Tuesday, October 10, 2006

"The Power of the Ask"

This past Friday at Rainstorm this was the talk that I did. I talked about two other topics leading up to this one those two were "The Power of the Tongue and The Power of Words" This one was number 3 in "The Power series."

I am going to narrow it down even more to a question we can ask people. That question I will give you at the end so just stay with me to the end. It will make sense in the end I hope.

On a leadership cd I listened to a couple weeks ago said that leaders have the power of the ask, and not to say someone elses no for them, before you ask them to help you something. Most of the time we say someone elses no for them before we even ask them to help. We say things like that would not want to help out with this or that, and who knows maybe they would like to help. After hearing that on the cd, it made me thing of this thing called "The Power of Ask" and I moved it from just leaders to everyone. And then I moved it even more to people asking their friends and family matters to church. How often to we say their no for them before we ask them. I know I have done it in my own life.

Now back to what I asked the youth at Rainstorm. Here are a few asks I asked them:
When thinking about being asked a question, what type of question do you like to be asked?
What types of questions do you ask people?
What is your answer to the question "how are you doing today?"
What is the answer most people give to you when you ask them that? (how are you doing today?)

Did you know that the Bible has Asked questions in it too?

One of them is found in Joshua when he asked the people who they will serve (Jos. 24:14-15)

Jesus also asked people questions here are just a couple: "When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"" (John 5:6); Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Peter answered, "The Christ of God." (Luke 9:18-20)
There are more a lot more. I just picked those two.

What types of things do you want to get asked/invited too? and why?
Who do you want to ask to those things?
How do you feel when you are not invited to something?

How do you feel whgen you plan something invite people to it and they don't show up?
What do you do about it?

The Bible tells a story about a guy we plans a party and invites the guests. He tells his servant to go and get the guests because the party is ready to start. Here is the story: Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' " 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' " (Luke 14:16-24)

The Bible tells one more story about a man named Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to see Jesus when Jesus was coming to his town. Things in his life lead him to climb that tree. This is what it says: "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham." (Luke 19:1-9)
Maybe it was the change he saw in a guy name Levi who was a follower of Jesus and he was a tax collector like Zacchaeus. Luke 5:27-29 says: After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.
Maybe Levi asked Zacchaeus to the party and maybe he invited him out when Jesus was coming to his town. Then Jesus asked him to come so he could stay at his house. Maybe there are people in our life who are "climbing trees" to see God.

Have you ever wanted a place to find Support, Teaching, Outreach, Reconnecting with God, Ministry. This is what Rainstorm is about and if you are looking for a place to have this in your life then Rainstorm could be that place for you.

Here is the question I talked about at the start of this blog. "What are you doing this Friday? Would you like to check out Rainstorm with me?"
We can keep asking this question to our friends or we could start to ask our friends. Some might say yes and some might say NO!!! But do not say their NO for them before you ask them then let them say their answer.

Could it be as easy as asking that question, once you have talked about what a great time Rainstorm is?

That is "The Power of the Ask" You can invite people to something where they could meet the living God.

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden


3 comments:

Barrett said...

well another stellar performance by matt. it's amazing the different ways or perspectives who can view life from. thats why i keep coming back to read you blog. for 2, 3, or even 5 minutes i sit down, clear my head, and jsut read your blog, its fantastic. gets my head clear of everything i've been thinking of and puts a hwole new perspective on life. so thank-you for posting new blogs, no matter when they are, they're always a treat to read.
barrett

Jade Kenyamanyara said...

Hye matt....awesome blogs. Some really neat concepts...it definitely gets me thinking....which is good...i hope that i'll be able to put into practice what you talk about in your blogs. i also love it cuz it helps me feel just that little bit more connected to home. :) - so thanks. apart from reading your blogs....i love reading Barrett's comments....LOL> you can tell him that. :)
talk to you later.
~jade

Anonymous said...

Matty!
well once again i love it. You have sucha way of looking at things its really amazing. Its really a treat to read your blogs it really is...even though alot of the time i forget ...when i do come and read them all it really just brightens my day. i love it!
so thanks for that!
-abbey<3