Hinderance In God's Work
`For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep…’ (Acts 13:36)
The memory of David is recorded for us in these words. What a beautiful homage paid to the late king! David was declared by scriptures to have fulfilled his call on earth according to the will of God. Paul, the faithful apostle of Jesus, also left behind a glorious testimony “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
David served out God’s purpose without uncertainty in his life and met God’s calling for him and this in spite of the sin and transgression in his life. David’s life is not unfamiliar to us. His sin is not unknown to us. We know all about the ugly sin of adultery and murder that he committed and the lies he made in order to conceal his sin. But the tragic episode of his life soon became history, when David faced God honestly through a period of deep sincerity accompanied by contrition and repentance of heart. From thence and for the rest of his life, David went in pursuit of God and was known as the “man after God’s own heart.”
Had the biblical account of David’s life stopped at the point when he committed the series of unrighteous acts, most of us would be left with no other conclusion apart from that of shame and condemnation, a soul destined to suffer eternal sorrow and damnation. However, the scriptures did not stop at the fall of David, for David did not stop there either! He faced reality, sorrowed over the fact that he had grieved the holiness of God, and then strengthened himself in the ever-present strength of God and moved on from there to walk confidently with God again. In doing so, David turned the expedition of his life to one filled with God-pleasing pursuits right up to the moment of his death.
Like David, all of us are susceptible to the fleshly inclinations to err. No one is spared, for we are all descendents of Adam carrying the same fallen nature. However, as He did for David, God has blessed us with the privilege of surrendering to Him and allowing Him to redeem us from the mire of sin and uphold us in our pursuits of His godliness. We need that, for no man can stand if God should decide to count our transgressions. Yet, He does not do that, but “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). We can rejoice, therefore, and let us give thanks that, weaknesses and flaws regardless, we have similarly a great opportunity to serve God in our generation and to make our lives count. All these are possible because God rules supremely by love, for even the scepter of His righteousness was carved in love. This is why He could bear to demand righteousness of us – because He is prepared that His love would pay the price for that. He demonstrated this by giving us freedom of will when He created man. When man exercised that freedom of will and chose to sin, a separation immediately came between him and God. But God bridged that separation between Him and man with His blood through the death of His Son on the Cross. That sacrifice of blood is divine, and it cleanses the sins of our past and present, and even those that would be accumulated in the future. Being the loving God, He is willing to pay whatever price of hurt and sorrow the freedom of our will and actions may demand. Some may need to experience multiple failures before they finally learn the lesson and be willing to yield themselves to be transformed into the image of God’s beloved Son. But God’s arms will never be withdrawn from us and no measure of sin will ever sever His love towards us. As long as you need Him and want Him, God is there for you: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). So, return to God wherever you are, closer and dearer to His love. Be like children who are secure in the Father’s love: return from failure stronger and wiser.
So, yes, there is a destiny for you and I. God has called each one to His purpose in Christ Jesus. While that remains true, however, what also stands is that the fulfillment of the call of God upon our lives is not something that automates itself without requiring responsible actions on our part. As it is, God wills every man to a glorious destiny in Him, but not all men inherit that promise. Sadly, the number of those who do is small compared to those who missed out on the call of God altogether. Yes, it is possible to be a believer of Jesus all your life and yet go to Him without bearing completion of the divine charge given to you. The danger of that disappointment is as real as the promise of inheritance itself.
Paul fought the good fight, kept the faith, and the crown of righteousness was reserved for him. Now, if that was so – that a man can fight the good fight and keep the faith, is it not also possible that another can lose the fight and abandon the faith? Certainly. These are those who allow hindrances to enter and take control of their lives, those of who do not detach themselves from the things that hinder them, and as a result suffer the consequences, even to the extent of eternal loss of spiritual glory.
For us to experience the will of God unfolding in our lives, we need to chart the course of our lives in a way that allows God to work in our lives to put into place His calling for our lives. We also need finally to respond to Him when the time arrives for that.
In his book “I Believe in Vision”, the well-known man of God Kenneth Hagin shared how, after 15 years of service in the Body of Christ, the Lord appeared to him and showed him that he was only then beginning to enter the first phase of the ministry he had been called to. He had, by the mercy of God, lived in the Lord’s permissive will for a whole 15 years with the Lord waiting all those while for the time when he would wait on Him for direction and then act in obedience. Brother Hagin also related how the Lord had revealed that of the many ministers He had called into ministry, there were those who had returned to Him without even tasting the introductory phase of what He had called them to.
That should really be a wake-up call for every minister of God to consider the seriousness of what the Lord has purposed in us to do, and therefore to be diligent to walk in this call. While we may not have been purposed for full-time Christian ministry, it is no less important to redeem whatever time we have on earth to accomplish that which the Lord has called us to, for there is certainly no further chance to respond to our call the moment heaven beckons us home. Remember, there is something that God has left with each one of us to grow and develop until it is time to bring it along with us when we meet the Lord Jesus.
Ambition vs Obedience
One of the biggest hindrances to overcome in fulfilling the call of God on our lives is our very own ambition. The idea of having to strive diligently in order to fulfill our needs, hopes, and dreams in life is so fixed in many of us that the condition of laying it aside (especially when we come so close to reaching it) for the sake of the will of God seems almost always too heavy a price to pay and too painful a course to even contemplate. Yet, almost all who struggle with this forget that Christ who came to show us the way, and who had been a perfect example for us in the way of living, had not come to confiscate our fun and joy, but had come instead to bring us life more abundantly (Jn.10:10). But such a gift of life will not be adequately discerned using the mind or intellect, nor will it be sufficiently comprehended even by the most sensitive emotion. You need to experience its reality in order to know it. In other words, you need to possess it first. But the condition to having it is letting go of what we have. However, if anyone continues to fear letting go of what he thinks is securely in his control, he will never be free to receive his entitlement of that abundant life. The very thing that God intends for us as a gift will be forfeited and become our greatest loss: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25).
There are people called by God to His glorious designations whose rewards are in the offing. But when they do not conduct or commit themselves responsibly to the calling, the rewards are no longer stored up for them. Instead, these rewards would be inherited by the generation of people who would assume the call and bear it in faithful dedication. This second group of people, though not the ones chosen originally for God’s purposes, will however receive a reward equal in glory to what was assigned for those called before them. And that spells out the cost for those who either by will or by neglect disappoint the call of God upon their lives. The rewards and the glory reserved for them will become the inheritance of the faithful ones who undertake what they failed to respond to.
Matthew 22:1-14 relates the parable of a wedding feast where a king originally sent out invitations to people who declined his hospitality. He then proceeded to issue a second invitation, this time to another group of people. From among the guests who turned up, there was a man who did not respect the invitation, for he did not satisfy the requirement to put on a wedding garment. As a result, he was being thrown out from the feast.
Does it not seem strange that even though he had been invited to the feast, the man in the parable was later turned away for a simple lack of garment? Jesus used this parable to illustrate His truth that though `many are called, few are chosen’ (Matt 22:14). Symbolically, the wedding feast represents the kingdom of God and the host, God Himself. Unlike most of today’s wedding ceremonies, where guests are welcome to turn up in whatever apparel they fancy, during the time of Jesus, it was customary for guests to wear the wedding garments provided by the host of the wedding. Upon prayerful meditation of what this wedding garment might signify for us today, I saw that it symbolizes the plans and purposes that God has ordained for us before the beginning of time for us to enter into the everlasting rewards stored up for us in heaven.
Just as the way to partake of the feast in the parable was by way of fulfilling the requirements of the host—to be clothed with the garment provided by him—the way to enter the kingdom of God is similarly by way of the life of Christ (Jn. 4:6), through obedience in embracing God’s will over our own. We can all be called but not all of us will be chosen. What is the quality that enables us to be one of the chosen ones? It is obedience. In the same manner as the compliant guests in the parable who put on the garments given by the host and are received into the feast, so will we be received into eternal rejoicing when we obediently take on the plans and purposes that God designed for us.
Heed the warning: “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Yes, all can receive the gift of salvation, but if we are not faithful to our calling, we can have nothing to go up for when God calls His people to receive their designated rewards. This is especially so for those who have been saved for many years now: if faithful dedication is not paid to the calling you have received from God, then though you may have been a Christian longer than most others in your community, you may really end up last when the time comes for every man to receive his reward in Christ. And others, though having come to the knowledge of Christ later, but are faithful and diligent in their calling, may well emerge as the pre-eminent ones in God’s glorious kingdom.
Therefore, what determines if you are “chosen” to participate in the feast with the Lord is really something only you can control. There are two choices to choose from: either we put on the garment by taking on the call and plans that God has given us and taste the delights of His rewards, or we persist in living independent of His will and forfeit the delicacies of the feast.
Beloved, let us consider this with all soberness. When we meet our Lord face to face, let every one of us be found clothed in the garment He has prepared in advance for us and not in our own garment, which is a life lived meaninglessly in self-indulgence and continual self-gratification. Not only will we not be received into the celebration, but in the shine and brilliance from the glory of the garments designed by God that the other guests have on them, our garment will pale miserably in comparison, and we wouldn’t like that. By then, the situation will be beyond tears. We will regret our shortsightedness, and we will wish we had made a wiser choice while we still had the chance to. We won’t want to mirror the ending of the parable: “… there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:13).
Our Spiritual Encourager
“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us therefore lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1)
Have you participated in a race where the track is uneven and the distance is part of the challenge? If so, then you must know how arduous such an activity can be. When physical resilience wears away with every stride taken and mental resolve weakens after running a long while without having the finishing line anywhere in sight, athletes grow weary, and, along the way, some would fall out. But some would continue to push on, cheered on by an eager crowd. They are your supporters and whether you appear to be leading or trailing behind others in the race, the cheer for you goes on, and it doesn’t stop until the race finally ends.
So, the race goes on…. but how often do you notice the contribution cheer members make to the race or the support they give to those in it? Unless some of you are into some kind of cheerleading aspirations, we all hardly ever, right? Yet, almost always it seems as if the cheers build and renew the strength and stamina of the sportsmen. The expression of resolve on the runners seems more intensified as the cheers grow more enthusiastic.
Along the same line, the author of Hebrews tells us that in running the spiritual race, we too have people cheering us on. All right, perhaps not those sporting fancy outfits and flashing pompoms, but there certainly is a big crowd of them cheering us on. They hold up the banner of victory, hoping to remind you that victory had already been won, and you only need to go finish the race and be part of the victory. They belong to the great cloud of witnesses Hebrews 11 tells us about. They are the heroes of faith who have gone before us, and who are now perseveringly cheering us on in the spiritual realm. They have run the race, the same one you are running now, and they are cheering you on until you reach where they are. Men and women of God who leave this earth after completing their journey here will join this cloud of witnesses in heaven, urging us on when we are almost fully worn out. Their cheering for us is like intercession made on our behalf, so that we are really not alone however lonely the path may seem. The cloud of witnesses follows faithfully alongside you as you travel heavenward, and will always be an accompanying support in your spiritual pursuit and holy walk.
