Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience….
— 2 Corinthians 12:12

Here is an important fact to know about the apostolic ministry: God didn’t leave it to us to guess who is a true apostle and who is not! I’m thankful for that! In Second Corinthians 12:12 the apostle Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit about the signs that will help us discern correctly whether an apostle is in our midst. He said, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”

The word “signs” is the Greek word semeion. It was used in the vernacular of secular business to describe the official written notice that announced a court’s final verdict. This word also described the signature or seal applied to a document to guarantee its authenticity and a sign that marked key locations in a city. This secular word was carried over into New Testament language — as Paul used it, for instance, in Second Corinthians 12:12.

By using the word semeion, Paul declared that certain signs exist as the final verdict to prove a person’s apostleship. These accompanying proofs are like a signature or seal authenticating and guaranteeing that a person is an apostle. They provide authentication — verifiable proof — and should accompany every person claiming to carry the apostolic mantle.

Thus, Paul was telling us that if the “signs” he listed are evident in a person’s ministry, those signs may be the announcement, guarantee, or proof that this particular person is an apostle.

The marks of an apostle that Paul listed in this verse are not all-inclusive. However, they serve as a good starting place in describing the signs that point to an apostolic call. Just as a highway sign lets you know you are coming closer to a particular city or destination, these particular signs in a person’s ministry may be evidence that you’re looking at a person who has a genuine apostolic call on his or her life.

In Second Corinthians 12:12, Paul wrote, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” The word “truly” comes from the Greek phrase ta men, a phrase that means emphatically or indeed and could be translated, Of a certainty! By using this phrase, Paul’s message was loud and clear: If a person is apostolic, it is certain that he will have these particular signs in his ministry.

Let’s focus today on the first sign Paul listed as a sign of true apostleship, “patience,” and tomorrow we’ll look at the rest of the signs listed. Patience is an attribute that most people overlook, yet it is just as supernatural as healings and miracles. It comes from the Greek word hupomeno, which we’ve seen depicts a person’s supernatural ability to hang in there and to stay put no matter what forces try to stop him.

People with an apostolic call on their lives must often do frontline work in environments that are difficult and even hostile to the Gospel. An example would be the city of Corinth — one of the world’s most wicked cities in the First Century — where God called Paul to establish a church. In order to fulfill this divine call, Paul had to resist the demonic powers of that city and all the other forces arrayed against him. This assignment therefore required a special God-given endowment of patience — the supernatural ability to stay put regardless of the pressure or opposition one encounters.

Paul knew that God had given him the supernatural ability to remain steadfast in the midst of the intense resistance that came against him in Corinth. In fact, Paul was so impacted by the divine grace that enabled him to stay put in such a hostile environment that he was inspired to include it as one of the marks, or signs, of an apostolic ministry.

Such patience is also evidenced in the fact that an apostle is uniquely graced to encompass all five ministerial offices, as needed, in order to establish a church and develop the ministry gifts within believers. Therefore, for a time, the apostle will operate prophetically, as an evangelist, in a pastoral capacity, and as a teacher. He may minister consistently as a pastor or teacher, but it will be with a higher level of authority than the pastoral or teaching ministries.

Only a divine endowment of patience and endurance can give a person a sufficient measure of strength and courage to keep him pressing forward when it seems as if all of hell is raging against him. Paul testified that the hupomeno ability to stay put while laying a foundation and then building upon it — which includes establishing divine order and strengthening the saints, often in the face of potential discouragement or intense opposition — is both remarkable and supernatural. Thus, he listed this attribute as the first sign that always accompanies true apostolic ministry.

In the July 6 Gem, I related our own experience with “staying put” despite all odds in an account of our earliest days in the former Soviet Union in Latvia. We were some of God’s “sent ones,” commissioned to help reestablish the Church in that part of the world.

From the outset, we faced stubborn opposition from the government in that nation. While we were busy producing Christian TV programs, starting a new church, building leaders in the ministry, and answering mountains of mail from TV viewers and those we were ministering to, we found ourselves having to renew our visas multiple times in a week — and sometimes every day of the week!

Because the person in charge of visas didn’t like us and refused to renew our visas for longer periods time, life became very difficult for Denise and me and our ministry. At times, our new visas would be valid for only 24 hours! That meant we had only one legal day to “rest” and breathe a sigh of relief before we had to initiate the process all over again. It was undoubtedly one of the biggest fights we have ever faced — and this fight continued unabated for years! The pressure this ordeal put on us was enormous. It was constantly in the background hassling us and affecting every area of our lives while we worked diligently to fulfill our assignment.

The enemy was using that man in the government to try to weary us and run us out of that nation. But we knew that we had been “sent” there by God. And by the grace of God, we remained among those precious Latvian people “in all patience” (hupomeno). We were determined not to be moved out of that nation. And as I wrote in the July 6 Gem, after years of being hassled, vexed, and beleaguered by that man in the visa department, an abrupt change finally came! By God’s grace, we had endured with patience and outlasted the attack of the enemy. I can therefore say emphatically both from the Word and from personal experience: Patience and endurance are supernatural signs that accompany the apostolic office.

Paul said, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience….” In Greek, this word “truly” is ta men, meaning emphatically, indeed, or of a certainty. It is as if Paul was putting an exclamation mark on the indicators that immediately followed. In other words, a person’s supernatural ability to stand strong and steadfast as he fulfills his divine call to establish the Church, regardless of the opposition that comes against him, is truly — emphatically — one of the evident, undeniable signs in the life of someone with an apostolic call.

Although you may not have an apostolic calling, this same divine impartation of hupomeno is a part of your inheritance as a child of God! You have on the inside of you the ability to endure through difficulties while holding fast to your faith, no matter what obstacles you encounter along the way! Hupomeno is yours to lay hold of because you belong to the Kingdom of God. So why not make the decision to become an expert at hanging in there by faith to do God’s will, no matter what from this day forward!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Lord Jesus, thank You for giving the gift of the apostle to Your Church to establish and strengthen us in doctrine and in the personal and practical knowledge of Your wisdom and ways. I thank You, Lord, for the divine endowment of patient endurance that You impart to the apostle to be able to build and advance the Kingdom of God. Holy Spirit, since this supernatural quality of endurance and staying power is mine also as a child of God, I place my trust in You and fully expect You to lead me in triumph through every obstacle and challenge. By the power of Your anointing within and upon me, I ask You to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of God through my life everywhere I go, to the praise and honor of my Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I have staying power! This divine impartation is part of my inheritance as a child of God! I have within me the supernatural ability to endure difficulties and to persevere through challenges while holding fast to my faith. When I encounter hostility or obstacles, the Lord Himself is my strength and personal bravery. The Lord steadies and directs my steps, enabling me to make progress in times of trouble, testing, suffering, or great responsibility. Amid all these things, no matter what I may face, I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ, and I always triumph in surpassing victory through Him!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Did you ever think of patience and endurance as supernatural abilities? How do you view these qualities now?
  2. Can you think of a time in your life when you sensed a supernatural impartation of hupomeno strength that enabled you to endure a difficult situation until you could come out on the other side victoriously? What was that experience, and what spiritual lesson did you learn from it?
  3. What situation are you facing now that requires supernatural staying power? You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! Read and think on what Philippians 4:13 means for you personally.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles….
— Ephesians 4:11 NKJV

Today we continue our study of the word “apostle.” By the time of the New Testament, the word apostolos was already an old word with quite a lengthy history. It carried many shades of meaning — all of which overlapped each other and were interrelated, as we have seen. So when people in the Early Church heard or read the word “apostle,” it is likely that they understood an apostle to be a person who was specially selected, commissioned, and sent by the Lord to represent Him for the purposes of the Kingdom: to build up, draw forth, speak out, align, govern, strengthen, and establish His Church as His unique agent on the earth.

