When I was really in a mess I used to pray even though I knew that this would do no good, and then I would cry out, "what do You want me to do?" and not hear any answer. There were times I would go out into the fields or the bush so I could really yell so God could really hear. This is the story of how I became able to listen to Him and to obey.
Sometimes I would ask Christian leaders I respected or
conference speakers the same thing: "what should I do?" and feel that their answers were not helpful. Perhaps
they were answering a different question. Maybe they were used to talking to
Christians who had already got it together and didn't need my kind of help.
Among the first things which happened when Trish and I
started to spend time with "born again" and "believer baptism" and
"charismatic" Christians was that they went to prayer meetings and
clearly found them to be rich and vital. We started to go as well, and have
done ever since. Quite quickly I identified with Isaiah 62:6 and saw myself and
our new friends as some of God's "appointed
watchmen". Prayer was not only a "normal" activity for
Christians, it was desirable and it was effective as many testimonies quickly
came to show. I learned some of the Scriptural promises to God's people
and would pray, reminding Him, asking why others seemed to be blessed with
answers to these promises while I was left hanging in the wind.
Preachers would sometimes tell us to speak positively over
our circumstances because "words have power". Well I was already a
failed salesman and had been on all the courses and read "How To Win Friends And Influence People" by Dale
Carnegie and much else besides. To me, these were just more promises, from the
world rather than from God, which somehow did not work for me.
It was a desperate time. I had so much to live for but no
idea how to live. Jesus said that His people would live "life to the full" (John 10:10). Before I was married to
Trish and became a dad I had tried to find adventure everywhere (and succeeded
pretty well). Now that I had responsibilities I had to think in different
terms, to establish myself in a Christian way so my family would be secure and
could grow .. But I did not want to just keep quiet, conform to those around
me, and be a mouse.
When we come to know Jesus and our Father God we learn that
the spiritual world is real and of huge importance, greater even than the
physical. Life is more than a roof over our head and three square meals a day.
We were designed and given breath to be "speaking
spirits" (Genesis 2:7) and "to
attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians
4:13), that is, to manifest the “image and likeness of
God” (Genesis 1:26).
Time and again Scripture talks about us as "spirit, soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
People tend to talk about "body and soul", ignoring our spirit,
putting the physical first, then the soul which is our mind, will and emotions.
This, I think, is what I had to change in me, that I had to do something about. My spirit needed to
wake up and be available to Jesus. It was not enough that I assented to the
truth about Jesus and the Kingdom of God, my spirit had to assimilate into it; I needed to become a more
spiritually aware person and allow Jesus to form relationship with this new me!
The change did happen .. I'm not sure how this was done,
Jesus came to me in a way that I was able to bond with Him, it was something He
did .. It changed everything .. (See "God’s Father Heart", my very first
www.PsalmsOfJohn.com post).
Considering how much our Creator God puts into each one of
us, our clear responsibility is to grow the spirit, soul and body elements of
our person into the very best that their potential offers. The whole Bible
teaches us this; so many stories tell of adventure where people go far beyond
what they thought they could do (2 Samuel 23:20,22; Luke 1:26-80; Luke 10:1-24;
Acts 8:30-39). Now I am constantly being surprised at the things Jesus does by
using me, or Trish and me together.
This is where "follow
me" comes in.
We're told that Jesus was a great teacher and the very best
example of life and ministry. But I see that He was bringing something new to
the world. Abraham, Moses, David and the other Old Testament heroes had a focus
on God and godliness .. but they always seemed to struggle with what was beyond
their grasp. Even when things were going well for Israel and her people they
seemed much more earth-bound and concerned with the past than with living with
God in His Kingdom. (This is pretty much how I felt .. life in my spirit, in my
person and in my body, were not like our Maker's description ..)
So, in order to grow people in their hearts and spirits,
Jesus recruited twelve young men into His team to disciple them. His methods
were nothing like those used by professional recruiters and "head
hunters" today. Jesus simply walked up to someone and said "follow
me". Time and again we see this in Scripture (Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9,
10:38, 16:24, 19:21, John 1:43, 10:27, 12:26, 13:36, 21:19, 21:22 and others).
Jesus' main team turned out to be a very ordinary bunch;
many do not get a mention in the Gospels beyond being named as one of the "twelve". Peter seems to have
been top pick and he messed up badly until after Jesus was crucified; then
Jesus so loved on Peter that he was transformed and is still remembered as a
great leader in the early Church (John 21:15-19).
Jesus called those to "follow
me" whom He planned to disciple. Discipleship involved sticking close
and paying attention. In those days they used to say that a disciple would
"walk in his rabbi's dust" because he would have to be very close to
hear what was said as they walked from place to place.