The existence of this cloud of witnesses may not be immediately relevant or real to many and hence I will attempt to help you appreciate it better by sharing with you testimonies of godly men who have had spiritual encounters with saints who have passed on from this life.
Some years ago, while a Christian brother Sadhu Selvaraj was interceding for Tibet, which is his specific calling, I saw the vision of a man of God laying his hands on Brother Selvaraj. I perceived that man in the vision to be Sadhu Sundar Singh, who like Brother Selvaraj had been similarly called to minister to Tibet, but who had, years ago in the midst of ministry, disappeared and never reappeared since. I told Bro. Selvaraj about my vision and was told by him that I was the second person he knew who saw that same vision and that indeed the Lord had earlier revealed to him that he was to pick up the mantle of Sadhu Sundar Singh and perpetuate his ministry.
Peter Wagner, who is leading the move for the restoration of the apostolic call in today’s church, spoke of a similar experience in his book Apostles and Prophets - The Foundation Of The Church (pages 126-127). He received three prophecies, all of which declared that he was to take on the mantle of the late man of God John Wimber. In one of the visions related to him, someone saw a canopy of clouds over him; and in the midst of the clouds was a balcony with a man called `John’ leaning over. In the vision, John instructed Peter that he was handing a baton to him that is to accompany him as he runs and calls forth the apostolic ministry.
So, while encouragement in the physical realm is very comforting and sustaining for all of us, there is an equally real encouragement in the spiritual realm as well. Perhaps we might not be very aware of the presence of that spiritual support, but it is there nevertheless. They are our spiritual support , for God put them there and they will not be taken away for as long as the race remains.
1994 was the year in which I was led by the Spirit to start my walk of faith in depending wholly on supernatural providence. I was clearly instructed in the spirit: no income generating work, no seeking of charity, just trusting God. During that time, I was also led to make a ministry trip to Thailand – my first such trip as a non-salaried worker for God. So I began to make plans for that trip. At that time, a brother of my church (now with the Lord), who I affectionately know as Uncle John, wrote me a six hundred dollar cheque for covering the miscellaneous expenses of the trip. That must have been one of the early signs of God’s presence and faithfulness towards His call upon my life, for through Uncle John, I experienced God’s support, both financially as well as spiritually. Though he may not be with me where I am now, I am sure the support from dear Uncle John is still with me. And I believe it exists there in the cloud of witnesses where he must be now. Together with the faithful saints of God, he is cheering me on as I press on towards what God has laid ahead of me for me to inherit. That belief itself imparts strength to me each time I think of how the road ahead is going to be a tough and difficult to tread. I feel encouraged each time I am being reminded of the cheering I am getting from the cloud of witnesses. I tell myself not to let their cheering be in vain nor let their hopes down by giving up since they are prepared to cheer me all the way.
Some of the people who have loved you dearly in the past and have joined the cloud of witnesses are still loving you, albeit in a different way. If only our eyes were constantly enlightened to perceive the things in the spirit realm, the approach towards our ideals and goals today might take on a different dimension and focus altogether. Remember therefore the next time when you feel discouraged or weary: there is a banner raised over you by a great crowd of godly people, and it says, “Jehovah Nissi”--the Lord your victory.
Weight and Sin
The author of Hebrews spoke about two things with the dangerous potential of hindering us in fulfilling our call. One of these is weight and the other sin.
Sin
“Beloved, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.” (1 John 3:21)
Sin exists for really one purpose: to separate. Whether big or small, the fruit of sin is to force a separation between God and us. It retards our spiritual keenness and brings about a regression in our progress with the things of God. When a man persists in wilful sin, his conscience will eventually be seared because of his continual disregard and dismissal of it. His sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, which is much dependent on the condition of his conscience, will also suffer and become dull as a result. Soon, that man becomes one who is not well discerned in the matters of God, whose walk with the Lord no longer explores spiritual dimensions but is shallow and governed by a perception that is mostly carnal and earthly.
Let us consider this matter attentively, for even in the dispensation period of grace that we are now living in, sin alone can bring condemnation to our life and eventually hinder the fulfillment of our calling. It is important, therefore, to always deal with sin promptly and maintain a clear conscience before the Lord.
More importantly, the word of God warns that there is only so much sin that He will tolerate, and not more. Beyond that line of favour, and when you push God’s limit you start paying for your sins with whatever you may have. In 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul discerns that wrath had been poured out upon the Judeans to the uttermost, because they had `filled up the measure of their sins’. They had stretched the measure of their rebellion beyond the line that God had drawn, and God, in His justness, had to administer judgment in the situation. Then again, in Genesis 15:16, the Lord told Abraham that his descendants, when they returned after captivity for 400 years in a foreign land, will possess the land of Canaan. The iniquity of the Amorites would by then have come to its fullness and be ripe for judgement. Similarly, the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel during his time of fasting to inform him that, regardless of his prayers, the period of 70 weeks had been determined for Israel to `finish the transgression’ (Dan 9:24), whereupon judgment will come upon the nation.
The mercy of God is what explains the continuing prosperity His people enjoy. Even while in sin, people enjoy the mercies of God and continue to receive good things from Him, so much so that this aspect of God’s longsuffering is oftentimes taken for granted. Some people even mistake this favour and patience of God as the unsought pardon of sin! The mercies and longsuffering of God become to them an unspoken license for more indulgence in sin. However, God cannot be mocked, and He certainly is not going to condone unrepentant hearts. He is an ever-loving God and He suffers kindly for us for a season, but He won’t forbear forever. God’s promise to us is ultimately eternal joy and not eternal suffering; and if He wants that for us, He will not rob Himself of the same thing by enduring all eternity for men who just refuse to get their lives right. There will come a time when our sins can no longer remain undealt with by a righteous God and that’s when people will find themselves in the very real danger of missing out entirely on their destiny if repentance has not already taken place in their hearts.
“Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:14). While there are a few who find the way that leads to life, there are many who are not even aware of such a way! These, by consequence, end up taking the wide road to destruction. Having known the Lord and still persisting in sin may sometimes – at God’s discretion – result in an early death so that the salvation of that soul might be effected and not be lost through sinful rebellion. Just as God once destroyed life on earth in the days of Noah because of immense iniquity, be warned of a similar intervention that may disrupt a life prematurely because it continues to rebel strongly against the righteousness of God. It is not that God is exacting vengeance – no. In order to save that impenitent soul from further self-destruction, the only solution might be a sovereign act of His will to take away his life so he cannot keep on sinning. Hence, it is crucial that we remember to always examine our consciences and keep away from sinful indulgences so as to be safe from premature judgment upon our lives: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep”( 1 Cor 11:28-30).
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked…” (Acts 17:30). While God may once have overlooked sin because of our ignorance, this is not the case now that the truth concerning sin has been made known to us: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Heb 10:26). There is only so much of disobedience that we can chalk up in our life after we have known the truth. God is prepared to tolerate only so much and no more. Before you know it—if you are ignoring God’s call for repentance time after time—you have exhausted His forbearance for judgement. At that point, you will be fully answerable to whatever willful and habitual sin you have indulged in continuously. If we persist in sin, no further sacrifice for sins will suffice to atone our guilt, and we can miss our destiny in this earth altogether.
Let us not be caught unawares by the deceptiveness of sin and its potential to eventually forfeit us of our very destiny in God. Many are those who fell by the wayside simply because they had been less than prudent in fleeing temptation when it made its first appearance. Temptation is guilefully insidious: if you tolerate it while it’s still in infancy and let it grow unimpeded, it would mature into an enticing monster who could badly hurt you, and there is almost nothing you can do to protect yourself. This explains why the biblical instruction concerning how sin ought to be treated commands us to flee from temptation and to eliminate every opportunity to sin: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perishes, than for your whole body to be cast to hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell”(Matt 5:29-30).
Thankfully, God’s mercies are new every morning and His love everlasting. If we quit our sinful indulgences and return to God, His hand of restoration will never be too short to reach us. We can overcome the devil and sin “by the blood of the lamb” (Rev. 12:11). Do not let the blood of Christ be shed in vain. As you’ve received of His blood, now also allow it to purify the filthiness inside you and overcome all plans of the evil one set against you. Come out of the mud of sin and take a dip in the blood of Jesus. His precious blood will make you clean.
Weight
I once saw a vision of an eagle flying over a lake. As it glided over the water, it reached its claws into the lake and caught hold of a fish. However, when it tried to soar into the skies again, it could not because the fish proved too heavy.
Are we like this eagle? Do we carry a load that is too heavy to bear, or do we bear a burden that weighs us down so much it is impossible to even lift our heads to look to what God has set before us?
Be wise, beloved. It is absolutely impossible to soar freely when you are not free of heavy weights. In the natural, an athlete would not be able to perform his level best if he is carrying unnecessary weight. This natural law operates in the spiritual as well. Neither you nor I will be able to soar in our calling should we take on a load heavier than what the Lord has assigned.
Peter Wagner, who is an authority on spiritual warfare and demonology, was once invited to assume an editorial project on a Bible study majoring on spiritual warfare. With his depth of experience in the area of spiritual warfare, no question would be raised if he had taken on the invitation. However, after prayerful seeking of the Lord, he declined the invitation. Upon reflection years later, he testified to the wisdom of the Spirit that guided his decision. He realized that the editorial project would have been a likely encumbrance in his ministry of apostolic reformation that he was later called into.
The temptation to accept responsibilities can arise even in the area of our strengths and gifting. The sum of the Christian life is about obedience, not about getting into an endless regime of activities. It is common for people to admire the busiest Christians: we seem to think they are the most faithful ones in the church. Many accept that as a fact; however, that is not often true. Working ourselves out will not score us any more points than what we already have with God. Obedience means doing what He has called us to do; but it also means keeping our hands free of what He has not called us to do. God is not being deliberately difficult here. He demands this of us because He knows that with our finite ability and capacity there is only so much that we can be doing if we are to do a good job. In taking up what we have not been called to do, we inadvertently set ourselves up for failing to be as successful as we could have been in the work God designed specially for us. Since the actions of the Body of Christ today have the ability to hasten the Lord’s coming, it must also mean they are capable of delaying it. Whether our Lord returns sooner or later will depend on the degree to which each member recognizes and fulfills his own specific call in the Body. The Body wouldn’t be a complete healthy whole if we leave some ministries under-serviced while others are over-manned.
Our Wound/Generational sin
One weight which stifles the call of many Christians is unresolved wounds and hurts. To a large extent, many wounds have their roots in our childhood and the environment in which we are raised. Feelings such as rejection, inferiority, insecurity, and abuse belong here. If not surrendered to the Lord for healing, they can end up developing into strongholds in our lives that might potentially cripple us from moving forward in our destiny.
