Is There Not a Cause?

By Tony Cooke

This article originally appeared on tonycooke.org, November 2014.

I recently had the thought, “ISIS has a purpose. Ebola has a purpose. Do believers have a purpose?” Clearly, ISIS and Ebola have a purpose to bring death and destruction, and both seem resolute and persistent in their endeavors. But what about believers? What about the church? Are we as resolute and persistent in our pursuits? They bring death, but we bring life. We have a holy calling to be salt and light in the world, and I believe that we should be the most determined, zealous, and purposeful people on earth.

This is not a time for the church to be passive, dormant, or timid. Instead of bemoaning the decay of the world system around us, the Word of God admonishes us to, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).

I know that some believers are certainly on-fire, but I recently asked the Lord, “What will it take for the Church-world to awaken from its lethargy and complacency, for believers to shake free from their sense of self-interest, and become consumed with a passionate and compelling purpose—the purpose for which we were born?” In contemplating this, I’ve been reminded of the sacred fire that burned in the hearts of various spiritual leaders throughout history. It was individuals who were aflame with a sense of divine calling and destiny who radically affected the course of human events. May we have such holy awakenings again! We are at a time when “going through the motions” or “business as usual” won’t produce the results we need to see from the Church.

David
In David’s day we read that, “…a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath” (1 Samuel 17:4). Hell has always had its champions, and we see spiritual wickedness raising its ugly head in our day as well. While others cowered in fear, David arose in confidence. When he was criticized by his brothers for his proactive faith, he responded, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29). David’s literal statement was, “Is it not a word?”Perhaps, as some commentators suggest, David was merely saying that he was only asking a question. However, it seems obvious that David did, in fact, have a significant sense of purpose (or cause) operating in his life, and he had been radically empowered by the Word of God. God had birthed in David a covenant-based faith, and it propelled David into doing great exploits for God.

Jeremiah
So great was his burden for Judah that Jeremiah was called “the Weeping Prophet.” He prophesied during the years leading up to the conquest of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Heavily persecuted, Jeremiah said (20:9, NLT), “But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” As preachers, we shouldn’t step into the pulpit because we have to say something, but because we have something to say. Jeremiah spoke penetrating words from the heart and mind of God… they were live coals off the altar.

Nehemiah held a respectable position in the administration of the Persian King, Artaxerxes, but God had a greater assignment for him. Many years after the destruction of Jerusalem, he encountered some individuals who had recently been to the city as it was being resettled. Nehemiah 1:2-4 (NLT) says, “…I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.” Rebuilding the broken walls was not just a good idea to Nehemiah; it was a God idea! The yearning, burning desire for the reconstruction of those walls became part of the fabric of his very being.

The Apostles
When Peter and John were threatened to speak no more in the name of Jesus, they responded, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:20). Where did such boldness come from? They had not been lulled into complacency by the world. They were not preoccupied with anything this world had to offer. A.W. Tozer wrote, “The Early Church was in wonderment at Christ. He dazzled them and stirred within such feelings of amazement that they could never get over Christ. All they talked about was Christ. All they thought about, from morning to night, was Christ. Christ was their only reason for living, and they were more than willing to die for Him.”

Paul
Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was ravenous in his determination to destroy Christians. When his life was transformed by the Lord Jesus, those destructive desires were replaced by holy ambition and sanctified resolve. There was nothing casual or lax about his commitment. Paul was 100% in! His consecration is clearly seen as he spoke of those of his own race who did not know Jesus. He said, “With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ! —if that would save them” (Romans 9:1-3, NLT). Where do we hear such words today? How many people are satisfied as long as they and their loved ones are saved? Who is crying out for the lost?

John Knox
Scotland’s leading reformer once knelt in a garden to pray. He was overheard by another as he cried out, “God, give me Scotland, or I die.” He declared the gospel with boldness, and his nation was changed. When Knox died, the King of Scotland said, “Here lies a man that never feared the faces of men.” Tozer—who I quoted earlier—also said, “Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in season and out, and when they found Him, the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking.”

