Mar 18, 2011
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.” – Deuteronomy 11:18-21
This world is broken. The heart of man is dark, not seeking after God. To change a man, you must change his heart. The word of God is the only thing that will break down the barriers, destroy the sin, change the heart, cleanse the abrasion, heal the wounds, and lead the humbled healed man to the arms of the One who heals.
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him…” – Hebrews 11:6
Where does faith come from?
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” – Romans 10:17
Where will this broken world hear the word of God? There are a few places, but above all, it will be from us.
“As you walk along the way…” We need to be speaking the word of God in the same way that we breathe. Jesus said, “…for out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:45 If His word is in our heart, it will overflow to all who we meet.
To say that the word of God should overflow out of us does not mean we have to quote a verse every hour. Rather our lives and speech should be shaped by the words that He has spoken, and as a result we will be reflections of Him to those around us.
God is not silent. Once a word of God is spoken, it continues on for eternity. All other words are recorded and then looked at as history. They are in the past, read by a reader in the present. But God’s words are current, “living and active.” – Hebrews 4:12 Man’s words are a frozen river. Some of them true, some of them not. They can be examined and learned from. God’s word is a flowing river that you can jump into and swim in. Splashing, drinking, diving deeper and ultimately being drawn in the right direction. The sea, which is the goal and the source of the river.
2.7 billion people, almost half of this world’s population, lives in the proverbial desert. They have not heard of the river. They seek healing in the rivers of their own country, asking, “can we not wash in our own rivers and be clean?”
Millions bathe in the Ganges, believing that it will cleanse them of their sins. Egyptians would worship the Nile, believing it to be the source of all their wealth. And yet all the while, their souls are dying of thirst.
Jesus said, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:14
What this world needs is to be brought to Jesus that their old self would be drowned the river, that in the rushing waters of baptism their sins would be washed away into the ocean of forgetfulness. And that they would be raised as a new creation, reborn to a new life.
This is good news! And the world is literally dying to hear it. We must bring them news of this river, by the speaking of God’s word. One of the ways that His word is living is that it is constantly shared by those who receive it. As we walk along the way, and further than that, purposefully directing our steps and our lives so that our path would be among those who have never heard.
“When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them;
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress,
the plane and the pine together,
that they may see and know,
may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
– Isaiah 41:17-20
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Mar 15, 2011
Unsure and unsatisfied with where they are at, Christians I’ve talked to over the past two years have often made me think about how does God use our lives and how we can act on His calling. What are your expectations for how God is to work in your life? Are you like me in that my time and schedule gets filled with work and things so rapidly I feel at a loss? Comparing myself to others, am I just doing okay or poorly?
My heart has burned for different men, women, and couples I’ve talked to that have a burden for the lost but at that time were not pursuing to answer that burden. I wish I had not responded in my natural gentleness but shouted, “Forget all these other things! You just follow Jesus!” In my past I wish I had been so similarly challenged and listened more often. It took me a long time to give up my plans.
God works in similar ways so that we would see His kingdom and His righteousness first, but the timing and how it happens is another issue all together. We’re all at different places in our walks and Christ working on us. We need to act boldly on faith and challenge each other. I’m talking to myself too, because I, like others, was stubborn and it has taken some sludge hammers and lots of humbling experiences for God to get me in a place where I’m willing to be molded by Him. Jesus said you follow me (Read John 21:21-23). We cannot compare or rank our walks with anyone. He just said you follow me, don’t worry about the others. Don’t worry about all these other things, He knows.
I’ve had my share of taking my plans into my own hands with relationships, evangelism, and my calling; all of which tended to not go so well.
My last year of college I was praying for lots of people to get saved, and maybe it could have happened, but there were several problems with my plans. Three things that tend to be the problems for most American Christians: lack of self-sacrifice and discipline, and myself was a key part of the plan of people getting saved. In other words it was a good spiritual goal but at the heart it was about myself.
I did evangelism but it lacked God’s real empowering and spirit because I lacked taking time to pray and read the scripture. I did it alone too, a lone ranger is no good. I didn’t sacrifice what I really needed to accomplish what was burdened on me so that I could sharpen myself spiritually and encourage others to join me.
Secondly it was to accomplish something big, a wonderful thing to catch the attentions of many. Now who wasn’t looking for the crowds? Jesus wasn’t looking for the crowds and even said some scary things that frightened followers away when the crowds got big. The American Christian culture has adopted its mindset of success from the world in many ways–it has to be big, lots of people, and bring in lots of media/interest/money, whatever. Jesus preached to everyone but He didn’t make any stay if they didn’t want to. Jesus’ ministry was successful because he wasn’t seeking to please people but only obey and please God the father.
A strategy in the US is to throw warm bodies, plans, and money at a problem and hope that it will work. Discipline, brokenness before God, righteous living, and practical training in spiritual ministers are typically lacking. The question has to be asked where is the fruit to all the labor, time, and money spent? People are definitely still called to teach, pastor, missions, or a myriad of ministries in America and abroad, but one must ask are they qualified, or will they instead just be a misleading burden, and where is the fruit after the years of work (Side note: of course even if they aren’t qualified God can still use them)? The opposite is totally true as well, becoming so educated as becoming self-reliant and hardened to the Spirit’s leading and instead choosing to follow our own human wisdom. Are the way things being done actually being affective? Is it Spirit led? Are the heathen masses being saved? Or is it just people and money being tossed around in the middle of a program? Am I continually praying and asking for His direction?