We are transformed into whatever we behold. ”But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”(2 Cor 3:18). Paul speaks of us being transformed from glory to glory when we continue to behold the glory of the Lord. The opposite is also true. Studies in psychology and even our personal experiences have shown that children who grow up in dysfunctional families, who constantly behold their parents’ shortcomings, often incorporate the same or similar negative traits into their own families in later life. Is it not common that people who suffered sexual abuse from their parents when young often end up committing the same shameful deeds and daughters who lived with alcoholic fathers end up marrying men with alcoholic tendencies as well? The tragic irony is that these kids no doubt loathed and despised the sins of their parents.
There are real life stories of how the sins of forefathers can affect children even though those shameful deeds have never been revealed to them. A Christian woman confided that she lived through most of her life, even after marriage and having children, with the secret fantasy of having young children perform oral sex on her. It was only much later, after being so burdened by her unbearable struggle and frustration, that she confided in her elder sister, who then disclosed that as young children they had been made to perform oral sex on their mother.
The same demonic strongholds of one generation have the power to oppress latter generations just as it is written in the Old Testament. The sins of forefathers will be visited upon the third and fourth generations of their descendents. Many sincere saints talk about sinful habits and openly condemn such practices in front of others. Yet they struggle with some of these habits in secret and despite earnest efforts have yet to overcome them. In most of these cases (we are not saying all), it could be the oppression and influence of the demonic force at work in their lives possibly because of forefathers who previously united themselves with unclean spirits. But even then, the situation is not altogether hopeless, because as Christians living under the protection of the blood of the lamb, we have the spiritual right to be free of every sin and curse: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse…(for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hands on a tree’”(Gal. 3:13). It is hence important that we come before the Lord and ask Him to break the chains of whatever things that are not of God that might have been passed down from our forefathers and for Him to fill us with His Spirit, so that like clay in the Potter’s hands we might be daily moulded into the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
“Add to your faith virtue…” (2 Peter 1:5)
As you build on your faith, do not forget to remind yourself to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit as well. In so doing, you help to disengage yourself from whatever residual bad habits and ugly attitudes that might have been carried over from the time before you started walking with God. Many of the hurts and negative mindsets that we see in ourselves have been resident in us since childhood and, having been so rooted in us, takes time and perseverance before they are eradicated.
The key to greater success in cultivating godly values is to continue in asking, seeking, and knocking. The thing we should never do when victory over a particular sin or an unholy lifestyle seems a long way off is to condemn ourself or feel that we would never make it. That is the devil’s lie to stop us from trying further because he knows that our success is just steps away. Rather, continue to pray and depend on the Lord to change us.
It is not in struggling that we are set free but in yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot perfect ourselves, but God can: we must rest our trust and confidence in His ability to do that for us. We overcome more and win bigger when we let God deal with the situation than when we try to do it alone. Moses is a good example of this truth: when Israel was at war with the Amalekites, he did not join in the battle, but raised his hands over the situation while the Lord overcame the enemies on his behalf. He certainly would not have had that glorious victory had he gone into the physical battle in his own strength. Likewise, to overcome the enemy or a situation, the key is to surrender fully to the Lord, like how Moses lifted his hands to God. Undesirable traits of our character will be removed and replaced by good ones if we surrender to God and immerse ourselves in His Word and build a practice of prayer and dependence on Him to take control over our lives and turn us into beautiful vessels for Heaven’s glory.
Ungodly Influences
“Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor.15:33)
The word of God tells us that we are measured and shaped by the people we keep company with. This makes it necessary for us to guard the choice of our company for they determine to some considerable degree what we turn out to be. The people we associate with have the potential of either helping us to advance God’s plans or thwart them. Emotionally, we are crave and we all want to love and craved to be loved, thus we make the effort to forge meaningful relationships. Let us continue to do that, but do not forget that the decisions we make as to who we associate with, and the relationships we get into, can make a tremendous difference to the success of our spiritual walk.
There are generally three categories of people that we can meet: Godly ones who would help and motivate us spiritually; God-fearing folks whom we can be a source of spiritual support to; and ungodly acquaintances whom we want to reach out to. Young Christians, as a general rule should try as far as possible to keep company with those who can inspire and motivate them to grow towards maturity and godliness in Christ. This is much better than to try to establish some of their floundering peers with the little that they know of the faith. First of all, the young Christians would not be able to help much, or even if they could do something, trying to sustain that level of commitment to a person’s spiritual growth when they are not already firm themself can be a dangerous thing to do as they might end up feeling and drained . The task of nurturing spiritual infants should rest with the more mature godly Christians who being more rooted in the faith can impart spiritual anointing and disciplines to them.
In the area of Christian courtship, single persons must be wise enough to avoid entering into intimate relationships with unbelievers or allowing themselves to be romantically or sexually involved with them. Our emotions are stronger than what we think we can manage. Many sincere believers have fallen into the devil’s trap in this area, so do not be the next to be deceived. We are also exalted in 2 Thess.3:6;15 to withdraw from those who conduct themselves in manners contrary to Christian disciplines: “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us”. This is not to say that we should view the person as one bearing the devil’s mark. No. We are at the same time told not to “count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” However, we certainly do not count our association with such a person as godly fellowship but rather take every opportunity to be a light to him and guide him back on the right path again.
Toxic Mentor
When it comes to relationships, it is no less important to be discerning over who we should regard as spiritual mentors over our lives. On careful reflection, some who seem our likely spiritual mentors in fact are not ready to assume the responsibility of shepherding younger believers yet. These are usually Christians who are still untested in the faith but possess a strong zeal for God. They are game for every spiritual challenge and are usually very ready to say yes if anyone seeks them out to oversee their spiritual progress. However, because of their tenderness in the faith, they still face difficulties with certain elementary issues in their walk with God like disillusionment, anxiety, or even despair in times of uncertainty, etc. They may not have learned to be sympathetic with human frailty and can be too judgmental or idealistic in their spiritual demands of those they are nurturing. Sometimes, it is out of insecurity and impatience or an eagerness to prove their zeal that they agree to take on the role of “spiritual father.” The sad truth is this: mentors who do not already walk intimately with God are often in need of spiritual guidance themselves over unresolved issues in their lives.
We do not agree with such an approach towards spiritual mentoring. While we agree that discipleship matters greatly, we don’t think it should involve individuals who are easy prey and equally vulnerable to the devil’s trials and temptations. It is not the inability of the mentor to offer spiritual assistance that we are up against, it is their motives. For the less commonly noticed danger is that some of those who avail themselves as mentors are really doing so not because they are ready to lay their lives down for the sheep under their guard but because they hope to show (either others or themselves) that they can achieve some good results for the kingdom of God. Worst, some use others to fulfill their spiritual ambition rather than with a sincere heart to help them grow in the Lord and fulfill their destiny. Those of us who seek to be a mentor to others should take earnest heed of the Word from Ezekiel 34:2-8
“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flocks. The weak you have not strengthen, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them…Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand”.
Therefore, every person that we choose as a mentor should at the very least exhibit the fundamental qualities of godliness such as the fear of God in their lives, integrity, and love. Also, make sure we are satisfied with the sincerity of their motives and a growing faith and maturity in the Lord. Do not be quick to excuse or minimize any doubts as to a person’s motives in wanting to disciple us. Godly wisdom and sensitivity to the direction of the Holy Spirit are indispensable when it comes to choosing mentors for our lives. Not anyone who is godly will make a good spiritual mentor. A toxic mentor cause more hindrances rather than a stepping stone in our spiritual destiny.
Shortsightedness
Another hindrance to the success of our journey in our calling is none other than shortsightedness and a desire for immediate gratification. While our sowing may sometimes result in an immediate harvest, the full reward of our efforts will only come when we meet the Lord in heaven. Similarly, there would be times when what we sow will only be ready for reaping in the eternity to come. In such situations, remind yourself to be neither disappointed nor discouraged from continuing in your good works, for you know that God will not withhold reward from you, but will give it to you when the time appointed arrives. Usually, the glory that accompanies the reward will be more than what we can ever imagine.
We are not going to stay on earth forever—neither you nor me. Our time and our labour here are not permanent but are only a part of the journey towards our final destination. With this thought constantly in mind, you will be able to live out your days in greater contentment, assured of the reward at the end of the race. With the mindset of a pilgrim who sees this world as simply a necessary stop before final arrival in heaven, we will certainly live our lives with much less concern for the things which will one day perish, and with far greater purpose for that which is eternal. “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:5).
When the world and what it contains mean so much more to you than the Lord’s will, then it is time to check if you had inadvertently created idols in your heart. It’ll be a big cause for lamentation when God finally has to give us up to the very things we thirst for, simply because He sees that our hearts hold no room for anything else.
We read in Ezekiel 14:3-4 how the Lord `answered King Ahab according to the multitude of idols in his heart’ (1 Kings 22:19) by sending a lying spirit to provide him with the answer he wanted to hear. We pray that the Spirit of God will convict some hearts now. Among the several or even countless occasions that you outwardly sought spiritual counsel, how many were the times when you find yourself looking for an affirmation of the desires of your heart? And how few were the instances where you actually sought after counsel with an open heart and with a spirit ready to yield to divine charge?
This reminds us of the time when God led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness before they entered the Promised Land. He had already forewarned that the wilderness would be a time of testing of their tenacity of faith and patience. Still the people got dissatisfied with their physical conditions and even began to demand for meat when they got tired of the manna from heaven God provided them. Did God answer their desire? Yes He did, and though it was not in His original plan for their wilderness testing, He gave them the meat they demanded. But He also released along with the meat a terrible plague to inflict suffering on His people. It was the judgment on the Israelites’ sin of contempt and impatience. “They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” (Ps.106:13-15). When we give in to the carnal wants of our flesh or heart, we often go into God’s permissive will and find ourselves getting what we want. But we still pay for it at the end of the day, though not always through some illness or plague, but usually through loss or suffering of one kind or another. This is because there would be times when we can only have one or the other and not both. In such cases, when we get what we want, we forfeit the chance of getting what God wants to give to us. And that could well be the loss that will be felt for the rest of your life. It is thus important to check the motives of our heart in prayer. Does the outcome of our prayer glorified God ultimately, or does it just feed out carnal desire and selfish ambition. The fleshly condition of our heart can be a great hindrances to our spiritual progress.
The Fear Of Man
One of the prerequisites of an unencumbered soaring flight with the Lord is freedom from the fear of man. One will not find himself any where far from where he starts off if the fear of man continues to be a factor in his life.
There are two likely reasons why people continue to allow themselves to be taken captive by the fear of man despite knowing God’s word concerning this.
The first is that they have not bothered enough or made enough effort to arrive at a place where they are secure in the Lord. And if the Lord is not sufficient for them, definitely His approval is insufficient for them as well. This is why they need to gain the nod from other people, and also why they value the appraisal of men and live in trepidation when such approval does not seem to be forthcoming. You can imagine them as the compliant and very agreeable folk whom almost everyone likes to have around, as they would probably never raise a contention and would never risk being controversial or unpopular even when it concerns the matter of serving God.
