You Are Next

God does not call those who have it all; He calls those willing to surrender all.

I AM LIVING PROOF that God blesses us in our dependency on Him. This dependence on Him has been a challenging process, but it has been essential to enable me to do what I cannot do on my own.

You see, my path to leading the one of world’s largest evangelical networks can be described only as orchestrated by God. I have always been passionate not only about my relationship with Jesus Christ and the Great Commission to share the good news of the gospel with the world but also about uniting multiethnic and multigenerational evangelical voices to make a difference in the quality of life for all people. I have always felt called to minister to both body and soul because I see the cross of Christ uniting heaven and earth, healing us both vertically in our relationship with God and horizontally in our relationships with one another. Jesus tells us He came to bring a full, abundant life (John 10:10), and I know God has called me to be a catalyst and facilitator of His power in the lives of others.

With a Spirit-fueled passion to reconcile Billy Graham’s message of salvation through Christ with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s march for justice, as I mentioned earlier, I endeavored to establish a movement with a goal of doing nothing less than changing the world.

THE PROBLEM WITH MY PROBLEM

Knowing and embracing God’s calling to lead and serve this movement, I nonetheless made a crucial mistake. You would think that since I was a believer for decades as well as a pastor, I would know better than anyone what it means to rely on God. And while I have always understood this need cognitively, it took some humbling experiences for me to realize that I had faltered, fallen, and failed to accomplish my God-given mission because I depended on others and myself more than I depended on God.

I can see in hindsight how I unintentionally kept my impact paralyzed by trying to carry the movement through my own power. Without recognizing my self-sufficiency and autonomous control, I worked hard to sustain and spread the mission, ministry, and mandate all by myself. I traveled and networked all the time, I raised funds all the time, and I rarely turned down an opportunity to speak, teach, or preach. In my mind at the time, I had done the hard work necessary for the movement to survive and thrive.

STEP BACK OR STEP UP

Then it happened—that moment, that precise encounter when your life gets shaken by a truth that will define you forever. I remember praying and asking God, “Why?” And then I was filled with the Holy Spirit, and God gave me a simple rubric that changed my life and the trajectory of our movement from that moment on. “Live a holy, healed, healthy, happy, humble, hungry, honoring life, and change the world!”

Wow! I got it. It is not about me. It is not about my ability; it is about His anointing. It is not about my potential; it is about His power. It is not about what I do for God; it is about what God already did for me. It is not about my fortitude; it is about His favor. It is not about me. It is not about me. It is not about me. It truly is about Him—not just rhetorically but in action, word, deed, and thought. It is all about Jesus.

And as I acknowledged this truth, the NHCLC began to explode! As if to underline the lesson He wanted me to learn, God blessed our organization and my leadership in so many directions. Unsolicited donations came in as new contributors, sponsors, and ministry partners asked to fund our endeavors. Unexpected invitations opened up and provided platforms far more significant than any I had ever attained in my past efforts. Top news media began covering us front and center, seeking me out to comment on matters of faith, culture, and public policy.

The more I stopped working through my own efforts and simply relied on God, the more He blessed me and the impact of the NHCLC. For example, in January 2013 I became the first Latino ever to deliver the keynote address at the Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemorative Service held at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year, I accepted an invitation to give the keynote address at the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s National Religious Freedom Conference in Washington, DC. I have had other unbelievably prestigious opportunities to speak—at Princeton, Yale, Promise Keepers, Liberty University, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the White House.

In fact, the White House not only invited me to speak but also to meet with then-President George W. Bush. After President Obama was elected, he asked me to serve on his White House Task Force on Fatherhood and Healthy Families. Other leaders and members of Congress actively sought out my views and insight on issues and policy objectives. In 2016 I accepted an invitation to pray from the presidential podium as part of the inauguration ceremony of Donald J. Trump.

Today the NHCLC has been recognized by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Christianity Today, Charisma magazine, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, Fox News, CNN, and a number of additional media outlets, publications, and periodicals as America’s largest and most influential Hispanic and Latino Christian organization with over forty thousand certified member churches in the United States. We join in covenant relationship with ministries and churches in Latin America and around the world.

