Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
– Jeremiah 1:6-9
There are many in the church world today that think that they don’t need God to do the work of the ministry. That sounds like an extreme statement, but it’s the truth. We have idea exchanges and conferences based on man’s ideas and opinions that totally leave God out of the equation. Then we take these ideas and opinion and implement them in the church without even asking God if He wants them there.
Years ago I went to one of these church growth conferences where they exchange ideas. I went because I was invited by someone involved and I wanted to be polite. After leaving, the person I attended the meeting with asked what I thought. I hesitated until I was pressed and told him what I got from the meeting – “I learned, according to this conference, is that people think you can do church without God.”
That doesn’t agree with the Bible. That doesn’t agree with the prophet Jeremiah. That doesn’t agree with God.
In fact, it is a statement of pride to think or say that you don’t need God to do church. No one would dare say that, yet they do so with their actions. Their words say one thing, but their actions say something completely different.
The number one job of any minister is to pray and find out what God wants them to do and then do it. Many people think that they’re too busy to pray and seek God. If you’re too busy to pray – then you’re just too busy. Stop what you’re doing and pray. Until you identify what you’re called to do, you’ll never fulfill your destiny. If you don’t know what you’re called to do, stop, pray, and seek God until you find out. How long does it take? As long as it takes!
Sometimes the Lord just requires you to wait in His presence. Keep it before the Lord, continue in prayer, and the Lord will respond.
Notice when Jeremiah recognized and admitted his lack of ability, God gave him the ability. When we come humbly before God and rely on Him, He will show up. He will give us the supply we need. It so touches the heart of God for His children to rely on Him. 
The church world can clearly quote Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Yet we draw a blank when it comes to John 15:5 – “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” We try, and we certainly put on something that looks like church, but until we seek God and get His plan and His anointing, what we do will all be in vain (Psalm 127:1). God desires that we would seek His plan and His help in everything that He calls us to do. He doesn’t expect us or want us to do it on our own. He wants us to come to Him, admit our weaknesses and then He will empower us to do all that He has called us to do. God is with us!
