The Apostle Paul was quite strategic in his approach to ministry. He would start his ministry in Antioch on the coast of the Mediterranean and travel west through Asia. Upon reaching Asia he would then circle around cities primarily in the south. While in each city Paul would first approach the Jews, typically in the synagogues. Depending on his reception by them, he often would defer to preach to the gentiles outside the synagogues. Finally Paul would then make his way back to Palestine. But not without revisiting certain cities re-iterating his message to the saints.
Thus as Paul embarked on this missionary journey in Acts 16, he was programmed to travel through Asia encouraging his prior contacts in Asia, while exploring new ones. But God had quite different plans. Sometimes we might have a system that works efficiently for us, but at a point in time, the Spirit might desire a different route. Paul felt the Holy Spirit didn’t want him to proceed into Asia but was at a loss for the next direction. Thankfully he received a vision indicating aid was needed in Macedonia of Greece. God apparently wanted Paul to extend his ministry from Asia into Europe.
As Paul arrived in Philippi of Macedonia, he and his friends were led to the pray at the river. IT was at the river that Paul led Lydia an influential woman to Christ, who was a resource to Paul’s ministry. This speaks of the importance of prayer, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit leading. The more we pray, the more we are led by the Holy Spirit. Further the Spirit at times would impress upon us the need to pray, as he wills to lead us in fulfilling his call on our lives.
Have you ever had your paradigm shifted? Paul did. His sensitivity to the Holy Spirit would be the inception of a missionary move to the West that would ultimately result in the gospel being spread to the entire Roman Empire. As Paul writes to the Romans much later, he indicates that he has fully preached the gospel near and far. But did you know this claim would not have been accomplished had he not responded to the leading of the spirit. Maybe you have had some successes in ministry, but your prayer life is weak, or your sensitivity to the spirit’s leading is indistinct. Then may I suggest that your impact for the kingdom will be very limited. God might be speaking to you about a career change, a ministry initiative, a relationship break up, or a plethora of things. You and I naturally would respond to these situations in a predictable way, either simply to suit our fleshly desires, or to fit with our temperamental dispositions. But take time to pray, be lead of the spirit, and most of all be flexible. God’s desire is that you will be truly fruitful in your kingdom endeavours. As you endeavour to depend on God, may you bear much fruit and thus prove to be his disciple.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Fertilizer
The parable of the sower in Luke 8, and Mark 4:1-20 speaks much on the importance of hearing the word of God. The sower goes to the field to scatter seed, and varying conditions are presented. The seed represents the word while the ground different types of people. Essentially, the seed falling on the wrong kind of soil does not produce any harvest at all. Whether it is due to worry, superficiality or trials, the word evaporates from the hearts of these different folks. The scripture then presents us with a fourth kind of ground. Others.... hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown. (Mark 4:20 NIV)
This fourth group of people have a heart to hear the word of God, and thus produce fruit. However fruitfulness differs even among this preferred category. They all hear the same word, yet some produce 30% yield, others 60%, and yet others 100%. Have you ever wondered why this is the case? Why is it that we have similar Christian folks all listening to God’s word, yet there are differing results.
Is God a respecter of persons, favouring some over others? Definitely not. How can a believer with a heart to hear produce a harvest with a return of 100% pertaining to the word?
The answer to these questions is found in verse 24 of Mark 4. Speaking about hearing the word, Jesus instructs us to pay special attention to the word. He goes on to state that the amount of productivity we receive from the word is directly dependent on the amount of time spent in the word. The amplified elucidates this even more clearly. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [c][of thought and study] you give [to [d]the truth you hear] will be the measure [e][of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you--and more [besides] will be given to you who hear (AMP)
For many of us, this sheds much light on a somewhat obscure scripture. God is indicating that our approach to scripture distinguishes us from other believers and may determine differing yields. In Understanding this concept is really not foreign at all, especially observing agriculture. If you have ever planted a crop, grass, or anything on multiple occasions you may notice different kinds of yield. Sometimes it may be seasonal variations, and other factors that dictate a good yield, but mostly what limits productivity is the soil fertility level. For example, you may have planted grass one year with little success, and then the next year you decide to add a little bit of fertilizer. All of a sudden your crop is acutely different. You discover that the soil, with richer nutrition is able to produce better.