My friend, I share all this with you not to brag at all, so forgive me if this comes across as immodest. Because I intend to show you just the opposite—how I could never have made any of this happen! Only God could bring about so many incredible blessings, opportunities, and accolades. Only God could open the doors to the White House for a geeky, Star Trek–loving Puerto Rican like myself.

As soon as I stepped back and surrendered my control to God’s sovereignty, He resuscitated our organization and began working through it in miraculous ways—for His glory and His kingdom!

SINK OR SWIM

Can you relate to my experience? Have you ever tried so hard to make something work, maybe even something you knew God wanted you to do, only to have it fail? As we see throughout the Bible, God wants His children to rely on Him. He knows the best plan for us, and He knows how we often get into trouble when we become self-sufficient and think we can accomplish what only He can do.

Sometimes when we have tried and tried to stand on our own two feet only to fall time and time again, we quit trying. We assume we will always remain on the ground, so why torture ourselves with false hope? I wonder if the paralyzed man felt that way that day beside the temple pool at Bethesda. Perhaps you and I might be tempted to hesitate and think about the likelihood that our next attempt would be unsuccessful since all the ones preceding it have failed.

But apparently the man did not try to think about what Jesus commanded him to do—he just did it! “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:8–9). Notice it says, “At once”! Not after a few minutes, not after he had explained to Jesus why it would not work, not after he changed sandals and felt better about how he looked!

When Jesus told him to stand up, He did not use just any old phrase. He did not ask a question or issue a request. Jesus’ words imperatively instructed the man to do what he could not do before.

An encounter with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit will always empower you to do what you could not do before. One moment you cannot walk, and the next moment you can. When Jesus shows up, He immediately empowers you to do what you could not do before.

Unlike the man at Bethesda, however, we often allow our fears to overwhelm our faith. Instead of getting up at once, we hesitate and leave the door open for our fears to take over. I began serving and leading the NHCLC not in my own power but through God’s power. But then I started to think I had to do it myself; I held myself responsible for whether we would sink or swim. I became so determined for the organization to succeed that I left God out of the equation. I knew I needed His power, but I did not rely on it daily, hourly, minute by minute.

In those situations when our fear undermines our faith, we would do well to remember the example of one of my favorite disciples, Simon Peter. I am not sure if any follower of Jesus went through more ups and downs than this passionate fisherman who clearly loved the Lord but also battled personal fears to which we can all relate. In one of their most dramatic encounters, notice what happens when Peter quit walking by faith and instead relied on his own ability.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

—MATTHEW 14:25–31

STANDING IN THE STORM

This scene took place after Jesus fed the five thousand by blessing the bread-and-fish lunch of one little boy (Matt. 14:13–21; John 6:5–13). He then sent the disciples by boat to the other side of the lake while He dismissed the crowd and took some time to be alone with God (Matt. 14:22–23). In the meantime the disciples were taking a boat across the lake in the middle of the night when a storm blew in.

As if being in the middle of a storm in open water in the dark did not seem spooky enough, then the disciples looked up and saw a man coming toward them—walking on the surface of the choppy water! Because the Gospel writer tells us it was Jesus before the disciples recognized their Master, we might be tempted to laugh at their hasty, imaginative conclusion. But in all honesty we all tend to allow our fears to jump ahead of our faith at times.

And the disciples did precisely that. They assumed it must be a ghost coming toward them because who or what else could walk on water? So Jesus identified Himself and reassured His friends. While they must not have seen their Master walk on water before, they had surely seen Him do enough miraculous, unimaginable feats not to question His ability to do something like this. After all, had they not just witnessed Him taking a meager meal of five loaves and two fish, blessing it, and transforming it into more Filet-O-Fish sandwiches than McDonald’s has ever served?

Like us at times, however, the disciples were skeptical. Peter, much like our friend Gideon setting out his fleeces, wanted some evidence to back up the ghostly stranger’s claim. And do not you just love the proof Peter asked for? “If that is really You, Lord,” he said, “then let me do what You are doing! Let me walk on water just like You are doing.”

