How To Mobilize - I Thes 5:14

How to Mobilize - I Thes 5:14 - Envisioning, informing, enlisting, involving, encouraging, equipping, enabling, empowering, entrusting.

Mobilize: To help make people ready, active and equipped for service.

Quote: Dale Carnegie comments, "If you want to win ...spirited men to your way of thinking...throw down a challenge." Today, many people need a good challenge to be and do what God wants.

Paul wrote, "And we urge you brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." (I Thes. 5:14)

More and more we see people slipping in to their shells of isolation, idleness and independence. Too many indifferent, apathetic and complacent people do not realize the damage they are inflicing on themselves and others because of their lack of active obedience. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they can see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Much of this idleness comes from a desire to be safe, secure and selfishly in control at all times of our lives. Throughout the entire Bible we are urged to be strong and courageous and act do not fear or be dismayed. Paul told Timothy, "God has not given us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of crave and cringing and fawning fear) but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." (2 Tim. 1:7) We are to encourage others that they can do everything God asks them to do with the help of Christ who gives them the strength and power." (Phil.4:13)

We are to be exhorters of people for prayer, for service, for love and good works. (Heb. 10:24,25)

The following is a set of guidelines for mobilizing the people you associate with for greater effectiveness, involvement and contribution to the advancement of Christ’s kingdom and righteousness throughout the whole earth.

1. ENVISIONING: Help people to see the possibilities for great contribution to Christ and to His kingdom through mobilization. Jesus communicated a passion for winning the lost sheep. He said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost." (Lk 19:10) Without a clear vision and purpose people tend to drift in to idleness, complacency and apathetic mediocrity.

2. INFORMING: Ask the Lord to help you to gain greater wisdom, knowledge and insight in to the best ways to inform people about the great ways to carry out God’s vision for winning, discipling and sending people out for service. Paul wrote, "All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness." (2 Tim. 3:16) Too many times we give people information without a vision and our teaching becomes stale and dry as unbuttered toast. It is even hard to swallow at times. We should teach so that we are not only making people aware of their Biblical responsibilities but we are seeking to help them be transformed by the renewing of their minds, emotions and behaviors.

3. ENLISTING: Ask the Lord to help you put out information in a way that will help sign people up for service assignments. The more personal, intentional and specific we can be about the opportunities for obedience to the Lord the better recruiters we will become. People want to know what their roles, responsibilities and authorities will be. Help them by giving as many specifics as possible.

4. INVOLVING: Give people hands on opportunities to be involved with witnessing, teaching and serving in some ministry of your church. Too many people have volunteered only to discover that they were not really used to their capacity. When people do not sense that they are really making a valuable contribution they tend to move on to something where they can find meaning, worth and a sense of purposeful service.

5. ENCOURAGING: Paul wrote, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 15:5,6) To encourage someone literally means we are infusing them with courage, to instill confidence and to stimulate them to action. Let our messages, attitudes and conversation be more encouraging than discouraging. Let us focus more what good things we can do than the problems that are in front of us.

6. EQUIPPING: Paul wrote, "Equipping the saints for the work of service for the building up of the body of Christ." (Eph. 4:11,12) Provide whatever supplies, resources or spiritual inspiration that is necessary to help your people accomplish what the Lord is calling you to do. Utilize the whole range of spiritual gifts and talents in the body of Christ. Do not hesistate to call in people who may be a specialist in areas where there are weaknesses within your own group.