So how does all this related to you personally. Jesus said the heart is like soil. Maximum productivity is of a believer is proportional to their ability to assimilate the word of God into their hearts. I trust you want to be a 100 fold producer. May I recommend that you spend ample time in the word of God? Not just reading in mass to cover as much ground as possible, but also taking the time to reflect on the meaning of what you are reading. This might mean you pause for days over a troubling passage, as you wrestle to fully be persuaded to do comply with kingdom directives. Though you might feel weak, or unable to comply with a specific standard you encounter in his word be patient and persevere. As you tackle the word in such a fashion, I believe your fertility in bearing Godly fruit will be clearly seen as fruit abounds in your life.
This fourth group of people have a heart to hear the word of God, and thus produce fruit. However fruitfulness differs even among this preferred category. They all hear the same word, yet some produce 30% yield, others 60%, and yet others 100%. Have you ever wondered why this is the case? Why is it that we have similar Christian folks all listening to God’s word, yet there are differing results.
Is God a respecter of persons, favouring some over others? Definitely not. How can a believer with a heart to hear produce a harvest with a return of 100% pertaining to the word?
The answer to these questions is found in verse 24 of Mark 4. Speaking about hearing the word, Jesus instructs us to pay special attention to the word. He goes on to state that the amount of productivity we receive from the word is directly dependent on the amount of time spent in the word. The amplified elucidates this even more clearly. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [c][of thought and study] you give [to [d]the truth you hear] will be the measure [e][of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you--and more [besides] will be given to you who hear (AMP)
For many of us, this sheds much light on a somewhat obscure scripture. God is indicating that our approach to scripture distinguishes us from other believers and may determine differing yields. In Understanding this concept is really not foreign at all, especially observing agriculture. If you have ever planted a crop, grass, or anything on multiple occasions you may notice different kinds of yield. Sometimes it may be seasonal variations, and other factors that dictate a good yield, but mostly what limits productivity is the soil fertility level. For example, you may have planted grass one year with little success, and then the next year you decide to add a little bit of fertilizer. All of a sudden your crop is acutely different. You discover that the soil, with richer nutrition is able to produce better.
So how does all this related to you personally. Jesus said the heart is like soil. Maximum productivity is of a believer is proportional to their ability to assimilate the word of God into their hearts. I trust you want to be a 100 fold producer. May I recommend that you spend ample time in the word of God? Not just reading in mass to cover as much ground as possible, but also taking the time to reflect on the meaning of what you are reading. This might mean you pause for days over a troubling passage, as you wrestle to fully be persuaded to do comply with kingdom directives. Though you might feel weak, or unable to comply with a specific standard you encounter in his word be patient and persevere. As you tackle the word in such a fashion, I believe your fertility in bearing Godly fruit will be clearly seen as fruit abounds in your life.
Friday, January 15, 2010
The right place at the right time?
Have you ever been thinking about someone, and then all of a sudden you see them? Or you were delayed in traffic, by minutes, and as a result of being delayed you happen upon someone or a situation. Had you been seconds earlier, you might have not discovered that person.
I believe nothing just happens, and that there is no such thing as being at the right place at the right time. Granted their might be fortunate events, and unexpected occurrences which might defy logical explanation, yet I believe in the grander scheme of things. As God sees it, nothing just happens.
Acts 17 indicates that God knows the exact places, boundaries and habitations, and that he knew them ever before we did. A strong sense of predestination tints this verse. Yet our discussion is not that at all. Instead we focus on the sovereignty of God noted particularly in the chronicles of the apostles.
Philip had just finished a powerful ministry in Samaria. Upon his departure he was “lead” by the spirit down a desert road to the coastal city of Gaza. As “fate” would have it, he happened upon an Ethiopian dignitary struggling to understand a piece of scripture. Philip ministered the word to him and saw the gentleman get baptized. Upon ministering, he is then recorded to disappear, and is transported by the spirit elsewhere. Church history traces the advent of the gospel in parts of Africa to the conversion of this Ethiopian.
Can you imagine what would have happened if the Ethiopian was thirty minutes behind schedule, or if he had decided not to be viewing scripture as Phillip passed by. What if Phillip so engrossed in his charismatic work at Samaria had failed to heed the spirit? He would not have found himself lead on the journey to Gaza. The truth is this matter would not even be history. The royal official would have gone on in church obscurity, while Philip would have been none the wiser about the incredible harvest opportunity in Ethiopia that he would have had a key part to play.