Early believers were also probably aware that the apostle was a pioneer and a chief overseer, responsible for opening up new territory, both physically and spiritually, for Kingdom purposes. They would have known him as one who provided passage from one spiritual dimension to another as he took a church to new levels in its spiritual growth that it could never reach apart from the apostolic anointing.

Believers recognized the apostle as one who had the anointing, authority, and spiritual backing to get things accomplished for the furtherance of God’s purposes. He wasn’t just the implementer of pragmatic ideas and strategies. Rather, a true apostle carried within him supernatural insight and revelation that was vital for the growth and the building up of the Church.

Over the centuries, the question “Who is a true apostle?” has been something of a theological conundrum for many scholars. Some insist that only the original 12 were true apostles, whereas others argue that the apostolic ministry has continued since the death of Jesus’ original 12 apostles. But let me give you a concise way of looking at this subject.

In Luke 6:13, Jesus called together His disciples and from among them, He chose 12 men whom He called apostles. They are listed by name in Matthew 10:2-4. In Luke 9:1-6, Jesus sent forth these 12 apostles to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. But in the next chapter, Jesus appointed 70 more people and “…sent them (apostolos) two by two…” (Luke 10:1).

When Judas died, Acts 1:25,26 tells us that Matthias was chosen to take his place among the original apostles. Paul was also an apostle, as he testifies of in multiple places throughout the New Testament.

So the Greek word apostle is used to describe the original 12, another group of 70, plus Matthias and Paul — and then 11 others:

  1. Apollos (see 1 Corinthians 4:6-13)
  2. Epaphroditus (see Philippians 2:25; “messenger” is apostolos in the Greek)
  3. James, the Lord’s brother (see Galatians 1:19)
  4. Barnabas (see Acts 14:4,14; 1 Corinthians 9:5,6)
  5. Andronicus (see Romans 16:7)
  6. Junia (see Romans 16:7)
  7. Titus (see 2 Corinthians 8:23; “messenger” is apostolos in the Greek)
  8. An unnamed brother with Titus (see 2 Corinthians 8:18,23)
  9. Another unnamed brother with Titus (see 2 Corinthians 8:22,23)
  10. Timothy (see 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:6)
  11. Silas (see 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:6)

If you were to take the entire list of those who were sent forth apostolically in the New Testament, there are at least 83 people in the New Testament who are called “apostles.” All of this makes it very clear that apostolic ministry has continued beyond the original 12 apostles. Just as prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers have continued for 2,000 years, the apostolic gift has also continued; it has simply been more or less unrecognized.

You may wonder why this information is relevant to you personally and to the Church at large today. But consider it this way: If the Scriptures reveal that there was a multiplied increase in the apostolic ministry in the Early Church — from 12 to 83 — who were called apostles, how much more will Jesus Christ continue to give this gift to men for the purpose of building His Church?

And this would be especially true in these last days before Jesus returns! Great preparation and equipping is taking place in the Church to prepare all of us as end-time believers to be His bold, sold-out, Holy Spirit-empowered witnesses on this earth before He comes. We as a Body need to receive the powerful benefits given to us by God through the operation of the apostolic anointing!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Lord, I am amazed at this list of people who were sent forth as apostles in the New Testament. I now wonder about and have a new desire to better understand the gifts You have set in Your Body as it pleases You. Help me, Holy Spirit, to understand not only my own spiritual gift but also the authentic gifts in those around me — including the apostolic gift whom You’ve sent to build up, draw forth, speak out, align, govern, strengthen, and establish Your Church as Your unique agent on the earth. I want to humbly and completely cooperate with and draw from the apostolic anointing that rests on those You have genuinely called to this ministry so that I can experience the fullness of Your intent when You gave gifts unto men.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that my appreciation for and knowledge about the valuable apostolic ministry is expanding. My perspective is adjusting concerning the supernatural function of authentic ministry gifts — and of the apostle in particular. I see that it is worthy of my study and consideration. I want everything that God has for me, and if this is part of God’s plan for the Church, my heart is longing for it too.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Were you surprised by the lengthy list of people in the New Testament who were sent out as apostles? What is your initial reaction to this information?
  2. How many people over the centuries who were called missionaries do you think were actually God-called apostles? Have you ever thought about it? Why do you think many apostles were never recognized for being apostolic?
  3. Why do you think it is important to recognize and acknowledge the true ministry gift upon a person’s life? Whom do you know right now to be true apostles? Is their apostolic gift acknowledged, or are they referred to as something else?

And He Himself gave some to be apostles….
— Ephesians 4:11 NKJV

Today I want to cover some of the historical usages of the word “apostle.” You will see that it had many uses in the Greek language of early New Testament times, and you’ll also see how all these uses have application to a New Testament apostle. I believe this discussion will not only enrich your understanding of this ministry gift, but it will also help you more fully receive from this gift that, among other purposes, is given to help establish and strengthen you in the faith. And if you’ve ever sat under a true apostolic ministry, you will probably recognize the operation of that gift by many of the distinct characteristics that are found within the meaning of the word apostolos.

The Admiral of a Fleet of Ships

During the time of the ancient Greek orator Demosthenes (384-322 BC), the word apostolos was a naval term that described an admiral, the fleet of ships that traveled with him, and the specialized crew who accompanied and assisted the admiral.

The fleet would be sent out to sea on a mission to locate territories where civilization was nonexistent. Once an uncivilized region was identified, the admiral (called the apostolos) — along with his specialized crew and all their cargo and belongings — would disembark, settle down, and work as a team to establish a new community. Then they would begin the process of transforming a strange land into a replica of life as they believed it should be. Their purpose was total colonization of the uncivilized territory.

Within this special fleet of ships were both the personnel and the cargo required to establish a new culture, a new life, and a new community. When that fleet pulled up to shore, it contained workers trained to build roads, construct buildings, and teach uncivilized natives how to read, write, and function in a new kind of social order. Thus, the admiral became the team leader for the construction of a new society.

Once the job was completed, a majority of the team members got back on the ships and launched out to sea again to find another uncivilized area and repeat the entire colonization process all over again. Thus, we find that the word apostolos described an admiral or team leader who led a team to establish new communities in uncivilized territories.

10David Francis Bacon, Lives of the Apostles of Jesus Christ (New Haven: L. H. Young, 1836), p. 8.

You can easily see how this definition had application to a New Testament apostle, whose primary task was to travel with an apostolic team to establish the Church in places where the Church was non-existent. This is one historical usage of the word apostolos that has bearing on its meaning in the New Testament.

A Passport or Travel Document

The word apostolos was so closely associated with the idea of traveling that it also eventually became synonymous with a passport or a travel document.

If a person wanted to exit a country, he had to possess a travel document that was essentially an exit visa or a passport. This legal document was called an apostolos — the same word translated “apostle.” The document guaranteed the right of passage and the ability to move freely from one place to another.

When the word apostolos was applied to early New Testament apostles, it implied that an apostle was a spiritual passport that gave believers right of passage into heavenly realms and into deeper spiritual truths. One can certainly see that those who were under the apostleship of Paul were taken into realms of revelation that they could have never attained on their own. His ministry was a spiritual passport that gave them right of passage into spiritual revelation.

It should be noted that any person who operates in a genuine apostolic calling will lead people into new spiritual realities.

An Ambassador or Envoy

The word “apostle” also described a person who had the authority to act much the same way an ambassador represents his government to another government. This classical and secular meaning of the word apostolos meant an envoy sent to do business on behalf of the one who sent him. Thus, a governmental apostle served as a personal representative, emissary, messenger, agent, diplomat, ambassador, or charge d’affaires.

This person officially possessed the clout and influence to speak and act in the place of the one who sent him on his assignment. So when the ambassador — apostolos — spoke, his words were counted as the words of his sender. When the apostolos acted, his actions were interpreted as those of his sender. The connection between the sender and the person who was sent was almost inseparable.