Human acceptance may become stronger than divine order to those who fear man more than they fear God. God’s plans may be hindered as a result, for such people fail to preach or do what they know the Lord wants them to because they are afraid to offend. And this will remain for as long as man’s opinions are more significant to them than God’s.
Case studies show that most teenagers who succumb to peer pressure come from where the expression of parental love is not readily there. The teens are usually those who lack security in this area of love and, as a consequence, look for such love and acceptance from their peers. They are naturally prepared to pay whatever it takes to secure their need for love and acceptance. This gradually becomes a psychological problem in them and may in the future result in spiritual difficulties as well.
If you think you know of anyone, or indeed you yourself, who has come from the background described above, do not despair. God has not left us as orphans, but His fatherhood of love is more than what any parent can give to a child. Only walk with Him so that His love becomes a reality in your life and you will find yourself gradually being released from the fear of man.
The other reason why people fear is because there is the general fear of lack of financial security. Many still trust in men and men’s creation (e.g. economy) to provide for them. In Matt 6:24, we are warned that we can never serve two masters. We must make a choice between God and mammon. Then, in the next verse it says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.” Do you catch the connection between the two verses there? In another words, God is telling us that if we were to worry and be anxious about our material needs we will fall into the danger of serving riches in our hearts rather than serving God, who is more than able to provide us with all that we need for life. And in serving our wealth, we inadvertently end up having to please men.
The fear of the Lord is what is required of us, and it is the beginning of wisdom, says God in His word. But many remain as fools who do not fear God simply because they have never ridden themselves of the fear of man. Unless we are free from such crippling fears, we will not be free to fear God. It is certainly not an easy thing to live without regard of the feelings and impressions that others, and particularly our loved ones, may have of us. It takes great spiritual strength and resolve to embrace God’s way and His will. Just as salmon fish swim upstream in a long and extremely tiring journey for the purpose of spawning, we too need to swim against the tides of human approval in order to bear fruit. While the Bible tells us to live at peace with our brethren as far as possible, there are certainly times when we ought to summon righteousness and faith to resist what others try to impose on us that are not right. Had Joshua and Caleb not been courageous in proclaiming the Lord’s ability to deliver the Promised Land to the Israelites, they too would have perished in the wilderness and not lived to enter the Promised Land. Noah and his family were similarly saved in the flood because he persisted in the face of mockery by building an ark in the days when not a single drop of rain ever fell onto earth.
Lack of discernment
There are two areas of discernment required of us as believers. One of these is the awareness of God’s timing and appointed seasons for His people and nations and the other is in His leading in our personal lives.
David, who enjoyed close fellowship with the Lord, might have discerned God’s desire for a permanent dwelling place to be set up among the Israelites for His glory. However, the Bible recorded that David was instructed by the Spirit of the Lord to refrain from personally building the temple as He had chosen his son Solomon for the task instead. That David perceived God’s intention to dwell in Israel was a general discernment. That he also perceived that God did not want him but his son to build the dwelling place was a discernment made in a specific context. In the same way, when we discern a general move of God, we need to seek Him further as to whether we have been commissioned with a corresponding role in this move and, if so, the nature and extent of our involvement.
In the account of Elijah, who ran away in the face of threats from Jezebel after he killed the prophets of Baal, God responded to his surrender to death by telling him that he was not alone, but there were seven thousands individuals whom he had hidden(1Kgs 19:18). Perhaps we may be wondering why these seven thousands had not gone out to support Elijah while he was in battle or when he was feeling discouraged. Why, we believe if anyone happens to know one of those individuals, we might consider that person as a cowardly man who is neither fruitful nor faithful in the Lord! But interestingly, the Bible says that God was the one who hid them! He was the one who kept them from going to Elijah’s help. While we may not fully understand the reason for the Lord’s actions, one thing we can conclude is that what sometimes seems the most logical and best way to us may not necessarily be the way that God intends for us to take.
Many a times when we are called to do a certain task in the Lord’s work, we mistakenly judge it as “The Move of God” for that season. Thus, we begin to judge others who are not moving with us as undiscerning and unfruitful in the Lord. But we know now that it might not necessarily always be the case. While God put Elijah through a trial, He kept seventy others safe and undisturbed. We have to be conscious that the “in thing of God” does not mean “the thing”. Even when God appears to be moving powerfully in one area, He could at the same time be using others or preparing others for some other areas of ministry in accordance to His divine wisdom, whose bigger picture we might not yet be familiar with.
Most would know Watchman Nee and his work as a great teacher and preacher of the gospel in China. But few would have known the woman who mentored him as a young Christian and raised him up to perform this great work: Margaret Barber. In Watchman Nee’s biography, he mentioned how Margaret Barber withdrew from the scene when a great evangelism was taking place. He had often been troubled by her isolation, concerned that her living knowledge of the Bible and God had not been as widely used as he thought it should. With time, he soon found out that she had discerned and submitted herself to God’s call upon her life, which was to the few rather than to the masses. As a result, she was able to fulfill her call as a spiritual mother to many strong men of God in her time.
One of those people included Wang Tsai (Leland Wang), who travelled widely as an evangelist among mission churches in Hong Kong and who later founded in Indonesia the China Overseas Missionary Union. There were also many young men and women of great promise in evangelical work who attributed their spiritual wealth to instruction received under Margaret Barber’s mentoring.
Where the harvest is plentiful, we automatically assume that all Christians should be roped in to help with the tasks of discipleship and so forth. But the above account has just shown otherwise. A lack of discernment and understanding in God’s subjective guidance in an individual will render many of us ineffective in moving ahead and cause us to put judgment on others wrongly, thus offending God.
Another area of discernment we cannot neglect to cultivate is in discerning the spiritual atmosphere we live in. Spiritual atmospheres enshroud the world and they vary from nation to nation. If unaware of the spiritual atmosphere of our surroundings, we are more likely to come under their influence. The reason why many Christians are caught in the jaws of sin today is because they failed to take spiritual warfare seriously.
Patience
Patience can be thought of as faith in action. It is one area in which many fall. Many Christians cannot handle the times when God chooses to keep silent. Though we cringe in disgust when we read of the account today, many, like the Israelites, would end up building a golden calf when left on their own without Moses. In today’s culture where speed and instantaneous responses are so highly valued, much emotional diligence is required to wait in faith. Nevertheless, silence is very much part and parcel of our call as it is often God’s way of preparing his servants, and it is for us to respond respectfully to that so as to hear God in the situation.
Often, we fail also to accept circumstances when they are the exact opposite of what have been promised us. Though the Israelites were told that the Promised Land the Lord was bringing them into was flowing with milk and honey, they were not prepared to accept the conditions of the wilderness and endure the occasional lack of water and food along the way to the place the Lord promised. Those were the ones who never tasted the milk or the honey, but who died because they never stopped complaining. When we begin to complain for lack of an instant realisation of God’s promises to us, we could very well end up like those who perished in the wilderness. It is extremely foolish, of course we feel, to die on your way to claiming a good thing just because you can’t wait.
We should be people who learn how to discern the spiritual environmental forecast. Learn to wait and watch for the optimum time to mount up and ride with the wind. We should be soaring and not just flying. Busy flapping the wings only exhausts your energy. There are passages all over Scriptures that exhort us to wait upon the Lord and that warn us against haste. You can hardly find any thing that tells you to hurry and do something for God. If anything, it is to repent quickly!
Unbelief
There are basically two levels of belief: the first level holds the kind of belief that all Christians who go to church have a share in God and His existence. This is insufficient, for such faith is found even in many non-Christians who also believe in God. As a matter of fact, even demons believe in God.
So of course there has to be a higher level of belief that goes beyond the first, and that involves a desire and an expression of that desire by conduct, to embrace the truth of God found in the Bible and by revelation from His Spirit. This involves a choice—that is, the believer chooses whether to believe God totally and receive His counsel absolutely or to be lukewarm towards them generally.
What is most needful in times when faith is difficult to muster is the confession that the father of the demonised son made, that he wanted the Lord to help his unbelief: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mk.9:24). Many godly decisions are made not out of mere faith but by a stoical belief in God. In fact, we are of the stand that unless the gift of faith is being manifest in our lives to perform a certain task, we choose to define faith in God as making the choice to believe and trust in Him. When we choose to believe, we are telling God we are helpless and that we need Him. Remember, five loaves of bread and two small fish given to us will at the best make a few good fish burgers and feed a handful, but the same amount of food placed in God’s hands could easily be the meal (with leftovers even!) for more than five thousand men. God, being love, will never turn away a call for help, but will always stretch His hand towards us and uphold us in whatever situation we are in. “They trusted in You, and were not ashamed” (Ps.22:5).
Obedience
Many of us are familiar with the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-9. In this parable, we see the different types of ground that the seed fell on: the ground by the wayside, stony ground, ground with thorns and thistles, and good ground.
Most of us would condemn the first three types of ground, concluding with the emphasis that the good ground is the best and therefore the kind of material that our heart should be made up of. Yet, in the same parable, the Lord goes on to state that good ground alone is not enough for bearing abundant fruit! The harvests, though all similarly yielded from good ground, were different in quantity. Some good ground yielded a harvest of thirty-fold, some sixty-fold and others a hundred-fold: “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty”.
Why might that be so? Since the seed came from the same sower and thus must have been sowed the same or if not similar way, and all were good ground, then why the difference in harvest size? The difference lies in the way the different pieces of good ground received and held the seeds. Recall the parable of the foolish man who built his house on sand and the wise one who built his house on the rock. Jesus pointed out that the way the word is obeyed by different people who heard the same word makes a difference to the kinds of houses they build for themselves. They either end up with shaky ones or they dwell safely in solid ones. We can all hear the same message and can all believe every word of it, but how we later live according to that message that we heard will determine the fruit of that word sown into our lives.
In Matt.8:18-22, we have another important lesson: “Then another of His disciples said to Him,” Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” To be present in the burial service of our parents is the basic piety expected of a son. However, Jesus teaches that the demand of the Lord is far greater. Not only do we fulfill the general expectations that are required of us as members of a family or of a society, but we must do them in a way that allows us to fulfill the Lord’s purposes as well. The principle is that the call of God demands absolute and perfect obedience. Obedience is to be an unbroken pattern when we choose to walk in the call of God. We cannot wait till all obstacles are removed and we just glide along blissfully to Promised Land. There is a cost of obedience, inevitably, and only those who have counted the cost and still decide to take on the call can ever follow the call.
Our goal should not be only to prevent our hearts from resembling the conditions of the first three types of ground, but to yield our all to God and to trust Him completely. If we are good ground, we have the potential to yield the hundred-fold harvest. What we need to reflect on is whether we are giving our utmost to God. Let us take heed of the exhortation the apostle Paul gave to Archippus in his epistle to the Colossians, and appropriate it to ourselves that we may all bear fruits a hundredfold for the Lord: “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it” (Col.4:17).
