We all have sweet spots and blind spots.
• Sweet Spots are areas we do well and are fruitful and productive in.
• Blind Spots are those subtle areas that can bring defeat, discouragement, and even death.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15, NKJV
Allowing ministry to replace Jesus.
• This is very hard to determine and see our blind spots.
• Burnout: We start out walking with Jesus…Then we go to working for Jesus.
• Jesus wants to lead us—but, won’t be lead by us.
• Not only did all the disciples forsake Jesus, there’s times in our life that we all forsake Him—Deny Him. (Matthew 26:56, 58) • Many times it’s those closest to Him that are the first to deny Him and the first to return to Him.
• The moment we put distance between us and Jesus is the moment we begin to fail.
• Distances bring distractions—We focus on the problem instead of the solution.
• Ways we can distance ourselves in the work of ministry that can replace Jesus as the ministry:
• To busy for time alone with Jesus.
• Not confessing our sins.
• Continually tired and worn out.
• Trying to serve others instead of serving Jesus.
• Serving Jesus is a privilege—that produces Power!
Allowing comparing to replace contentment.
• It can happen with in the leadership—one feels they are not getting the credit they should—which develops jealousy between staff and even departments.
• Pride or lack of confession will lead to a fall. (1 Timothy 6:6-10, NKJV)
Allowing pride to replace humility. (Proverbs 16:18, NKJV)
• Pride is a very difficult issue for leaders to recognize it is often the greatest blind spot.
• Pride most often hides under confidence, conviction, and control— Peter said if all else deny you I won’t—I will die.
• It often comes across as the ones who say they want to help you the most but really often hurt you the most.
• Pride is not being thankful for the way God made us.
• Pride is thinking we are more important than others God made—our ministry, our actions, our words, are more important than others.
Allowing pleasing people to replace pleasing Jesus: (1 Thessalonians 2:4, NLT; Galatians 1;10, NLT)
• This is very hard in the ministry, because we are here to serve people, but please Jesus.
• The only way we will know if we are trying to please people or trying to please God –We must hear from God!
Allowing busyness to Replace Visioning:
• If we get to busy with the here and now—we don’t’ have time for vision of where we are trying to go or how to get there.
• Where there is no vision the person, ministry, dept., church, etc. perish. (Proverbs 29:18, KJV)
• Vision is seeing the needs and then action to meet those needs. (Hab. 2:2-3)
