"When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power,
and he burned with anger." - 1 Samuel 11:6
There are occasions in which God justifies righteous anger. It is a type
of anger that does not lead to sin, but fulfills God's purposes.
Saul had just been crowned as the new king of Israel. His first battle
was upon him, and he had to bring a new nation together to fight the
Ammonites. The Spirit of God fell on Saul and resulted in righteous
anger against God's enemies. God led him to send an unusual
"direct-mail" package to all the regions where the people lived. He cut
up pieces of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel with a
warning-"Join the army or your oxen will be as these!"
Sometimes God uses strong measures to accomplish His purposes. In this
case, fear and intimidation were used to motivate the army of God to be
as one. God must have felt this is what was needed to drive this army to
become a unified force.
God knows the only way to achieve success is if the army is one. A house
divided cannot stand. What will it take to unify your company, your
church, and your family to be one? Unless you are one, you cannot win
the battles you will face. Ask God to make you and those you walk with
to be one in mission and one in spirit.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
DO YOU NEED REFRESHMENT?
Life giving water sources always have an incoming source and an outgoing flow. If either one of these stops, life stops. The same is true in our own lives and ministry.
Each of us in ministry need to be refreshed on a continual basis. Without refreshment, our well will ultimately run dry. On the other hand, we are called to be the source of refreshment to others. They depend on us for encouragement and help. Without our encouragement, they will fail. There is a giving and receiving side to refreshment; we need both to experience true Life in Jesus Christ.
In a recently added sermon titled, "The Ministry of Refreshment", Rev. Phillip Harrelson shares great insight into the Apostle Paul's ability to encourage and refresh others in ministry. Paul was able to do so because there were men in his life who encouraged and refreshed him. One of these men is a man rarely spoken of; His name is Onesiphorus. In this sermon, Rev. Harrelson shares the story of Onesiphorus's devotion to encouraging and refreshing Paul during his darkest hours. When Paul was locked down in Rome, It was Onesiphorus who turned Rome upside down until he found him and encouraged him.
2 Timothy 1:17 KJV But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
Rev. Harrelson states;
This is how great churches are built, by people who are willing to shoulder the responsibility and do the work of the ministry of refreshment. Great churches don't just happen, they are populated by men and women who have great-hearts and are inclined to help somebody with their chain.
Responsibility rings out of that passage of Scripture. He sought me out very diligently. He searched hard.
· This means traveling the high, stormy seas from Asia to Italy.
This means putting life on hold for an extended period of time.
· This means leaving the warmth of family and the camaraderie of friends.
· This means getting there at your own expense to do the will of God.
Onesiphorus was a noble-minded and strong-hearted man who had determined to give himself to the ministry of refreshment.
This kind of devotion will knit the hearts of people in a church together.
Paul was successful because he recognized the importance of the ministry of refreshment. There was always an incoming source and an outgoing flow of this ministry in his life.
Each of us in ministry need to be refreshed on a continual basis. Without refreshment, our well will ultimately run dry. On the other hand, we are called to be the source of refreshment to others. They depend on us for encouragement and help. Without our encouragement, they will fail. There is a giving and receiving side to refreshment; we need both to experience true Life in Jesus Christ.
In a recently added sermon titled, "The Ministry of Refreshment", Rev. Phillip Harrelson shares great insight into the Apostle Paul's ability to encourage and refresh others in ministry. Paul was able to do so because there were men in his life who encouraged and refreshed him. One of these men is a man rarely spoken of; His name is Onesiphorus. In this sermon, Rev. Harrelson shares the story of Onesiphorus's devotion to encouraging and refreshing Paul during his darkest hours. When Paul was locked down in Rome, It was Onesiphorus who turned Rome upside down until he found him and encouraged him.
2 Timothy 1:17 KJV But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
Rev. Harrelson states;
This is how great churches are built, by people who are willing to shoulder the responsibility and do the work of the ministry of refreshment. Great churches don't just happen, they are populated by men and women who have great-hearts and are inclined to help somebody with their chain.
Responsibility rings out of that passage of Scripture. He sought me out very diligently. He searched hard.
· This means traveling the high, stormy seas from Asia to Italy.
This means putting life on hold for an extended period of time.
· This means leaving the warmth of family and the camaraderie of friends.
· This means getting there at your own expense to do the will of God.
Onesiphorus was a noble-minded and strong-hearted man who had determined to give himself to the ministry of refreshment.
This kind of devotion will knit the hearts of people in a church together.