When I think of these twelve
I see them trying to be good students but they would be like our oldest son,
Tom, who is a carpenter. Tom's very good at learning things but, like most of
the twelve, he much prefers to be on the tools, doing things, at this he
shines. Those young men will have worked hard at their studies, but they also
will have had a lot of fun together, letting off steam; I see them by the river
where they would go to bathe as they traveled about. They would have been
splashing water and flicking towels just like young men today. They would have
squabbled over the food and joshed each other about the pretty girls they met.
But the serious thing was to "follow
me".
There are some Christian leaders here who I love; pastors
Phil and Jeanette, intercessor Wendy, and theologian, teacher and intercessor
John. These four clearly follow Jesus who, many years ago, led them into a
particular aspect of ministry. Their work and their lives are unique. They've
been given a vision and have continued to look to Jesus in that (growing)
vision for decades. They are effective, inspirational and tireless. They love.
They are disciples at work and in life. I am deeply honoured to know and love
them and desire to have the kind of commitment and application that they
demonstrate. They follow, they are disciples.
Some years ago a couple in our local church put together a
series of hands-on seminars called "Train To Reign". They were based
on the notion that we each have a Kingdom destiny, that we were born for a
purpose.
It seems likely then that our Father and our Lord and Saviour will
have shaped us by their Holy Spirit to be equipped for this purpose. The couple
taught a vital aspect of discipleship; following. We were helped to identify
our deep-down passion; for many of us, me included, this was a near impossible
task. (What? Me? Look inside myself and describe what I see?) This couple were
great, we all found that thing which God had sown in us. We were then shown how
to brainstorm about our untapped treasure, and how to share with others. No
committees were set up to manage all the new ministries that Jesus was showing
us, no leaders were appointed to oversee us. We were encouraged to simply talk
to friends and family and get started.
Results for many individuals and couples over the next year
or so were outstanding. Trish and I started new things based in our home which
are still going and which bring life and joy to many, and immense satisfaction
to us. We grow in Jesus because we are participating in what He is doing on the
Earth, right now, right here. Sure our pastors know about what we do; they
bless us and pray for us and these ministries, and sometimes they are included.
But they do not manage what we do, it's not even completely part of our local
church's activities. It's John and Trish's work with Jesus for the body of
Christ and the world. Micro-ministries. I now see a huge variety of
micro-ministries everywhere I look in the Church. A family will travel in
South-East Asia and encounter a school or orphanage and see that it needs help;
so they help, this becomes part of their life. Others will see an opportunity
to start a Bible study, or a fellowship time over coffee, or to be the only
Christian guy coaching kids soccer at the local club, or to raise money for a
tiny mission .. Fantastic! Isn’t this what the New Testament is asking us to do?
I truly believe that obedience outweighs anointing. When we
obey our Lord, He makes the way and will provide all necessary anointing, and gifting too. He promises to meet “all
our needs” (Luke 12:24), give Him the opportunity to do this. Obedience
provides the fuel ..
So, pray and wait and listen for His soft voice .. Hear
Jesus' call, the what, the where and the how of it. Hear His "follow me .."
You will "see" an idea. Your heart will be
stirred. You'll think "I can help there" or "I can do
that". Do it. It's for you and it's unique. Not part of a program. Not
overseen by a leader or a committee. Yours. You and Jesus, “Head of the Church” (Colossians 1:18), working together to accomplish
His plans. Start small and you can use the resources you already have. There
likely will be no worldly glory, mostly it will be hard work and unseen by the
world. But Father God will see because
it is His Kingdom work, and He will
be delighted, filled with joy!
God does not make two snow flakes the same, nor two people.
There is something only you can offer, no matter how broken or unready you
think you are. Just follow Jesus ..
Bless you ..
Amen
Favorite Song
Probably a decade ago some of our kids came home excited
about an American group of young Christians who like to sing to the Lord
together .. they took me to see them .. these Christian musicians express my hearts desire .. I find their words achingly true:
I don't want to
ride on somebody else's passion
I don't want to find
that I'm just dry bones
I want to burn
with unquenchable fire
Deep down inside
See it coming
alive.
Help me find my
own flame
Help me find my
own fire
I want the real
thing
I want your
burning desire.
(from Will Reagan And United Pursuit - Live At Bank's House
- my kids took me to a show they did when they came here to our city - a lovely
blessing)
Favorite Bible Verses
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of
him who sent me and to finish his work" (John 4:34).
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer
live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
'And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"' (Matthew 4:19).
Amen.
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Praise Jesus.
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