This reveals the New Testament apostle’s position to speak and act on behalf of the Lord. This is a governmental position within the Body of Christ, and as such, an apostolic ministry gift should be received as one with great spiritual clout and the backing of Heaven.

It is very important for you to understand this truth and its powerful implications. You see, when a genuine apostle ministers, he is authorized by Heaven not only to lead you into new spiritual realities, but also to help mobilize you into position to fulfill your unique function in the Body of Christ!

But we are only getting started, as there is so much more to learn about the word “apostle” and how it is applied in the New Testament. In tomorrow’s Sparkling Gem, you’re going to discover a surprising new answer to the question “How many people in the New Testament were called apostles?”

The answer to this question may shock you and open you to the reality that there are still apostles functioning in the Body of Christ today. They may not be called or recognized as apostles; nonetheless, they carry an apostolic calling and anointing. Don’t miss tomorrow — it will be a real eye-opener!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, what I’ve read today describes a whole world of information about the function of the apostolic ministry both in the New Testament and today. I thank You for accurate knowledge that reveals the enormity of Your great plan and the significance of every distinctive part of the Body of Christ. Lord, I ask You to open the eyes of my heart to see and understand more about the role and value of this fivefold ministry gift overall and to me personally, because I want everything You have to offer me and Your Church!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I believe in and honor the ministries of prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers according to Ephesians 4:11, which says that each ministry gift, including the apostolic ministry, is essential for the growth and the building up of the Church. So I will embrace in my life this aspect of Christ’s character and function that He expresses in His Body through each ministry gift to the Body of Christ! As a result, I grow strong in my own identity in the part I am ordained to fill as a member of the Body.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Historical definitions of the word apostolos shed light on the function of the apostle’s ministry. What is the modern application of the three definitions shared in today’s Sparkling Gem?
  2. Have you ever observed the work of an apostolic team that traveled extensively to establish churches in new places? Have you ever been a part of such a team either directly or by supporting it in prayer or with your finances?
  3. As you’ve read these descriptions of how apostles work, do you recognize that certain individuals or ministries whom you’ve known were actually doing an apostolic work that you did not realize at the time?

And He Himself gave some to be apostles….
— Ephesians 4:11 NKJV

When I was growing up, I was told there was no such thing as a living apostle. Our denomination taught that all the apostles died at the end of the “Apostolic Age” — along with miracles, signs and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit! To my young mind, the term “apostle” belonged to a group of 12 legendary men who walked with Jesus 2,000 years ago. Once they died, that was the end of that!

But over the past decades, we have learned that much denominational teaching was wrong. Miracles, signs, wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit are still “alive and well.” Prophets, also previously considered relics of the past, are recognized and honored. No one would argue that the Church is also blessed with fiery evangelists, powerful pastors, and profoundly God-gifted teachers. But now — at the end of the age — it is finally being recognized that the apostolic gift still exists.

The apostolic gift has always been around, but the theology I grew up hearing wouldn’t sanction someone being called an apostle. To call someone an apostle seemed ludicrous and arrogant. Everyone “just knew” there was no such thing as an apostle — and to call a person by this name was almost considered a blasphemous insult to the first 12 apostles.

So thanks to our scholarly ancestors who read and spoke Latin, we reverted to calling apostles by the Latin name missionaries. But “missionary” is not a correct term in this context. The only reason we called apostles missionaries was the fear of retribution for calling them apostles, as they often should have been called.

I am not implying that everyone who is a missionary is an apostle. Some people are called to be missionaries — people who sense a need to go on a mission to help the work of God. This work is very beneficial and needful, but it does not in itself constitute an apostolic call. Often these are truly missionaries and not apostles — people sent by the local church or their denomination to help in some way on the mission field.

An apostolic call originates in a divine revelation and encounter with Jesus Christ. As Paul said, his calling was “…not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ….” (Galatians 1:1). These precious apostolic gifts may not have always been recognized as apostles, but they have always been present in the Church throughout history, and they are present and active in the Church in this hour. Ephesians 4:11-13 says that all the fivefold ministry gifts — including the apostle — will be present and active “till we all come in the unity of the faith….”

The Church of Jesus Christ cannot reach full maturity unless all of these Christ-given gifts are imparting their unique portions to the Church. Like the other fivefold ministry gifts, the gift of apostleship is an essential element to carry the Church upward to her destiny as a “…glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing…” (Ephesians 5:27).

But before we go any further into this teaching about the role of apostles in today’s world, let’s back up and study where this word apostle comes from. Today we’ll look at the Greek meaning of the word, and tomorrow we’ll look at the various historical usages of this word “apostle” in New Testament times. You may be very surprised to see the various ways this word was used and how they all had application to a New Testament apostle.

The Greek word for “apostle” is apostolos, which is a compound of the words apo and stello. The preposition apo means away, and the word stello means to send. When the two words are combined, they form the word apostolos, meaning one who is sent away. This Greek word appears 79 times in the New Testament. The root of apostolos is the word apostello, a word that appears no less than 131 times in the New Testament and more than 700 times in the Old Testament Greek Septuagint.

At first, it may seem that the definition of this word apostolos — one who is sent away — denoted one who had been dismissed, set aside, or rejected. However, this word didn’t refer to a person sent away in dishonor or disgrace. Rather, the word apostolos was a term of great honor that referred to a person who was personally selected, commissioned, and sent on an assignment on behalf of a very powerful government or individual. This person wasn’t merely sent off; he was empowered, invested with authority, and then dispatched to accomplish a special task.

So when we talk about apostles, we are discussing individuals who are appointed, empowered, invested with authority by the Lord, and then dispatched to do a special task. And their task is the establishing of the Christian community in places where it had not existed heretofore.

There is a lot for us to see on this subject, so tomorrow we’ll look more deeply at the historical meaning of the word “apostle.” I pray these Sparkling Gems will open your eyes to a greater understanding of this gift and how desperately we need this gift to be active in the Body of Christ today!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I ask You to help me recognize those who are apostolic gifts — those who have apostolic callings — in the Body of Christ. We need all fivefold ministries — apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers — for the building up of the Church. If one of these is missing, there will be a certain portion of Christ’s impartation missing from the Church. I ask You to help me be open-minded to the reality of the apostolic ministry gifts and to honor them in our midst.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are all present and active in the Body of Christ. I am open to each of these impartations of Christ. Because I am open to them, I will be a recipient of the grace of God that is delivered through each of these. I will receive ministry from apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers — and it will contribute to my edification, growth, and to the building up of the Body of Christ!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you personally know anyone who stands in an apostolic anointing? Who is that person? Why would you say he is apostolic? What is the evidence that makes you believe this person carries an apostolic calling?
  2. How will what you’ve learned in today’s Sparkling Gem influence the way you respond to and receive from the apostle’s ministry in the future?
  3. Are you clear about the distinction between missionary and an apostle or “sent one”? How would you describe that distinction?

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
— 1 Corinthians 4:5

Located in the very heart of Moscow, Russia, just minutes away from the Kremlin, is the world-famous Bolshoi Theater. It hosts some of the finest opera and ballet productions in the entire world, and world-class singers and dancers regularly grace its stage. My wife loves opera, and I occasionally take her to the opera as a gift.

I am always in awe of the wonderful, God-given talents of these performers. However, one aspect about these operas that has always impressed to me is the response of the audience when they hear a singer who gives an outstanding performance. When the performance concludes, the enthusiastic crowd rises to their feet and boisterously thunders, “Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!”

As they shout their approval, they also clap their hands together in unison to give a mighty applause that seems to go on forever!