Martin Luther King Jr.
The great civil rights leader said, “Even if they try to kill you, you develop the inner conviction that there are some things so precious, some things so eternally true that they are worth dying for. And if a person has not found something to die for, that person isn’t fit to live!” Martin Luther King Jr. was “all in.” A line had been drawn in the sand, and he crossed it. A consuming, burning vision governed him, guided him, and compelled him to move forward in the face of horrific opposition. The man who said, “I have a dream” truly did, and the momentum he achieved as he applied himself to see that dream fulfilled changed a nation.

As we’ve looked at these individuals, I want to make sure I’m not leaving the impression that this is an issue of mere emotionalism; it is not. F.B. Meyer said,“Consecration is not the act of our feelings but of our will.”

Perhaps this is a good time for many in the church—many of us—to take inventory and to ask ourselves some hard questions.

Let’s do what Paul admonished Timothy to do. “…stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you…” (2 Timothy 2:6, AMP). This was a hard word, but Jesus told the church in Sardis, “Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight”(Revelation 3:2, AMP). The Message Version renders the next verse (Revelation 3:3),“Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God.”

I am excited about the future, and I see great days ahead for the Church. Isn’t it time for us to experience what Andrew Murray described? He said, “A true revival means nothing less than a revolution, casting out the spirit of worldliness and selfishness, and making God and His love triumph in the heart and life.” Leonard Ravenhill said, “As long as we are content to live without revival, we will.” My prayer is that a great host of believers, in this day, will rise to the fulness of our calling and will respond to God’s yearnings to fully express Himself in the earth.

Another Look at Multi-Dimensional Ministry

By Tony Cooke

This article originally appeared on tonycooke.org, October 2014.

As a young Bible school student, I heard Brother Hagin emphasize three major aspects of Jesus’ ministry that are mentioned in Matthew 9:35. “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Brother Hagin would enumerate them, and we would often recite the concise summary with him: “Jesus went about teaching, preaching, and healing.”

Knowing that we, too, were called to do the works of Jesus (John 14:12), I, and probably hundreds of other young, zealous students, anticipated the day when we would graduate, and being filled with the Word and the Spirit, would launch out to shake and change the world through teaching, preaching, and healing. In more recent times, I’ve compared notes with others who went to school around the time I did, and it appears that most of us felt we were going to save humanity single-handedly by our dynamic messages and powerful anointing.

With all due respect to the vital role of teaching, preaching, and healing, my peers and I were in for a big surprise. While we saw positive results, none of us ended up single-handedly saving the world through our “great ministries.” It shouldn’t have been a surprise to me, but it was. In reflecting on my journey, I realize that Brother Hagin also taught the verses that follow Matthew 9:35, but I was guilty of a mistake made by many—I only focused on the part of the verse that I wanted to hear, and ignored or greatly downplayed the surrounding verses. It would be years before the connected verses would sink in, enabling me to have a deeper (and more realistic) picture of what ministry is really all about.

No doubt that Jesus’ teaching and preaching were powerful. It was said of Jesus (John 7:46), “No man ever spoke like this Man!” While different ministers today have different levels of grace and anointing upon them, Jesus had the Spirit without measure (John 4:34). In addition to the conviction and enlightenment that came through His teaching and preaching, we also know that there were many powerful demonstrations as Jesus healed “every sickness and disease among the people.” My subconscious assumption (or presumption), then, was that wherever Jesus ministered, everyone would have been propelled into a carefree state of utopia and everyone would be perpetually happy, every marriage healthy, every person victorious, etc. But is that what happened after Jesus had ministered in all these cities and villages? The very next verse clarifies this matter.

Matthew 9:36 (AMP)
36 When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd.

Could that be true? After Jesus had taught, preached, and healed, He still saw people who were bewildered, harassed, distressed, dejected, and helpless. I wonder what kind of shape the people were in before He ministered to them? Did Jesus help them through His ministry? Absolutely! Were there still needs among the people? Most clearly. As vital and foundational as teaching, preaching, and healing are, Jesus recognized a missing piece of the puzzle. He saw the people as sheep without a shepherd.

