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As a follow-up to What I Believe – The Storm is Coming, I would like to get your input on a couple of other things I have come to believe. First, I believe that my title for that first article is a bit misleading. I don’t believe the storm that is coming is “The Storm”, meaning the Great Tribulation. As we see in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, Jesus taught that there would be small “t” tribulations before the big “T” one occurred. This should be sobering news, particularly for those that think they are going to avoid suffering via a pre-Tribulation escape plan.
Secondly, I want to encourage you that spiritual preparation is paramount for everyone that believes a storm is coming. This is contrary to our protective nature; and contrary to what most of the world is promoting. Even in the church, many are encouraging – and selling – physical preparation (e.g., freeze dried food, hedge funds, guns and ammo, leaving the country). When you look at it from their perspective, you quickly learn that there are hundreds of things each of us could do to protect ourselves from the storm.
And that is the problem!!
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Every Christian should be grateful for, and be willing to share, their testimony of God’s mercy, grace and faithfulness. I like the idea of developing our testimony in a form that can be shared in the workplace (e.g., brochure, post card, and video). I believe God will multiply our investment in such a kingdom offering.
As you are developing your testimony, I want to encourage you to consider something more than the testimony of your past. Consider that the promises of God for your future are as real and true as anything He has done in your past. Much of what God has done for you is still being worked out in your life. You are a work in progress.
This may sound strange to you. It may be different to the point of uncomfortable. I encourage you; allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you in this. I believe you will find that the promises of your “future testimony” will be even greater than the ones of your past – as powerful as that testimony has been. Here are a few verses for your consideration and meditation:
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10
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. 2Corinthians 3:18
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:5-6
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1Corinthians 2:9
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
The promises of God are the destiny of those that believe; and that is the first key. Faith (believing) comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. God has many words for you; words of destiny and promise. Are you hearing? Are you investing the time necessary to know His voice?
Once the promise of God is heard, faith will rise up in your heart. At that point, the faith must be worked out; because faith without works is dead. This is the second key. This means living in the truth of the word you have heard. It means doing what the Master has said. Are you a bondservant of Jesus Christ? Are you willing to do whatever He would say to you? Have you committed your time to His will for His kingdom?
God bless you with the grace to invest your time wisely; that you would hear and do the sayings of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Rob Streetman – President, inLight Consulting, Inc.
A search for “disciple-making” on ChristianBook.com returns 311 resources. Just imagine, if you read one “disciple-making” book a week, it would take you six years to complete your research. At the end of those six years, you would likely discover that ten or twelve more had been written… and you might decide to write one yourself.
We do not lack for resources when it comes to the Great Commission. So what’s gone wrong? Why is it taking so long for us to complete the primary task that Jesus Christ gave to us – over 2000 years ago?
We are failing in Jesus Christ’s Commission because we are going about our assignment in a most unproductive way. It is by grace that we are given a part in God’s story. To play a part, we must see His plan from His perspective; and realize that He has His own way for getting things done. His ways, though sometimes uncomfortable, are the best ways. His ways produce supernatural results.
Similarly, discipleship without Christ will not produce a Christian. Jesus will only involve Himself in the ways of His Father. He called twelve men to follow – that He might make them into disciple makers. During the three and a half years He spent with them, He was used of His Father to do the very thing that He would commission them to go and do.
Some call it mentoring; others, coaching. The Bible calls it “making disciples”. It is the process God has prescribed for our participation in the work He is doing.
This lesson prepares the disciples of Jesus Christ to make disciples in the most impactful way – the way Jesus did it. In this lesson, we will discover just how involved Christ is when we surrender and sacrifice ourselves to disciple making God’s way. Read the rest of this entry »
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. 2Corinthians 3:18
God is the Great Orchestrator of our lives. If He has placed you in a position of leadership, it is highly likely that you have been through at least one season of transformation; where He used the trial, affliction and/or tribulation in your life to transform you more into the image of the glory of Jesus Christ.
Most of us look back on these seasons with mixed emotions. We would rather not go through it again, but we are grateful for the work the Holy Spirit accomplished though the tough season. He did not waste our pain.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
It encourages us to know that God works all things to the good of those that love Him. He uses our seasons of transformation to make us more like His Son. Incredibly, it doesn’t stop there.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2Corinthians 1:3-7
God uses our seasons of transformation to equip us as disciple makers, to help others prosper through the trials in their life. As we disciple others, they in turn are prepared to do the same.