When the evening’s performance finally draws to a close, the singers return to the stage for one last bow to the audience. As they walk past the curtain, the crowd rises to its feet and begins to riotously cheer and applaud once again, and from all over the front of the auditorium, patrons vigorously fling huge bouquets of flowers at the feet of the artists. Within a few moments, piles of flowers are scattered across the front of the huge stage. As the applause and adulation begin to wind down, beautifully dressed ushers walk onstage to personally deliver magnificent bouquets that were bought for the singers by devoted fans who wanted to show their appreciation through an extravagant gift.

At the end of the night when the curtain falls for the last time, the singers return to their dressing rooms to change out of their costumes and have their cosmetics removed, and the audience files out of the theater to go home.

Ultimately, this experience persists only as a memory in the minds of those in attendance. The rounds of applause, praise, approval, and adulation were wonderful while they lasted, but they never last long and are soon forgotten. However, there is an applause that will last for all of eternity — and that is the applause that comes from God Himself.

A day is coming in your future when you will be called on stage before God to give account for your life. Sitting in the audience, He will watch as the activities of your life are reviewed. In First Corinthians 4:5, the apostle Paul wrote about that moment, saying, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” This verse clearly reveals that the secrets and motivations of your heart will be made known as you stand before God on that day.

Notice the last phrase of First Corinthians 4:5, which says, “…And then shall every man have praise of God.” This word “praise” is translated from the Greek word epainos, which actually means applause. However, it isn’t singers, ballet dancers, or entertainers who are being applauded in this verse — it is believers who have lived holy, consecrated, dedicated, obedient lives.

Paul used the word epainos to evoke a very strong image. By using this word, he let us know that a day is coming when we will give account for our lives. On that day, if we have lived right before God and the motives behind our service were pure, we will receive praise from the Lord Himself. It will be as if He rises to His feet to give a round of applause and a standing ovation! In fact, Paul’s imagery is so strong that the verse could be loosely interpreted, “…And at that time every man will have the applause of God.”

Think of God rising to His feet to give a standing ovation! Can you imagine the thunderous sound of His hands clapping as it reverberates and echoes throughout all of Heaven! That is precisely the picture the apostle Paul paints for that day when faithful believers stand before Him! The magnitude and nature of that divine applause will far surpass anything given by a human audience!

The truth is that much of your hard work and preparation unto the Lord is done in secret behind closed doors. When you accomplish something for Him, people are often unaware of your actions or perhaps simply forget to show their appreciation. However, according to Paul’s teaching in First Corinthian 4:5, a day will come when God Himself will personally rise and thank you for everything you have done in the name of Jesus for the advancement of the Gospel.

There is a massive, silent army of believers today whose work for the Gospel goes unrecognized in the public eye. Yet they are the engines that drive the Church and empower the advancement of the Gospel. Although they remain unseen, unrecognized, and often neglected, the fruit of their work is eternal, and Jesus sees it all. And a day will come when they receive the great applause from the King of kings Himself as He personally thanks them for their service.

The applause of men is a reward that is very short-lived and soon forgotten, but the applause of God lasts for all eternity. If you do what Jesus has called you to do and you do it with a right heart, you, too, will receive His eternal reward. As you stand before Him on that glorious day, any hardships you may have endured will dissipate before your eyes, and you will have the eternal gratification of knowing that you pleased the Lord. And as Jesus gives you His version of a standing ovation, I guarantee you that it will be the ultimate reward!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, You see everything. You are not unjust. You know how I have worked for You and how I have shown my love for You by caring for other believers. When I am tempted to be discouraged and to think that no one appreciates me, remind me that You know exactly what I am doing and why I am doing it. I know that You take note of what I do for Your Kingdom, and Your approval is what I desire. Holy Spirit, You are my Helper. I receive Your wisdom, counsel, and might to do my work for Jesus in the most excellent, professional manner possible. Thank You for Your power that enables me to serve the Lord in such a manner that one day He’ll rise to give a round of applause for what I’ve done and how I’ve done it.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I work as unto the Lord, whether or not men see my labor. Although it is nice to be thanked, I don’t work for the applause of men. Rather, I am laboring to please the Lord, and my priority in life is to serve Him in a manner that is honoring of Him. I devote 100 percent of my energy and efforts to glorify Jesus in all I do. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I purpose to satisfy His heart with my service and my heart motives behind my service. On that day when I am called to give an account for my works, I will stand boldly and unashamedly before Jesus because I will know I’ve given my best here in this life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you have times when you feel that no one acknowledges the hard work you are doing for the Lord? In moments like these, are you tempted to feel unappreciated?
  2. Can you think of other believers who are giving every ounce of their energies to serve the Lord but are rarely thanked for their service? Have you ever gone out of your way to express your gratitude to them for what they do?
  3. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to take a few minutes today to list the people you should thank for their service to the Lord? It would take you only a few minutes to make this list, but if you thank these people, it will mean so much to them. Wouldn’t it mean a lot to you if someone went out of his or her way to say thank you to you today?

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
— Philippians 1:6

After years of searching for a permanent location for the Moscow Good News Church, our ministry finally found a facility that would suit our needs — that is, it would meet our needs after total reconstruction. I put the vision before our church to purchase it, and we started to believe for the funds needed to acquire it and then totally renovate it.

I likened our situation to the Israelites’ divine assignment to possess the Promised Land. Just as Joshua’s spies outlined the obstacles they encountered when they came back from scouting out the land, I didn’t hesitate to outline the challenges that lay before our congregation. I related the facts with clarity, but like Joshua and Caleb, I made it clear that God would give us victory over every obstacle or giant along the way. The issue was not how big the giants were; the matter revolved around God’s faithfulness to perform His promises and our obedience to enter into and receive the promise He had given us.

The fact is, what we were stepping out by faith to do required God’s supernatural blessing because completing this mammoth vision far surpassed our natural abilities. Yet we were certain this was God’s plan. Therefore, we fixed our eyes on Jesus, and we were fully convinced that He would supernaturally enable us to accomplish this mighty deed. Then we jumped in to run that race of faith. With our eyes fixed solely on the prize, we committed to do what God had asked us to do and to not stop until we had reached the finish line.

This grand undertaking required every ounce of our faith, strength, and might. It demanded the highest level of faith for finances that Denise and I had ever released in our lives. It required our concentration and our intercession. However, we knew that God had watched us for years, and that He knew He could count on us or He wouldn’t have entrusted us with such a magnificent assignment.

I also knew that just as God entrusted Denise and me with the task of heading up this project, He had entrusted many faithful partners to contribute financially. God explicitly told me that people would generously help us — and that He would abundantly bless those who participated in the project. We knew the same grace that was on us would also be on our partners, and God would supernaturally grace them to supernaturally give.

The Lord assured me that unusually large gifts would be given to help Denise and me so that this huge assignment was not a burden. Gifts and offerings would be given to help us establish this Gospel center in the heart of Russia, and Heaven would keep records of every gift given. Those gifts would be credited to people’s heavenly accounts that await them there!

I have often reflected on God’s faithfulness to our ministry as we ran that race of faith. He perfectly and completely fulfilled every single one of His promises to us. Although the challenges were terrific, we accomplished the vision! When we are all in Heaven one day, the fabulous building that we now occupy in Moscow will still be filled with people worshiping Jesus. From the grandstands of Heaven, Denise and I — along with all those who financially gave — will rejoice that we didn’t shrink back from His command. With God’s grace, we ran the race and finished it!

What race is God asking you to run in your own life? Does it seem huge, gigantic, massive, and colossal to you? When you ponder what He is asking you to do and the ramifications of your obedience, does it rattle you, shake you, or make you shudder? Does it excite you, stir you up, stimulate you, and thrill you to know that God trusts you to believe Him for the impossible?

Each one of us has come too far to shrink back from God’s command now. It’s too late to turn around and run the other direction. As we near the last of the last days, there’s no place for fear or timidity. The time is short, and God is looking to each of us to fulfill His plan for these last generations. God is depending on you and me, and we must give our lives to do exactly what He is asking. There is nothing more important in life than heeding His voice and doing what He is requiring.