Paul was successful because he recognized the importance of the ministry of refreshment. There was always an incoming source and an outgoing flow of this ministry in his life.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
PAUL'S PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11
We hear a lot these days about planning and goal setting. Proponents of
planning say, "If you aim at nothing, chances are you will probably hit
it." They say that to wander aimlessly through life is like sailing a
boat without a sail and rudder. You end up wherever the wind takes you.
Paul understood his personal mission, which should be the personal
mission of every believer in Jesus Christ. It is the one summary
statement that best describes the purpose of our existence on earth and
the goal of our Christian experience. It can be reduced to three
important characteristics.
To know Christ.
To know and experience His power.
To identify with His sufferings.
All that flows from these three objectives becomes a by-product.
Salvation is a by-product. Miracles are a by-product.
Christlikeness is a by-product. Paul's focus was on relationship. He
understood that the deeper the relationship, the more power he would
experience. He also understood that as he grew in this relationship,
there would be suffering. Whenever the Kingdom of Light confronts the
kingdom of darkness, there is a battle, and this often results in
casualties. Christ confronted these earthly kingdoms and suffered for
it. If we are living at this level of obedience, we, too, will face
similar battles; it simply comes with the territory.
Does this sound like your personal mission statement? Is your focus in
life centered on knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection? If
not, press into Him today in order to begin experiencing Christ more
intimately.
fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11
We hear a lot these days about planning and goal setting. Proponents of
planning say, "If you aim at nothing, chances are you will probably hit
it." They say that to wander aimlessly through life is like sailing a
boat without a sail and rudder. You end up wherever the wind takes you.
Paul understood his personal mission, which should be the personal
mission of every believer in Jesus Christ. It is the one summary
statement that best describes the purpose of our existence on earth and
the goal of our Christian experience. It can be reduced to three
important characteristics.
To know Christ.
To know and experience His power.
To identify with His sufferings.
All that flows from these three objectives becomes a by-product.
Salvation is a by-product. Miracles are a by-product.
Christlikeness is a by-product. Paul's focus was on relationship. He
understood that the deeper the relationship, the more power he would
experience. He also understood that as he grew in this relationship,
there would be suffering. Whenever the Kingdom of Light confronts the
kingdom of darkness, there is a battle, and this often results in
casualties. Christ confronted these earthly kingdoms and suffered for
it. If we are living at this level of obedience, we, too, will face
similar battles; it simply comes with the territory.
Does this sound like your personal mission statement? Is your focus in
life centered on knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection? If
not, press into Him today in order to begin experiencing Christ more
intimately.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
RECEIVING ONLY FROM GOD
"To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from
heaven." - John 3:27
"God never gave you that property," said my friend who had entered my
life at a time of great turmoil. These were hard words at the time. I
was separated in my marriage, and my financial resources were drying up
on all fronts. It was like rowing a boat with five big holes in it, not
knowing which one to try to plug. My business, my personal finances, my
marriage, all seemed to be drying up at the same time. My friend had
made an observation about some land we had purchased years before. His
point was that I had acquired something that God had never given me. In
other words, it was not a Spirit-directed purchase that was blessed by
God. It was not a by-product of God's blessing; it was a source of sweat
and toil born out of the wrong motives of the heart.
When John's disciples came to him and asked if he was the Messiah, he
responded that he was not and that one could only be what God had given
him to be. He was a forerunner to the Messiah, and he was fulfilling a
call God had given him. We cannot acquire and become anything that God
has not given us. God gave John that anointing. We must ask whether we
are trying to be or trying to acquire anything God has not given us.
When we seek to acquire anything that God has not given us, we can
expect God to respond to us like any good father would to a child. He
will remove that which the child is not supposed to have.
David understood this principle. When he was preparing to furnish the
temple, he told God in his prayer, "Everything comes from You, and we
have given You only what comes from Your hand" (1 Chron. 29:14b).
heaven." - John 3:27
"God never gave you that property," said my friend who had entered my
life at a time of great turmoil. These were hard words at the time. I
was separated in my marriage, and my financial resources were drying up
on all fronts. It was like rowing a boat with five big holes in it, not
knowing which one to try to plug. My business, my personal finances, my
marriage, all seemed to be drying up at the same time. My friend had
made an observation about some land we had purchased years before. His
point was that I had acquired something that God had never given me. In
other words, it was not a Spirit-directed purchase that was blessed by
God. It was not a by-product of God's blessing; it was a source of sweat
and toil born out of the wrong motives of the heart.