Remember this; nothing just happens. Have you prayed for someone lately, and thought that their name just popped into your mind? What about the blessings that you received daily. Have you ever wondered if someone prayed for you down the line to receive them? I believe in divine intentionality. We may not know exactly what God is doing because he is divine, but we can be intentional.
Intentionally, we can pray for favour, strategically we can reach out to the hardened colleague. Proactively, we can stir up the gifts within us for God’s greater glory. As you yearn for God to use you, expect the impossible, believe the unbelievable and do the insignificant. Make small steps, and let the spirit direct your intersections, putting you where he sees fit, in order for his kingdom to be maximally affected.
I believe nothing just happens, and that there is no such thing as being at the right place at the right time. Granted their might be fortunate events, and unexpected occurrences which might defy logical explanation, yet I believe in the grander scheme of things. As God sees it, nothing just happens.
Acts 17 indicates that God knows the exact places, boundaries and habitations, and that he knew them ever before we did. A strong sense of predestination tints this verse. Yet our discussion is not that at all. Instead we focus on the sovereignty of God noted particularly in the chronicles of the apostles.
Philip had just finished a powerful ministry in Samaria. Upon his departure he was “lead” by the spirit down a desert road to the coastal city of Gaza. As “fate” would have it, he happened upon an Ethiopian dignitary struggling to understand a piece of scripture. Philip ministered the word to him and saw the gentleman get baptized. Upon ministering, he is then recorded to disappear, and is transported by the spirit elsewhere. Church history traces the advent of the gospel in parts of Africa to the conversion of this Ethiopian.
Can you imagine what would have happened if the Ethiopian was thirty minutes behind schedule, or if he had decided not to be viewing scripture as Phillip passed by. What if Phillip so engrossed in his charismatic work at Samaria had failed to heed the spirit? He would not have found himself lead on the journey to Gaza. The truth is this matter would not even be history. The royal official would have gone on in church obscurity, while Philip would have been none the wiser about the incredible harvest opportunity in Ethiopia that he would have had a key part to play.
Remember this; nothing just happens. Have you prayed for someone lately, and thought that their name just popped into your mind? What about the blessings that you received daily. Have you ever wondered if someone prayed for you down the line to receive them? I believe in divine intentionality. We may not know exactly what God is doing because he is divine, but we can be intentional.
Intentionally, we can pray for favour, strategically we can reach out to the hardened colleague. Proactively, we can stir up the gifts within us for God’s greater glory. As you yearn for God to use you, expect the impossible, believe the unbelievable and do the insignificant. Make small steps, and let the spirit direct your intersections, putting you where he sees fit, in order for his kingdom to be maximally affected.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Reflections on the harvest
The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he will send labourers out into his harvest field. Matthew 9:37-38
Jesus had just finished doing good to the needy. Preaching from town to town throughout Galilee and Samaria, his pattern was the same. He would teach the work, preach the good news of freedom, and he would minister healing to those who were in need. Often he would heal every disease and sickness at one time. Needless to say he was in much demand.
As the crowds flocked to him, he was over-whelmed. It was as if he were in a field of wheat that was burning up in the hot Palestinian sun. The farmer, though feeling adequately prepared with his standard cadre of hired hands, was ill prepared due to the extreme harvest that the year`s season brought. Thus acres of wheat would be ravaged by weather forces and possible marauders due to the lack of labourers to cut, bind, sheaf and thresh the harvest as was the norm.
Though Jesus was the pinnacle of mercy and justice, he himself felt inadequate due to the sheer volume of need. People around him were broken. The needs ranged anywhere from emotional to physical. Many he healed, others he forgave, and some he befriended. Whatever he could do to envisage the love of God to the lost world, he did. He the master gardener was fully immersed in the work of the harvest. But the need was much too vast. Even for him.
Thus out of sheer compassion for the lost, Jesus pours out his heart to his disciples. `Pray that the Lord would send more workers into the harvest field`.
Have you ever thought as your neighbourhood as the harvest field? Or your school, or college dorm? What are the needs there? Could Jesus of the gospels be bring healing to the broken people who surround you everyday? A most definite affirmative is the response that Jesus gives. `As the father sends me, send I you he says.` `Greater works than these shall you do`. Jesus thus indicating that he needs us to partner with him in the work of harvesting.
This week I have been bombarded with sheer need. Some need advise others need salvation, while many need a helping hand. I have been asking God if it`s my place to fulfill all these needs, and I hear one thing in my spirit. Leaders. Raise up leaders. Send leaders. Who are these leaders. These are servants, labourers, workers who have pledged to join in the harvest with our Lord of the harvest.
