One of the criticisms of using job descriptions in the Church is that they’re a secular practice, hence bringing worldly business into ministry. But, as already seen in previous posts, they can be a very helpful tools when written in accordance with the basics of life in Christ and enveloped in prayer. They can be useful in the accomplishment of God’s eternal purposes if we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, we must always see job descriptions as mere tools that leave room for God’s incomparably great power to work.
Defining What’s Meant by God’s Incomparably Great Power
Ephesians 1:19-20 refers to God’s incomparably great power as “the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead” (Eph. 1:19-20). God didn’t just exert strength but “mighty” strength. He had the full dominion and power over death. Reference as incomparably great power lets us know that this power surpasses, or exceeds, any other power. The Greek word for incomparable, hyperballo, comes from the word huper, meaning “over”, and ballo, meaning “to throw”.
How We Leave Room for Resurrection Power in Job Descriptions
As regards job descriptions, we must keep in mind that God doesn’t always make His full will known right away. Think of how God told Abram to leave his home and promised to make him a great nation. He didn’t give Abram the particulars of how that would happen. All God was yet to do through Abraham would take exceedingly great power, particularly considering Abraham and Sarah’s old age when still without a child.
We too must give room for God to do that which is “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20-21). When writing a job description, we might not be able to conceive, or imagine, what God wants to do through a person in the position for which the job description is written. In addition to the possibility that God may simply be withholding what He plans to do until the right time, we must also remember that we are finite, fallible human beings, not God.
- View job descriptions as a guide, or tool, to get a person headed in the direction of ministry we perceive God wants them to go.
- Guard against holding on so tightly to what is written that we box God in and miss out on what more He might desire to do.
To leave room for resurrection power in anything we do, including job descriptions, we need the right perspective. Notice how verse 18 of Ephesians 1 begins with “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know” this power. First, we discover that it’s a heart issue. Rightly using job descriptions takes more than leadership skill. Second, note that it’s more than personal effort. Our heart needs to be made to see, which is why the Apostle Paul prayed for it to happen. If we’re going to leave room for resurrection power in job descriptions, we must embed it all in prayer.
For More on These Topics:
All Posts about Job Descriptions:
- Job Descriptions in the Church?
- Church Job Descriptions Reflect Purpose?
- Church Job Descriptions Reflect Body Life?
- Church Job Descriptions Reflect the Great Commission?
- Job Descriptions Reflect God’s Heart for the Church?
- Job Descriptions Reflect a Need for God’s Power?
- Be an Example in Using Job Descriptions
- Spiritual Gifts Listed on Job Descriptions?
- Prayer Critical in Use of Job Descriptions?
- Job Descriptions Robbing the Cross of Its Power?
- How Grace Ties into Job Descriptions
- Job Descriptions as Tools of the Holy Spirit?
- Keep the Focus on His Name
- Job Descriptions with Servanthood as a Goal
- Biblical Support for Job Descriptions?
- Job Description Leave Room for His Incomparably Great Power?
- Opposition to Ministry Job Descriptions?
- Be a Faithful Steward Using Job Descriptions