Ministry Off The Platform

I love preaching and teaching God's word. I feel like it is what I was born to do. I never feel more alive than when I am delivering God's message to God's people. While that it true, some of the most memorable moments in ministry happened off the platform over the years. In other words, it happened after the sermon.

I count it a privilege to minister off the platform. Whether that be listening, praying, leading repentant sinners to Christ and salvation or sharing a word of counsel. It is all ministry. Jesus taught. Jesus also remained accessible to people afterward. Just read Matt 8:1-3 after Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount. What happened next?

Matthew 8:1-3 (NKJV)
1  When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
2  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

This past Sunday we had the chance to do some ministry off the platform. Ministry of such that it moved me to tears. I prayed for a sick man to be made whole. He simply reached behind to his shoulders where I had my hands and squeezed mine. Prayer for another man in desperate need brought him to tears. One lady we prayed for not only wept. She waled. Her anguished cries for help, her pent up frustrations, her pain all came out which moved me to more tears. 

All over the sanctuary people were praying for one another. One told me about praying for his wife and barely got a few words out before he was overcome with emotion. Some of the best praying is the kind that comes out in tears and groans rather than words. Many tears flowed this past Sunday. God made His presence felt among us. It was a tender sweet service. There are so many broken people needing a touch from God. Broken people are everywhere. 

Isn't it interesting after an intense message Jesus did not try to go and hide like some preachers do. He kept a divine appointment with an outcast that changed that leper's life. So much ministry can happen off the platform if you are sensitive to God's leading and if you look for it. Yes. Maybe you'll get to lunch a little later. Yes. Maybe you have to remain behind and are one of the last one leaves. So what? Isn't that what we are there for? Don't we want people to be touched by Jesus? Or do we just want that when it happens between the time constraints of ministry on the platform? 

Here is another truth. Every member of the body of Christ is called and capable through the indwelling Holy Spirit to minister to other members of the body. God never intended for all the ministry to take place on the platform. The early church in Acts did not even have a platform much less a building. Any child of God can go to another broken and hurting person and pray over them. That should be common place. It should happen often in our gatherings. Not just by the hired staff but all members of the body. Lord, please do that again and again here. May every member see themselves as a minister. May You lead all of us to look for ministry off the platform. In Jesus name I ask it. Amen.