How To Unlock The Full Arsenal Of Heaven

Sitting at your computer, re-blogging other people's inspirations is not Jesus' plan for you. You have greater responsibilities than that and it is time for us to stop seeking the easy way out. Yes, I know, you are an introvert. So am I. Big deal. I still have to get up and preach to a congregation each week. I still have to lead Bible Study. I still have to met with people throughout the week, invite them into my home, respond to invitations to go to theirs. The Lord does not call us to what is comfortable for us; he calls us to his work and empowers us to do it.

It is the responsibility of every Christian to make disciples. There is not a specific calling, category or gift called the disciplers. Did you notice there is no spiritual gift by that name? Each of us have that responsibility as followers of Jesus. It is not something that the local church does but it is what the Universal Church does, which is you and me, the Body of Christ. It is Jesus Follower 101.

You probably feel inadequate, not up to the task, unqualified for such responsibility. That's because we refuse to grow up. We would rather take the easy way, share some scripture and inspiration on FaceBook or tumblr and feel good about spreading the news of Jesus. But Jesus is not about cold, mass production. He is about relationships, the personal touch, an embrace, a listening ear, eye contact, a smile, a shared tear, the Good News, revelation, redemption and reconciliation. Do you really think that if Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son today he would have the father texting or tweeting his son instead of jumping off the porch and running to him to embrace him?

You have never been asked to do this by yourself or without resources. In fact, all the resources of heaven lay available to you. Whatever you need for the task is yours for the asking. That's the thing, it requires some action on our part. One of the most incredible verses on how we are to complete any task for the Kingdom is found in Luke 11:

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (v. 9-10)

It's sad that we don't even know enough to ask. We may not even want to ask because then we know we need to do it. But those who have decided to walk in obedience, this is your tool chest, your equipment, your great source of all things needed. But it requires action. You need to ask so that you will receive. Don't simply walk into a situation unprepared; equip yourself from Jesus' storehouse. If you need wisdom ask for it. If you need greater understanding, knock so it will be opened to you. Maybe you need opportunities. Knock and that door will open to you. I know it works, I have proven it. And if you need greater revelation of Jesus, seek it and you will find it.

I have no idea what you think you are lacking to complete the task that has been assigned to each of us but I do know you aren't lacking. It is all available to you but you need to take action to get equipped. But if you ask you need to be prepared to receive. Don't be turning the delivery man away at the door. If you knock you better be prepared to walk through the door when it opens. A lot of people knock but few are willing to be bold enough to follow through. If you are seeking you need to expect to find it, and you need to be prepared to do something with it.

We are without excuse. Time is short and more people need to hear about Jesus than ever before. They need more than words, they need to see actions of love and grace. They also need to see a demonstration of the power of Jesus. There is purpose for it, not to prove his existence but to show that they can trust his promises. We need to be prepared to operate in obedience, not limited by our own prejudices. We need to stop being hardhearted, get rid of the unbelief and move out with the full arsenal of heaven's resources. We are the true commissioners of Jesus's truth and reconciliation mission. Let's move out, fully equipped, and engage with the lost.
 

Knowledge, Wisdom, Gifting (3)

Success depends on three things : knowledge, wisdom and gifting. In the last two days we have considered that knowledge is our responsibility. We are the ones who must gain knowledge, which in this day and age, is as close as our finger tips. However, to apply that knowledge within the definition of our relationship with our LORD, we need wisdom. Wisdom is found in Yahweh, who freely gives it when we seek and ask for it. But there is a third element we need for success and it is one most of us neglect. What is your gifting?

Long before we see light or breathe air Yahweh knits into us gifts. Some people refer to these as talents or abilities but gifts is a better description because they have been given to us by our Creator. These are the things that we do not learn but are born with the ability to do. We may have to practice our gifts to become more familiar with them but they are the thing that gives us the ability to do better than most people.