God could choose anyone, but He is choosing you. So whatever your task or assignment is, think about what an honor it is that God would use you to accomplish such a feat! You must push aside fear, reach deep inside to the anointing and power of God that resides within you, stand on His promises of provision and strength, and step forward by faith to see it done. You will never know what God can do unless you do something that gives Him the opportunity to show you!

As the children of Israel prepared to cross the Jordan River into their Promised Land, the river was at flood stage — its highest stage of the year. Yet God commanded Joshua to instruct the priests to step right into the river! God assured him that if he did, the water would supernaturally part so that he and the priests and the rest of the Israelites could pass through on dry ground.

Imagine what Joshua must have felt. People were watching him and the priests, looking to see if the water would part as their leader had promised. Every eye in Israel was peering at Joshua in speculation. But this wasn’t Joshua’s moment to shrink back in fear — it was his moment to obey!

Standing on the brink of the Jordan River with its dangerous waters rising higher and higher, Joshua obeyed God’s command, and the priests lifted their feet to make that first brave step into the raging, overflowing waters. As they obeyed, the waters parted just as God had promised. The Bible tells us, “And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” (Joshua 3:17)

It took one man’s courage and obedience for those waters to part — and because of Joshua’s willingness to obey, all the Israelites passed into their land of promise. That, my friend, shows the power of one person’s obedience. Your own obedience affects many lives! When you obey, it impacts many people and paves the way for others to inherit God’s promises as well.

This is not to say that obedience to God is always easy or without challenges. I’m sure Joshua had to fight his thoughts, battle his emotions, and constantly refuse to give in to the trepidation that tried to flood his mind as he followed those priests into the raging river. Had Joshua listened to those thoughts and emotions that certainly assaulted his mind, he never would have obeyed. Just as you and I must do, he pushed all of it out of the way and boldly stepped out. And in the moment Joshua committed to obey, he experienced the intervening, supernatural, historymaking power of God!

Those who stand on the banks and simply watch will never experience the power of God as Joshua did that day. If they want to see and experience God’s power, they must be willing to get up, get out, and do exactly what God is asking them to do.

Certainly, there will be a season for you to develop a dream or vision so it can take root in your heart. However, eventually a time will come when you must stop thinking about it and start taking action. If you don’t, your dream will remain in the realm of fantasy and imagination. But when you finally act on that dream and step forward to do what God has asked of you, that is the moment you will see God move into action and part the waters before you!

I’m so thankful that Denise and I — along with our staff, our church, and our partners — put our feet into the waters in front of us. We thought, prayed, planned, and talked about it for years. Then God asked us to take action and obey. He had given us assignments in the past that we obeyed, and we had experienced His power as a result. Because of our past obedience, we were equipped and prepared by Him for the greatest step we had ever taken to that point. How could we do anything else but obey Him this time? With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible (see Mark 10:27)!

Today this is true for you too!

Accomplishing what God is asking of you may seem impossible to your natural mind, but it’s not impossible with Him! Whatever God is telling you to do, think it over and pray about it a lot ! Then there will come a moment — maybe that moment is now — when the time of thinking and preparing must stop and action must commence. God will one day speak to your heart and say, It’s time to get off the banks of the river and lift your feet to step into the waters. If you’ll do what I say, I assure you that you will see My power as never before!

If you know it’s time to step out in faith, you must take your eyes off the raging, turbulent waters before you and fix your eyes on Jesus Himself. He is the Author and Finisher of your faith (see Hebrews 12:2). You can be sure that what He starts, He will always finish. That’s why Paul said, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

The word “confident” is from the Greek word peitho, which means to be fully persuaded or fully convinced. Paul is literally saying, “I am fully and completely persuaded and convinced…that he which began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” The word “perform” is the Greek word epiteleoo, which is a compound of the words epi and telos. The word epi gives force to the word. The word telos describes something that is accomplished, culminated, or fulfilled. However, the way it is used in Greek, it emphatically means that God Himself will move you toward the goal, and He will not stop until you have reached the end.

That means God is with you at the beginning of your journey, in the middle of your adventure, and He will empower you to make it all the way to the finish line. You may not always feel like you’re an overcomer, but God’s grace is moving you — one step at a time — toward your land of promise!

Joshua’s obedience resulted in all of Israel passing over into their land of promise. And think how your willingness to obey will make the way clear for others to follow and to see, touch, and taste the power of God in their lives! When you obey God, it brings His power into play on a scale far greater than you could have ever dreamed or imagined. However, such power belongs only to those who obey.

Denise and I know what it means to accept a faith assignment; therefore, we understand what you may be feeling as you step out in faith to obey what God has told you to do. We assure you that God will protect you and supernaturally provide everything you need to accomplish the job He is asking you to do.

As Denise and I lifted our feet and stepped forward by faith to do this seemingly impossible task, we understood that it was our assignment and that God had long been preparing us for this moment. He was depending on us to obey. He is likewise depending on you to hear His voice and to do what He is telling you to do right now.

What race is God calling you to run? What river is He calling you to pass over? I deeply believe that God will empower you to do the most radical, supernatural thing you have ever done in your life. It may seem as impossible as crossing the Jordan at flood stage, but His grace and power will pick you up and carry you toward the goal, and He’ll bring you all the way to completion!

If that describes you, and if you do exactly as God instructs you to do, your obedience will “split open” the Spirit realm and bring the supernatural power of God into your life on many levels. I’m convinced that your obedience will trigger miracles in your own life and in your family, relationships, health, finances, and business — including the fulfillment of things you’ve sought, prayed for, and desired to come to pass for many years.

So I must ask you — what do you hear the Spirit of God asking you to do? Whatever it is, your obedience will result in a manifold blessing of His power to increase you in every area of your life and to make you a blessing to many others for generations to come!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I hear You beckoning me to step forward by faith, and I am inspired to do what You are telling me to do. I’ve been in a preparation season for a long time. I thank You that you are finally telling me its time to step forward, to put my feet into the river’s waters and to see Your supernatural power make a way for me to enter into the land You promised to me and that You’ve been speaking to me about. Thank You for having confidence in me. With the Holy Spirit living inside of me, the two of us together can challenge the impossible and do the unthinkable! By faith, I am stepping forward — and I thank You for carrying me toward the finish line and helping me complete what You have put into my heart!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that the impossible is moving out the way for me. God has been preparing me a long time to do more than I’ve been doing. He has tested me, watched me, prepared me, and now it’s time for me to take the big leap of faith and move forward toward the goal He’s put in my heart. It’s a miracle, but He is carrying me toward the finish line and He will make sure I get all the way to the conclusion. I give God all the praise and glory, for He prepares me, empowers me, and carries me toward that place He has ordained for me to be!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. What impossible goals have you accomplished by the grace of God? As you look back over your life and think of the things you’ve done, what are those things that you never could have done on your own? Why don’t you take time to make a list and then thank God for His fulfilling power working in your life?
  2. What are the goals that are still directly ahead of you? Have you jumped in the race and decided that you’re going to pass over the raging waters that stand before you? Or are you struggling with the desire to shrink back in fear and timidity?
  3. Can you think of a single instance when God has not been faithful to you? Why don’t you take a few minutes to meditate on all the times God has taken you from where you were to where you needed to be?

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings.
— Philippians 2:13,14

Would you like to see some real, deep changes occur in your character and behavior? Maybe you’ve tried to do it on your own, but feel you have failed time after time. Well, today we will look at Philippians 2:13, which emphatically tells us that God is not only interested in helping us change, but it is His express will to take what we are and make us better!

Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Let’s begin by looking at that word “worketh” before we go any further, for it is a Greek word that will make you want to shout with a voice of victory if you really understand and embrace it!