Yes I know your needs are many. Maybe you can`t be one of these workers, but you can pray. Pray for God to send help to the individuals in your world that you encounter every day. Pray that your eyes may open to even pray for these individuals. Pray that one day, maybe even soon, that God can raise you up to be a servant – a leader for his kingdom. Finally, whatever you do, pray that God will help you share his burden, and that you can play a part in the greatest harvest known to humanity – the harvest of people.
Jesus had just finished doing good to the needy. Preaching from town to town throughout Galilee and Samaria, his pattern was the same. He would teach the work, preach the good news of freedom, and he would minister healing to those who were in need. Often he would heal every disease and sickness at one time. Needless to say he was in much demand.
As the crowds flocked to him, he was over-whelmed. It was as if he were in a field of wheat that was burning up in the hot Palestinian sun. The farmer, though feeling adequately prepared with his standard cadre of hired hands, was ill prepared due to the extreme harvest that the year`s season brought. Thus acres of wheat would be ravaged by weather forces and possible marauders due to the lack of labourers to cut, bind, sheaf and thresh the harvest as was the norm.
Though Jesus was the pinnacle of mercy and justice, he himself felt inadequate due to the sheer volume of need. People around him were broken. The needs ranged anywhere from emotional to physical. Many he healed, others he forgave, and some he befriended. Whatever he could do to envisage the love of God to the lost world, he did. He the master gardener was fully immersed in the work of the harvest. But the need was much too vast. Even for him.
Thus out of sheer compassion for the lost, Jesus pours out his heart to his disciples. `Pray that the Lord would send more workers into the harvest field`.
Have you ever thought as your neighbourhood as the harvest field? Or your school, or college dorm? What are the needs there? Could Jesus of the gospels be bring healing to the broken people who surround you everyday? A most definite affirmative is the response that Jesus gives. `As the father sends me, send I you he says.` `Greater works than these shall you do`. Jesus thus indicating that he needs us to partner with him in the work of harvesting.
This week I have been bombarded with sheer need. Some need advise others need salvation, while many need a helping hand. I have been asking God if it`s my place to fulfill all these needs, and I hear one thing in my spirit. Leaders. Raise up leaders. Send leaders. Who are these leaders. These are servants, labourers, workers who have pledged to join in the harvest with our Lord of the harvest.
Yes I know your needs are many. Maybe you can`t be one of these workers, but you can pray. Pray for God to send help to the individuals in your world that you encounter every day. Pray that your eyes may open to even pray for these individuals. Pray that one day, maybe even soon, that God can raise you up to be a servant – a leader for his kingdom. Finally, whatever you do, pray that God will help you share his burden, and that you can play a part in the greatest harvest known to humanity – the harvest of people.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Conviction and the Holy Spirit
“when he comes he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement” John 16:8
As I meditated on John 16, today I was once again impressed on the role the Holy Spirit plays in salvation. Jesus says that no man comes to me except the father draws him. If that is the case, then why do we try so hard to convert people? Could it be that our role is just simply to be a vessel, and that he does all the work?
Here are some thoughts on John 16:8ff, as Jesus promises the Holy Spirit after his return to heaven.
A. “in regard to sin because men do not believe me” John 16:9
I believe this indicates that ordinarily speaking men will not listen to the truth. In fact in our world today there is a self serving, self righteousness that pervades the modern mind. It reassures them of the reality on an amoral world. Sense, rationalism and the tangible, are what matters. We are truly incapacitated in our preaching against this philosophy......except for the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is able to bring holy conviction upon men, where we see in Acts, as the Apostles were preaching, people running up to them inquiring about salvation. When was the last time in our services that people asked to be saved? We practically have to beg them to “consider Christ” as if he were just another recommended item. Our words betray our belief that the Holy Spirit is impotent against the forces of unbelief in the godless in this world.
Jesus rears us in, reminding us that He alone is able to penetrate deep into humanity’s soul, and bring them to a genuine repentance and acknowledgement of their sin.
B. “in regard to righteousness”
Who model Christ? If we were to judge the authenticity of the Christian faith by the life of the Christians, we will be very disappointed. Statistics are clear. There is truly no difference in life praxis between Christians and non- Christians. Whether it be divorce rates, phobia stats or depression cases. Studies have shown that Christians largely are plagued with the same problems of non-believers. The sad part about this is they often choose to react to these circumstances similar to the world, devoid of God. Thus the world is confused if it simply looks at Christians for the standard of righteousness.
