What is your
vision? What motivates you to move
FORWARD into the fullness of what God is calling you to?
One of the preachers
I admire a lot is Rev. Leonard Ravenhill.
The first book I read by him was called, “Why Revival Tarries”. One of the Chapter Titles from that book has
been coming to my mind a lot lately, “Unction in the pulpit, action in the pew!” He describes in this chapter how some
ministers have lost their unction; they are unmotivated to preach sermons that
make people squirm. Aaaa Ha! Lest we start placing all the blame on the
ministers Rev. Ravenhill goes on to share how people come faithfully to all
church services, sitting comfortably listening to words from burdened ministers
sharing how to reach the lost. They even
agree with what they hear, but feel inadequate to the task, thinking it is
better left to the ministers, missionaries, and “great men of God”.
Have you ever found
yourself in either of these places? Has
your preaching ministry seemed dry of late?
Have you found yourself sitting in church listening to a missionary
share marvelous testimonies of his or her work in the field while you wished
you could do something for God? How can
a housewife do something great or a teenager who still has a few years of
school to attend?
Did God command just
the “special” people to “go into all the world and preach the gospel”? (Mark
16:15-20) He first said it to the
disciples, but He followed it with verses 17-20 about what signs would follow “them
that believe”. So it started with the
disciples, then it was passed on to all that believed them, and so forth and so
on until today where almost every part of the world has heard of Jesus. So I ask again, did God command just the “special”
people (disciples, preachers, missionaries, and great men of God) to “go into
all the world and preach the gospel”?
No. He calls me. He calls you.
You have heard the phrase, “Bloom where you are planted”? You do not have to go to Africa or South
America to go on the mission field. The
mission field is all around you right now.
Do you have a neighbor who is a grouch?
Every time you see him make a point of smiling and saying, “Good Morning”
or “Good Afternoon” or another simple greeting.
Pray for him, that the Holy Spirit will reach deep in his soul and
convict him of his sin. Keep smiling and
greeting him. Keep praying. If God can move the heart of an unbelieving
king (Daniel 3) he certainly can move this man’s heart. This is just an example of a possible “mission
field” right where you are. If you are
not sure what your “mission field” is, ask the Lord. He will show you AND equip you to do what He
is calling you to do.
Do you want to find
motivation to answer His call? Ask God
to show you His heart. He will fill you
with sorrow and grief over the hundreds that died without salvation in that
plane crash you just heard about on the news.
He will move you to pray for the families of all those who were
lost. He will cause your spirit to soar
as you share with a neighbor how God has done something special in your life
and that neighbor wants to know how God can do it for him too.
The Bible says that
King David was a “man after God’s own heart.”
Read Psalms. Can you imagine this
man sitting on a hillside watching his sheep?
Can you see his en rapt attention to the frequent conversations he shared
with his Heavenly Father? I think that
King David was a man after God’s own heart because he asked God just what was
on His heart!
If nothing else, God
calls each of us to an ever-growing fullness in Him. As we grow closer to Him, He reveals His
plan, desire, and calling for our lives.
This is not just for the “special” people. It is for me.
It is for you!
Let me ask you
again, “What is YOUR vision?” Ask Him to
motivate you forward into His fullness!
He is waiting to hear from you today.
