My Life’s Ambition

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For 6 years I’ve been in full time ministry. Over that time I worked and lived among the homeless and the city rift raft in down town Kansas City. I’ve fed the homeless, and worked to help many find jobs. I have lead young people in prayer and fasting at IHOP. I have preached sermons and taught classes. I’ve helped plan and organize various ministries and strategized with many how to effectively preach the gospel, and teach people to live lives free in the grace of Christ. I’ve lead and pastored many young adults in the grace of Christ. I’ve done a good many things over the short 6 years. I learned many lessons, and been humbled more times than I can count.

However, in all of it, I have learned one thing: It’s not about me… ever.

I the beginning I started in ministry because I was good at it. I have a very charismatic and out-going personality, people tend to follow what I do whether I try to lead or not. Some call that anointing, I tend to call it being 6′5″ and intimidating to most. (unintentionally of course) But maybe it’s both, who knows. I wanted to be successful so I assessed my life and decided ministry was my power ally. I truly cared about helping people. But I cared more about how many people saw me care for people. As I would buy groceries for a homeless guy, I’d have 3 people in the back of my head that I wanted to tell about my “great generosity”. I wanted to be like Mother Teresa, though originally because I wanted to help people, I later just wanted to have books written about me. I thought I was awesome, and people needed to know just how much so.

(if you think this all sounds morbidly narcissistic, than you are catching on correctly)

Then about 3 years ago humility came rushing in like a flood. To save you the personal details, I had an encounter with the Lord like never before. The result of which I got a revelation of the cross, and the meekness of Christ in a way I never had before. In essence you could say I finally understood the gospel. I finally realized that I deserve one thing in life, Hell. I deserve Hell and nothing else. Misty wrote a great song that we sing in the prayer room all of the time which sums up my emotions on the subject:

“You owe me nothing, I deserve Hell, you owe my nothing yet you’ve shown mercy, those who have been forgiven much surely they will love much, So praise the Lord O my soul, praise the Lord.”

Ministry for me now is different. My ambition now is different. Where it used to be about the name I made for myself (Zack Hensley ministries was what I used to put on everything…bleh) It has become about resting in a grace I don’t deserve, in order to rightly serve those who share in the same grace as I do.

My ambition is to preach the gospel. Fasting and prayer are needed but are only doorways into understanding the most important thing. That God took on flesh, He become the atoning sacrifice for the sin and shame of man kind, He rose from the dead with tremendous power and set us free from the bounds of sin and death. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. He is the king of the ages, and is coming again to establish His kingdom forever. My ambition is to preach the good news of this message. That amidst the sin, stress and shame of this life we have hope. If we are in Christ we will live forever with him in eternity. That if we are in Christ we have freedom from sin and shame. If we are in Christ, there is no condemnation! We have an advocate! hight nor depth, angel nor demon things past, present, things to come nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing.

I only care about Christ, and His life in me. I only care that others know Him. I vow to know nothing else as long as I live. My pastor growing up had a saying: Jesus plus nothing! It’s not Jesus plus a perfect life. it’s not Jesus plus having dreams and visions. It’s not Jesus plus seeing angels and healing the sick. it’s not Jesus plus having a proper theological education. It’s Christ Alone.

“…All other ground is sinking sand”

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Tags: Ambition, Jesus Christ, Zack Hensley