PURGING AND GROWTH
Our life seems to be more of a perpetual series of lessons taught and hopefully learned from God than it does either a listing of right or wrong done. In many cases what we have called sin in our life becomes tools to use in learning how to grow and mature. It is strange how God uses the good and the evil in our lives to shape us into a new or a different person.
For some of us the idea that we have probably done more wrong in our lives than we have done that is right could be an indication that has a perfect plan for us somewhere down the road. What I have found out is that no one can really have wisdom without experience in failure. I believe as time has gone on it has taken people who have had to become broken themselves to reach anyone today who is seeking after God. I believe that is the reason we are seeing so many who have a past of sin being successful in ministry. Unless someone can relate to the deceit and sin and its crushing effect on a heart they will not be able to reach someone who has been totally destroyed by it.
There is a point where the things that we have done in life can be used for the Glory of God even when they are considered sinful...but they only are used effectively when we reach out to someone else who is in that same place as we were, and we show them there is hope for them still. When we come to Christ finally and completely we also are purged from that life and that sin, but the experience still remains. I like to call that our scars; and they never really go away, but they can be used effectively if we allow them to be used. In many ways we all can take a great big sigh when we think of all that we have failed to do; and yet many times we try to avoid using that information and ability to relate with situations and people that we could be helping. A part of the success of the first church was that they went out during the week and as they went to people and places they had gone to all their lives they used the change that could be seen within them to witness to what God had done to change their lives. Most of the real ministry was done in those time when they saw others who were where they once were in life, and as the Holy Spirit helped these people to continue to live out their relationship with Christ in the everyday world the people would be drawn by the power of that witness and testimony. Most of the real preaching was never done in the services, but during the week from folk who simply lived for Christ. It does not take a great speaker, or someone who has great knowledge of scripture to be used...just ordinary people like you and me. Let's begin to pray for those Divine appointments to come our way where we can share the real person that God is creating within our lives with someone who is in need. We can share failures we have had very easily with those who are not trying to judge us for them. Don't be afraid to share your life and the truth that you have found in Christ... May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
For some of us the idea that we have probably done more wrong in our lives than we have done that is right could be an indication that has a perfect plan for us somewhere down the road. What I have found out is that no one can really have wisdom without experience in failure. I believe as time has gone on it has taken people who have had to become broken themselves to reach anyone today who is seeking after God. I believe that is the reason we are seeing so many who have a past of sin being successful in ministry. Unless someone can relate to the deceit and sin and its crushing effect on a heart they will not be able to reach someone who has been totally destroyed by it.
There is a point where the things that we have done in life can be used for the Glory of God even when they are considered sinful...but they only are used effectively when we reach out to someone else who is in that same place as we were, and we show them there is hope for them still. When we come to Christ finally and completely we also are purged from that life and that sin, but the experience still remains. I like to call that our scars; and they never really go away, but they can be used effectively if we allow them to be used. In many ways we all can take a great big sigh when we think of all that we have failed to do; and yet many times we try to avoid using that information and ability to relate with situations and people that we could be helping. A part of the success of the first church was that they went out during the week and as they went to people and places they had gone to all their lives they used the change that could be seen within them to witness to what God had done to change their lives. Most of the real ministry was done in those time when they saw others who were where they once were in life, and as the Holy Spirit helped these people to continue to live out their relationship with Christ in the everyday world the people would be drawn by the power of that witness and testimony. Most of the real preaching was never done in the services, but during the week from folk who simply lived for Christ. It does not take a great speaker, or someone who has great knowledge of scripture to be used...just ordinary people like you and me. Let's begin to pray for those Divine appointments to come our way where we can share the real person that God is creating within our lives with someone who is in need. We can share failures we have had very easily with those who are not trying to judge us for them. Don't be afraid to share your life and the truth that you have found in Christ... May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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