By David Ryser
...then the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not rise to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:13b-14 NASB)
It was early in the morning before classes began at the School of Ministry. As was my routine, I had arrived a couple of hours early to put some worship music on through the sound system in the sanctuary of the church and spend time with God. The students were invited to join me in this time of worship, and those who wished to participate typically would arrive one-by-one beginning about an hour before class. When I am worshiping God in this sort of setting, I usually pace because pacing while worshiping gives my body something to do as I quiet my mind and spirit.
This was my normal routine, but I've come to believe there is no such thing as a normal routine when it involves God.
On this particular morning, as I was pacing and worshiping, I discovered there were places where I felt the presence of God particularly intensely. And these spots would not remain static, but would pop up in different places over time. What fun! It was like playing hide-and-seek with God, and it brought me the wondrous joy most often experienced by a small child...I've learned God enjoys playing with His children. Once in awhile, I would stop at one of these spiritual hotspots and linger for a time in the awesome presence of God.
And then the students began to arrive.
And when they did, I transitioned from spiritual cruise passenger to cruise director. As a student arrived, I would say, "Why don't you stand over here?" and direct them gently to one of the places where God's presence felt particularly strong at the moment. When the student reached the appointed spot, the presence of God would overwhelm them. I would continue pacing and worshiping, finding another hotspot for the next student. When the next student would arrive, this pattern would repeat itself until there were quite a number of overwhelmed students worshiping and basking in the presence of God.
What does an overwhelmed student look like, you ask? You'll know it when you see it. It looks a lot like it looked in the Bible.
During this time with the students, I was acting as a spiritual cruise director. I would sense where the hotspots were located, but I would not step into one. Why? Because if I did, I likely would be overwhelmed by God's presence myself and be unable to be attentive to the students. While I was alone...before the students began arriving...I felt the freedom to become lost in God, and I took full advantage of it. But once the students began arriving, my role changed. I was still very much aware of where the hotspots were, but this awareness was for their benefit and not for mine.
And that's what it's like being a cruise director.
You see, a cruise director accompanies the cruise passengers on their excursions, sees and experiences the sights and activities along the way, but does not participate fully in them. While the cruise director sees and experiences what the passengers are seeing and experiencing, his/her focus is on the passengers and not the delights of the excursion. So, the cruise director experiences the excursion differently than the passengers. His/her joy is not based on experiencing the excursion, but in facilitating the passengers' delight while experiencing the excursion.
If a cruise director wishes to get lost in the experience of an excursion, they need to book a cruise as a passenger. Being a cruise director is hard work. Even a cruise director needs a vacation.
Ministry is very much like being a spiritual cruise director. And by "ministry" I am not referring only to vocational ministry...or public ministry of any sort. Yes, I have been privileged to be used as God's cruise director in traditional ministry settings...in the classroom and in a church service...on numerous occasions. God would move powerfully during these times, and people's lives would be dramatically touched by God in their bodies, minds, and spirits. I would be very much aware of God's presence, but I would not be overwhelmed by it. I would be both a part of what was occurring and somewhat outside of it at the same time. Without losing a sense of God's presence and awareness of what He was wanting to do in that moment, I was also very much in touch with the person to whom God was ministering and rejoiced when they received what they, in many cases, desperately needed.
But not all, or even most, ministry takes place publicly.
Too many of us who say we want a ministry actually just desire a microphone. Ministry is not about being seen and heard. It is not about being noticed, approved of, admired, and idolized as a great minister. Ministry is not about the minister at all. It is about the welfare of the person being ministered to, and it is about glorifying God.
And most ministry takes place privately.
When you pray for a friend's physical healing, and the prayer administers God's healing power to them, this is ministry. When you are inspired by God to speak words of encouragement, comfort, and uplifting to another person with the result that they are powerfully touched by God, this is ministry. When you pray for a person who is in a difficult situation, and God moves to give peace of mind and provision to the person, that is ministry. On these occasions, the person may experience the presence of God in a very powerful, and even overwhelming, way. And you may not feel a thing.
Why?
Because you're not a passenger on this excursion. You're just the cruise director. God's cruise director.
Responses to this article are welcomed. You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com