The word “worketh” is the Greek word energeo — the word from which we get our word energy. In Greek, however, it describes much more than that. It means the divine energy put forth to effectually bring forth a tangible, noticeable change. Plus, Paul writes it as a present active participle, which means this word describes the unequivocal will of God to put forth power constantly, in every moment, active at every second that will change our character and behavior permanently.

Of course, God is thrilled when we come to Christ just as we are, but He is not satisfied that we stay the way we are when we first come to Him! Furthermore, God knows that we cannot change ourselves. So the moment we surrender to the Lordship of Christ, it triggers a release of power — a supernatural flow of divine energy to bring forth changes that make us more like Him!

In fact, the verse continues to say that it is His “good pleasure” to do this in us. The words “good pleasure” are translated from the word eudokia, which is a compound of the words eu and dokia. The word eu means depicts a feeling of deep satisfaction — and the word dokia is the word for God’s pleasure.

Compounded into one word, the new word means it gives God the deepest gratification to take us with all our quirks, blemishes, and inconsistencies — the mess we were when we came to Christ — and unleash His divine energeo in order to effectually and productively bring forth a tangible, noticeable change in our lives that is permanent. And as I noted before, Paul writes this as a present active participle, which means God in every moment is releasing this divine power to change us. There’s never a second that God isn’t working deep in our hearts, souls, and character to bring us forth as more mature sons and daughters of God — to be more like Him.

We all have areas in which we need a character adjustment, and about which we often cry out in prayer for God to change us. To this prayer, God gladly complies and expends a flow of supernatural power to change us. But when He begins to work deeply in our character to bring about those much-needed changes, that is often when our flesh begins to murmur and dispute with God. While we cry out for permanent change, our flesh doesn’t enjoy what God has to do to change us!

I could give many examples of how the flesh starts to grumble when God goes to work to change it, but for the sake of space and time, let me give you just three examples that you’ll clearly understand.

Consider the process that people have to go through when they have been a gossip who run their mouths about other people all the time and God’s power inside goes to work to teach and train them to keep their mouths shut. They have been in the habit of gossiping and being busybodies for a long time. Now suddenly God is telling them, “Keep your mouth shut and stay out of other people’s business”!

Obeying that command can be a difficult thing for people like that to do. In fact, it can be so difficult that the flesh may rebel at first — and perhaps even for a long time. The power that is trying to effect a deep and permanent character change is working — but rather than be compliant, those individuals may be tempted to murmur and even dispute with God about how hard it is to keep their mouths shut!

Or how about people who have been in the habit of overeating all their lives? Now God speaks to their hearts and says, “Enough is enough. I am going to effect a change in this area of your life.”

At first, people may be thrilled that God is going to help them. But when the help begins and God says, “Shut the refrigerator, walk away, and don’t take another bite,” their flesh may recoil at what God is asking them to do. Their flesh screams for more and can even be manipulating in its attempts to get and have more — but they can sense that the Holy Spirit is firmly telling them, “NO!”

The fact is, God is releasing the power to effect the change that these individual have long desired. Compliance and obedience would actually make the process of change flow much smoother and be much easier. But the flesh puts up a fight and often even murmurs and disputes with God, making the change take longer and become more difficult.

Let’s also use the example of people who don’t know how to put away the credit cards but continue to spend, spend, spend even when their behavior places their financial life in jeopardy. Then they ask God to help them. Now “help” is there in the form of God’s divine energy working inside them.

But the next time these individuals go shopping and the Spirit of God rises up like a standard against that bad habit, the flesh also tries to rise up. Flesh recoils at any form of newly imposed discipline!

The Holy Spirit gently but firmly tells these believers, “You don’t need this, and you don’t need that — you don’t need any of this. Put your credit cards away and go home.” But they resist what they know the Lord is speaking to their hearts. They may even begin to argue with Him. Once again, compliance and obedience would bring forth a quick transformation, but the flesh doesn’t like to be told what to do.

It’s interesting that the word “murmur” is the Greek word goggusmos, which is the expression of dissatisfaction, grumbling, or muttering negatively in a low tone of voice. In other words, your murmuring may not be an out-loud arguing with God. Rather, you may just harbor a silent resentment and resistance to what He is trying to do inside you.

The word “disputings” is the Greek word dialogismos, and it depicts an inward skepticism or inward criticism — a questioning of what is being demanded. It also depicts rebellion against God’s work inside us. It is the very word that is used in the Old Testament Greek Septuagint to depict the rebellion of God’s people against His commands.

Why am I so confident that all of these issues you might have in your life — and other issues besides — are subject to change? Because it is God who “…worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). The power you need to change is already inside you, just waiting for your compliance and obedience. When you stop moaning and groaning and disputing with God — and you stop muttering in a low-toned voice against what He is asking you to do — you will be on your way to experiencing the energeo of God to assist you in whatever change you need to make. If you will surrender to the power that is at work in you at this very second, instead of putting up a fight, you can conquer any character flaw, and God’s mighty power will change you to become more like Him!

So what are you going to do? If you have been muttering and rebelling at what God’s power is resident in you to do, today is a fine day to surrender to that ever-present power and let the Holy Spirit transform you, set you free, and make you the person you always wanted to be!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, as I surrender to the Lordship of Christ, my act of obedience triggers a release of power and a supernatural flow of divine energy to produce change and transformation until I am shaped into the image of Christ. Lord, I ask You to make my thoughts agreeable to Your will while Your mighty power is trying to effect a deep and permanent character change within me. I make a decision right now to be compliant and to obey You as You work in me by Your Spirit to make me be the person You created me to be!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that God is working in me to will and to do according to His good pleasure. The power I need to change is already inside me, just waiting for my compliance and obedience. When I stop moaning and muttering and disputing with God about what He is asking me to do, I see His hand at work in my life. When I stop putting up a fight and surrender to the power that is at work in me at this very second, I can conquer any character flaw as God’s mighty power changes me to become more like Him.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of areas in your life where the Holy Spirit has been working in you to make some changes, but your flesh has been putting up a fight to resist His work?
  2. Do you see more clearly that even though God has released His divine energeo — divine energy — to effectively and permanently change you, it still requires your compliance and obedience for His power to effectively operate in your life?
  3. Can you name specific areas in your life where you have been murmuring and complaining about the changes God is requiring of you? If the answer is yes, are you able to explain to yourself why have you been making it more difficult for those needed changes to take place in your life?

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
— Matthew 25:29

A business consultant who gave high-dollar lectures to large companies once asked me, “Rick, how are you able to accomplish all that you do in your ministry? It seems like God keeps handing new assignments to you.”

I was blessed by this man’s view of our ministry, as he was a very serious businessman who had seen a lot over the course of his career. As I pondered his compliment, I was reminded of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25:29, which says, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” The word “abundance” in this verse is the Greek word perisseuo, which means to abound or to have something in excess. In some places in the Greek New Testament, it carries the ideas of something that is given generously or something that is overflowing, plentiful, or even superabundant.

As I look back on all our years of ministry, I believe the word “abundance” perfectly describes the many assignments that God has given me. When it seems there is no more in us to take on new assignments, that is often when God opens a marvelous new door and beckons us to walk through it. These past adventures of faith and obedience have built a strong foundation for our ministry, which enables us to do more and more with the help of our well-trained team. Although there is still much room for growth, the strides we’ve made over the years in our personal lives, in our spiritual walks, and in the structure of our organization have put us on solid ground and demonstrated to the Lord that we are capable of doing more. So “more” is exactly what the Lord continues to give us!

In Matthew 25:29, Jesus teaches that how you perform in your current endeavor determines whether or not God gives you greater, more significant responsibilities in the future. God is watching you right now to see if you will prove yourself faithful in your present task because it shows Him whether or not you can be trusted with a big promotion. Your future is contingent on your attitude and job performance in the present!