When John's disciples came to him and asked if he was the Messiah, he
responded that he was not and that one could only be what God had given
him to be. He was a forerunner to the Messiah, and he was fulfilling a
call God had given him. We cannot acquire and become anything that God
has not given us. God gave John that anointing. We must ask whether we
are trying to be or trying to acquire anything God has not given us.
When we seek to acquire anything that God has not given us, we can
expect God to respond to us like any good father would to a child. He
will remove that which the child is not supposed to have.
David understood this principle. When he was preparing to furnish the
temple, he told God in his prayer, "Everything comes from You, and we
have given You only what comes from Your hand" (1 Chron. 29:14b).
Monday, September 12, 2011
STAY CONNECTED
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my
trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." -Psalm 143:8
Two of the greatest inventions of my time have been the laptop computer
and e-mail. The laptop means I no longer have to stay in one place to be
productive in my business life. E-mail has allowed me to stay connected
to people all around the world with the touch of a button.
My greatest frustration is when either of these does not work. Sometimes
e-mail cannot be used because I can't get a connection. Sometimes I
cannot use my laptop because I have not properly charged it, and then
the charge runs out while I am on an airplane. Both of these situations
mean I am unable to tap into the resource that allows me to fulfill my
calling in my work to the fullest.
The morning time with God is much like these situations. God pours His
Word into my spirit, and I am recharged. This recharging has an
important effect on my day. It allows me the greatest opportunity to
hear the small voice that directs my steps. If I refuse to "get
connected," I risk following my own ways of fulfilling the duties of my
day. It sets forth the opportunity for God to speak into my spirit what
He desires for me each day. It allows me to focus on God's purposes, not
mine.
The only way to know someone is to spend time with him or her. The only
way to discern the voice of another is to hear that person's voice.
David, the author of this psalm, was a warrior, king, and businessman.
He understood this principle of connecting with God in the morning. His
morning allowed him to connect with God's love, renew his trust in Him,
and hear His directions for his life. Shouldn't you and I do the same?
trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." -Psalm 143:8
Two of the greatest inventions of my time have been the laptop computer
and e-mail. The laptop means I no longer have to stay in one place to be
productive in my business life. E-mail has allowed me to stay connected
to people all around the world with the touch of a button.
My greatest frustration is when either of these does not work. Sometimes
e-mail cannot be used because I can't get a connection. Sometimes I
cannot use my laptop because I have not properly charged it, and then
the charge runs out while I am on an airplane. Both of these situations
mean I am unable to tap into the resource that allows me to fulfill my
calling in my work to the fullest.
The morning time with God is much like these situations. God pours His
Word into my spirit, and I am recharged. This recharging has an
important effect on my day. It allows me the greatest opportunity to
hear the small voice that directs my steps. If I refuse to "get
connected," I risk following my own ways of fulfilling the duties of my
day. It sets forth the opportunity for God to speak into my spirit what
He desires for me each day. It allows me to focus on God's purposes, not
mine.
The only way to know someone is to spend time with him or her. The only
way to discern the voice of another is to hear that person's voice.
David, the author of this psalm, was a warrior, king, and businessman.
He understood this principle of connecting with God in the morning. His
morning allowed him to connect with God's love, renew his trust in Him,
and hear His directions for his life. Shouldn't you and I do the same?
Monday, September 5, 2011
LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
No doubt, there are so many situations that can trouble the heart of many in marriage relationships in our world today. No matter how strong we are, there are times when our strength seems not enough to bear the weight of the burdens, problems, challenges or vicissitudes of life that are certain to confront us in this world. Is it in the area of our finance, child-bearing, in-laws palaver, way-ward husband, quarrelsome wife, childlessness, worrisome child, sickness, period of unemployment, general economic downturn, etc.? Infact, it sometimes looks as if we are so overwhelmed to the point that we fear being ultimately consumed. Sometimes, it’s as if we are the only one in the whole world that seems to have been singled out for troubles!
However, the Lord would not want us to be troubled by troubles. “Let not your heart be troubled” is a demand upon our strength of character. It’s you who should not “let” [allow, permit] your heart be troubled. This means that you have the power, as well as the choice, to “let” or “not let” your heart to be troubled by troubles! Jesus here seems to acknowledge that troubles will surely approach unto you [your heart] one way or the other; but He leaves you with the option to open the door of your heart unto it or not. Actually, He categorically told us that we are going to have troubles as long as we remain kicking upon this earth (Jn. 16:33). No man or woman or marriage is wholesomely immune to this common visitation; the only difference comes in their varieties, timings and dimensions.
