The Sparrow’s Perch seems like a distant memory to me
now. The winter months, combined with a
hectic work schedule made it difficult to spend time in the Perch. Actually, so much has changed over the
winter, I’m eager to begin spending time up here once again. As the Men’s pastor of our faith fellowship,
I’ve been leading a study into the
Kingdom of God, and our part in it. As we’ve gone through our study, I’ve come to
realize how much I didn’t know about the Kingdom. I’ve always been more concerned with living
in the Presence of God than with the day-to-day exercise of the Kingdom. It didn’t take long in our study for me to
realize I wasn’t the only one.
I don’t want to use this blog to talk about what we’re
learning in our men’s group, because I already have another blog for that
purpose. Actually, I’d like to share how
this study is affecting me personally.
Probably the biggest change is my focus.
I’m not talking about my priorities, but the focus of my attention.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to look forward to the moment
in my life when I can slow down. To wax
biblical, I’d always dreamed of the day when I could sit in the city gate, and bore
younger men with what I’ve learned. This
does not seem to be how it is happening.
I’m actually busier at my ‘secular’ job than I’ve ever been before, while at the
same time, my ministry has moved away from the Church into the daily work-a-day
life. I find myself encouraging,
admonishing, praying, and even teaching in informal settings that challenge me
to be more aware of what others are going through, and to listen to what others
say. This isn’t a natural position for
me. I’ve always been a leader in the
body of Christ first, and a ‘worker’ second.
There was a time when I resented the intrusion of the physical into my
hunger for the spiritual. Serving,
ministering, and giving my time to the ‘body of Christ’ came naturally to me,
until of late. Now, I’m beginning to see
a greater family than our local fellowship.
I’ve discovered how to be a vessel for God’s grace to be shown to those
outside of our fellowship. It’s an unusual position for me to be in. I’m still learning how to move this way. Which brings me back to what we’re learning
in our Men’s group.
As I said earlier, we’ve spent about seven weeks (actually
more,) delving into the deep waters of ‘grace.’ I’ve enjoyed the rapport between our men,
and the discussion of grace being more than just forgiveness. My opinion is, that God would have used the word ‘forgiveness’ if
that was all that grace is. Instead,
we’ve discovered a dynamic, powerful, and thrilling definition of grace that
makes what God is doing in me understandable.
My simple definition for ‘grace’ is: The ability to do God’s
stuff.
Now, don’t go crazy on me and start sending me nasty
comments. I didn’t say ‘do God stuff’, but to do HIS will, you know. . . God’s
stuff. What God created us to do, what
Christ came to earth to show us how we can do it. Through the abiding presence of the Holy
Spirit, men can do what God wants done.
We can do HIS stuff. Maybe I see
it too simplistic, but I do see it. It
isn’t what you, or others can do, it’s what he wants me to do. He’s not only given me the authority, but
also given the power to accomplish those things that God wants done on this
earth. 2nd Peter, chapter 1
and John chapter 17 are the two most clear cut scriptures that support this
idea. Through the power of the Holy
Spirit, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. The power He has given us, is for more than
sitting in the city gate and arguing the details of the Christian life, it is
for the advancement of the Kingdom.
First, and foremost, he wants to redeem all mankind, so he
gives me the words, knowledge, and ability to share the gospel of Jesus
Christ. I CAN DO THAT. We’ve learned that salvation is more than
just the redemption of our soul, it is for us to do the kind of God stuff that
blesses people in THIS life. He wants to
bless all mankind physically through healing, deliverance, and blessing. Through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling
in me, I CAN DO THAT.
“WHAT?” You ask.
Like the parable in Luke 19: 11-27, Christ has gone away to
receive His Kingdom, leaving us gifts to witness of Him. Those gifts are His grace (favor). He’s left us with the means to accomplish His
will. He left us with the order to do ‘His stuff.’ Our rebirth into His Kingdom has empowered us,
and authorized us to share the benefits of His Kingdom with all men. Therefore, when I go out into the ‘world’
every day, I’m going out as an ambassador of His Kingdom, empowered and
authorized to do anything that will advance His Kingdom. Maybe it’s too simplistic to say He’s left us
the ability to do HIS stuff, but what else can we say? Why are we left here on
this earth after giving ourselves over to the Lord? Wouldn’t it be wiser to simply take us home
the minute we profess our faith in Him?
The answer has to be that there is stuff we have to do. We have to follow his example, yield ourselves
to the power of the Holy Spirit, and become children of God. As His dear
children, we are given the same Holy Spirit which raised Christ from the
dead. He has empowered, and authorized
us to act as sons of God. We can even
forgive sins, (ooooohhhhh that one got Christ in trouble with the religious
leaders of the day,) and it is what he wants us to do today. Yet it goes farther than that. God’s grace gives us the authority, and power
to do the miraculous through the name of Jesus.
The other morning I texted the men in our group and
encouraged them to find an opportunity to show God’s grace. It wasn’t long before one of the men asked me
to define Grace again. I guess I should’ve
just said: Look for an opportunity to do
God’s stuff today. What is God’s stuff.
Simple; LOVE.
His love makes the suffering of others insufferable. His love makes the afflictions of others intolerable. His love makes oppression, and injustice,
distasteful. His love demands action,
and we, His children are the ones He has entrusted with his grace to do it. It is
in this alone that the presence of God is manifest.
Man, this Kingdom stuff is so difficult.