Teaching and preaching is crucial, but people need more than a teaching or revival center. The ministering of God’s healing power is essential, but people need more than a healing class or a prayer line. Jesus stated that the people were in need of a shepherd. Rightly so, we think of the pastoral office—those men and women who are called to lead, feed, and guide congregations—those who fit the characteristics Jesus outlined in John 10, who call the sheep by name, who continue with the flock, etc. These provide ongoing care, discipleship, and ministry to God’s people. Thank God for pastors!

When I resigned from the church where I served as an assistant pastor from 1980-83, I was surprised by the nature of the “thank you’s” I received from the congregation. Even though I worked very hard at developing the teaching gift, I don’t recall people expressing thanks for any sermons, Bible lessons, or teaching series. Instead, people thanked me for the times I sat with them during a loved one’s surgery, when I helped them with funeral arrangements for a family member who had passed away, or for encouraging and comforting individuals when they had faced various crises of life.

To this day, I greatly value teaching, preaching, and healing, but I’ve learned to additionally appreciate the personal touch that comes through pastoral care. I’ve also come to believe there are people who don’t necessarily stand in the pastoral office, but who function very proficiently in loving and caring for others “pastorally.” These might be people who are great encouragers, who operate strongly in what Paul calls “mercy” in Romans 12:8, or who exercise what is referred to as “hospitality” in various places throughout the New Testament. When we see saints loving and encouraging others so beautifully, we are reminded that God did not intend for one single person (The Pastor) to do all of the caring within a given congregation.

The quickest way for a congregation to burn out their pastor is to expect him (or her) to do all of the encouraging, all of the comforting, all of the praying for people. Perhaps this is why we have all the “one another” Scriptures in the New Testament telling believers to do these things mutually amongst themselves. Certainly we need recognized leaders, and nothing I’m saying is meant to take away from the significance of the pastoral office. I’m simply saying that pastors weren’t meant to simply do all of the loving, caring, and encouraging, but pastors are given to equip the saints so that all the saints can do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16).

This may help us understand what Jesus said next in Matthew 9:37-38, right after He acknowledge the absolute necessity of shepherds. “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

So what does multi-dimensional ministry look like?

  1. It starts with a strong foundation of teaching, preaching, and healing. The ministry of the Word and the Spirit are essential. Building upon that foundation, we see the vital need for effective pastoral ministry. This can involve both individuals who stand in the pastoral office, and it can also be extended and expressed through people who work under the supervision of ministry leaders, expressing the love and care of God to people in need.
  2. Multi-dimensional ministry culminates when there is a multiplication of laborers (as Jesus directed). One person was never intended to carry the full weight of ministry, but with a multiplication of laborers and strong leaders, the varied needs and demands of ministry can be met through many working together to fulfill the plan and purpose of God.
  3. I’ve learned that one person can’t do it all, but if the Word and Spirit are preeminent, and if people are cared for through nurturing, caring relationships, and if there is a multiplication of laborers, there is no limit to what the Body of Christ can accomplish.

Remember that what God desires to accomplish through His Body is more diverse than what one person alone can facilitate; it takes all of us working together. I like what Rick Warren said about this: “Healthy, lasting church growth is multidimensional. My definition of a growing church has five facets. Every church needs to grow warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship, broader through ministry, and larger through evangelism.”

Serving God: Seven Questions Every Christian Should Ask

By Tony Cooke

This article originally appeared on tonycooke.org, September 2014.

One of the most common statements I hear from pastors pertains to the need for workers—for committed, reliable, and consistent volunteers. Every pastor’s dream is to have an overflowing army of eager, joyful volunteers. When I think of this, I am reminded of David’s words: “Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power” (Psalm 110:3 NASB).