Why did the Lord say that we should not let our “heart” be troubled? Why the heart? Because our heart is the “Central Processing Unit” of our life. Our heart is the fountain or spring of every issue of our life (Prov. 4:23). What ever troubles our heart troubles our whole life – our word, our thought, our actions, our disposition, our reaction, our health, our peace, our joy, our finance, etc. God knows that our heart will be negatively affected and heavily weighed down if we accommodate even the least of trouble in it. He did not configure our heart with the tiniest compartment for residency of troubles! Apparently, in the way we were made, our heart and troubles are incompatible; indeed, antagonistic! So, He has full audacity to warn us not to open our heart to be troubled by troubles.
We’ll do ourselves a great good by heeding this heavenly warning. It’s to our benefit so to do; otherwise, the consequences are debilitating – heart-ache, high blood pressure, broken-heart, relationship break-down, hypertension, loss of peace, loss of appetite, sorrow of heart, hopelessness, suicidal tendencies, etc.
There will always be troubles! They will visit you [not a curse]! They visit everybody (1Cor. 10:13). Don’t let the Devil cajole you into assuming you are the only one or that yours is the worst. You may have to leave this world to be absolutely free from them [that is, if you aren’t actually going to hell!]! Are you ready to go now? If not, you let not your heart be troubled!
Believe in God
But could we be un-troubled by troubles on our own strength? Far be it. We cannot on our own withstand and stand against the forays of this world’s many and diverse challenges or troubles. We definitely need external and definitely superior help to be able to “stand”, having done all that we could.
Jesus told His disciples not to be troubled, and He showed them the spiritual wherewithal, the first of which is:
“Believe in God”, says the Lord.
He wants us to have faith in the ability and will of God to be our Help in the times of trouble. He wants us to in faith lift our eyes unto the Lord whenever troubles come knocking at the door of our hearts rather than holing them in there (Psa. 121). He wants us to focus on the God who’s far bigger than all our problems, whatever they may be, rather than focusing on the troubles themselves. Do you really believe that God is bigger than all your problems, whatever the shade and shape? The Angel asked, “Is anything too hard for the LORD”? (Gen. 18:14). Sir/Ma, do you really believe your distressing circumstances of life cannot be too hard for the Lord of the universe to resolve? If so, why carrying it on your own, rather than casting it upon Him, just as His word encouraged, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1Pet. 5:5)? Why pine away under the unbearable weight of life’s adversities, whereas you serve a Living God? Only unfaithlessness or unbelief could be the reason. Ask God to help your unbelief right now (Mk. 9:24) and, henceforth, start living by your faith in God (Hab. 2:4).
Believe [also] in Jesus
Believe in God, believe also in me [Jesus], the Lord says. Why the added-on prescription to “also” believe in Jesus? After all, Jesus once said “I and my Father are one” (Jn. 10:30). Why the separate need to believe in God [the Father] and God [the Son]?
First, this statement makes it clear that it is possible to “believe” in God and not to believe in Jesus. How can this be, one may ask? You too consider it, is it every one out there who profess to believe in God that also believe in Jesus? There are many religions in the world that teaches their adherents to have faith in God but which do actually teach the same souls that Jesus is neither God nor the Saviour, and so it does not worth believing in Him and worshipping Him as such.
Why the need to believe in Jesus by the way? What’s there to believe in Him for? It’s because He’s the only Way to the Father. Nobody comes to the Father except by Him (Jn. 14:6). No salvation (redemption, deliverance, lifeline, help, etc.) except in His name [Acts 4:12]. Everything God had done for us had been in and through Him. In Him all things are consisted, including our help in times of troubles (Col. 1:12-17). He is the One that bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him (Isa. 53:4-5). He’s the One who had overcame the world [and its troubles] for us (Jn. 16:33). It is in and with Him that God had given us all things freely (Rom. 8:32). Asking God the Father for intervention in the time of trouble can only avail if channeled through Him (Jn. 14:13-14).
It therefore becomes understandable why we not only need to believe in God the Father, but also the need to believe in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The summary of all these is that troubles will surely come visiting your home. We need not take it as something strange or peculiar. It’s the lot of all the living, in diverse shade and shape. However, as God’s own children, here’s our Father assuring us that we could live above whatever trouble by our faith – in God, and in Jesus. Through our faith, we can overcome all the troubles in the world (1Jn. 5:4-5). When trouble comes, all you need do in faith is to call upon your heavenly Father, Who’s ever prepared and willing to answer you and, in His love and mercy, intervene and deliver you (Jer. 33:3, Psa. 34:15-22).
