Pardon me while I think out loud for a moment. There is something from Acts that has me thinking but I am not sure of the answer. Is there ever a time to move away from unproductive ministry? The reason I am asking myself this is not because of my current situation but because of my character. I am stubborn. Some may call it determined but my mom calls it stubborn. Sometimes I wonder if I am too stubborn and stupid to quit, even ignoring the Spirit in order to "stick to it".
The portion of Scripture that provoked this thought is found in Acts 18. Paul was in Corinth waiting for his team to catch up. It says that every Sabbath he would go to the synagogue and try to convince the Jews about Jesus. When his team arrived, he set aside his work and went at the ministry full time. The results weren't great. Scripture says they opposed and slandered him. After a lengthy period of ministry Paul shook the dust from his clothes and stated:
"You are responsible for your own fates! I'm innocent! From now on I'll go to the Gentiles!" (Acts 18:6)
Were the hard hearts Jesus' way of getting Paul to step into his calling to the Gentiles? At the end of the chapter we read about Apollos successfully debating with these same Jews, so was Paul in the way of successful ministry? But here's the thing. When Paul made this decision to shake off the dust, he started meeting with success, or I should say, the Spirit started to produce a harvest through him:
Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household came to believe in the Lord. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized after listening to Paul. (Acts 18:8)
So is it possible that our "determination" could be blocking a harvest where we are at and missing a harvest where we are suppose to be? I already think there is too much self-direction and self-determination in the Church and not enough sensitivity to the Spirit. I find we are too busy pursing wrong stuff to foster and live within a sensitivity to the presence of the Lord, so like Cain, we bring the offering of service we are interested in and expect it to please the Lord. But he is looking for obedience. Already knowing this I now wonder if my "determination" is contributing to the problem.
An interesting question to meditate on today.
Showing posts with label self-determination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-determination. Show all posts
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Not By Might Nor By Power But By My Spirit
There are so many things I want to do, so many things I want to accomplish. Vision has seldom been my problem but getting it done often is. Most of us have goals, dreams, plans that we want to accomplish but many people don't even come close to completing any of them. Life is filled with obstacles, challenges, detours, traps, pitfalls, failures, and delays. Most people change their dreams and goals, finding an easier path when the one they have chosen proves more difficult than they thought. Some people chalk it up to lack of determination. I think there is something wrong with the whole premise.
Most of us live like the Sadducees of Jesus' three year ministry days. They believed that Yahweh had no involvement in our daily living, that we had to do the best we could on our own. They also believed the soul died with the body so there were no consequences to face after death, allowing us to do what we want to do. Most of us make our own plans and do what we want to do, still loving Jesus but not involving him in any part of our life; unless we get in trouble. If we act this way it is how Father is going to deal with us. He will be hands off until we get ourselves in so much trouble that we call out to him for help. But there is a better way.
Our life is no longer our own. That is our reality when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, asking for forgiveness and claiming him as Lord. We are re-birthed as a new creation, a citizen of the Kingdom and a child of Father. We are now governed by the principles of the Kingdom and not by the patterns of this world. Jesus purchased us at great cost and we now belong exclusively to him. This means that we no longer determine our days but seek Father's will for our days and situations. We don't have goals and dreams of our own; we have the goals and desires of Father. But even understanding this we can make mistakes.
Sometimes we understand clearly the will of Father and what we are to work towards but we forget that it is his work. Quite often the goal is Father's but we think the work is ours. Even the work belongs to Father. He has planned for it, provides for it and has purpose for it. It will be achieved accordingly. Not by what we think or our schedule and certainly not by our resources. We find an example of this in Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was sent out of captivity to Jerusalem to head up the Temple re-building project. The task sounds easier than it was. He was hand picked by Yahweh to complete this task but he had a huge list of obstacles in his way. It was a discouraging work and one that required a great deal of determination. But determination alone wasn't enough. His strength and encouragement had to be found in his relationship with Yahweh and the constant reminder that this was Yahweh's work. At one point the prophet Zechariah provided him words of encouragement from the Lord and he reminded him:
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord of Hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)
Yes, not just a New Testament thing. Not by might, force, strength, weapons or intelligence. Not by power, influence, friends, wealth, political clout, position. In other words, this project, which was the will of Yahweh, would not be forced into place by the will of man. This would be accomplished by his Spirit, will , desire, power, presence, strength, force. It did not matter what obstacles Zerubbabel faced, Yahweh told him he would turn the mountains into mole hills. Nothing frustrates the will of Jehovah. Therein lies the difference between our goals and Father's will.