One commentary says the literal meaning of this verse is, “Thy people are free will offerings.” (1) Another says this word (volunteer) refers to “an entirely cheerful readiness” and says that Messiah’s people will be, “…ready for any sacrifices, they bring themselves with all that they are and have to meet him. There is no need of any compulsory, lengthy proclamation calling them out: it is no army of mercenaries, but willingly and quickly they present themselves from inward impulse.” (2)

Even if it weren’t for this passage in Psalm 110, we would know that God’s will is for His people to serve Him effectively. Jesus Himself said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV). If believers are to fully mature and to become all that God wants them to be, they will be laborers and workers. Ephesians 2:10 (MSG) says, “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”

Pastors can and should teach about the importance of good works (e.g., Titus 3:8), but ultimately, the impetus and motivation to serve must come from within the hearts of believers as they allow God to do His work on the inside of them. I’ve long enjoyed the Amplified Bible’s rendering of Philippians 2:13: “…it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.”

I believe with all of my heart that we are going to see an army of workers arise—men, women, and young people—whose hearts God has touched to serve Him. Leaders and mature believers need to be ready to guide, direct, and mentor these fledgling servants, and perhaps one of the things we can do is to help them ask the right questions in order to get started and to stay on the right track as they serve God. With that in mind, here are seven questions people should ask as they seek to begin serving the Lord.

1. What is my level of spiritual consecration?
As you consider that, let me ask you some other questions. Are you 100% sold-out to Jesus? Are you willing to sacrifice your comfort and convenience for someone else’s benefit? Is there anything you’re not willing to do for Jesus? Is there anything that you feel would be beneath you? In days gone by, it was not uncommon to hear people at the altar praying and dedicating their lives to God. A common, heart-felt prayer was, “God, I’ll go where you want me to go. I’ll do what you want me to do. I’ll say what you want me to say.” Serving becomes easier when you’ve totally and completely surrendered all of your life and all of your heart to God. Consecration was clearly modeled for us in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus prayed, “…not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 NKJV).

2. How is my servant’s attitude?
Many will say they want to be like Jesus, but have they really considered what that entails? Jesus communicated plainly what it means to have a “kingdom attitude.” Matthew 20:26-28 (NKJV) says, “…whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

3. What is my level of practical availability?
A person can have all the ability in the world, but it will avail nothing if he or she does not have availability. I understand that people are busy, but have we become so busy that we have no time to serve God? We speak of giving God the first portion of our income, and that is good, but wouldn’t it be outstanding if all of God’s people gave Him a good portion of their time as well? Make it a priority to order your life in such a way that you can give God ample time in worship and in work. Make “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) a reality in your priorities and in the scheduling of your life.

4. Am I willing to work?
Work is not an unspiritual word. When the Holy Spirit spoke in Antioch, He said,“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”(Acts 13:2 NKJV). Did you notice what their spiritual calling entailed? It was a call to work! Serving God doesn’t involve simply sitting around and having warm, fuzzy feelings and thinking about holy things. God calls us to work. Paul said, “I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me” (Colossians 1:29 AMP). Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NKJV). People will never see our good works unless we work! As I was writing this, I saw a social media post by Jeanne Cook in Panama. She relayed that her missionary husband, Dennis, was cleaning bat dung out of the radio station attic that they had built in the jungles of Panama. She wrote, “Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. It is not all preaching and teaching on the mission field.” Jeanne is so right, and it’s not all preaching and teaching anywhere else. Ministry is work.

5. What am I good at?
God has given each of us certain skills, aptitudes, and gifts. It’s not the purpose of this article to try to delineate between natural abilities and spiritual gifts, but let me simply propose that we use whatever abilities and resources we have for the glory of God and for the betterment of others. A pastor told me about a man who came to him wanting to preach in his church. The pastor had never met this man and didn’t know him at all. While he did not need help in the pulpit, the pastor discovered that this man was also an electrician and let him know that they had a major project underway and that the church needed a skilled electrician. Fortunately, the man was gracious enough to lend his natural skills to the church, and did an excellent job serving the church through that avenue. God can use your natural skills for His glory.

6. What are the needs and opportunities around me?
Some Christians struggle because they don’t feel like they have a specific leading or a direct word from God regarding what they’re supposed to do. Others feel that if they are to do something significant for God, it must be something that is far-away and spectacular. John Burroughs said, “The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.” If you don’t know what to do, find someone who is doing something for God and simply begin to help them. Specific direction may come later, but in the meantime, you’re being helpful and productive. Jesus said, “…if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:12). In short, bloom where you’re planted.

