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Recap & Intro (0:00)
Welcome back to You Are My Witnesses.
Before we step into today’s conversation, I want to anchor us—because where we’ve been deeply matters if we are going to understand where God is taking us.
In Episode 10, we talked about shifting our personal narratives. I shared an image the Lord gave me of our life in God being like a train:
- God’s truth is the engine — it sets the direction.
- Our faith is the coal car — it fuels forward movement.
- Our feelings are the caboose — real and acknowledged, but never meant to lead.
We don’t deny our feelings, but we also don’t let them determine the course of our lives. We place our faith in God’s truth and allow our feelings to follow.
That episode focused on the ministry between you and the Lord. I even walked listeners through writing a personal statement of faith—something you can (and should) speak out loud. If you haven’t listened yet, I strongly encourage you to go back and do so.
Then in Episode 11, we took the next step—because ministry never stops with just us and God. It is always meant to extend outward. We explored what it means to be Ministers of Truth, and how essential it is to hold prayer and the Word of God in balance. When one outweighs the other, our ability to minister like Jesus is deeply affected.
This isn’t about perfection or striving in our own strength. If we try that, we fall flat on our faces. This is about surrender—specifically surrender to the person of the Holy Spirit. He leads, but we must yield. So often, yielding means choosing to be led by truth, not by feelings—because when truth confronts us, our emotions are not always in agreement.
Today, we’re going even deeper. I want to unpack how Jesus actually did ministry, and help you begin to orient your personal ministry—not a borrowed calling, not an inherited method, not something added on… but yours.
So take a deep breath.
Open your heart.
Let’s step into what it truly means to be a Personal Minister of Truth.
The Jesus Discipleship Model (3:00)
If we truly want to be Ministers of Truth, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
The best way to do that is to study how He modeled ministry—and when we do, we quickly discover that His approach often looks very different from our modern church traditions.
This is especially true in the Western Church, where success is often measured by numbers, visibility, and influence, rather than obedience, faithfulness, and transformation.
This tension matters.
Not so we fall into cynicism or criticism—but so we learn discernment. There are many voices eager to point out what’s broken, yet offering no vision for what God is restoring. We need to partner with the Lord in what He is transforming right now.
I truly believe 2020 marked a global spiritual shift. Individually and corporately, we are still learning how to live in this new landscape. And the truth is—we cannot go back to the way things were.
Trying to do so is like pouring new wine into old wineskins. Jesus was clear: it won’t work.
So today, I want to unpack the way I’ve seen Jesus work—and trust that as I share, the Holy Spirit will speak to you, just as He convicted me.
Jesus Was Never Driven by the Crowd
We live in a culture obsessed with influence and reach. Success is often measured by followers, platforms, and visibility.
But Jesus did not measure success the way we do.
Consider this moment from Matthew 13, when the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke to the crowds in parables. His answer is striking:
Jesus wasn’t trying to make everything easily accessible. He wasn’t hiding truth out of cruelty—but He revealed truth to those who truly wanted Him.
Another powerful example appears in John 2, when many believed in Jesus after seeing His miracles:
The Amplified Bible explains that Jesus understood the superficiality and fickleness of human nature. Some appeared to believe, but their faith was not abiding trust—it was excitement over signs and wonders.
Jesus knew the difference.
These are the seeds that fall on shallow soil—no roots, no endurance.
Again and again, we see this pattern:
Jesus explained His teachings to the disciples—but not always to the crowds.
His priority was discipleship, not popularity.
In John 17:12, near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus tells the Father that none were lost except the one who chose betrayal. By that point, thousands had walked away. He had said hard things—about eating His flesh and drinking His blood—and many were unwilling to understand.
Yet Jesus evaluated His entire ministry based on the few who remained faithful.
Let that sink in.
God Starts Small—and He Always Has
When I reflect on my own life, I see the same pattern.
There have been people God specifically gave me—those who leaned in, asked questions, and followed Jesus wholeheartedly. And there were others who were present but uninterested in going deeper.
Jesus experienced the same thing.
So what if ministry isn’t about reaching as many people as possible—but about being faithful to the specific people God entrusts to us?
What if some people come into our lives because we are trying to bring them to God—while others come because God is bringing them to us?
That distinction matters.
Scripture reminds us that our works will be tested—not for salvation, but for faithfulness. God always begins with what is small, because growth is tied to character formation.