For instance, I am a musician. I started learning how to play a musical instrument in the fifth grade. It was not an easy thing for me but it made me feel like I was part of something; something special. It took me hours of practicing but even with my great effort I could never rise above average. Yet I watched other children around me excel. Certainly they had to work hard at their craft but there was something inside of them that made them shine. I became a mechanical musician, doing all the right things at the right time, but the gifted ones moved people when they played.

We spend a lot of time teaching children the fundamentals in education and we try to get them to pursue what interests them, but we spend little time in investigating their gifts. Many people spend their lives working against the grain, doing the things that are mechanical and average instead of what their Creator had given them to do. Let me give you an example from the Scriptures.

Yahweh was instructing Moses on the tabernacle he wanted built so there would be a place where the priests could carry out their obligations to him, a place for the people to offer worship. He was very detailed in his instructions and something like this, such a holy place, needed to be built of the best materials in the best manner possible. It could not be mediocre or average. It required artisans but the very best of the artisans. This is what we discover:

And I (Yahweh), indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you. (Exodus 31:6)

Here we see the three elements that we have been speaking of: knowledge, wisdom and gifting. A little more specifically we read:

And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship (Exodus 35:30-31)

We can study hard, gain knowledge and even receive wisdom to know how to apply that knowledge but if we want real success, as described by our LORD, then we need to work within our gifting. Uri had the knowledge of his craft, but it was the LORD who called him to be above everyone else by the gifting and wisdom he have him.

Yahweh has given us these gifts for a purpose and the responsibility is on us to know what those gifts are so we can walk in our purpose. Don't just look at what interests you but what you are good at doing. Ask the LORD to reveal it to you. Ask your family what they see in you. Ask your pastor and friends. Understand there is a plan and design for you and the LORD wants you to be successful in it. That doesn't mean money and fame necessarily, but successful in what he has given you to do.

Knowledge, Wisdom, Gifting (2)

So you are a person filled with knowledge. You have studied hard, filled your brain, impressed a lot of people; now what? Now what are you going to do with all that knowledge? What is it good for? How are you going to apply it? There are a lot of smart people in the world. There are a lot of people who love to read. There are a lot of information junkies but very few do anything with it. It's like they think it's just about them so they keep that knowledge to themselves, nullifying its purpose.

Gaining knowledge, kept in the context of our relationship with Yahweh is excellent, but it is useless without the wisdom to know how to apply it. But wisdom is not something that can be learned as it's source is Yahweh. Wisdom is only found in our LORD.

Here is the thing about wisdom: You need to know you need it. Second, you need to desire it, to seek for it. Third, you need to ask for it.

Solomon, in his instructions to his son, emphasized the great importance of wisdom and described it as honey:

My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 14:13-14)

Wisdom is a sustaining thing of life and he describes the lack of it like death:

The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom. (Proverbs 10:21)

We need to know that we need wisdom in order to honour God and fulfil our purpose.

In knowing that we need it we will begin to desire it, to seek for it. But we don't seek as the world does, because we seek only in the LORD who is the source of all wisdom:

For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints. (Proverbs 2:6-8)

But we must seek it. It doesn't just happen. It's like Solomon told his son, he has to "get" wisdom:

Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. (Proverbs 4:7-8)

The world tells us that wisdom comes from years of experience but that is wisdom as measured by the world. The wisdom of value is a gift from our LORD.

We know we need it, it is something we desire, so how do we obtain wisdom. James told us simply to ask:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)

Of course when we ask of our LORD the things he desires for us to have, they are ours. We act in faith that we have them and it is amazing what the LORD is able to accomplish through us. Don't expect it to look like it does in the world and don't expect the world to agree with you. The wisdom of the LORD is not based upon the principles of this world but upon Yahweh himself. It is amazing though the difference it makes when the LORD's wisdom is used to apply our knowledge.

You know you need it, you desire it, you have asked for it, now walk in it. Tomorrow we look at the third element of success: God's Gifting.