• Relies on the power of God’s Spirit for fruitful outreach and modeling ministry after Christ’s example.
• Ministers in a spirit of authentic love and servant-leadership, seeking to come alongside the community as a friend rather than a hero.

This week, we will be discussing how to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to model ILF ministry following Christ’s example. There has never been a person that walked this earth with a greater love for people than Jesus Christ. If we are going to be one of His disciples, we need to practice that same kind of love and sacrificial servant’s heart that Jesus had. As members of ILF holistic ministry, we rely on the same Christlike leadership that works alongside the community as a friend rather than a hero.

ILF’s servant-leadership focuses on the growth and well-being of people and the communities that we serve, while in contrast, a traditional leadership generally involves the demonstration of power by one at the top of the organization.

The servant leader shares power and puts the needs of others first and helps others to:

• Develop godly
• Perform in a safe yet reliable environment
• Become healthier, wiser, freer

And most importantly, a servant leader helps the community to become servants, themselves.

We pray often in The Lord’s Prayer “His kingdom may come, his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” And that implies justice, peace, health, and wholeness, on earth as it is in heaven. This is a great example of a Holistic Ministry Practice, which addresses all aspects of human and social life, and aims not only to address problems of sin, the fundamental root of all injustices and poverty, in the individual, but also to address those problems at the community level.

Exercise:

Thinking about the characteristics of a servant leader discussed above, share ways and examples on how you would practice and demonstrate these qualities in the village, among the community members and other members of ILF team.

• Pursues unity in ministry with other expressions of the body of Christ and serves alongside all through whom God is at work.

Maintaining and promoting unity is among the most important pillars of ILF ministry. We aim to work alongside all through whom God is at work. To do that, we are to seek unity through attracting the presence of God. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us. We are to follow Jesus as the model and power of Christian unity, because Imitating Jesus’ unparalleled humility will bring unparalleled unity in our ministry.

Jesus shared the supreme position with God the Father and God the Spirit, yet He did not exploit it for His own personal interest.  Instead he embraced the mission of the incarnation and accepted the humble mission of the cross.

The principal every ILF member must follow is to not consider our advantages, position, or gifts as something for our glory but as assets to serve others. We don’t demand respect; we don’t refuse tedious tasks as ‘beneath us.’ When we think in terms of spiritual gifts, we should remember that “the purpose of all spiritual gifts is not selfish enjoyment but the profit of other members of God’s family.”

As the apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:8 “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”.

Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, and resurrection was to save us from self-glory and deliver us from sinful idolatry. Christ’s work on our behalf gives us the power to live for the good of others and the glory of God.

Question:

Think about your personal spiritual gift and calling, think about Jesus’ model of unity discussed above. What is one specific sacrificial task/service that you (individually) can or are willing to perform in order to strengthen unity in ILF ministry, organization and community?

It is interesting that what the world is going through today, is so relevant to the 3 key components of a “holistic ministry practice”:

1. Seek Jesus through prayer for vision
2. Seek Jesus through challenges
3. Seek Jesus in thanksgiving.

Friends, we all are wrestling with the reality and the uncertain nature of this season through coronavirus. Some more than others. ILF community is no exception. You are no exception. The exception is as disciples of Christ, and as holistic leaders in ILF ministry, how do we deal with it. The exception is in how we “seek Jesus in all circumstances”.

Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, and your rod and staff will comfort me”

Notice that is says “even though” and not “even if” I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Friends, isn’t it a reminder that valleys in life are unavoidable? Isn’t the history of mankind a testament to that? Certainly, you know something about life challenges in the recent years. The Genocide of 1997 with over 70,000 death and millions of people forced to leave their homes, Ebola in 2014 with over 11,000 in casualties, the mudslide in 2017 when over 3,000 people lost their homes, and now the global epidemic of coronavirus. What sets us apart as believer’s, friends, is what comes next in the verse: “I will fear no evil, for you are with me”. As we said earlier,

1. Seek Jesus through prayer for vision and
2. Seek Jesus through challenges.

Yes, it may be true that the fear of what we’re facing often keeps us from resting in God during difficult times. Friends, that is why it is so important to trust that “as we walk through the uncertainty of life, we ought to fear no evil.” God is with us; and as he has in the past, he will carry us through the present challenges and the ones yet to come. As a holistic leader in ILF ministry, this is the promise that we are to proclaim. It is not to ignore the presence of evil but recognizing that God is greater. He is greater than our fear and certainly greater than our circumstances.

But, where do we get the faith to know that… the bold faith of fearing no evil? We get it in these 4 words “YOU ARE WITH ME” seeking the comfort of God in his protection as we walk through the valleys and challenges of life. “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”. God knows the enemies that we face-he knows our worries and our anxieties. God will protect our heart and our soul as we turn to him. And when we turn to him, as any obedient child should, we ought to be grateful seeking God in thanksgiving. As we mentioned earlier, is the 3rd component of a holistic ministry practice:

1. Seek Jesus through prayer for vision
2. Seek Jesus through challenges
3. Seek Jesus in thanksgiving.

A holistic leader seeks Jesus in all circumstances to help the community rest in the presence of God as THEY (the community) walk through their own challenges.

As we conclude this session, we invite you to mediate on the 3 components we discussed earlier and share specifically:

How have you used these principals in serving ILF communities?

We are grateful for your faithful service to our community during this challenging season and pray for your safety, protection and strength in Jesus name.