`For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep…’ (Acts 13:36)
The memory of David is recorded for us in these words. What a beautiful homage paid to the late king! David was declared by scriptures to have fulfilled his call on earth according to the will of God. Paul, the faithful apostle of Jesus, also left behind a glorious testimony “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
David served out God’s purpose without uncertainty in his life and met God’s calling for him and this in spite of the sin and transgression in his life. David’s life is not unfamiliar to us. His sin is not unknown to us. We know all about the ugly sin of adultery and murder that he committed and the lies he made in order to conceal his sin. But the tragic episode of his life soon became history, when David faced God honestly through a period of deep sincerity accompanied by contrition and repentance of heart. From thence and for the rest of his life, David went in pursuit of God and was known as the “man after God’s own heart.”
Had the biblical account of David’s life stopped at the point when he committed the series of unrighteous acts, most of us would be left with no other conclusion apart from that of shame and condemnation, a soul destined to suffer eternal sorrow and damnation. However, the scriptures did not stop at the fall of David, for David did not stop there either! He faced reality, sorrowed over the fact that he had grieved the holiness of God, and then strengthened himself in the ever-present strength of God and moved on from there to walk confidently with God again. In doing so, David turned the expedition of his life to one filled with God-pleasing pursuits right up to the moment of his death.
Like David, all of us are susceptible to the fleshly inclinations to err. No one is spared, for we are all descendents of Adam carrying the same fallen nature. However, as He did for David, God has blessed us with the privilege of surrendering to Him and allowing Him to redeem us from the mire of sin and uphold us in our pursuits of His godliness. We need that, for no man can stand if God should decide to count our transgressions. Yet, He does not do that, but “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). We can rejoice, therefore, and let us give thanks that, weaknesses and flaws regardless, we have similarly a great opportunity to serve God in our generation and to make our lives count. All these are possible because God rules supremely by love, for even the scepter of His righteousness was carved in love. This is why He could bear to demand righteousness of us – because He is prepared that His love would pay the price for that. He demonstrated this by giving us freedom of will when He created man. When man exercised that freedom of will and chose to sin, a separation immediately came between him and God. But God bridged that separation between Him and man with His blood through the death of His Son on the Cross. That sacrifice of blood is divine, and it cleanses the sins of our past and present, and even those that would be accumulated in the future. Being the loving God, He is willing to pay whatever price of hurt and sorrow the freedom of our will and actions may demand. Some may need to experience multiple failures before they finally learn the lesson and be willing to yield themselves to be transformed into the image of God’s beloved Son. But God’s arms will never be withdrawn from us and no measure of sin will ever sever His love towards us. As long as you need Him and want Him, God is there for you: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). So, return to God wherever you are, closer and dearer to His love. Be like children who are secure in the Father’s love: return from failure stronger and wiser.
So, yes, there is a destiny for you and I. God has called each one to His purpose in Christ Jesus. While that remains true, however, what also stands is that the fulfillment of the call of God upon our lives is not something that automates itself without requiring responsible actions on our part. As it is, God wills every man to a glorious destiny in Him, but not all men inherit that promise. Sadly, the number of those who do is small compared to those who missed out on the call of God altogether. Yes, it is possible to be a believer of Jesus all your life and yet go to Him without bearing completion of the divine charge given to you. The danger of that disappointment is as real as the promise of inheritance itself.
Paul fought the good fight, kept the faith, and the crown of righteousness was reserved for him. Now, if that was so – that a man can fight the good fight and keep the faith, is it not also possible that another can lose the fight and abandon the faith? Certainly. These are those who allow hindrances to enter and take control of their lives, those of who do not detach themselves from the things that hinder them, and as a result suffer the consequences, even to the extent of eternal loss of spiritual glory.
For us to experience the will of God unfolding in our lives, we need to chart the course of our lives in a way that allows God to work in our lives to put into place His calling for our lives. We also need finally to respond to Him when the time arrives for that.
In his book “I Believe in Vision”, the well-known man of God Kenneth Hagin shared how, after 15 years of service in the Body of Christ, the Lord appeared to him and showed him that he was only then beginning to enter the first phase of the ministry he had been called to. He had, by the mercy of God, lived in the Lord’s permissive will for a whole 15 years with the Lord waiting all those while for the time when he would wait on Him for direction and then act in obedience. Brother Hagin also related how the Lord had revealed that of the many ministers He had called into ministry, there were those who had returned to Him without even tasting the introductory phase of what He had called them to.
That should really be a wake-up call for every minister of God to consider the seriousness of what the Lord has purposed in us to do, and therefore to be diligent to walk in this call. While we may not have been purposed for full-time Christian ministry, it is no less important to redeem whatever time we have on earth to accomplish that which the Lord has called us to, for there is certainly no further chance to respond to our call the moment heaven beckons us home. Remember, there is something that God has left with each one of us to grow and develop until it is time to bring it along with us when we meet the Lord Jesus.
Ambition vs Obedience
One of the biggest hindrances to overcome in fulfilling the call of God on our lives is our very own ambition. The idea of having to strive diligently in order to fulfill our needs, hopes, and dreams in life is so fixed in many of us that the condition of laying it aside (especially when we come so close to reaching it) for the sake of the will of God seems almost always too heavy a price to pay and too painful a course to even contemplate. Yet, almost all who struggle with this forget that Christ who came to show us the way, and who had been a perfect example for us in the way of living, had not come to confiscate our fun and joy, but had come instead to bring us life more abundantly (Jn.10:10). But such a gift of life will not be adequately discerned using the mind or intellect, nor will it be sufficiently comprehended even by the most sensitive emotion. You need to experience its reality in order to know it. In other words, you need to possess it first. But the condition to having it is letting go of what we have. However, if anyone continues to fear letting go of what he thinks is securely in his control, he will never be free to receive his entitlement of that abundant life. The very thing that God intends for us as a gift will be forfeited and become our greatest loss: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25).
There are people called by God to His glorious designations whose rewards are in the offing. But when they do not conduct or commit themselves responsibly to the calling, the rewards are no longer stored up for them. Instead, these rewards would be inherited by the generation of people who would assume the call and bear it in faithful dedication. This second group of people, though not the ones chosen originally for God’s purposes, will however receive a reward equal in glory to what was assigned for those called before them. And that spells out the cost for those who either by will or by neglect disappoint the call of God upon their lives. The rewards and the glory reserved for them will become the inheritance of the faithful ones who undertake what they failed to respond to.
Matthew 22:1-14 relates the parable of a wedding feast where a king originally sent out invitations to people who declined his hospitality. He then proceeded to issue a second invitation, this time to another group of people. From among the guests who turned up, there was a man who did not respect the invitation, for he did not satisfy the requirement to put on a wedding garment. As a result, he was being thrown out from the feast.
Does it not seem strange that even though he had been invited to the feast, the man in the parable was later turned away for a simple lack of garment? Jesus used this parable to illustrate His truth that though `many are called, few are chosen’ (Matt 22:14). Symbolically, the wedding feast represents the kingdom of God and the host, God Himself. Unlike most of today’s wedding ceremonies, where guests are welcome to turn up in whatever apparel they fancy, during the time of Jesus, it was customary for guests to wear the wedding garments provided by the host of the wedding. Upon prayerful meditation of what this wedding garment might signify for us today, I saw that it symbolizes the plans and purposes that God has ordained for us before the beginning of time for us to enter into the everlasting rewards stored up for us in heaven.
Just as the way to partake of the feast in the parable was by way of fulfilling the requirements of the host—to be clothed with the garment provided by him—the way to enter the kingdom of God is similarly by way of the life of Christ (Jn. 4:6), through obedience in embracing God’s will over our own. We can all be called but not all of us will be chosen. What is the quality that enables us to be one of the chosen ones? It is obedience. In the same manner as the compliant guests in the parable who put on the garments given by the host and are received into the feast, so will we be received into eternal rejoicing when we obediently take on the plans and purposes that God designed for us.
Heed the warning: “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Yes, all can receive the gift of salvation, but if we are not faithful to our calling, we can have nothing to go up for when God calls His people to receive their designated rewards. This is especially so for those who have been saved for many years now: if faithful dedication is not paid to the calling you have received from God, then though you may have been a Christian longer than most others in your community, you may really end up last when the time comes for every man to receive his reward in Christ. And others, though having come to the knowledge of Christ later, but are faithful and diligent in their calling, may well emerge as the pre-eminent ones in God’s glorious kingdom.
Therefore, what determines if you are “chosen” to participate in the feast with the Lord is really something only you can control. There are two choices to choose from: either we put on the garment by taking on the call and plans that God has given us and taste the delights of His rewards, or we persist in living independent of His will and forfeit the delicacies of the feast.
Beloved, let us consider this with all soberness. When we meet our Lord face to face, let every one of us be found clothed in the garment He has prepared in advance for us and not in our own garment, which is a life lived meaninglessly in self-indulgence and continual self-gratification. Not only will we not be received into the celebration, but in the shine and brilliance from the glory of the garments designed by God that the other guests have on them, our garment will pale miserably in comparison, and we wouldn’t like that. By then, the situation will be beyond tears. We will regret our shortsightedness, and we will wish we had made a wiser choice while we still had the chance to. We won’t want to mirror the ending of the parable: “… there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:13).
Our Spiritual Encourager
“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us therefore lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1)
Have you participated in a race where the track is uneven and the distance is part of the challenge? If so, then you must know how arduous such an activity can be. When physical resilience wears away with every stride taken and mental resolve weakens after running a long while without having the finishing line anywhere in sight, athletes grow weary, and, along the way, some would fall out. But some would continue to push on, cheered on by an eager crowd. They are your supporters and whether you appear to be leading or trailing behind others in the race, the cheer for you goes on, and it doesn’t stop until the race finally ends.
So, the race goes on…. but how often do you notice the contribution cheer members make to the race or the support they give to those in it? Unless some of you are into some kind of cheerleading aspirations, we all hardly ever, right? Yet, almost always it seems as if the cheers build and renew the strength and stamina of the sportsmen. The expression of resolve on the runners seems more intensified as the cheers grow more enthusiastic.
Along the same line, the author of Hebrews tells us that in running the spiritual race, we too have people cheering us on. All right, perhaps not those sporting fancy outfits and flashing pompoms, but there certainly is a big crowd of them cheering us on. They hold up the banner of victory, hoping to remind you that victory had already been won, and you only need to go finish the race and be part of the victory. They belong to the great cloud of witnesses Hebrews 11 tells us about. They are the heroes of faith who have gone before us, and who are now perseveringly cheering us on in the spiritual realm. They have run the race, the same one you are running now, and they are cheering you on until you reach where they are. Men and women of God who leave this earth after completing their journey here will join this cloud of witnesses in heaven, urging us on when we are almost fully worn out. Their cheering for us is like intercession made on our behalf, so that we are really not alone however lonely the path may seem. The cloud of witnesses follows faithfully alongside you as you travel heavenward, and will always be an accompanying support in your spiritual pursuit and holy walk.