Now, this request to you or I might have been met with the same kind of response I used to give my kids when they asked me if they could keep another stray kitten or puppy. “I do not think that is a very good idea,” I would say as kindly and gently as possible while internally thinking, “No way are we keeping that critter!”

I am struck by the similarity in many ways to His instruction to the man who could not walk. “Get up!” the Lord said. “Walk toward Me! Come on!” Peter did as he was instructed, getting out of the boat and walking on water just like his Master! But notice what happened next: “When he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (v. 30).

How many times have you obeyed God’s call on your life and started to do what you could never have imagined yourself doing? How many times have you stepped out of your comfort zone, your boat of security, and started to walk by faith toward the Master’s voice? Maybe it surprises you just as much as everyone else around you. They did not think you could do it, and like our old friend Gideon from the previous chapter, maybe you did not think you could do it either. But now look at you—doing what has never been done, walking on water!

We look down and cannot believe the water’s surface supports our feet. We look up and see the rain falling and the clouds gathering as we hear the wind howling. Not only do we have the ability to do the impossible, walk on water, but suddenly we realize we can do it in the midst of a storm, which surely must be even more impossible—as if degrees of impossibility exist! This only goes to show the way we get in our heads and try to conform God’s power to our understanding of the world around us.

Just think about what it would have been like if the man at Bethesda had acted like this or behaved like Peter. There he is, lying on the ground for thirty-eight years, when along comes Jesus, who tells him to get to his feet, pick up his mat, and walk. So the man stands and takes a step on legs that have not known smooth, fluid motion like this in nearly four decades. Then he hesitates. He looks down. No, this cannot be happening! Those are not his feet, are they? They seem to be moving just fine, and they feel great, better than ever before, but that doesn’t seem possible, does it? After all, he is paralyzed. He cannot be walking around like someone on a Sunday stroll through the park!

We all have moments, like Peter, when we shift our focus from Jesus to our own ability—or lack thereof—to do what He has instructed us to do. We allow our fears to overwhelm us, our logic to overtake us, and our doubts to overpower us. Immediately we begin sinking! We cannot keep going. We know we cannot do the impossible—and apparently we are not sure God can either. But He is God, after all, so we cry out, “Lord! Save me!”

Jesus extends His hand and catches us, just as He caught Peter in that frightful moment. But the Lord also reminds us with the same words He told His disciple: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (v. 31).

When you try to walk in your own power, you will fall, no matter how many times you try, no matter how much effort you expend. But when you look at Jesus and draw your power from Him, then you can do what you could not do before. Like Peter, you can walk on water. Like the paralyzed man, you can walk by faith.

BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH

Peter intrigues me because this incident on the lake was not his only time to slip and sink when relying on his own power. You might recall that later Peter, along with other disciples, accompanied Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane to keep vigil in prayer prior to Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and death. At that time Peter had grown so committed to his Master, he even drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, who was part of the group there to arrest Christ (John 18:10).

Within a matter of mere hours, however, this same brawny, zealous defender of Jesus claimed that he did not know the carpenter from Nazareth at all! When others challenged his denial, Peter repeated his lie two more times (Luke 22:54–62), unintentionally fulfilling the prophetic warning that the Lord Himself had given Peter (Matt. 26:34). I find it hard not to see Peter once again looking into the face of the wind, fearing the storm, and sinking in place. Instead of focusing on Jesus, Peter reacted out of fear and assumed control. “I better lie about knowing Jesus or they will arrest me too!” he might have been thinking. Instead of trusting God for his safety, Peter tried to take control.

Peter’s story was not over, though. Just as Jesus reached out and saved him from sinking in the storm, the Lord showed Peter His forgiveness in a particularly personal, poignant way. After His resurrection Christ appeared at various times and places to His followers. While each encounter was indeed memorable, I cannot help but believe this scene of breakfast on the beach had the most profound effect on Peter.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

—JOHN 21:4–9

The disciples were fishing but, as Jesus pointed out, not on the right side! When we cast our nets where we think we can attain what we want, we usually end up empty-handed. Only when we obey our Master’s instruction can we do what we could not do before.

