Sheep, Wolves & Lions

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your fellow believers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

1 Peter 5:6-9 TNIV

This Scripture was such an encouragement to me last night. There have been some challenges in the church lately, because we are really starting to move forward and people don't like change.
Our enemy, Satan, doesn't like the changes we're making either, because our aim is to reach those who are hurting, lonely, and don't know Jesus.

It is often a confusing time, because sometimes it's hard to pick the sheep from the wolves. They look so much like sheep, but this is merely clothing. Underneath, it has been revealed, there is a ravenous wolf wanting to snap people up with false doctrine and all sorts of destructive ideas. And yet, the disguise is so convincing! It never ceases to amaze me.

But we must stand firm. We must take care to discern good from evil.
We will emerge from this stronger, with a more unified and effective church - I declare it now.
God will build his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Eleazar the Determined

"Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite.
As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle.
Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword.
The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead."

2 Samuel 23:9-10

Eleazar is such a picture of perseverance. When the Israelite army retreated, he remained and struck down the Philistines that day - he kept going until his hand was cramped on to his sword!

We need more leaders like Eleazar, who have such fearless determination to do what God has called them to do that they will not quit, even in their thoughts.

Lord, help me to be a warrior in the Spirit like Eleazar.

David's Secret

"The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock of Israel said to me:
'When one rules over people in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God,

he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth.'"

2 Samuel 23:3-4 TNIV

Here David reveals his 'secret' to leading people in a way that pleases God: Lead in righteousness, and in the fear of God. It's very simple, but these two things should encompass all we do as leaders of God's people.

We should do what is right before God and before people. Not using people or the ministry to meet our own needs; living an upright moral life; being transparent and accountable; obeying God in every respect. And we should fear God - remembering that one day we will give an account to him for how we have acted as leaders, how we have treated those under our care.

What is the opposite of this verse? It would be to lead unrighteously, and to fear man rather than God.

The second one is the one that hit me. I must not live or lead in fear of people. What can man do to me? It is God's opinion of me that matters, not theirs. I am following his lead and his plan for my life, not theirs. People are important, but their opinion of me is not final. God has the final word on my life, and that means that I can take criticism, or even hurt, from others in my stride because above all, God loves me, and so long as I obey him in everything, I have his tick of approval on my leadership.

Pour Me Out

I'm a little tea pot
Short and stout

Here is my handle;
Here is my spout

When I get all steamed up,
Then I shout!

Tip me over,
Pour me out.


Forgetting the part about getting all steamed up (I do not consider unrestrained anger as being compatible with ministry!), I don't think my current situation is dissimilar to that of the humble tea pot.

Here I am, Lord; use all of me. Today you stretched me by placing me in a ministry I didn't think I could do, but you did a bit of a miracle and used me for the benefit of your Church. I'm glad to be used by you, for your glory alone.

In a small church, it tends to be "all hands on deck", and today was no exception. We find ourselves serving in all kinds of ways; some we never thought we would venture into.

But God is good; despite what skills we think we do or don't have, all he wants us to do is trust and surrender to Him.

Any person, if they are willing clay in His hands, can help to build His Church; and that is a precious thing to God.

Sow, and Keep on Sowing

"Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother's womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning,
And at evening let your hands not be idle,
For you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well."

Ecclesiastes 11:4-6

I learned something from this passage today that I really needed to get into my spirit. At the Uni study group we discussed the idea that a farmer who is always concerned about the wind or weather may not plant or harvest at all, but those who diligently sow seed have a much greater chance of harvest. In the end, the outcome of their work is in the hands of God, because though they may plant the seed, He is the one who causes it to grow.

I was thinking that it is the same when we serve God. God has given us gifts, talents and ministries (the seed). We should diligently keep on serving Him as He leads and guides us. It also means that we should take courage and serve, not holding back because of fear of failure (ie. not looking at the clouds or the wind). Sometimes the outcome will be good; other times we may feel as though we have failed, or are still waiting for the results, even though we have tried our best.

But as long as we are diligently serving God, doing what He has asked us to do, listening for His instructions, we can be satisfied, because the outcome rests with Him. Fruit will come; and when it does, all of the honour and glory goes to Him alone, because it is not by our hard work that the fruit comes (although our service is an important ingredient); but He alone brings the harvest.

So keep on sowing!

Silence in the City

During our study of the book of Ecclesiastes, the group I'm part of at the Uni reflected on the idea that many words can end up being just meaningless. I began thinking that I would like to be able to speak less, but in doing so, say a whole lot more. Besides, if my mouth speaks evil, I am better off not speaking at all.

I spent last weekend in Melbourne, and amidst the hustle-and-bustle of city life, I took pictures of things that don't make noise. I also enjoyed a soothing time of silence in a busy shopping center, just watching the people go by.

To me, these pictures are testaments to the fact that even in immense noise, one can find silence if they take the time to seek it... They are also a reminder that you don't have to make a lot of noise to be important in someone else's day.

Contempt for God and His Ministry?

"Eli's sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD... This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD's sight, for they were treating the LORD's offering with contempt."

1 Samuel 2:12, 17 (TNIV)

Here were two young men whose calling was to serve God as priests, and yet they had it all wrong. God ended up finishing them off, because they had taken their eyes off the Lord, and had become corrupt, to the extent of using their ministry to meet their own needs, treading God's people underfoot as they went.

Could it be that if we are not careful, we could also treat our ministry, or our gift from God, with contempt? This happens when our heart's desire is no longer the Lord and his glory, but our own needs and wants begin to take precedence. No longer are we passionate about partnering with God in fulfilling His mission on Earth, but we are focused on ourselves... promoting ourselves, securing our position, gaining the approval of people.

To those who use ministry for their own agenda, instead of God's agenda, learn a lesson from Eli's sons. No one is indispensable; just as God has given you your ministry and your position, he can take it away again. He desires leaders who are people after His own heart.

Never let it happen to me, Lord. If my focus has strayed, I repent and fix my eyes upon you and what you are doing here. Help me to be a leader after your own heart.