The existence of this cloud of witnesses may not be immediately relevant or real to many and hence I will attempt to help you appreciate it better by sharing with you testimonies of godly men who have had spiritual encounters with saints who have passed on from this life.
Some years ago, while a Christian brother Sadhu Selvaraj was interceding for Tibet, which is his specific calling, I saw the vision of a man of God laying his hands on Brother Selvaraj. I perceived that man in the vision to be Sadhu Sundar Singh, who like Brother Selvaraj had been similarly called to minister to Tibet, but who had, years ago in the midst of ministry, disappeared and never reappeared since. I told Bro. Selvaraj about my vision and was told by him that I was the second person he knew who saw that same vision and that indeed the Lord had earlier revealed to him that he was to pick up the mantle of Sadhu Sundar Singh and perpetuate his ministry.
Peter Wagner, who is leading the move for the restoration of the apostolic call in today’s church, spoke of a similar experience in his book Apostles and Prophets - The Foundation Of The Church (pages 126-127). He received three prophecies, all of which declared that he was to take on the mantle of the late man of God John Wimber. In one of the visions related to him, someone saw a canopy of clouds over him; and in the midst of the clouds was a balcony with a man called `John’ leaning over. In the vision, John instructed Peter that he was handing a baton to him that is to accompany him as he runs and calls forth the apostolic ministry.
So, while encouragement in the physical realm is very comforting and sustaining for all of us, there is an equally real encouragement in the spiritual realm as well. Perhaps we might not be very aware of the presence of that spiritual support, but it is there nevertheless. They are our spiritual support , for God put them there and they will not be taken away for as long as the race remains.
1994 was the year in which I was led by the Spirit to start my walk of faith in depending wholly on supernatural providence. I was clearly instructed in the spirit: no income generating work, no seeking of charity, just trusting God. During that time, I was also led to make a ministry trip to Thailand – my first such trip as a non-salaried worker for God. So I began to make plans for that trip. At that time, a brother of my church (now with the Lord), who I affectionately know as Uncle John, wrote me a six hundred dollar cheque for covering the miscellaneous expenses of the trip. That must have been one of the early signs of God’s presence and faithfulness towards His call upon my life, for through Uncle John, I experienced God’s support, both financially as well as spiritually. Though he may not be with me where I am now, I am sure the support from dear Uncle John is still with me. And I believe it exists there in the cloud of witnesses where he must be now. Together with the faithful saints of God, he is cheering me on as I press on towards what God has laid ahead of me for me to inherit. That belief itself imparts strength to me each time I think of how the road ahead is going to be a tough and difficult to tread. I feel encouraged each time I am being reminded of the cheering I am getting from the cloud of witnesses. I tell myself not to let their cheering be in vain nor let their hopes down by giving up since they are prepared to cheer me all the way.
Some of the people who have loved you dearly in the past and have joined the cloud of witnesses are still loving you, albeit in a different way. If only our eyes were constantly enlightened to perceive the things in the spirit realm, the approach towards our ideals and goals today might take on a different dimension and focus altogether. Remember therefore the next time when you feel discouraged or weary: there is a banner raised over you by a great crowd of godly people, and it says, “Jehovah Nissi”--the Lord your victory.
Weight and Sin
The author of Hebrews spoke about two things with the dangerous potential of hindering us in fulfilling our call. One of these is weight and the other sin.
Sin
“Beloved, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.” (1 John 3:21)
Sin exists for really one purpose: to separate. Whether big or small, the fruit of sin is to force a separation between God and us. It retards our spiritual keenness and brings about a regression in our progress with the things of God. When a man persists in wilful sin, his conscience will eventually be seared because of his continual disregard and dismissal of it. His sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, which is much dependent on the condition of his conscience, will also suffer and become dull as a result. Soon, that man becomes one who is not well discerned in the matters of God, whose walk with the Lord no longer explores spiritual dimensions but is shallow and governed by a perception that is mostly carnal and earthly.
Let us consider this matter attentively, for even in the dispensation period of grace that we are now living in, sin alone can bring condemnation to our life and eventually hinder the fulfillment of our calling. It is important, therefore, to always deal with sin promptly and maintain a clear conscience before the Lord.
More importantly, the word of God warns that there is only so much sin that He will tolerate, and not more. Beyond that line of favour, and when you push God’s limit you start paying for your sins with whatever you may have. In 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul discerns that wrath had been poured out upon the Judeans to the uttermost, because they had `filled up the measure of their sins’. They had stretched the measure of their rebellion beyond the line that God had drawn, and God, in His justness, had to administer judgment in the situation. Then again, in Genesis 15:16, the Lord told Abraham that his descendants, when they returned after captivity for 400 years in a foreign land, will possess the land of Canaan. The iniquity of the Amorites would by then have come to its fullness and be ripe for judgement. Similarly, the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel during his time of fasting to inform him that, regardless of his prayers, the period of 70 weeks had been determined for Israel to `finish the transgression’ (Dan 9:24), whereupon judgment will come upon the nation.
The mercy of God is what explains the continuing prosperity His people enjoy. Even while in sin, people enjoy the mercies of God and continue to receive good things from Him, so much so that this aspect of God’s longsuffering is oftentimes taken for granted. Some people even mistake this favour and patience of God as the unsought pardon of sin! The mercies and longsuffering of God become to them an unspoken license for more indulgence in sin. However, God cannot be mocked, and He certainly is not going to condone unrepentant hearts. He is an ever-loving God and He suffers kindly for us for a season, but He won’t forbear forever. God’s promise to us is ultimately eternal joy and not eternal suffering; and if He wants that for us, He will not rob Himself of the same thing by enduring all eternity for men who just refuse to get their lives right. There will come a time when our sins can no longer remain undealt with by a righteous God and that’s when people will find themselves in the very real danger of missing out entirely on their destiny if repentance has not already taken place in their hearts.
“Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:14). While there are a few who find the way that leads to life, there are many who are not even aware of such a way! These, by consequence, end up taking the wide road to destruction. Having known the Lord and still persisting in sin may sometimes – at God’s discretion – result in an early death so that the salvation of that soul might be effected and not be lost through sinful rebellion. Just as God once destroyed life on earth in the days of Noah because of immense iniquity, be warned of a similar intervention that may disrupt a life prematurely because it continues to rebel strongly against the righteousness of God. It is not that God is exacting vengeance – no. In order to save that impenitent soul from further self-destruction, the only solution might be a sovereign act of His will to take away his life so he cannot keep on sinning. Hence, it is crucial that we remember to always examine our consciences and keep away from sinful indulgences so as to be safe from premature judgment upon our lives: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep”( 1 Cor 11:28-30).
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked…” (Acts 17:30). While God may once have overlooked sin because of our ignorance, this is not the case now that the truth concerning sin has been made known to us: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Heb 10:26). There is only so much of disobedience that we can chalk up in our life after we have known the truth. God is prepared to tolerate only so much and no more. Before you know it—if you are ignoring God’s call for repentance time after time—you have exhausted His forbearance for judgement. At that point, you will be fully answerable to whatever willful and habitual sin you have indulged in continuously. If we persist in sin, no further sacrifice for sins will suffice to atone our guilt, and we can miss our destiny in this earth altogether.
Let us not be caught unawares by the deceptiveness of sin and its potential to eventually forfeit us of our very destiny in God. Many are those who fell by the wayside simply because they had been less than prudent in fleeing temptation when it made its first appearance. Temptation is guilefully insidious: if you tolerate it while it’s still in infancy and let it grow unimpeded, it would mature into an enticing monster who could badly hurt you, and there is almost nothing you can do to protect yourself. This explains why the biblical instruction concerning how sin ought to be treated commands us to flee from temptation and to eliminate every opportunity to sin: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perishes, than for your whole body to be cast to hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell”(Matt 5:29-30).
Thankfully, God’s mercies are new every morning and His love everlasting. If we quit our sinful indulgences and return to God, His hand of restoration will never be too short to reach us. We can overcome the devil and sin “by the blood of the lamb” (Rev. 12:11). Do not let the blood of Christ be shed in vain. As you’ve received of His blood, now also allow it to purify the filthiness inside you and overcome all plans of the evil one set against you. Come out of the mud of sin and take a dip in the blood of Jesus. His precious blood will make you clean.
Weight
I once saw a vision of an eagle flying over a lake. As it glided over the water, it reached its claws into the lake and caught hold of a fish. However, when it tried to soar into the skies again, it could not because the fish proved too heavy.
Are we like this eagle? Do we carry a load that is too heavy to bear, or do we bear a burden that weighs us down so much it is impossible to even lift our heads to look to what God has set before us?
Be wise, beloved. It is absolutely impossible to soar freely when you are not free of heavy weights. In the natural, an athlete would not be able to perform his level best if he is carrying unnecessary weight. This natural law operates in the spiritual as well. Neither you nor I will be able to soar in our calling should we take on a load heavier than what the Lord has assigned.
Peter Wagner, who is an authority on spiritual warfare and demonology, was once invited to assume an editorial project on a Bible study majoring on spiritual warfare. With his depth of experience in the area of spiritual warfare, no question would be raised if he had taken on the invitation. However, after prayerful seeking of the Lord, he declined the invitation. Upon reflection years later, he testified to the wisdom of the Spirit that guided his decision. He realized that the editorial project would have been a likely encumbrance in his ministry of apostolic reformation that he was later called into.
The temptation to accept responsibilities can arise even in the area of our strengths and gifting. The sum of the Christian life is about obedience, not about getting into an endless regime of activities. It is common for people to admire the busiest Christians: we seem to think they are the most faithful ones in the church. Many accept that as a fact; however, that is not often true. Working ourselves out will not score us any more points than what we already have with God. Obedience means doing what He has called us to do; but it also means keeping our hands free of what He has not called us to do. God is not being deliberately difficult here. He demands this of us because He knows that with our finite ability and capacity there is only so much that we can be doing if we are to do a good job. In taking up what we have not been called to do, we inadvertently set ourselves up for failing to be as successful as we could have been in the work God designed specially for us. Since the actions of the Body of Christ today have the ability to hasten the Lord’s coming, it must also mean they are capable of delaying it. Whether our Lord returns sooner or later will depend on the degree to which each member recognizes and fulfills his own specific call in the Body. The Body wouldn’t be a complete healthy whole if we leave some ministries under-serviced while others are over-manned.
Our Wound/Generational sin
One weight which stifles the call of many Christians is unresolved wounds and hurts. To a large extent, many wounds have their roots in our childhood and the environment in which we are raised. Feelings such as rejection, inferiority, insecurity, and abuse belong here. If not surrendered to the Lord for healing, they can end up developing into strongholds in our lives that might potentially cripple us from moving forward in our destiny.
We are transformed into whatever we behold. ”But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”(2 Cor 3:18). Paul speaks of us being transformed from glory to glory when we continue to behold the glory of the Lord. The opposite is also true. Studies in psychology and even our personal experiences have shown that children who grow up in dysfunctional families, who constantly behold their parents’ shortcomings, often incorporate the same or similar negative traits into their own families in later life. Is it not common that people who suffered sexual abuse from their parents when young often end up committing the same shameful deeds and daughters who lived with alcoholic fathers end up marrying men with alcoholic tendencies as well? The tragic irony is that these kids no doubt loathed and despised the sins of their parents.
There are real life stories of how the sins of forefathers can affect children even though those shameful deeds have never been revealed to them. A Christian woman confided that she lived through most of her life, even after marriage and having children, with the secret fantasy of having young children perform oral sex on her. It was only much later, after being so burdened by her unbearable struggle and frustration, that she confided in her elder sister, who then disclosed that as young children they had been made to perform oral sex on their mother.
The same demonic strongholds of one generation have the power to oppress latter generations just as it is written in the Old Testament. The sins of forefathers will be visited upon the third and fourth generations of their descendents. Many sincere saints talk about sinful habits and openly condemn such practices in front of others. Yet they struggle with some of these habits in secret and despite earnest efforts have yet to overcome them. In most of these cases (we are not saying all), it could be the oppression and influence of the demonic force at work in their lives possibly because of forefathers who previously united themselves with unclean spirits. But even then, the situation is not altogether hopeless, because as Christians living under the protection of the blood of the lamb, we have the spiritual right to be free of every sin and curse: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse…(for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hands on a tree’”(Gal. 3:13). It is hence important that we come before the Lord and ask Him to break the chains of whatever things that are not of God that might have been passed down from our forefathers and for Him to fill us with His Spirit, so that like clay in the Potter’s hands we might be daily moulded into the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
“Add to your faith virtue…” (2 Peter 1:5)
As you build on your faith, do not forget to remind yourself to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit as well. In so doing, you help to disengage yourself from whatever residual bad habits and ugly attitudes that might have been carried over from the time before you started walking with God. Many of the hurts and negative mindsets that we see in ourselves have been resident in us since childhood and, having been so rooted in us, takes time and perseverance before they are eradicated.
The key to greater success in cultivating godly values is to continue in asking, seeking, and knocking. The thing we should never do when victory over a particular sin or an unholy lifestyle seems a long way off is to condemn ourself or feel that we would never make it. That is the devil’s lie to stop us from trying further because he knows that our success is just steps away. Rather, continue to pray and depend on the Lord to change us.
It is not in struggling that we are set free but in yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot perfect ourselves, but God can: we must rest our trust and confidence in His ability to do that for us. We overcome more and win bigger when we let God deal with the situation than when we try to do it alone. Moses is a good example of this truth: when Israel was at war with the Amalekites, he did not join in the battle, but raised his hands over the situation while the Lord overcame the enemies on his behalf. He certainly would not have had that glorious victory had he gone into the physical battle in his own strength. Likewise, to overcome the enemy or a situation, the key is to surrender fully to the Lord, like how Moses lifted his hands to God. Undesirable traits of our character will be removed and replaced by good ones if we surrender to God and immerse ourselves in His Word and build a practice of prayer and dependence on Him to take control over our lives and turn us into beautiful vessels for Heaven’s glory.
Ungodly Influences
“Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor.15:33)
The word of God tells us that we are measured and shaped by the people we keep company with. This makes it necessary for us to guard the choice of our company for they determine to some considerable degree what we turn out to be. The people we associate with have the potential of either helping us to advance God’s plans or thwart them. Emotionally, we are crave and we all want to love and craved to be loved, thus we make the effort to forge meaningful relationships. Let us continue to do that, but do not forget that the decisions we make as to who we associate with, and the relationships we get into, can make a tremendous difference to the success of our spiritual walk.
There are generally three categories of people that we can meet: Godly ones who would help and motivate us spiritually; God-fearing folks whom we can be a source of spiritual support to; and ungodly acquaintances whom we want to reach out to. Young Christians, as a general rule should try as far as possible to keep company with those who can inspire and motivate them to grow towards maturity and godliness in Christ. This is much better than to try to establish some of their floundering peers with the little that they know of the faith. First of all, the young Christians would not be able to help much, or even if they could do something, trying to sustain that level of commitment to a person’s spiritual growth when they are not already firm themself can be a dangerous thing to do as they might end up feeling and drained . The task of nurturing spiritual infants should rest with the more mature godly Christians who being more rooted in the faith can impart spiritual anointing and disciplines to them.
In the area of Christian courtship, single persons must be wise enough to avoid entering into intimate relationships with unbelievers or allowing themselves to be romantically or sexually involved with them. Our emotions are stronger than what we think we can manage. Many sincere believers have fallen into the devil’s trap in this area, so do not be the next to be deceived. We are also exalted in 2 Thess.3:6;15 to withdraw from those who conduct themselves in manners contrary to Christian disciplines: “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us”. This is not to say that we should view the person as one bearing the devil’s mark. No. We are at the same time told not to “count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” However, we certainly do not count our association with such a person as godly fellowship but rather take every opportunity to be a light to him and guide him back on the right path again.
Toxic Mentor
When it comes to relationships, it is no less important to be discerning over who we should regard as spiritual mentors over our lives. On careful reflection, some who seem our likely spiritual mentors in fact are not ready to assume the responsibility of shepherding younger believers yet. These are usually Christians who are still untested in the faith but possess a strong zeal for God. They are game for every spiritual challenge and are usually very ready to say yes if anyone seeks them out to oversee their spiritual progress. However, because of their tenderness in the faith, they still face difficulties with certain elementary issues in their walk with God like disillusionment, anxiety, or even despair in times of uncertainty, etc. They may not have learned to be sympathetic with human frailty and can be too judgmental or idealistic in their spiritual demands of those they are nurturing. Sometimes, it is out of insecurity and impatience or an eagerness to prove their zeal that they agree to take on the role of “spiritual father.” The sad truth is this: mentors who do not already walk intimately with God are often in need of spiritual guidance themselves over unresolved issues in their lives.
We do not agree with such an approach towards spiritual mentoring. While we agree that discipleship matters greatly, we don’t think it should involve individuals who are easy prey and equally vulnerable to the devil’s trials and temptations. It is not the inability of the mentor to offer spiritual assistance that we are up against, it is their motives. For the less commonly noticed danger is that some of those who avail themselves as mentors are really doing so not because they are ready to lay their lives down for the sheep under their guard but because they hope to show (either others or themselves) that they can achieve some good results for the kingdom of God. Worst, some use others to fulfill their spiritual ambition rather than with a sincere heart to help them grow in the Lord and fulfill their destiny. Those of us who seek to be a mentor to others should take earnest heed of the Word from Ezekiel 34:2-8
“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flocks. The weak you have not strengthen, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them…Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand”.
Therefore, every person that we choose as a mentor should at the very least exhibit the fundamental qualities of godliness such as the fear of God in their lives, integrity, and love. Also, make sure we are satisfied with the sincerity of their motives and a growing faith and maturity in the Lord. Do not be quick to excuse or minimize any doubts as to a person’s motives in wanting to disciple us. Godly wisdom and sensitivity to the direction of the Holy Spirit are indispensable when it comes to choosing mentors for our lives. Not anyone who is godly will make a good spiritual mentor. A toxic mentor cause more hindrances rather than a stepping stone in our spiritual destiny.
Shortsightedness
Another hindrance to the success of our journey in our calling is none other than shortsightedness and a desire for immediate gratification. While our sowing may sometimes result in an immediate harvest, the full reward of our efforts will only come when we meet the Lord in heaven. Similarly, there would be times when what we sow will only be ready for reaping in the eternity to come. In such situations, remind yourself to be neither disappointed nor discouraged from continuing in your good works, for you know that God will not withhold reward from you, but will give it to you when the time appointed arrives. Usually, the glory that accompanies the reward will be more than what we can ever imagine.
We are not going to stay on earth forever—neither you nor me. Our time and our labour here are not permanent but are only a part of the journey towards our final destination. With this thought constantly in mind, you will be able to live out your days in greater contentment, assured of the reward at the end of the race. With the mindset of a pilgrim who sees this world as simply a necessary stop before final arrival in heaven, we will certainly live our lives with much less concern for the things which will one day perish, and with far greater purpose for that which is eternal. “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:5).
When the world and what it contains mean so much more to you than the Lord’s will, then it is time to check if you had inadvertently created idols in your heart. It’ll be a big cause for lamentation when God finally has to give us up to the very things we thirst for, simply because He sees that our hearts hold no room for anything else.
We read in Ezekiel 14:3-4 how the Lord `answered King Ahab according to the multitude of idols in his heart’ (1 Kings 22:19) by sending a lying spirit to provide him with the answer he wanted to hear. We pray that the Spirit of God will convict some hearts now. Among the several or even countless occasions that you outwardly sought spiritual counsel, how many were the times when you find yourself looking for an affirmation of the desires of your heart? And how few were the instances where you actually sought after counsel with an open heart and with a spirit ready to yield to divine charge?
This reminds us of the time when God led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness before they entered the Promised Land. He had already forewarned that the wilderness would be a time of testing of their tenacity of faith and patience. Still the people got dissatisfied with their physical conditions and even began to demand for meat when they got tired of the manna from heaven God provided them. Did God answer their desire? Yes He did, and though it was not in His original plan for their wilderness testing, He gave them the meat they demanded. But He also released along with the meat a terrible plague to inflict suffering on His people. It was the judgment on the Israelites’ sin of contempt and impatience. “They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” (Ps.106:13-15). When we give in to the carnal wants of our flesh or heart, we often go into God’s permissive will and find ourselves getting what we want. But we still pay for it at the end of the day, though not always through some illness or plague, but usually through loss or suffering of one kind or another. This is because there would be times when we can only have one or the other and not both. In such cases, when we get what we want, we forfeit the chance of getting what God wants to give to us. And that could well be the loss that will be felt for the rest of your life. It is thus important to check the motives of our heart in prayer. Does the outcome of our prayer glorified God ultimately, or does it just feed out carnal desire and selfish ambition. The fleshly condition of our heart can be a great hindrances to our spiritual progress.
The Fear Of Man
One of the prerequisites of an unencumbered soaring flight with the Lord is freedom from the fear of man. One will not find himself any where far from where he starts off if the fear of man continues to be a factor in his life.
There are two likely reasons why people continue to allow themselves to be taken captive by the fear of man despite knowing God’s word concerning this.
The first is that they have not bothered enough or made enough effort to arrive at a place where they are secure in the Lord. And if the Lord is not sufficient for them, definitely His approval is insufficient for them as well. This is why they need to gain the nod from other people, and also why they value the appraisal of men and live in trepidation when such approval does not seem to be forthcoming. You can imagine them as the compliant and very agreeable folk whom almost everyone likes to have around, as they would probably never raise a contention and would never risk being controversial or unpopular even when it concerns the matter of serving God.
