There is a tendency in ministry to measure success by the number of people we attract rather than by God’s criteria.

John 6 is one of the most crucial chapters in the Bible. In this chapter, Jesus’ ministry profoundly changed. Up until that point, Jesus worked miracles so the people would believe. After, He mostly worked miracles for those who believed. Before, His main teaching and focus was on the multitudes; after, it was on His disciples.

John 6 begins with great crowds following Jesus because of the miracles He had performed. Then, He multiplied the bread and fish, and they began following Him for His provisions. He then challenged them by imparting one of the most important teachings of His ministry—declaring Himself to be the Bread of Life. Then, many, including some of His own disciples, departed from Him. When reduced to who would follow Him for Who He was and not just what He could do, not many were left. Would the same be true today?

The evangelistic messages preached today are mostly about the benefits we receive for following Jesus. Without question, the benefits are wonderful beyond measure, and we will marvel at them for all eternity. However, the gospel is not only about what we get, but also about what He gets from us and what He has called us to do. When we make the message all about our benefits, this creates a foundation of selfishness and self-centeredness, which is the root of all the world’s problems He came to fix. The gospel is about Jesus. The apostles preached Jesus. He deserves to be followed for Who He is!

We were created for His pleasure. Do our lives bring pleasure to Him? Is this our focus and what we live for, or are our eyes on what we can get? Are not most of the teachings of the church today focused on us and what we can get, instead of on Him? We are changed by seeing His glory, not focusing on ourselves.

Based on the criteria of Scripture, few leaders in the church today are true shepherds. They may be skilled professionals, but are they leading the people to Jesus, or to themselves and to their projects? Do they measure their success by how many are following them, or by how Christ is being formed in His people? True ministry is not about how many follow us but about how many we train to follow Him.

Of course, those who did not depart from Jesus in John 6 saw the greatest works of all and received His greatest provision of all—the Holy Spirit. Still, more than 500 were with Jesus at His ascension and heard His command to go and wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, yet only 120 remained when the promise arrived! What happened to the others?

Perhaps the greatest characteristic of a true follower of Jesus then is their resolve to obey Him and their ability to wait on Him. Patience is the true test of faith, which is why “faith and patience” are needed to “inherit the promises” (see Hebrews 6:12). Have you ever wondered why there is a large “faith movement” but no “patience movement”? It takes both to inherit the promises. Could this be why so many continually declare their faith while relatively few walk in it?

The promises and benefits of God are greatly desired, and we don’t ever want to belittle or be ungrateful for them, but the Scripture says, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes” (see II Corinthians 1:20) (italics added for emphasis). The promises of God are for those who seek Him, not just His promises.

© 2022 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.