God is In to R&D

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves.
​Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

We just held a school for five-fold ministers we call "Arsenal". It is an annual conference where we teach on the five offices listed in Ephesians 4:11. One of our speaker's and a good friend of our's said, "God is into Research and Development". He went on to explain that God wants to reveal to us, what is in us, and then develop those gifts and callings.  It hit me. This too is exactly what we want to do in others when Christlikeness is formed in us. We want to research what is in those God brings in to our lives, and then develop them so they can reach their full potential. This is why we want people to come to church. We want to get to know them enough that we can begin to see in  them what God sees. Once we can see in them what God sees, we can begin to resource them, pray for them, mentor them and have them come follow us as we follow Christ and they will become what they were created to be. 

I have such a passion for people. People everywhere want to be somebody. Everyone needs a purpose, to be fulfilled, which will help one's self-esteem. See diagram below of our needs as humans.

Now, I am not a psychologist. I'm a pastor. My gift is to help people be all they are called to be. Most pastors want the best for their congregations. We want something for you, not from you. 

ACTION STEP: If you have not found a church where there is a pastor who cares deeply for your soul, don't give up. Keep looking. There are great pastors that desire the best for their flock, not the best for themselves. They are trying by seeking God and praying, fasting and studying, to get to you what you need; so you can lead a successful and fulfilling, and reproducing life in Jesus Christ.