If you are involved in a God-thing, do not be discouraged. It will be completed by his Spirit, his will, his time schedule, by the path he has determined. He will use you to do it but he determines how, when and with what. You just concentrate on the relationship part of things, stay focused on Jesus, attentive to his Word and remain open to the Spirit and he will provide everything you need. And be patient. However, if you are not involved in a God-thing and working on a You-thing you should stop what you are doing, drop to your knees and desire a greater relationship with Jesus. Forget everything else and just focus on him and soon everything will come into proper focus for you. We need to meditate on this Psalm:
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)
Too many of us are building our own houses because it is all we know. It is what we have learned from our fathers before us. It is the sample we see all around us. No one has told us any different. But the Word is in our hand and the Spirit is in us. The Word shows us the ways of the Lord, teaches us the paths, leads us in the truth. The Spirit instructs us if we will get out of our own way. The key is the relationship. Concentrate on the relationship and we will soon discover that it is not by might, nor by power but by his Spirit. Allow Father to complete his will for you according to his Spirit. Walk with him, not ahead of him.
Most of us live like the Sadducees of Jesus' three year ministry days. They believed that Yahweh had no involvement in our daily living, that we had to do the best we could on our own. They also believed the soul died with the body so there were no consequences to face after death, allowing us to do what we want to do. Most of us make our own plans and do what we want to do, still loving Jesus but not involving him in any part of our life; unless we get in trouble. If we act this way it is how Father is going to deal with us. He will be hands off until we get ourselves in so much trouble that we call out to him for help. But there is a better way.
Our life is no longer our own. That is our reality when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, asking for forgiveness and claiming him as Lord. We are re-birthed as a new creation, a citizen of the Kingdom and a child of Father. We are now governed by the principles of the Kingdom and not by the patterns of this world. Jesus purchased us at great cost and we now belong exclusively to him. This means that we no longer determine our days but seek Father's will for our days and situations. We don't have goals and dreams of our own; we have the goals and desires of Father. But even understanding this we can make mistakes.
Sometimes we understand clearly the will of Father and what we are to work towards but we forget that it is his work. Quite often the goal is Father's but we think the work is ours. Even the work belongs to Father. He has planned for it, provides for it and has purpose for it. It will be achieved accordingly. Not by what we think or our schedule and certainly not by our resources. We find an example of this in Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was sent out of captivity to Jerusalem to head up the Temple re-building project. The task sounds easier than it was. He was hand picked by Yahweh to complete this task but he had a huge list of obstacles in his way. It was a discouraging work and one that required a great deal of determination. But determination alone wasn't enough. His strength and encouragement had to be found in his relationship with Yahweh and the constant reminder that this was Yahweh's work. At one point the prophet Zechariah provided him words of encouragement from the Lord and he reminded him:
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord of Hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)
Yes, not just a New Testament thing. Not by might, force, strength, weapons or intelligence. Not by power, influence, friends, wealth, political clout, position. In other words, this project, which was the will of Yahweh, would not be forced into place by the will of man. This would be accomplished by his Spirit, will , desire, power, presence, strength, force. It did not matter what obstacles Zerubbabel faced, Yahweh told him he would turn the mountains into mole hills. Nothing frustrates the will of Jehovah. Therein lies the difference between our goals and Father's will.
If you are involved in a God-thing, do not be discouraged. It will be completed by his Spirit, his will, his time schedule, by the path he has determined. He will use you to do it but he determines how, when and with what. You just concentrate on the relationship part of things, stay focused on Jesus, attentive to his Word and remain open to the Spirit and he will provide everything you need. And be patient. However, if you are not involved in a God-thing and working on a You-thing you should stop what you are doing, drop to your knees and desire a greater relationship with Jesus. Forget everything else and just focus on him and soon everything will come into proper focus for you. We need to meditate on this Psalm:
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)
Too many of us are building our own houses because it is all we know. It is what we have learned from our fathers before us. It is the sample we see all around us. No one has told us any different. But the Word is in our hand and the Spirit is in us. The Word shows us the ways of the Lord, teaches us the paths, leads us in the truth. The Spirit instructs us if we will get out of our own way. The key is the relationship. Concentrate on the relationship and we will soon discover that it is not by might, nor by power but by his Spirit. Allow Father to complete his will for you according to his Spirit. Walk with him, not ahead of him.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Is it 'Sent' Or 'Went'?