Therefore, it’s important that you take a thorough look at yourself and honestly evaluate your condition. Ask yourself the following questions:

Your honest answers to these questions should help you determine whether or not you are the kind of person to whom God wants to give additional responsibilities in the future. Don’t despair if your answers are less than satisfactory. Simply determine to make necessary adjustments in your life and become the kind of person God looks for when He needs someone to fulfill an assignment from Heaven!

One thing is certain: God does not choose lazy people who sit around doing nothing. Think about it. Why would He call someone to do His work when that person hasn’t successfully done his or her own work?

There is not a single example in Scripture of God significantly using a person who was idly sitting around and wasting time when He called them. All the men and women of God in the Bible were already busy doing something when God spoke to them.

Consider Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:14-30, which tells of the master who gave talents to three of his servants. Jesus says that when the master returned from his long trip, he expected to see increase and productivity as a result of his gifts. The two servants who were faithful and worked hard were richly rewarded. However, Jesus describes the servant who brought no increase or productivity as “unprofitable.” The Greek word for “unprofitable” is achreios, which means useless. It is the picture of a person who contributes so little that he is essentially worthless, and it reveals a lot about how Jesus views lazy people.

Through this parable, Jesus teaches that faithfulness and hard work is commendable in the Kingdom of God. When God needs someone to do something for Him, He looks for hardworking, faithful, “use-what-they-have” individuals who have already demonstrated worth. These people already know how to handle money; they know how to work; and they know how to stick with the job until it’s done. Maybe they are still growing in these areas, but they have done enough to demonstrate to God that they can be trusted with more.

The Bible is loaded with examples of men and women of God who exude these qualities. The following list provides a few examples of strategic, well-known, key Bible personalities who were already successful before God called them, and there are many, many more found in Scripture.

This is just a small, representative list of the many similar cases I could show you from both the Old and New Testaments. God called these individuals because they had already proved their work ethic through their previous endeavors. By observation, He knew each of them could be trusted with a greater assignment.

You might try to put together a list of people who were doing nothing when God chose them for a big assignment. If you do, I believe you’ll have a very difficult time assimilating such a list. I actually tried once to compile one, and I couldn’t think of anyone who was used significantly by God but was doing nothing when He called him.

Maybe you think you have enough on your plate already, and that may be a fair point. But know that when God finds someone faithful, He likes to give that person more responsibility because He knows He’s finally found someone He can trust. Therefore, don’t be too surprised if more is given to you in “abundance.” Just consider it the harvest of faithfulness and a demonstration of God’s trust in you!

I encourage you today to conduct a deliberate self-evaluation to see how you’re doing in your walk with God and where you need to grow and change. As God observes your willingness to yield to the necessary process of preparation, He will know when you are ready for more.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I pray that You will help me honestly evaluate myself and my performance. Even more, I ask for Your grace to help me see where I need to change. I receive Your empowerment to make the necessary adjustments so You can trust me with more responsibility. In those areas where I have not done well, I ask You to forgive me, and I receive Your forgiveness. With the power of the Holy Spirit and my decision to change, I believe that I’ll make forward progress in my life and that You will put more on my plate because You’ve seen that I am faithful with what I’m doing right now.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am faithful with what God assigned me to do right now. God is watching me; He is evaluating my performance; and He sees that I am doing the best I can with the knowledge and experience that I possess. I confess that I am willing to grow and change in the areas where I have not done well. I refuse to shut my eyes to the truth, and I will be honest with myself about the areas I need to change. God’s Spirit is helping me — and with His help, I will become a vessel that God knows He can depend on and use.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Take a moment to think about people whom God called upon to do great things. Can you think of any who were doing nothing at the time that God called them?
  2. Based on the conclusion that God gives more to people who are doing well with what he has already given them to do, how do you evaluate yourself? Are you a candidate to whom God would consider giving more responsibility?
  3. As you evaluate yourself honestly, what are the areas that you know need to change?

But let patience have her perfect work….
— James 1:4

Today I want to talk to you again about patience. Early Church leaders called this remarkable godly trait the “queen of all virtues.” They understood that if you had patience, it was never a question of whether or not you would win a battle — it was only a matter of when you would win it.

That is a true statement that is borne out in Scripture, and Denise and I have certainly proven the spiritual effectiveness of patience in our own lives and ministry. I’ve said so many times that the Greek word for “patience” is one of my favorite words in the New Testament! How we all need this extraordinary quality working in our lives today.

Let’s look at this word “patience” to see why Early Church leaders valued this characteristic so highly.

As we have seen, the word “patience” comes from the Greek word hupomeno, a compound of the words hupo and meno. The word hupo means under, as to be underneath something that is very heavy. The word meno means to stay or to abide. It describes a resolute decision to remain in one’s spot; to keep a position; or to maintain territory that has been gained. But when the words hupo and meno are compounded to form the word hupomeno, the new word portrays a person who is under some type of heavy load, but who refuses to stray from his position because he is committed to his task. Regardless of how heavy the load, how fierce the opposition, how intense the stress, or how much weight is thrown against him, this person is inwardly resolved that he is not going to move. He is committed to stay put, and he will never surrender for any reason.

In the earliest years of the Church, believers faced long periods of unremitting persecution. They were confronted by a host of hostile powers that were arrayed against them. The pervading immoral culture, pagan religions, secular government, unsaved family and friends — all of these external forces put constant pressure on the early believers to forfeit their faith and return to their old ways.

But the early believers firmly believed that if they had hupomeno, they would survive and outlast all the opposition. This is why they referred to this spiritual characteristic as the “queen of all virtues.” It was believed that if Christians possessed this one virtue, they could survive anything that came against them. Believers understood that if hupomeno was operational in their lives, the question was no longer if they would overcome their battles, but rather when that victory would come.

The sense of determination inherent in the word hupomeno is clearly seen when it is used in a military sense to portray soldiers who were ordered to maintain their positions, even in the face of fierce combat. Their order was to stand their ground and defend every inch of territory that had been gained. To do that, the soldiers resolved to courageously do whatever was required to fulfill the assignment — no matter how difficult the challenge. Their goal was to see that they survived every attack and held their position until they had outlasted the resistance. These soldiers had to indefinitely and defiantly stick it out until the enemy, realizing the soldiers couldn’t be beaten, therefore decided to give up and retreat. Thus, the word hupomeno conveys the idea of being steadfast, consistent, unwavering, and unflinching.

The King James Version translates the Greek word hupomeno as “patience,” but a more accurate rendering of this word would be endurance. A good way to translate this word hupomeno in modern terms is staying power or hang-in-there power. Both of these interpretations correctly express the concept behind hupomeno, because it is the attitude that hangs in there, never gives up, refuses to surrender to obstacles, and turns down every opportunity to quit.

If a person has hupomeno working in his life, it means he is committed to standing by his faith, his task, or a principle of truth, regardless of the price to be paid. This person possesses a steadfast, tenacious attitude that refuses to crumble or concede to defeat. Nothing can change his mind or sway his determination to maintain his position — not external circumstances, other people’s words, or any other attempt to manipulate or change his stance.

