This post is derived from a conversation I recently had with my pastor, Ashley Evans. He challenged me to think about being highly diligent yet hopefully dependent. It’s an interesting concept because it sounds like an oxymoron. If we are diligent in ourselves then why do we need to be dependent on God? Or vice versa, if we are dependent on God then what’s the use of being diligent in ourselves?

Well the answer isn’t “either/or” it’s “and/both”. Check out these four principles about this concept…

1. Being highly diligent without divine dependence is arrogance.

This principle has driven many a leaders into the ground. They find themselves burnt out and depleted because they are carrying a workload they weren’t designed to carry. It’s an unknown arrogance that leaders may posses to think they can do the work of the ministry without depending on the God of the ministry.

2. Being hopefully dependent without high diligence is laziness.

This principle is what over-spiritual leaders live by. Instead of taking responsibility and doing the work of the ministry they sit on their couch wanting to God to breakthrough and do it for them. Unfortunately this is not how it works. We are called to be co-laborers. Keyword being… labor!

3. Diligence without dependence produces temporal results.

Diligence without dependence isn’t an entirely terrible thing. It will produce results that can be positive but our goal isn’t positive results, it’s spiritual fruit.

4. Diligence and dependence produces eternal results.

In order to produce the eternal, our diligent efforts must be met with a supernatural faith in God. This is the delicate balance of high diligence and hopeful dependence.

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As a reminder, we are just over 70 days away from launch! We are in a great time of faith for our family and we are hoping that you will partner with us. Please consider partnering with us for 6 or 12 months and help us launch strong. Because of our strategic partnership with the Association of Related Churches, your gift will be doubled up to $50,000. We truly need your help as we get closer to launch.

Our goal is to raise $150,000 for our launch and $100,000 for our post-launch budget. That may seem like a lot to one person but if we all do what we can do individually then corporately we can make a huge difference!

Thanks for your prayers and support of Victorious Church! We launch on February 16th, 2014 and launch day will be here before we know it!