paver Society
The Pallet Carrier’s Union
Get Ready! Get Set!
People You Meet Along the Way
Try the Door One More Time
Life With That Extra Zest
Bargain Price Fame
Dodging Detours & Dead Ends
The Trouble With Greatness / The Humility of Fame
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