Likewise, for you to survive the seemingly unremitting pressure and opposition that Satan or life itself wages against you, it is essential for you to have hupomeno — that persistent, steadfast, tenacious spirit that refuses to crumble or concede to defeat. If you possess this quality, you will not surrender in the face of pressure or capitulate to the forces that attempt to stamp you out. It may seem like you are facing the impossible, but if you refuse to budge or give an inch, the opposition will eventually move off — and you will score a major victory in your fight of faith!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I draw upon the might of Your invincible life within me, and I ask You to help me cultivate Your character trait of this never-give-up kind patient endurance in my life. Help me rely upon and release the power of the Holy Spirit so that I do not bend or surrender in the face of pressure — or capitulate to the forces that have tried to conquer me. I ask You, Holy Spirit, to infuse me with Your mighty power in my inner man so that I will be strong and enduring. Fill me with Your staying power — Your divine hang-in-there power — to outlast the odds and to eventually win the battle that has been arrayed against me. It’s just a matter of time until the opposition folds and goes away, but I need patience to stay in the fight until that glorious moment of victory occurs. I receive Your help today!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


By faith, I declare that I have the inner fortitude to outlast every skirmish that the enemy has tried to array against my life. Because the Holy Spirit is inside me, I am tougher than any circumstances I face. I do not bend. I do not break. The Lord is my Strength and my impenetrable Shield; therefore, I do not yield to the pressures that try to move me from His promises for my life. Patience works in me — and that means I have been fortified with God’s very own hang-in-there power that never surrenders an inch of what He has promised to me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you recall a time in your life when you won a battle simply because you were patient and lasted longer than the attack?
  2. When the pressure let up and you finally won that particular fight, were you glad that you hadn’t thrown in the towel and quit?
  3. What battles are you facing right now that will require you to exercise patience until you win?

 

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
— Philippians 2:4

As a pastor, one of the saddest realizations I’ve had to face over the years is that many people think of themselves disproportionately more than they think of anyone else. They are often self-consumed, but they don’t even realize it. They think of themselves, talk about themselves, worry about themselves, spend money on themselves, think and talk about their needs, and so on. They don’t deliberately act this way; they are simply self-absorbed. In fact, I can’t imagine anyone acting like that on purpose! To be perfectly honest, this kind of attitude and behavior is so repulsive that I find myself trying to run from such individuals because I just don’t want to get caught up in a conversation with them.

I’m not talking only about church members; some of the most self-consumed people I’ve ever met have been in the ministry. It shouldn’t be that way — but often it is the case. They want to tell you all about their ministry, their outreaches, and everything else great that they are doing. What’s so sad is that these same people often never ask a single question of the person they’re talking to in order to know more about him or her. It’s usually a one-sided conversation about what matters to them — because that is who is uppermost on their hearts and minds: themselves.

It doesn’t take too long to figure out when you’re with that kind of person, because the person’s mouth quickly reveals the truth about what is in “the abundance of their hearts” (see Matthew 12:34). Even as I write this, specific individuals come to mind. When I see them, I immediately begin to look for an exit or a way to avoid them — because I know that once they “capture” me, I’m going to be a prisoner to their conversation. They are so self-consumed that I can’t even break into the conversation to say I need to be going for an appointment or previous engagement.

Often the conversation ends and these individuals have never asked a single question about what the Lord is doing in our lives or ministry — except to say, “Oh, I’ve talked the whole time and never let you tell me anything about what you’re doing.” And that’s all right with me because I don’t think they really cared, or they would have made room for it in the conversation.

Over the years, I’ve had to come face to face with the fact that there are just some people who are that way, and they seem to be stuck in that rut of self-absorption. I’m not being critical or judgmental; I’m simply making a sad observation that’s forthright and honest. Some people are simply all about themselves with seemingly no capacity or ability to leave room in their lives for others. Even if the other party tried to interject something about himself in the conversation with people who fit this description, they wouldn’t listen very deeply because their thoughts are too involved with themselves.

It is unfortunate that this kind of behavior should exist in the Christian community, because we, more than any other group of people on earth, should live to know more about others and how to serve others. If we are totally consumed with ourselves, we are missing the point of the Christian life in a very big way.

The apostle Paul must have faced this same disappointing experience with people, because when he wrote Philippians 2:4, he referred to this type of behavior among believers and urged them to put a stop to it. He said, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” The original Greek is very strong and should be taken as a prohibition!

The word “look” is the present active participle of the word skopeo. The word skopeo means to intensely focus on something. In this case, Paul was talking about people who were completely fixated on themselves. But he forbade them to act like this, and that’s why he used a negative prohibition in conjunction with it. It’s just not right for Christians to be so self-absorbed that they focus only on themselves and never ask a thing or pose a care about anyone else. And I’ll tell you the truth — people will generally try to avoid dealing with this particular character defect. They’ll try to run from it!

That’s why Paul continued to say, “Look not every man on his own things….” The words “every man” is the Greek word hekastos, which literally means every man — no one excluded. In other words, regardless of who you are or how much you’ve done with your life, it’s wrong to be so completely self-absorbed that all you can see is yourself and your own deeds and needs.

This applies to everyone! Thus, this verse should be taken as a rebuke to those who constantly focus on and talk only about themselves. And it serves as an encouragement to get our eyes off ourselves and to remember to think of others and to show concern about them too.

Paul continued, “…But every man also on the things of others.” Notice Paul began with “but every man also.” This is a transition that emphatically tells the reader that it is right to also focus on others — on things besides himself and his own interests.

The words “every man” is the same word hekastos, meaning every man with no one excluded. A more literal translation would read, “But let every single one of you….” Then Paul added to his inspired instruction, saying that we should focus “…also on the things of others.” Rather than focus on ourselves, every single one of us should be focused intensely on the things of others!

The words “the things” in this verse is the Greek word ta, which means the things of others — and that would include anything that the other person involved in a social setting wanted to share. However, the problem often is that the other person never gets an opportunity to talk because the one who is so self-focused absorbs all the time there is to talk and to share. Then when it’s time to part, there is no mutual caring or sharing because one person dominated the whole conversation. This is extremely selfish and often hurtful to the “captive” member who was overlooked in the conversation.

Paul was grateful for his relationships with Timothy, Luke, Epaphroditus, and other members of his team who genuinely cared for him. He listened to them, and they likewise listened to him. There was a mutual sharing and caring between them. I, too, am thankful for the people in my life who want to hear what I think and feel — and they know I genuinely want to hear what they think and feel as well.

Self-centeredness is easily detectable, because such people usually don’t maintain long-term friendships. The truth is, others can smell the odor of self-consumed focus in their every word, and it’s an invisible stench that repels.

If you’ve ever been trapped in a conversation with a person like this, you know exactly what it’s like to wish you could somehow escape! But rather than focus on the misdeeds of others, let’s all look in the mirror and make sure that we do not fall into this self-absorbed category of people that we’re talking about today.

When we leave a person and a conversation, let’s endeavor to leave the fragrance of Christ’s love in our wake. Let’s make it a goal to leave that conversation knowing that we did our best to get better acquainted with that person’s heart and to discover more of the Father’s heart for his or her life. Let’s deliberately show those we speak with the attention they deserve and leave them wondering why we never have much to say about ourselves! I think that is what Jesus would do!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, how many times have my thoughts, words, and actions been focused on me, my problems, or my preferences? Whether I did this privately or even more regrettably with others, I repent for such selfishness. Father, my utmost desire is to reflect You to others, just as Jesus did when He walked on the earth. You are Love, my Father. Therefore, I ask You to help me leave the undeniable fragrance of Your goodness and love upon every life that I touch.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Spirit of God who dwells within me. Therefore, I am not haughty, arrogant, conceited, or inflated with pride because I walk in humility, patience, and kindness that God’s own loving nature reproduces in me. I choose to walk in God’s love, and that sets me free from fear, which includes carnal craving for self- exaltation, self-protection, self-promotion, and any attitude that exalts fleshly preference above godly character and priorities. When others leave my presence, they sense that God’s love has encouraged and lifted them higher than they were before. And when I encounter people who are so self-absorbed that they cannot see beyond themselves, God’s love shines so brightly through me that their hearts are touched and stirred to seek Jesus more deeply and to be like Him.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever been trapped in a conversation you couldn’t seem to get out of — being dominated by a person who talked incessantly about himself or herself?
  2. When you leave a person, do you know more about that individual, or did he or she only hear about you and what you were doing in life?
  3. How do you think Jesus behaved when He was with people? Did He show interest in them or talk only about Himself?