Place Jesus at the Center of It All

The One Thing That Must Never Move

I remember the first time I stood in front of a crowd and felt the power of God move. People were healed, tears flowed, and for a moment, it felt like heaven had touched earth. But in the quiet afterward, I realized something unsettling: I had been more excited about the experience than about Jesus. The encounter had become the point, not the One who made it possible.

That moment changed everything for me. It’s why I need to talk to you about this today—not to dampen your hunger for God, but to protect it. Because if we’re not careful, we can chase the feeling of God’s presence while missing the person of Jesus at the center of it all.

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Why This Matters Now

We’re standing on the edge of something extraordinary. God is about to release encounters, miracles, and moves of His Spirit in ways we’ve never seen before. But here’s the question: Will we be ready? Will we recognize His voice when He speaks, or will we be so dazzled by the signs that we miss the One who sends them?

The enemy knows how to counterfeit power. He can drop rods, fill stadiums, and even make gold appear in Bibles. But there’s one thing he cannot fake: truth. And truth always points to Jesus.

If we don’t get this right, we risk building our lives—and even our churches—on experiences that leave us empty, frustrated, or worse, deceived. But if we place Jesus at the center, every encounter, every miracle, every season of fruitfulness will lead us closer to Him, not just to the next spiritual high.

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What the Bible Actually Says

This isn’t just my opinion. It’s the pattern of Scripture, and it’s how the Holy Spirit operates. Here’s what we need to understand:

1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth—and He only speaks what He hears from Jesus.

Jesus said it plainly: "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears" (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit’s job isn’t to draw attention to Himself—or to us. His job is to glorify Jesus.

Think about that. If the Holy Spirit only speaks what He hears from Jesus, then every genuine encounter with God will lead you to Jesus. If an experience, a prophecy, or even a miracle makes you the focus, it’s not from God. Full stop.

2. Power without truth is dangerous.

Paul warned Timothy: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons" (1 Timothy 4:1). How does that happen? Through experiences that feel real but aren’t grounded in truth.

I’ve seen it myself—people who chase signs and wonders but never open their Bibles. They want the power of God without the discipline of knowing Him. It’s like trying to perform surgery without going to medical school. You might feel like a doctor, but you’ll leave a trail of damage behind you.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Ephesians 1:19-20). But power without knowledge is like sticking your hand in an electrical socket—it will destroy you instead of empowering you.

3. The apostles’ blueprint: Every encounter led to Christ.

Look at the early church. Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple gate, and what did they say? "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6).

They didn’t take credit. They didn’t build a brand around it. They pointed to Jesus.

Even the miracles we read about—gold dust, oil flowing from hands—aren’t the point. The point is whether those things lead people to Jesus. If they don’t, they’re just noise.

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The Peril of Making Ourselves the Center

I’ll be honest: I’ve been there. Early in ministry, I prayed for the sick because I knew it would grow the church. I fantasized about healings not because I loved Jesus, but because I loved the attention. I had me at the center, not Him.

And let me tell you something: It’s exhausting.

Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Not your church. Not my ministry. His. When we try to take the spotlight, we’re fighting against the very One who called us. And we will lose every time.

I had to learn this the hard way. I had to repent—not just for my pride, but for making ministry about Julian instead of Jesus. And when I finally surrendered that, everything changed. The pressure lifted. The frustration faded. Because suddenly, it wasn’t about me performing; it was about Him working.

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How to Place Jesus at the Center—Starting Today

This isn’t just theology. It’s practical. Here’s how you live it out:

1. Test every experience with Scripture.

Before you chase the next spiritual high, ask: Does this line up with God’s Word? The Bible is our plumb line. If an encounter, a prophecy, or even a feeling doesn’t align with Scripture, it’s not from God.

I’m not saying don’t desire miracles. I’m saying don’t desire them more than you desire truth. Study the Word. Know it. Let it shape what you expect from God.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where you’ve made it about you.

This one stings, but it’s necessary. Where in your life have you made yourself the center?

• Is your prayer life about your needs or His glory?
• Do you serve in church because you love Jesus, or because you love the recognition?
• When you share a testimony, is it to point people to Jesus—or to make sure they know you were part of the story?

Be ruthless with this. The Holy Spirit will show you if you ask Him.

3. Make Jesus the focus of your worship, prayer, and ministry.

• When you sing, sing to Him, not just about Him.
• When you pray, listen for His voice, not just for an answer to your request.
• When you serve, do it for His name, not for yours.

I had to fight for this in our ministry. When we planned our biggest event, Remma Feast, I told the team: "I don’t care how many famous speakers we have. I want Jesus to be the face of this event." Because if He’s not the center, what’s the point?

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"The Holy Spirit does not have the capacity to glorify you. His job is to glorify Jesus. And if your encounter doesn’t lead people to Him, it’s not from God."

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The Invitation

Here’s the truth: You can have all the encounters, all the miracles, all the fruitfulness in the world—but if Jesus isn’t at the center, it will leave you empty.

But when He is the center?

• Your worship becomes an offering, not a performance.
• Your ministry becomes a sacrifice, not a platform.
• Your life becomes a testimony, not a brand.

So today, I’m asking you: Will you let Him be the center?

Not just in your words. Not just in your theology. But in your heart—where it actually changes how you live.

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Questions to Sit With

1. Where in your life have you made yourself the focus instead of Jesus? (Be specific.)
2. What’s one area—worship, prayer, ministry, work—where you can intentionally place Jesus at the center this week?
3. How can you tell the difference between a genuine encounter with God and one that’s just emotionally exciting?
4. What would change in your life if you truly believed that Jesus is the point—not the experience, not the fruitfulness, not even the miracles?