David Diga Hernandez - Do What Jesus Did: 4 Ministry Secrets of Jesus

Hello, this is David Diga Hernandez, and you’re watching Spirit Church here on the Encounter TV network. You know, there was a very specific strategy that Jesus used when carrying out His ministry here on Earth. We’re going to look at that strategy so that we can emulate it. Jesus did, in fact, carry out a specific strategy when ministering here on Earth. Now, some believers are dismissive of strategy; they’re dismissive of methodology. But remember, this strategy can be spiritual. Just because something is strategic doesn’t mean that it can’t be spirit-led.

Now, of course, I’m not talking about being rigid or being completely reliant upon systems. Rather, I’m talking about a godly order; I’m talking about Christlike methodologies. You see, while Jesus was ministering and implementing certain methods of ministry— which I’m going to show you in a moment—He kept an open line of communication with His Father so that while He carried out the strategy, He continued to hear from His Father. John 12:49 says, «I don’t speak on my own authority; the Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.» So when carrying out a spirit-inspired strategy, it’s important to remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice.

Now, let’s take a look at this key verse found in Matthew chapter 9, verses 35-38. This is a very important portion of Scripture because in this passage, we see the ministry strategy of Jesus laid out for us like a blueprint. If we can learn to copy this strategy, then we will see powerful results. Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the good news about the kingdom. He healed every kind of disease and illness. News about Him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to Him all who were sick—whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon-possessed or paralyzed; He healed them all. Large crowds followed Him wherever He went, people from Galilee, the ten towns, Jerusalem, all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

Here we see that Jesus, number one, was teaching in the synagogues; number two, He was announcing the good news; number three, He was healing the sick; and number four, He was casting out demons. These were the methods He used to carry out His ministry here on Earth.

So again, number one, He was teaching the Scriptures. Now, we’re going to look at what is known as the Great Commission, found in Matthew chapter 28. I’m going to read verses 18-20. Watch this: these are the directions that Jesus gives us as the pattern of ministry that we are to follow. These are His parting instructions that He leaves with us. He says, «This is how you do ministry.»

Matthew 28:18–20: Jesus came and told His disciples, «I have been given all authority in heaven and on Earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even until the end of the age.»

Here He says to go and make disciples. Well, how do you make disciples? You make disciples by teaching the Word. You make disciples by communicating the truths that Jesus Himself communicated.

Now, I’ve often seen ministers treat the Word very flippantly. I’ve been in services where the minister will say, «Well, I was going to preach a sermon, but now I’m throwing the notes out and I’m going to allow the Holy Spirit to do what He wants to do.» Now, I understand that there are times when the Holy Spirit will change the agenda. There are times when the Holy Spirit will interrupt your sermon and tell you to do something else, like prophesy or pray for the sick, and that’s a good thing when the Holy Spirit instructs it.

However, we shouldn’t have the mindset that the less of the Word we read, the more spiritual the service is. We shouldn’t believe that in order for God to move, we must lay aside the teaching and instead go straight to the demonstration. In fact, it is the teaching of the Word that lays the foundation for the demonstration of power. You need the Word!

So this idea of just throwing out my notes and letting the Holy Spirit move—wait a minute! The Holy Spirit most often moves through the Word. So those notes you should probably keep unless you’ve clearly heard from the Holy Spirit. We must be broken away from the mindset that if there is teaching, talk of the Word, or study of the Word, that somehow prevents the Holy Spirit from moving. No, He moves through the Word; it’s essential to building the people of God.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 states, «All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.» The Word of God is how you build people. The Word of God is how you make disciples. The Word of God is how people grow spiritually.