Not only did Jesus cook breakfast for Peter and the others, but the Lord had already also delivered prophetic words of grace to the fisherman as well: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18, ESV). Christ never gave up on His friend and pushed through Peter’s fears to uncover his faith. Jesus wanted to work through Peter’s life and transform His follower’s passion into precision. After Jesus ascended, Peter spent the rest of his life preaching and spreading the news of the gospel wherever he went, eventually being martyred for his faith. He no longer feared the storms of life but trusted God to be with him in the midst of them.

Peter grew from the kind of person who knew he could never walk on water in his own power to one who continually stepped out in faith to share Christ with others. Peter went from a man who denied knowing Jesus three times to one willing to face death for his beloved Savior. Peter knew firsthand that encountering the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit will radically empower us to do what we could not do before. He exemplified living proof of the truth Paul wrote: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17, NLT).

RISE UP

My friend, you may not believe you have the same faith as Peter, but you do. You might not feel as able to leap to your feet as the man at Bethesda, but you can. You might not want to try once again to do what you have not been able to do before, but you must. Because when you encounter the presence of the living God in your life, you can do what you could not do before. All who encounter Jesus and invite His Spirit into their lives experience an abundance of power that enables them to exceed anything they have ever done before. Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26).

How many times did the man at Bethesda try to stand up with his own strength and fail?

Then all of a sudden Jesus showed up, and the miracle began! And it started not with Jesus’ command to walk but with the diagnostic question of the great physician. Whatever else you do with this man’s story of complete and total healing, don’t you dare forget Jesus’ first question to him: “Do you want to get well?”

It was not an insult, not an obvious query, and not a rhetorical question—but an invitation. Before you obey Jesus’ command to stand and walk, you must answer this question openly and honestly. Do you want to quit making excuses? Do you want to stop playing the victim? Do you want to end the blame game? Do you want to be made whole?

It is very simple, and yet we often complicate it. We fear letting go and letting God empower us. The uncertainty of who we will be without our paralysis scares us.

The amazing Christian writer C. S. Lewis captured the fear of this decision so perfectly in his book The Great Divorce. In his allegorical story a group of people travel through the foothills of heaven on their way to hell. These travelers appear ghostlike, insubstantial, and fragile as they cling to their own sinful comforts and conveniences. One ghost passenger in particular has a red lizard, symbolizing the power of sin in his life, on his shoulder, constantly whispering in his ear. As the group nears heaven, an angel addresses this ghost and gives him an invitation to break the power of sin over his life so that God can transform it into something glorious.

As the angel and the ghost converse, the ghost with his lizard makes excuse after excuse why they do not want to part. The angel persists in the offer, however, until finally the ghost realizes how miserable the lizard-like hold of sin has made him. So the ghost asks the angel to remove the lizard, to destroy its power over him, which the angel proceeds to do. The pain feels agonizing and unbearable at the moment, but then a mighty transformation occurs. The ghost suddenly solidifies and becomes a man—and the remains of the lizard become a beautiful, lively horse with a golden mane. The man, who is now free from the lizard and the tormenting power of sin, climbs onto the horse and rides off toward heaven “like a shooting star.”¹

“Do you want to get well?” Jesus continues to ask. And contained within His words, we also find other invitations to the abundant life God wants to give us through His healing power:

Then get up! Stand up! Rise up! Through the power of Jesus Christ get up and do what you could not do before in your own strength; what you failed to do before because others abandoned you or failed you; what you were unable to do before because just like the man at Bethesda you depended on others more than you depended on God.

In Christ your areas of past failure will emerge as the arenas of your greatest success. Where you once strived and struggled, you will sail and saunter. Where you once labored in vain for temporary gain, you will now serve God’s eternal kingdom with your unique purpose through the power of the Holy Spirit. You need not doubt the difference you make in this world because you know that God has equipped you for His righteous purpose to do what you could never do on your own. You need not labor in vain and hit your head against the wall because you do not seem to make any progress. You need not exhaust yourself by trying harder and exerting more force.

You need only to surrender your control. Let go of the past and walk into the future. Get off the ground and get on your feet. I may never meet you in person, know your name, or shake your hand, but right now, as you read the words on this page, I prophetically declare: