I believe in planting the seed of the gospel in a place of need, where the Spirit leads. If this gospel grows into 'believers', and those believers begin to gather together to grow, I believe in supporting that new 'local church' - that God has built.
'During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ... We went outside the city gate to the river... We began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was Lydia... The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left. (Acts 16:9-40)
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Go Where You're Not Known - A reflection for spiritual leaders in need of awakening and refreshing.3/2/2022 When Peter found Jesus praying one early morning, he said, 'All the people are looking for you.' Jesus responded, 'Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. This is why I have come.' (Mark 1:35-38) I'm an evangelist. Called and equipped to share Jesus with people. This is what energizes me. However, this is also what tires me. Can you relate? So one thing I do is try to get a team around me, get them working. I supply them, and they witness. This is effective, but it is not the essence of my call. The essence of my call, and that which was bound up in the spirit of my 'first love', was God's call on me to witness. I mentioned that equipping and 'supplying' other people, inspiring the troops, well, that can be restful for me, and even purposeful in God, but it can also become a hiding place. I can easily justify getting behind the troops, when God is in fact calling me to get out in front of the troops. Even to go to new places alone, or to pioneer paths. I see in Jesus a dynamic. A forward motion. Even after 3 days in Samaritan village where there was sweeping revival with one of the most profound, corporate professions of faith, Jesus moved on after three days. Oh, how tempting to build a 'tent' there, equip, celebrate, and send people out. But no. Jesus himself left, moved on. (John 4 - note verse 42) He was often in places, and moving through places, where he was not known. I'm struck by the event where he was on his way back to Jerusalem, the culmination of his ministry, and a village would not even let him pass through. Even his disciples were offended at this lack of honor. Not Jesus. He rebuked his disciples and went through another village. Amazing, powerful lowliness! (Luke 9:51-56; Phil 2:6-7) As a leader now, when was the last time you were at the helm of actually leading - and reaching - the lost? Or are you now only leading a team of the found, the saved? Are you tired? The hard truth is you might also be ineffective. You might have lost your first love, and now be in hiding. (Rev 2:1-5) And to rekindle this first love, to get refreshed, and to get empowered? To not have the light go out in your ministry, or have the 'lampstand removed'? 'Go back and do what you did at first,' Jesus says. (Rev 2:4) Paul didn't want his 'accolades' and accomplishments as a precursor to his guest-speaking. Rather he wanted to be judged in the moment, and for the kingdom of God through him to be one of 'power' this moment, this day. (2 Cor 12:6; 1 Cor 4:20) Go back to a place - a spirit and activities - where your love was fresh, and you did what you did in 'fear and trembling', claiming to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Cor 2:1-4) Get back to that servant state, where yes, you truly knew a call on your soul and an equipping, but you also 'considered others better than yourself.' (Phil 2:3) Like Jesus - in spirit and in deed - go somewhere else now. Get back to the front of the line and face into the wind for the sake of others. Do what you were called to do. |
AuthorPeter Walker. Archives
March 2022
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