If you will heed this advice from the Lord, His peace shall surely reign in your heart and home. The strength of adversity shall surely fizzle out, and new song shall ultimately feel your mouth!
However, the Lord would not want us to be troubled by troubles. “Let not your heart be troubled” is a demand upon our strength of character. It’s you who should not “let” [allow, permit] your heart be troubled. This means that you have the power, as well as the choice, to “let” or “not let” your heart to be troubled by troubles! Jesus here seems to acknowledge that troubles will surely approach unto you [your heart] one way or the other; but He leaves you with the option to open the door of your heart unto it or not. Actually, He categorically told us that we are going to have troubles as long as we remain kicking upon this earth (Jn. 16:33). No man or woman or marriage is wholesomely immune to this common visitation; the only difference comes in their varieties, timings and dimensions.
Why did the Lord say that we should not let our “heart” be troubled? Why the heart? Because our heart is the “Central Processing Unit” of our life. Our heart is the fountain or spring of every issue of our life (Prov. 4:23). What ever troubles our heart troubles our whole life – our word, our thought, our actions, our disposition, our reaction, our health, our peace, our joy, our finance, etc. God knows that our heart will be negatively affected and heavily weighed down if we accommodate even the least of trouble in it. He did not configure our heart with the tiniest compartment for residency of troubles! Apparently, in the way we were made, our heart and troubles are incompatible; indeed, antagonistic! So, He has full audacity to warn us not to open our heart to be troubled by troubles.
We’ll do ourselves a great good by heeding this heavenly warning. It’s to our benefit so to do; otherwise, the consequences are debilitating – heart-ache, high blood pressure, broken-heart, relationship break-down, hypertension, loss of peace, loss of appetite, sorrow of heart, hopelessness, suicidal tendencies, etc.
There will always be troubles! They will visit you [not a curse]! They visit everybody (1Cor. 10:13). Don’t let the Devil cajole you into assuming you are the only one or that yours is the worst. You may have to leave this world to be absolutely free from them [that is, if you aren’t actually going to hell!]! Are you ready to go now? If not, you let not your heart be troubled!
Believe in God
But could we be un-troubled by troubles on our own strength? Far be it. We cannot on our own withstand and stand against the forays of this world’s many and diverse challenges or troubles. We definitely need external and definitely superior help to be able to “stand”, having done all that we could.
Jesus told His disciples not to be troubled, and He showed them the spiritual wherewithal, the first of which is:
“Believe in God”, says the Lord.
He wants us to have faith in the ability and will of God to be our Help in the times of trouble. He wants us to in faith lift our eyes unto the Lord whenever troubles come knocking at the door of our hearts rather than holing them in there (Psa. 121). He wants us to focus on the God who’s far bigger than all our problems, whatever they may be, rather than focusing on the troubles themselves. Do you really believe that God is bigger than all your problems, whatever the shade and shape? The Angel asked, “Is anything too hard for the LORD”? (Gen. 18:14). Sir/Ma, do you really believe your distressing circumstances of life cannot be too hard for the Lord of the universe to resolve? If so, why carrying it on your own, rather than casting it upon Him, just as His word encouraged, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1Pet. 5:5)? Why pine away under the unbearable weight of life’s adversities, whereas you serve a Living God? Only unfaithlessness or unbelief could be the reason. Ask God to help your unbelief right now (Mk. 9:24) and, henceforth, start living by your faith in God (Hab. 2:4).
Believe [also] in Jesus
Believe in God, believe also in me [Jesus], the Lord says. Why the added-on prescription to “also” believe in Jesus? After all, Jesus once said “I and my Father are one” (Jn. 10:30). Why the separate need to believe in God [the Father] and God [the Son]?
First, this statement makes it clear that it is possible to “believe” in God and not to believe in Jesus. How can this be, one may ask? You too consider it, is it every one out there who profess to believe in God that also believe in Jesus? There are many religions in the world that teaches their adherents to have faith in God but which do actually teach the same souls that Jesus is neither God nor the Saviour, and so it does not worth believing in Him and worshipping Him as such.
