Will You Go Deeper?
Luke 5 recounts a time that the Lord encouraged His disciples to launch out into deeper waters to be more effective. We at Jewish Voice are in just such a season, seeking to go deeper in a number of areas. In January, Jonathan Bernis shared the following seven points with our staff. Will you join us in prayer, asking God to take us deeper in these areas?
1. Deepening Our Prayer
- To be devoted to prayer as individuals and a staff
- Having many intercessors joining us locally at headquarters, in online prayer schedules, and on outreaches
- Effective intercession that hits the target
Colossians 4:2-6, Isaiah 62:6, Luke 11:9-10
2. Deepening Our Faith
- Growing in our ability to trust God at a deeper level
- Trusting Him from the smallest detail to the biggest need
- To see God do what is impossible for us on our own
Hebrews 11:1-3, 6, James 1:6, Mark 11:24
3. Deepening Our Focus
- Keeping Yeshua and spiritual matters as our central focus
- Evaluating all we are doing in light of our mission and mandate
- Discerning what is a “good idea” vs. a “God idea;” choosing the latter and being able to discern His timing
Colossians 3:1-4, Isaiah 26:3, Matthew 6:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:21
4. Deepening Our Effectiveness
- Listening to the Lord to hear not only the “what” and “why” but also the “how”
- Setting aside any methods that are no longer effective
- Fresh vision for new ideas and strategies to serve the Lord at the highest level
2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Peter 1:5-8, Ephesians 4:15
5. Deepening Our Care
- Understanding how to best meet the needs of those we serve
- Resources for initiatives that will deeply impact them
- Greater manifestation of the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit
Colossians 3:12, Philippians 2:4, Galatians 5:22-23
6. Deepening Our Quality
- May we do everything in love
- May we do everything for the glory of God
- May we press on for the sake of Yeshua and of eternity
Philippians 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 16:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Philippians 3:12-16, 1 Corinthians 15:58
7. Deepening Our Leadership
- The development of those who are already leaders among us
- The maturing and proper placement of potential leaders
- For this to also occur within the many congregations in Africa where we are disciplining leaders
Matthew 20:26, Psalm 78:72, Galatians 6:9
Lord, this Scripture from Philemon 1:4-6 (NIV) which Jonathan Bernis also shared with us is our prayer for our partners around the world: “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all His holy people and your faith in the Lord Yeshua. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of the Messiah.” In Yeshua’s Name, AMEN.