There is definitely a difference between going out and being sent. The difference is self-determination. Are we directing our own paths or is the Spirit? We can sacrifice anything we want to serve Jesus. We can do whatever we want to serve Jesus. We could probably even do a great job, but is it what the Father wants? It isn't about our sacrifice and what we want. It is always about the Father's will.
I think one of the things that encouraged Moses the most during his leadership of the newly forming nation of Israel was that he didn't choose the job but the job was chosen for him. In the face of every rebellion and every challenge he was able to say, "This is what Yahweh says".
At one stage there was a great rebellion against Moses but Moses did not defend himself. It was always Yahweh that defended him because he was Yahweh's servant. Moses knew what was about to happen to the leaders of this rebellion and he said to the people:
By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. (Numbers 16:28)
Basically he was saying, look to the fact of if I defend myself or if I am defended. Moses never said he was worthy of the position but it was well known that Yahweh had placed him in it. During those lonely times of leadership, during the rebellions, during the self-doubt, that single thought must have been his greatest comfort.
Consider Jesus, who did not go out but was sent by the Father. Throughout his ministry he told everyone he was sent to represent the Father and to do his will. Read John 5 for a greater insight into this but in summary I quote:
I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. (John 5:36)
Apostle Paul's testimony was also one of being sent. Paul did not wake up one day and decide to join the Church and spend the rest of his life going in and out of jail while telling people about Jesus. He knew his commission and who had commissioned him. Throughout his ministry he was consumed with the desire to fulfil Jesus' will. What a comfort it must have been as a prisoner to know he had not chosen this life for himself but that he had been sent.
We too have been sent but are we submitted to that will? Are we a "take charge" sort of person and do what we feel is best; afterall, Yahweh did create us with a brain. The only problem then is we can find ourselves in difficult places like Moses where self-doubt will destroy us. If we made our own decisions and stand in our own messes we will find it hard to find assurances. It is only when we listen, obey and stand in the confidence of having been sent that we are able to trust that it is all under control. If you have been chosen for the job than the Father has your back. He will provide for you, defend you, give you wisdom and equip you in every way. You need only trust, obey and operate in the authority he has given you. But this confidence is only yours when you know you have been sent and you did not choose this for yourself.
I think one of the things that encouraged Moses the most during his leadership of the newly forming nation of Israel was that he didn't choose the job but the job was chosen for him. In the face of every rebellion and every challenge he was able to say, "This is what Yahweh says".
At one stage there was a great rebellion against Moses but Moses did not defend himself. It was always Yahweh that defended him because he was Yahweh's servant. Moses knew what was about to happen to the leaders of this rebellion and he said to the people:
By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. (Numbers 16:28)
Basically he was saying, look to the fact of if I defend myself or if I am defended. Moses never said he was worthy of the position but it was well known that Yahweh had placed him in it. During those lonely times of leadership, during the rebellions, during the self-doubt, that single thought must have been his greatest comfort.
Consider Jesus, who did not go out but was sent by the Father. Throughout his ministry he told everyone he was sent to represent the Father and to do his will. Read John 5 for a greater insight into this but in summary I quote:
I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. (John 5:36)
Apostle Paul's testimony was also one of being sent. Paul did not wake up one day and decide to join the Church and spend the rest of his life going in and out of jail while telling people about Jesus. He knew his commission and who had commissioned him. Throughout his ministry he was consumed with the desire to fulfil Jesus' will. What a comfort it must have been as a prisoner to know he had not chosen this life for himself but that he had been sent.
We too have been sent but are we submitted to that will? Are we a "take charge" sort of person and do what we feel is best; afterall, Yahweh did create us with a brain. The only problem then is we can find ourselves in difficult places like Moses where self-doubt will destroy us. If we made our own decisions and stand in our own messes we will find it hard to find assurances. It is only when we listen, obey and stand in the confidence of having been sent that we are able to trust that it is all under control. If you have been chosen for the job than the Father has your back. He will provide for you, defend you, give you wisdom and equip you in every way. You need only trust, obey and operate in the authority he has given you. But this confidence is only yours when you know you have been sent and you did not choose this for yourself.
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