Why the need to believe in Jesus by the way? What’s there to believe in Him for? It’s because He’s the only Way to the Father. Nobody comes to the Father except by Him (Jn. 14:6). No salvation (redemption, deliverance, lifeline, help, etc.) except in His name [Acts 4:12]. Everything God had done for us had been in and through Him. In Him all things are consisted, including our help in times of troubles (Col. 1:12-17). He is the One that bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him (Isa. 53:4-5). He’s the One who had overcame the world [and its troubles] for us (Jn. 16:33). It is in and with Him that God had given us all things freely (Rom. 8:32). Asking God the Father for intervention in the time of trouble can only avail if channeled through Him (Jn. 14:13-14).
It therefore becomes understandable why we not only need to believe in God the Father, but also the need to believe in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The summary of all these is that troubles will surely come visiting your home. We need not take it as something strange or peculiar. It’s the lot of all the living, in diverse shade and shape. However, as God’s own children, here’s our Father assuring us that we could live above whatever trouble by our faith – in God, and in Jesus. Through our faith, we can overcome all the troubles in the world (1Jn. 5:4-5). When trouble comes, all you need do in faith is to call upon your heavenly Father, Who’s ever prepared and willing to answer you and, in His love and mercy, intervene and deliver you (Jer. 33:3, Psa. 34:15-22).
If you will heed this advice from the Lord, His peace shall surely reign in your heart and home. The strength of adversity shall surely fizzle out, and new song shall ultimately feel your mouth!
Monday, August 22, 2011
WORKING VERSUS STRIVING
"So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by
might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6
Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God's purposes in your life is the
skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One of the
great paradoxes in Scripture relates to our need to depend on the Lord;
yet at the same time, we're instructed to use the talents and abilities
God gives us to accomplish the work He gives us to do. It has been one
of the most difficult principles to live out. How do we know that what
we achieve is by the power of the Holy Spirit in our life versus our
own
abilities, and is there a difference? When we reach a level of
excellence and performance in our fields, it actually becomes an
obstacle to seeing God's power manifest in our work. What we naturally
do well becomes the object of our trust. When this happens, God
retreats. You see, God allows us to develop skills, but these must be
continually yielded to God's Spirit. There will be times when God will
use these skills to accomplish His purposes. There will be other times
that God will not use any of our skills just to ensure that we know it
is by His power that we can do anything.
It is the oxymoron of all oxymorons for Christian workplace believers.
Learning not to act until God shows you to act is a sign of maturity in
God. "Do not lean on the natural skill which you have been given. Let
God manifest Himself in what you are doing," said a mentor who has
learned this balance of skill and walking with God. "You must almost
restrain from doing those things you know you are prone to do and
actually go against them."
I was learning this lesson recently when I was asked to participate in
a large event that would give great exposure and much needed financial
increase to my ministry. It made all the sense in the world to
participate. Then I prayed with a friend and asked the Lord His mind on
it. The Lord showed us this was not His plan for me. I declined the
invitation.
Ask God to teach you what it means to walk according to the power of
the Holy Spirit in your business life. Develop a listening ear to the small
voice inside that wants to direct your efforts by His Spirit.
might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6
Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God's purposes in your life is the
skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One of the
great paradoxes in Scripture relates to our need to depend on the Lord;
yet at the same time, we're instructed to use the talents and abilities
God gives us to accomplish the work He gives us to do. It has been one
of the most difficult principles to live out. How do we know that what
we achieve is by the power of the Holy Spirit in our life versus our
own
abilities, and is there a difference? When we reach a level of
excellence and performance in our fields, it actually becomes an
obstacle to seeing God's power manifest in our work. What we naturally
do well becomes the object of our trust. When this happens, God
retreats. You see, God allows us to develop skills, but these must be
continually yielded to God's Spirit. There will be times when God will
use these skills to accomplish His purposes. There will be other times
that God will not use any of our skills just to ensure that we know it
is by His power that we can do anything.
It is the oxymoron of all oxymorons for Christian workplace believers.
Learning not to act until God shows you to act is a sign of maturity in
God. "Do not lean on the natural skill which you have been given. Let
God manifest Himself in what you are doing," said a mentor who has
learned this balance of skill and walking with God. "You must almost
restrain from doing those things you know you are prone to do and
actually go against them."
I was learning this lesson recently when I was asked to participate in
a large event that would give great exposure and much needed financial
increase to my ministry. It made all the sense in the world to
participate. Then I prayed with a friend and asked the Lord His mind on
it. The Lord showed us this was not His plan for me. I declined the
invitation.
Ask God to teach you what it means to walk according to the power of
the Holy Spirit in your business life. Develop a listening ear to the small
voice inside that wants to direct your efforts by His Spirit.
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