God cares far more about who you are becoming than what you accomplish for Him.
The greatest sacrifice you can bring to the King is not your productivity—it’s your life.
Surrender is the key. And more surrender is always required.
I once cried out to the Lord, “You’ve left me in the furnace too long. I’m nothing but ashes.”
And tenderly, He replied, “Janell, I made beauty from dust. Don’t you think I can do something beautiful with ashes?”
Friend, if you’re in that place—you are not forgotten. Nothing is wasted.
And because God has vision for you, I want to give you a practical way to orient yourself to your current ministry landscape.
Ministry Mapping: A Holy Invitation (14:47)
This exercise comes from the Kingdom Culture curriculum by Kristen D’Arpa (a fellow Minnesotan). In 2023, I hosted a small group in my home using this material—and I watched the Holy Spirit move powerfully.
This exercise takes something as big as societal transformation and makes it personal and practical—which is exactly how God works.
Here’s the truth we need to sit with:
God did not give you the whole world to steward.
He gave you:
- Your home
- Your neighborhood
- Your relationships
We often think too big and become overwhelmed—when God is asking us to think smaller, so He can grow something lasting.
God is far more interested in quality than quantity.
Faith without action is dead—but faithful action always begins with clarity.
Let’s map what God has placed in your hands.
The Ministry Mapping Exercise (17:26)
Begin by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to guide you. Grab a piece of paper and something to write with.
- Draw a dot in the center of the page — this represents you.
- Below the dot: Write the names of spiritual mothers and fathers—those who have gone before you and shaped your faith. (If none come to mind, that’s something to pray about.)
- To the right of the dot: Write the names of peers—those walking alongside you. Iron sharpens iron.
- Above the dot: Write the names of any spiritual sons or daughters—those you are influencing or discipling. (If none come to mind, pray. Your ceiling is meant to become their floor.)
- Draw the largest circle you can — this represents the world. Inside it, write the big dreams, callings, or hopes you carry.
- Between the dot and the big circle, draw a smaller circle — this is your Eden. Inside it, write words describing your current life:
- Responsibilities
- Relationships
- Health
- Capacity
- Spiritual rhythms
- Draw arrows from your Eden toward the larger circle. Ask God what growth looks like. Write what He shows you.
Pay attention to who is influencing you in this season. Sometimes God adjusts voices—not because they are wrong, but because they are not right right now.
Sit with Him. Let Him show you what needs to come—and what needs to go. Remember, you are not doing this alone.
Prayer (23:13)
Father,
We come to You with yielded hearts.
Thank You for being a God who entrusts Your Kingdom not to the superficial—but to those who long to be faithful stewards.
Forgive us for measuring ministry by numbers and visibility.
Teach us to honor quiet obedience and the small spaces You’ve given us.
Holy Spirit, seal what You’ve revealed.
Bring clarity where there has been confusion.
Peace where there has been pressure.
Courage where obedience feels costly.
For those who feel reduced to ashes—thank You that nothing is wasted in Your Kingdom. You breathe life into dust.
Help us tend our Eden well.
Root us deeply in Your truth.
Align our faith with Your Word—not our feelings.
Make us faithful Ministers of Truth—in our homes, our neighborhoods, and every place You’ve assigned us.
We surrender again today.
We trust Your timing.
We say yes.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Final Words of Encouragement (26:09)
Thank you for spending this time with me on You Are My Witnesses.
As you go, remember this:
You are not called to carry the whole world.
You are called to be faithful with what God has placed in your hands.
Walk in His truth.
Yield continually to His Spirit.
And trust that in the right time—God will bring the increase.
Until next time,
This is Janell reminding you:
You are His witnesses.
Now My Eyes See You
If this episode has stirred something in you, Janell invites you to go deeper with her devotional Now My Eyes See You. In it, she shares how suffering, though disorienting, can become the place where we encounter God’s redeeming presence. Like Job, we are not alone in the ashes. Jesus steps in and leads us into healing. The devotional is available on Amazon in all formats. And Janell has a free Bible study to accompany it, link is below.
Grab Your FREE Bible Study!
Click above to join Janell’s Substack for a Bible Study on the Book of Job
Download the pdf notes and all seven videos. You can use it forever! Whether you have questions about suffering or you know of people in your life that do, this resource will be a rich and meaningful addition to your faith toolbox.
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Janell Kremer 
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