Beware: The world will say, “Don’t get involved in your employees’ lives.” This is the way of man, not God. There are no coincidences with His children. We must trust Him if we are to become transformational leaders.
Workplace Ministry Tip: It is an honor to suffer for the kingdom of God. God trusts us to use that season as preparation for helping others. This is true disciple making. To maximize our pain, in our positions of leadership, we much help others become more of the image of the glory of our Lord. It is the gift that keeps on giving.
Let me know how I can help you in this regard; and let me know what you are hearing from the LORD. You can reach me at rob@inlightconsulting.com.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Every time a large following would gather around Jesus, He would share something that would drive most of them away (e.g., eat my flesh, drink my blood). Did He do this because He hated large crowds? Did He desire that only a few be saved? Why did He share such difficult things so early in His ministry? Is this a pattern worth imitating?
Based on current church growth programs, the answer is: Apparently not. Not only have we failed to help potential converts count the cost, but we have hidden the cost from them. We will get them in the door, get them committed, and then explain the sacrifice that is required. Sounds like bait-and-switch to me.
Forgive my brutal honesty for a moment: In some streams it has gotten so bad, seeker friendly has become seeker deceptive. The truth of the difficult way is never shared. You know what I mean. You may not believe it happens in your church, but you know it happens somewhere.
Jesus shared the hard truth, because it was the truth. He was not interested in recruiting volunteers that would desert Him when the going got tough. He was – He is – recruiting an army.
He is recruiting you; and those in your spheres of influence. He has not hidden the cost. He has been brutally honest about the way that leads to life. Read the rest of this entry »
If you had your head in the sand, would you know it? We are such busy people these days. We are bombarded with information, whether we want it or not.
I find it way too easy to cruise through my day without really noticing what is important. Am I the only one?
I have a strong suspicion that many of us, and many more in our spheres of influence, are distracted by the world; so much so, that we are missing much that God has given us eyes to see and ears to hear. Most of the time, this is a subconscious action to avoid bad news. Sometimes, it is intentional.
Most don’t want to see the picture or hear the story about the persecuted young girl. Most don’t want to think about the decline of society. Most would say that they have enough to worry about.
Let me share the truth with you – in love. What I have just described to you is a form of deception. The problem with deception: When you are deceived, you don’t know it. That is the nature of deception. Consequently, it is best to assume – or at least be suspicious – that we are being deceived in some way or another. It is one reason why we need to find true Christian community.
On the other hand, the Body of Jesus Christ has the ability to discern the times; and the responsibility to share the truth with others. People in your spheres of influence may not be able to hear, or understand, what you have been given to say; but, they will remember – when the time is right – that you knew something that they did not. They will want to know more.
Sharing the revelation we have been given is our responsibility as ambassadors of Jesus and agents of His reconciliation. It is being salt and light to a needy world. It is being instruments and weapons of righteousness for God’s kingdom. It is loving people with the truth.
Workplace Ministry Tip: So, I encourage you – for God’s sake – to force open your ears and eyes, to bravely search out the signs of the times, and to boldly share what you are hearing and seeing. Do so with everyone in your spheres of influence. I commit to do the same.
Let me know how I can help you be a Watchman for the LORD, and His people.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Finding purpose in life is one of man’s greatest pursuits. It is a part of our DNA. Regrettably, we seek to find purpose in many of the wrong places. Don’t misunderstand; it’s not necessarily because all these places are wrong. Many are quite noble – work, family, church, service to others. God wants to give us purpose in all these areas.
The challenge is discerning from where, or whom, our purposes in life originate; for that thing or person will then govern the motivations and measures for our success. If our purposes center on our work, then we will become performance driven and prideful. If they begin with our relationships, we will become controlling and self-indulgent. Even service toward others – if it is the source of our purpose – will result in people-pleasing codependence.
For our purposes to be right and virtuous, they must originate in the One that has ordained and orchestrated them. This is a worthy saying: Your purpose is not to be found in a place or activity, but in a Person. Only God is the source of the purposes that are good, praiseworthy and worthwhile. Therefore, it is critical that we discover God’s purposes for each season of our lives. In this lesson, we will explore the relationship between God’s eternal purposes and the formation of Workplace Ministry.
This is the second of six lessons designed to encourage, edify and equip a Leadership Team in the formation of a ministry to the Workplace. Please study Lesson One – The Workplace Mission before continuing here. Read the rest of this entry »
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