Again, I ask who models Christ? Jesus knowing that his absence will create a void in representing his image to the world, sends the Holy Spirit. Only a believer imbued with the presence of the Holy Spirit can truly communicate the gospel in such a way that the recipient acknowledges their unrighteous condition in the face of Christ. The Holy spirit reveals Christ’s true righteousness and offers it freely and unconditionally to the depraved soul.
C. “in regards to judgement”
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgement because of its tendency to be blinded to such harsh truths. Ask many today if they believe in an eternal judgement. Though answers may vary, many will tell you they doubt such a thing exists. Jesus cites the judgement of Satan as an indication that the world will be judged. While we don’t want to preach “gloom and doom”, as we witness to unbelievers we need the Holy Spirit to reveal to them the reality of judgement. There is a consequence for the life they lived on earth, and whether they received the saviour or not. They need to know that just as much as heaven is a reality, so hell is also. Who reveals this to them? Is it you and I with our fiery words and bold preaching? No! It is the Holy Spirit.
This year as you endeavour to share your faith, don’t stop. But do it with a renewed dependence and hunger for the power of the Holy Spirit. May your words not be wasted, and your deeds not be in vain. Let the Spirit guide you and lead you as you co-labour with Christ in reaching a lost and dying world.
As I meditated on John 16, today I was once again impressed on the role the Holy Spirit plays in salvation. Jesus says that no man comes to me except the father draws him. If that is the case, then why do we try so hard to convert people? Could it be that our role is just simply to be a vessel, and that he does all the work?
Here are some thoughts on John 16:8ff, as Jesus promises the Holy Spirit after his return to heaven.
A. “in regard to sin because men do not believe me” John 16:9
I believe this indicates that ordinarily speaking men will not listen to the truth. In fact in our world today there is a self serving, self righteousness that pervades the modern mind. It reassures them of the reality on an amoral world. Sense, rationalism and the tangible, are what matters. We are truly incapacitated in our preaching against this philosophy......except for the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is able to bring holy conviction upon men, where we see in Acts, as the Apostles were preaching, people running up to them inquiring about salvation. When was the last time in our services that people asked to be saved? We practically have to beg them to “consider Christ” as if he were just another recommended item. Our words betray our belief that the Holy Spirit is impotent against the forces of unbelief in the godless in this world.
Jesus rears us in, reminding us that He alone is able to penetrate deep into humanity’s soul, and bring them to a genuine repentance and acknowledgement of their sin.
B. “in regard to righteousness”
Who model Christ? If we were to judge the authenticity of the Christian faith by the life of the Christians, we will be very disappointed. Statistics are clear. There is truly no difference in life praxis between Christians and non- Christians. Whether it be divorce rates, phobia stats or depression cases. Studies have shown that Christians largely are plagued with the same problems of non-believers. The sad part about this is they often choose to react to these circumstances similar to the world, devoid of God. Thus the world is confused if it simply looks at Christians for the standard of righteousness.
Again, I ask who models Christ? Jesus knowing that his absence will create a void in representing his image to the world, sends the Holy Spirit. Only a believer imbued with the presence of the Holy Spirit can truly communicate the gospel in such a way that the recipient acknowledges their unrighteous condition in the face of Christ. The Holy spirit reveals Christ’s true righteousness and offers it freely and unconditionally to the depraved soul.
C. “in regards to judgement”
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgement because of its tendency to be blinded to such harsh truths. Ask many today if they believe in an eternal judgement. Though answers may vary, many will tell you they doubt such a thing exists. Jesus cites the judgement of Satan as an indication that the world will be judged. While we don’t want to preach “gloom and doom”, as we witness to unbelievers we need the Holy Spirit to reveal to them the reality of judgement. There is a consequence for the life they lived on earth, and whether they received the saviour or not. They need to know that just as much as heaven is a reality, so hell is also. Who reveals this to them? Is it you and I with our fiery words and bold preaching? No! It is the Holy Spirit.
This year as you endeavour to share your faith, don’t stop. But do it with a renewed dependence and hunger for the power of the Holy Spirit. May your words not be wasted, and your deeds not be in vain. Let the Spirit guide you and lead you as you co-labour with Christ in reaching a lost and dying world.
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