Front Stage vs Back Stage

Front Stage vs Back Stage

Dear Lord, thank you for Jimmy Dodd and his wonderful books for Christ-Followers who are in leadership roles. He has done amazing work for your kingdom, and I praise you for him and the PastorServe family of servant-leaders who seek to minister to your people. Today, I want to write about his concept of FRONT STAGE VERSUS BACK STAGE, what that means to us as leaders, and what we should do about it.

Dear child, write from your experience. What has this meant for you? What does this mean for you now, today, as you are on the Front Stage with this daily blog of your quiet time with me?

Well Lord, first of all, I must recognize where I am, and be careful that the message I send to your people is from you, and not from me. So, I want to hear accurately what you would say today about this, or anything else you want to say. I don’t want my bias to get in the way, which is impossible with man, but totally possible because of your Holy Spirit. So, please have your way with me.

Share what you did before this “Front Stage” work this morning.

WE MUST PREPARE FOR FRONT STAGE WORK

Well, I had a time of prayer with you, where I took my spiritual shower. I confessed my sins to you and asked you to forgive me. You forgave me, and you told me not to be too hard on myself, because I did not have vile sin. You were very gracious.

Yes, my child. I want all my children to confess their sins to me on a daily basis. “8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” 1 john 1:8-10 NIV

God, who do I confess my sins to? Father God? Jesus Christ? Holy Spirit? Does it matter who I am talking to when I confess them?

No, my child. You are talking to me: God. Three persons. One God. You can not understand this Divine Mystery in your current state. When you are with me in Heaven, you will understand. Right now, whoever you want to talk to, do so. Jesus took away your sins, past, present, and future. So you may want to confess them to Christ. However, the reason you confess is to restore and maintain intimacy with the Triune Godhead, the Blessed Trinity: God the Father, Jesus Christ your savior, and the Holy Spirit, the power within you to connect with me. This is BACK STAGE work. The kind that no one but me truly sees. 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

OUR BACKSTAGE IS TRANSPARENT TO CHRIST

Lord Jesus, the BACK STAGE of my heart, that no one but you truly sees, is the most important part of our relationship, and my ministry to others. If that part that no one but you sees is not fully right with you, than nothing that I do on the FRONT STAGE of public service to you people matters. It is just a show. A facade. A veneer. I can look good, and be seen as doing your work, but if my heart is not right with you, then I am an imposter, a fraud, a fake. May that never be so with our relationship Lord Jesus!

My child, many of my children who claim to be ministering in my name are overly focused on the FRONT STAGE, what the world sees. I want my people to be more concerned with the BACK STAGE. What life is like behind closed doors with themselves, and their families. I call my all my people to repentance on a daily basis. If only they would listen to my voice, repent of their sins, and turn to me. I would heal them. for: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

Lord, I love your Holy Word. You showed me this scripture to close this post: 16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16 NIV

My child, go in peace to love and serve me.

DAILY DISCIPLINES

Father God, Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit, have your way with me. Have your way with all who read this today. May all of us:
1. Have a daily quiet time of prayer and meditation. (Daily = Every Day)
2. Confess our sins to you on a daily basis. (Daily = Every Day)
3. Daily surrender our FRONT STAGE to you, fully and completely. All credit to you. (Daily = Every Day)
4. Daily humble ourselves and continually work to have our BACK STAGE right with you. (Daily = Every Day)

A GOOD LEADER IS A GOOD FOLLOWER

My child, this is my will for all who call me Lord and Savior. Not only those who lead, but those who follow as well. For I call all people to do both. Lead AND follow. A good leader is a good follower.

Christ Jesus, may we follow you always, in everything, until the day we see you face to face. Maranatha Christ Jesus. Amen.

Your aspiring servant,
Daniel M.
25 April 2023

For more information on this topic: https://pastorserve.org/how-to-be-intentional-about-the-backstage-of-your-life-and-ministry-jimmy-dodd/