Starting Places
The Footsteps of Jesus in the Life of Christ teaches us that Jesus had very specific Starting Places for Ministry.

1. The "Call" - Hebrews 5:4 "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Are you called of God? How do you know that? Prove your call. Every man of God must experience a call from God. No man can or should take that honor to himself. It is a gift of God and "the gift and calling of God are without repentance." (Romans 11:29) "Faithful is he who calls you, who also will do it." (I Thes. 5:24)

2. The Anointing of God - Jesus started with an anointing. Upon being baptized when he came up out of the water the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God came on him like a dove, a voice from heaven confirmed him saying, "this is my son in whom I am well-pleased." Every man of God even though called of God must seek to be empowered from on high. Too many servants of God are empowered by credentials, education, diplomas, but not by the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. When and where did you receive "the mantle of Elijah?"

3. Vision Quest - a call alone is not sufficient to launch a ministry. There must be the God-directed plan. There is only one way to get that plan and that is from the "throne of grace." Where we find grace to help in the time of need. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Jesus was driven by the Spirit of God to the wilderness of Judea where he sought the heart of God and was tempted for 40 days. Isn't it amazing that the Son of God found it necessary to saturate himself with God so as to hear the mind and heart of his Father while we today seldom seek his face but hastily launch ourselves into our ministries. Perhaps that is the problem. They are "our" ministries, not His ministry.

4. The Plan - Reading the gospels one soon becomes aware that Jesus was not just meandering around the land of Palestine without thought or purpose. God has a plan for your ministry. That plan is unfolded in long hours of prayer and fasting seeking the heart of God. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord..." Therefore we need first to hear from God, then follow His plan. The Steps in the Life of Jesus prove that there was a definite plan of ministry. Jesus knew that his time was limited so he made the best of it. Someone once said, "Plan your work, and work your plan." Do you know what your ministry plan is for the next year, three, five, and ten years?

Seasons of Ministry
The Footsteps of Jesus in the Life of Christ teaches us that Jesus had Seasons of Ministry. Not every day was the same and not every year did he repeat the same routine. Each stage in the Life of Christ teaches us something about the seasons of ministry God has for every servant of God.

1. The Season of Infancy - All of us must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said concerning deacons, "Not a novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the snare of the devil." (I Timothy 3:7) There is an apprenticeship for ministry. One must be seasoned to serve. The first season of the soul is that of maturing in our walk with God. "Enoch walked with God and he was not because God took him." Hebrews 11:5 "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Literally, God graduated him. There is a trial period of the soul of every servant of God in which he must prove himself faithful over little before God translates him to be faithful over much. Paul had such and internship time as well having served some years in isolation in Arabia before going back to Damasus. (Galatians 1:17) Jesus had some growing to do in Nazareth. So each one of us must grow up in our Nazareth situation before graduating to full-time ministry. "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel." (Luke 1:80)

2. The Season of Preparation - Even in ministry there is a time for preparation. Just as there is a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Jesus' needed to lay the ground work for his continuing ministry. Ministry takes time. Even though Jesus had just 3 1/2 years he had to spend the first year laying a foundation for a long-lasting ministry. Jesus spent the first year of ministry surveying the land, calling and appointing disciples, testing the soil in several places, and planting seeds that would later sprout and grow. Lay your foundations.

3. The Season of Popularity - Thank God there is a time to sow and a time to reap. The reaping is always fun. This was the fun-time for Jesus ministry. The crowds followed him from all over Palestine. God gives the increase. "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." - (1 Corinthians 3:7) Indeed there is a time of harvest for each of us. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9 Let us take heart even when things are tough and the road is hard for He has promised the harvest. "..but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. - Proverbs 11:18

4. The Season of Passion - By "passion" we mean suffering. "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:"- Acts 1:3 There is a time of "passion" for every minister of the Gospel. Peter knew that. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." - 1 Peter 4:12 -16. Every saint will have his moments of great suffering and rejection, even to the point of saying, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me."

5. The Season of Finality - All good things must come to an end. Peter knew that too. Jesus told him along the shore of Galilee, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When you were young, you gird yourself, and walked wherever wished: but when you are old, you will stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird you, and carry you where you don't want to go. This spoke he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. - (John 21:18-19) With every death there is life. Death is going to come to all but let us not fear it but prepare for it by life. By what death will you glorify God? I would rather die with Jesus than live with the devil any day. Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 Jesus made it plain to his disciple at the outset of their ministries that there was a cost and a cross to following him all the way. "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" - (Luke 9:23-25) This does not mean that all of us will die martyr's deaths. Not at all. But all of us are to live as though dead. We live lives of resolve and sacrifice. There is no cross to heavy, no road to arduous to travel, no suffering, rejection, or persecution too dear to bear. For Jesus has given us an example that we should follow in his steps. - (I Peter 2:21)

Strategies for Ministry
The Footsteps of Jesus in the Life of Christ teaches us that Jesus had a Strategy for Ministry. Strategies are principles that govern the work that we do. Jesus exemplified such strategies in his ministry. These are transferable concepts for ministry anywhere, any time and by anyone. Jesus was consistently about his Father's business.

1. He sought the power and anointing of God.
2. He sought a vision and the heart of God.
3. He refuse to do it alone.
4. He had a deliberate and specific target (goal) in sight
5. He walked and prayed through the land before beginning
6. He chose worthy men, and men of peace.
7. He looked for the weak, hurting, hungry and ugly people. (needing physician)
8. He targeted a limited audience - "Lost sheep of the House of Israel."
9. He worked through natural networks, (families, friends, neighborhoods, cities.)
10. He kept his eyes always on the prize.
11. He was willing to lay down his life for the sheep.
12. He mentored men to carry on his work.

Jesus had 3 ½ years in which to complete his mission. He understood his task. He remained focused:

First, he needed first to see his mission clearly,

Second receive divine power to fulfill it,

Third equip others to carry it out,

Fourth do everything in his power to reach them,

Fifth pray always, everywhere, about everything, for everyone.

Sixth use simple but available resources.

Application for Ministry
Jesus only ministered 3 ½ years and never went more than 120 miles from his home but he turned the world upside down. He never had an education outside the word of God. He never had much money, never owned any assets but the clothes on his back, never had any transportation but his feet.

What is your excuse for not reaching your world and turning upside down?
What do you have as resources that Jesus didn’t have?