Twenty-five years ago I ran around with a friend named Richard. Richard was the business manager for the local musicians union, and consequently whenever there was a concert in town Richard had to go and collect union fees from the bands that were playing. Since we were friends, and we hung around together, I was able to be backstage at most of the concert events. I was never blessed with the ability to play a musical instrument. In fact, the only thing that I could play was the radio, or tape player. I did love music however, and to be able to be back stage with the musicians was awesome. I often thought it would be a great thing if I could put together concert events, and be associated with the music business, but in those times it just never happened.
Well as you know, God knows what is in our hearts. He can take the desires of our hearts, and use them for His glory. What I had imagined for myself some 25 years ago never happened. Then in May 1999 after we had just finished our local March for Jesus, God spoke to me through my friend Vernon. You see God knew the desires of my heart, and although I had forgotten about my desire to be a concert promoter, God hadn't. The day after our March for Jesus, God told me to put together a praise and worship event for our town.
In October 1999, For Him Ministries presented Jesus Praise '99, a 10 hour praise and worship event which consisted of 9 Christian artists, with total attendance of about 450 people. Jesus Praise has become an annual event in my hometown of Mathis, Texas, and this October 20th, For Him Ministries will present the 3rd annual Jesus Praise event, and we are expecting a total attendance of around 1000 people.
Since that first praise and worship concert in 1999, For Him Ministries has produced a total of 11 events for the glory of God with the largest event being the 1st annual Godstock-Laredo (attendance 2000) held in April this year in Laredo, Texas. So far this year alone we have produced 5 events with Jesus Praise 2001 being event number six. Did I mention that all of these events have been absolutely free to the public?
Now the truly awesome part of these praise events is that roughly 60 people have come forward to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That's what these events are all about. Sharing the Gospel of Christ, and giving the unsaved the opportunity to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The point that I am trying to make here is this. Whenever God calls upon you to do something for His glory, and He does call on you, do not hesitate to step up to the calling of God. I have heard so many people ranging from lay person to clergy say that they had an idea for an outreach, but for whatever reason they just didn't act on it. Let me say this, chances are that God was speaking to you when you thought it was your idea. In actuality it was God's idea, not yours, and you failed to realize that it was God calling you to fulfill a mission.
Remember Matthew 28:19 Jesus said, ”Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” We are commissioned by Jesus to be ministers to the world. To be commissioned means to be appointed, nominated, designated, or chosen. We have a responsibility to our Lord to go out and tell the world the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Undoubtedly God used the desires that were hidden in my heart to further His kingdom and for His glory. Although I once had the desire to produce concerts I definitely didn't have slightest idea of how to produce a concert event. Guess what, that didn't stop God! God sent the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to guide me through the production. He placed just the right people in my life at just the right time. God sent me on a mission, and He gave me everything I needed to ensure a successful event, all for His glory.
Through gifts of the Holy Spirit, God is using many methods and activities to bring people to the Savior. Each and every believer has been given a spiritual gift. In Ephesians Paul says that the purpose of these spiritual gifts is “for the equipping of God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” Not every believer will have the same gifts, but every believer will have at least one gift. The gifts that you and I have are gifts that God has seen fit to give us, and each of us needs to seek to discover and use them for His glory.
As seen in Exodus, God can take the various skills and talents that people have and by the power of the Holy Spirit transform these skills into a useful spiritual gift. Exodus 31:3-5,6, the Lord told Moses, 3”I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, intelligence, and skill in all kinds of crafts. 4He is able to create beautiful objects from gold, silver, and bronze. 5He is skilled in cutting and setting gemstones and in carving wood. Yes, he is a master at every craft! 6…Moreover, I have given special skill to all the naturally talented craftsmen so they can make all the things I have instructed.
God has not called the spiritual elite to carry out the work of the ministry, bypassing the ordinary believer in the church. Instead He has called upon each and every believer to use their respective gifts for the good of the body of Christ. God has given to each believer, the gift of the Holy Spirit, to empower and strengthen him or her to fulfill the Great Commission. God's plan for your life is for you to participate in the task of proclaiming the Gospel.
If you believe in Jesus, a power is available to you that can change your life. God offers power that can change a tired church into a vital, growing body, power that can revitalize Christ's Kingdom.
How many of us will look back over a lifetime of wasted opportunities and ineffective witness and weep because we did not allow God to use us as He wanted?
Copyright 2002 Steven R. Ridenour