Human acceptance may become stronger than divine order to those who fear man more than they fear God. God’s plans may be hindered as a result, for such people fail to preach or do what they know the Lord wants them to because they are afraid to offend. And this will remain for as long as man’s opinions are more significant to them than God’s.
Case studies show that most teenagers who succumb to peer pressure come from where the expression of parental love is not readily there. The teens are usually those who lack security in this area of love and, as a consequence, look for such love and acceptance from their peers. They are naturally prepared to pay whatever it takes to secure their need for love and acceptance. This gradually becomes a psychological problem in them and may in the future result in spiritual difficulties as well.
If you think you know of anyone, or indeed you yourself, who has come from the background described above, do not despair. God has not left us as orphans, but His fatherhood of love is more than what any parent can give to a child. Only walk with Him so that His love becomes a reality in your life and you will find yourself gradually being released from the fear of man.
The other reason why people fear is because there is the general fear of lack of financial security. Many still trust in men and men’s creation (e.g. economy) to provide for them. In Matt 6:24, we are warned that we can never serve two masters. We must make a choice between God and mammon. Then, in the next verse it says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.” Do you catch the connection between the two verses there? In another words, God is telling us that if we were to worry and be anxious about our material needs we will fall into the danger of serving riches in our hearts rather than serving God, who is more than able to provide us with all that we need for life. And in serving our wealth, we inadvertently end up having to please men.
The fear of the Lord is what is required of us, and it is the beginning of wisdom, says God in His word. But many remain as fools who do not fear God simply because they have never ridden themselves of the fear of man. Unless we are free from such crippling fears, we will not be free to fear God. It is certainly not an easy thing to live without regard of the feelings and impressions that others, and particularly our loved ones, may have of us. It takes great spiritual strength and resolve to embrace God’s way and His will. Just as salmon fish swim upstream in a long and extremely tiring journey for the purpose of spawning, we too need to swim against the tides of human approval in order to bear fruit. While the Bible tells us to live at peace with our brethren as far as possible, there are certainly times when we ought to summon righteousness and faith to resist what others try to impose on us that are not right. Had Joshua and Caleb not been courageous in proclaiming the Lord’s ability to deliver the Promised Land to the Israelites, they too would have perished in the wilderness and not lived to enter the Promised Land. Noah and his family were similarly saved in the flood because he persisted in the face of mockery by building an ark in the days when not a single drop of rain ever fell onto earth.
Lack of discernment
There are two areas of discernment required of us as believers. One of these is the awareness of God’s timing and appointed seasons for His people and nations and the other is in His leading in our personal lives.
David, who enjoyed close fellowship with the Lord, might have discerned God’s desire for a permanent dwelling place to be set up among the Israelites for His glory. However, the Bible recorded that David was instructed by the Spirit of the Lord to refrain from personally building the temple as He had chosen his son Solomon for the task instead. That David perceived God’s intention to dwell in Israel was a general discernment. That he also perceived that God did not want him but his son to build the dwelling place was a discernment made in a specific context. In the same way, when we discern a general move of God, we need to seek Him further as to whether we have been commissioned with a corresponding role in this move and, if so, the nature and extent of our involvement.
In the account of Elijah, who ran away in the face of threats from Jezebel after he killed the prophets of Baal, God responded to his surrender to death by telling him that he was not alone, but there were seven thousands individuals whom he had hidden(1Kgs 19:18). Perhaps we may be wondering why these seven thousands had not gone out to support Elijah while he was in battle or when he was feeling discouraged. Why, we believe if anyone happens to know one of those individuals, we might consider that person as a cowardly man who is neither fruitful nor faithful in the Lord! But interestingly, the Bible says that God was the one who hid them! He was the one who kept them from going to Elijah’s help. While we may not fully understand the reason for the Lord’s actions, one thing we can conclude is that what sometimes seems the most logical and best way to us may not necessarily be the way that God intends for us to take.
Many a times when we are called to do a certain task in the Lord’s work, we mistakenly judge it as “The Move of God” for that season. Thus, we begin to judge others who are not moving with us as undiscerning and unfruitful in the Lord. But we know now that it might not necessarily always be the case. While God put Elijah through a trial, He kept seventy others safe and undisturbed. We have to be conscious that the “in thing of God” does not mean “the thing”. Even when God appears to be moving powerfully in one area, He could at the same time be using others or preparing others for some other areas of ministry in accordance to His divine wisdom, whose bigger picture we might not yet be familiar with.
Most would know Watchman Nee and his work as a great teacher and preacher of the gospel in China. But few would have known the woman who mentored him as a young Christian and raised him up to perform this great work: Margaret Barber. In Watchman Nee’s biography, he mentioned how Margaret Barber withdrew from the scene when a great evangelism was taking place. He had often been troubled by her isolation, concerned that her living knowledge of the Bible and God had not been as widely used as he thought it should. With time, he soon found out that she had discerned and submitted herself to God’s call upon her life, which was to the few rather than to the masses. As a result, she was able to fulfill her call as a spiritual mother to many strong men of God in her time.
One of those people included Wang Tsai (Leland Wang), who travelled widely as an evangelist among mission churches in Hong Kong and who later founded in Indonesia the China Overseas Missionary Union. There were also many young men and women of great promise in evangelical work who attributed their spiritual wealth to instruction received under Margaret Barber’s mentoring.
Where the harvest is plentiful, we automatically assume that all Christians should be roped in to help with the tasks of discipleship and so forth. But the above account has just shown otherwise. A lack of discernment and understanding in God’s subjective guidance in an individual will render many of us ineffective in moving ahead and cause us to put judgment on others wrongly, thus offending God.
Another area of discernment we cannot neglect to cultivate is in discerning the spiritual atmosphere we live in. Spiritual atmospheres enshroud the world and they vary from nation to nation. If unaware of the spiritual atmosphere of our surroundings, we are more likely to come under their influence. The reason why many Christians are caught in the jaws of sin today is because they failed to take spiritual warfare seriously.
Patience
Patience can be thought of as faith in action. It is one area in which many fall. Many Christians cannot handle the times when God chooses to keep silent. Though we cringe in disgust when we read of the account today, many, like the Israelites, would end up building a golden calf when left on their own without Moses. In today’s culture where speed and instantaneous responses are so highly valued, much emotional diligence is required to wait in faith. Nevertheless, silence is very much part and parcel of our call as it is often God’s way of preparing his servants, and it is for us to respond respectfully to that so as to hear God in the situation.
Often, we fail also to accept circumstances when they are the exact opposite of what have been promised us. Though the Israelites were told that the Promised Land the Lord was bringing them into was flowing with milk and honey, they were not prepared to accept the conditions of the wilderness and endure the occasional lack of water and food along the way to the place the Lord promised. Those were the ones who never tasted the milk or the honey, but who died because they never stopped complaining. When we begin to complain for lack of an instant realisation of God’s promises to us, we could very well end up like those who perished in the wilderness. It is extremely foolish, of course we feel, to die on your way to claiming a good thing just because you can’t wait.
We should be people who learn how to discern the spiritual environmental forecast. Learn to wait and watch for the optimum time to mount up and ride with the wind. We should be soaring and not just flying. Busy flapping the wings only exhausts your energy. There are passages all over Scriptures that exhort us to wait upon the Lord and that warn us against haste. You can hardly find any thing that tells you to hurry and do something for God. If anything, it is to repent quickly!
Unbelief
There are basically two levels of belief: the first level holds the kind of belief that all Christians who go to church have a share in God and His existence. This is insufficient, for such faith is found even in many non-Christians who also believe in God. As a matter of fact, even demons believe in God.
So of course there has to be a higher level of belief that goes beyond the first, and that involves a desire and an expression of that desire by conduct, to embrace the truth of God found in the Bible and by revelation from His Spirit. This involves a choice—that is, the believer chooses whether to believe God totally and receive His counsel absolutely or to be lukewarm towards them generally.
What is most needful in times when faith is difficult to muster is the confession that the father of the demonised son made, that he wanted the Lord to help his unbelief: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mk.9:24). Many godly decisions are made not out of mere faith but by a stoical belief in God. In fact, we are of the stand that unless the gift of faith is being manifest in our lives to perform a certain task, we choose to define faith in God as making the choice to believe and trust in Him. When we choose to believe, we are telling God we are helpless and that we need Him. Remember, five loaves of bread and two small fish given to us will at the best make a few good fish burgers and feed a handful, but the same amount of food placed in God’s hands could easily be the meal (with leftovers even!) for more than five thousand men. God, being love, will never turn away a call for help, but will always stretch His hand towards us and uphold us in whatever situation we are in. “They trusted in You, and were not ashamed” (Ps.22:5).
Obedience
Many of us are familiar with the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-9. In this parable, we see the different types of ground that the seed fell on: the ground by the wayside, stony ground, ground with thorns and thistles, and good ground.
Most of us would condemn the first three types of ground, concluding with the emphasis that the good ground is the best and therefore the kind of material that our heart should be made up of. Yet, in the same parable, the Lord goes on to state that good ground alone is not enough for bearing abundant fruit! The harvests, though all similarly yielded from good ground, were different in quantity. Some good ground yielded a harvest of thirty-fold, some sixty-fold and others a hundred-fold: “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty”.
Why might that be so? Since the seed came from the same sower and thus must have been sowed the same or if not similar way, and all were good ground, then why the difference in harvest size? The difference lies in the way the different pieces of good ground received and held the seeds. Recall the parable of the foolish man who built his house on sand and the wise one who built his house on the rock. Jesus pointed out that the way the word is obeyed by different people who heard the same word makes a difference to the kinds of houses they build for themselves. They either end up with shaky ones or they dwell safely in solid ones. We can all hear the same message and can all believe every word of it, but how we later live according to that message that we heard will determine the fruit of that word sown into our lives.
In Matt.8:18-22, we have another important lesson: “Then another of His disciples said to Him,” Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” To be present in the burial service of our parents is the basic piety expected of a son. However, Jesus teaches that the demand of the Lord is far greater. Not only do we fulfill the general expectations that are required of us as members of a family or of a society, but we must do them in a way that allows us to fulfill the Lord’s purposes as well. The principle is that the call of God demands absolute and perfect obedience. Obedience is to be an unbroken pattern when we choose to walk in the call of God. We cannot wait till all obstacles are removed and we just glide along blissfully to Promised Land. There is a cost of obedience, inevitably, and only those who have counted the cost and still decide to take on the call can ever follow the call.
Our goal should not be only to prevent our hearts from resembling the conditions of the first three types of ground, but to yield our all to God and to trust Him completely. If we are good ground, we have the potential to yield the hundred-fold harvest. What we need to reflect on is whether we are giving our utmost to God. Let us take heed of the exhortation the apostle Paul gave to Archippus in his epistle to the Colossians, and appropriate it to ourselves that we may all bear fruits a hundredfold for the Lord: “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it” (Col.4:17).