On the day the apostles received the Spirit, Peter preached and thousands gave themselves to Jesus. It was by the work of the Spirit, but make note the Spirit was drawing on what had already been taught to them by Jesus. Jesus had been teaching him and the other disciples over a period of 40 days about His resurrection, showing them many proofs of it, and concerning the kingdom of God, which I’m sure was pretty amazing stuff (Act 1:1-3; Luke 24:45)! So after several years with Jesus and having some in-depth teaching time right before the Spirit filled them they were ready to explode and the Spirit could bring forth all that Jesus had taught them.
Sometimes the better question to ask than what is God’s will for me is what is God doing and how can I be part of it? It isn’t so much about ourselves, despite how much me, myself, and I tell myself that it is all about me, which reminds me of the need for brokenness. In the overall picture of God working through us as individuals, it is that we are all called to something different to take part in the body of Christ. Being individuals in one body working toward bringing about the kingdom of God on earth.
While in Asia I met missionary drivers. That sounds crazy, you might think. Who ever reads in a magazine about missionary drivers? Exactly, you don’t. But these are brothers that went through missions and Bible training and did their field training just like the others but would drive people about to and from things and serve. At one of the Bible Colleges I visited there was one particular brother in his mid-twenties, named Joseph, who was the kindest young man. But he was trained and had served in the field too. But looking at his job you wouldn’t say that he was a front line missionary–cleaning, preparing rooms, and serving food. But what a servant’s heart he had. He served us and also many at the Bible College, and was also part of discipling and training the students. These guys served with gratitude just to play the part they had in reaching the lost. Thousands a day are coming to Christ just through the individuals serving where they are. Insignificant as the role may seem, God is doing amazing things through our humble brothers and sisters.
So I have no idea what God has called you too but I would encourage you to analyze your life and ask God how to take up your cross and live with a sense of sacrifice right along with our brothers and sisters in Christ so that the lost may be reached.
I had wanted to be a speaker and an evangelist on the streets. I wanted to be on the frontline. But the most important question to ask is why am I doing what I am? Is it just the common practical thing to do, was it how I was trained to, told I needed to by family, friends, and coworkers, or because that is the way it has been done before? Or is it something that God has directed you to and empowered you in the Spirit to accomplish?
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Mar 14, 2011
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Mar 7, 2011
Recently, I was privileged to go to Asia on a Vision Tour with the School of Discipleship students. One of the most impacting parts of the trip was spending a day in a remote village where a Tribal Church had been established.
I sat in a tiny cement Church building worshipping with the local believers. As I watched the believers worship the Lord with such intensity I became focused on one man. He stood in the front and had such an obvious passion for the Lord. He seemed to have leadership all over him. I wanted so badly to find out his story. A few minutes later, I was humbled hearing how God transformed his life.
“My name is Pradeep. For over 20 years I was part of an anti-Christian group that terrorized Pastors and Believers. I was known throughout the region as a fierce man who would beat Christians, burn Bibles and destroy Gospel literature.Often, at the sound of my name believers would prepare to run for their lives.
After 20 years of serving my gods and fighting Christians I found my family more desperate than ever. For two years my family fell sick. We sought relief in our gods and goddesses as well as medicine. The more we tried the worse our situation became. There seemed to be no hope.
Finally, a pastor visited my home and told me, “If you believe in Jesus and pray to Him, Jesus will heal your family.” After sharing about the Lord Jesus, the pastor asked if he could pray. After sitting and watching this man pray I felt the first glimmer of hope for my family in two years.
Over the next few weeks my family was completely healed from our sicknesses. As a result we gave our lives to Jesus.
We have now been serving our Christ for five years. Even today, many believers who have not seen the drastic change in my life are afraid and prepare to flee when they hear that I’m entering a village. I’m so thankful for how Jesus saved us.”
I sat in awe of how God transformed this Saul into a modern Paul. In my heart, I said, ‘O Jesus, I love you so much you are so good, please take us and completely.’
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Feb 17, 2011
Don’t forget to check out Gospel for Asia’s School of Discipleship extension campus in Canada. Space is limited, students are encouraged to apply early!
Phone: (905)-662-2101
Toll free: 888-946-2742
Fax: (905)-662-8447
Address:
Gospel for Asia
ATTN: School of Discipleship
245 King St. E.
Stoney Creek, ON
L8G 1L9
Email: infocanada@gfa.org
Web: www.gfa.ca/schoolofdiscipleship
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Feb 16, 2011
Yesterday when I was about to go help two friends pack their apartment so they can move to my house on Saturday, I was playing in the garage when I noticed my Rip-Stick. The back wheel is broken, and I need to get it fixed, I showed one of my friends, and then I mentioned that I probably shouldn’t use it till the wheel is fixed, lest I get hurt. Of course, disregarding what I just said, I put it on the ground and went to ride it. The Garage is probably not the best place to use it since the floor is kinda slippery, let alone with a broken wheel. But regardless of all common sense, I decide to try it anyway. What’s the worst that could happen anyway?
I start riding it, and about three seconds later I find myself falling to the floor. SMACK! my knee hits the ground really hard, and the pain shoots up through my arm. Quite a painful experience. After spending a minute on the floor in pain, I try to stand up and head to the car so I can drive over to the apartment. I couldn’t walk on it very well, was glad that I only need my Right leg to drive, and not my left…
Was sorta a funny happening, one of my friends was laughing so hard she started crying. With my broken pride, and throbbing knee, I drive over to the apartment and enjoy laughing at my lack of common sense. It really was quite hilarious, now that I look back on it.
I guess the point of this post is to share with you that before riding your Rip-stick, make sure the wheels are intact and you’re not in the garage. 🙂 But I’m sure you can use your imagination and learn something from this as well. 🙂
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