7. Am I willing to take initiative?
Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Be a person who is eager to help others and to accomplish. Don’t wait for someone to ask you to serve; proactively look for and embrace things that need to be done. Albert Hubert said, “Parties who want milk should not seat themselves on a stool in the middle of the field and hope that the cow will back up to them.” Don’t be afraid to start with small things. If you see a piece of trash on the ground that needs to be picked up, pick it up. Lean into action, not away from it. Embrace responsibility, don’t shun it. Act, and believe that God will bless all the work of your hands. If there is something more specialized or more targeted that God wants you doing, He will certainly lead you to it and open the appropriate doors in due time.

When Believers Everywhere Begin to Serve…
The untapped potential in the Body of Christ is incalculable. When Christians mobilize and engage as faithful servants, I believe we’ll see a fulfillment of what George Washington Carver predicted years ago. “…there is going to be a great spiritual awakening in the world, and it is going to come from… plain, simple people who know—not simply believe—but actually know that God answers prayer. It is going to be a great revival of Christianity, not a revival of religion. This is going to be a revival of true Christianity. It is going to rise from the laymen, from men who are going about their work and putting God into what they do, from men who believe in prayer, and who want to make God real to mankind.”

May it be so, and may it be soon.

(1) Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.

(2) Keil, Carl Friedrich and Franz Delitzsch. Commentary on the Old Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996.

What Killed Lincoln’s Mother (And Why It Matters to Us)?

By Tony Cooke

This article originally appeared on tonycooke.org, August 2014.

Some time ago, I was in Barstow, California, preaching for Pastor Bernie Samples. Both of us are originally from Indiana, and our conversation took us to discussing Abraham Lincoln, who lived fourteen years in southern Indiana (1816-1830). Bernie talked to me about a visit he had made to Lincoln State Park, where Lincoln’s mother died and is buried. I did not know this, but he mentioned that Lincoln’s mother had died of milk sickness.

He had read this information on a plaque near Nancy Hanks Lincoln’s grave when he visited (I visited there this past month as well). In the pioneer days, many people died of milk sickness, but back then, they did not know what caused it. It was later determined that when cows ate a certain plant (known as snakeroot) it did not harm the cow, but the poison in the plant was transmitted to humans who drank the cow’s milk.

Bernie made a great application of this story. He mentioned that as ministers, we have a sacred responsibility to give God’s people the pure milk of the Word. Unfortunately, he said, some ministers feed on junk—false teaching, erroneous ideas, and deception—and they end up poisoning the people of God. They transmit toxins to others.

1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT) says, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” Hebrews 5:12 (NLT) likens milk to “the basic things about God’s Word.” In the Message version, Hebrews 5:13 says, “Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways.”

What a solemn and sobering responsibility spiritual leaders have when it comes to teaching and modeling the right things, especially to God’s young ones (and this includes both the chronologically and spiritually young)! Consider the gravity of Jesus’ warning regarding negative influences toward those whom He loves.

Matthew 18:6-7, 10-11 (NKJV)
6 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

If Jesus is determined to save people, I must ensure that I do not scatter people. If Jesus is intent upon redeeming people, I must be careful never to repel people. As a minister, I must give attention not only to my teaching, but also to my example. This is something that Paul addressed most passionately when he wrote the believers in Rome.

The church in Rome was comprised of people from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds. Because they had been raised in the things of God and had been brought up in the teaching of Scripture, the Jewish believers had a tendency to have an air of superiority about them. They felt themselves to be better than those who had come into the church from pagan backgrounds. However, their example was at times less-than-godly, and in some cases, had caused offense and stumbling in those who were new to the faith.

Romans 2:17-24 (NKJV)
17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written.

Later in Romans, Paul was dealing with dissension between the supposedly “stronger” members of the church and others who were considered “weaker.” He said, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:13, NKJV).

One of the earliest impressions I had from the Holy Spirit as a young Bible School student came as I read 1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV). I vividly remember reading those powerful words. “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I was impressed with the fact that Paul did not, in this verse, say to Timothy, “Preach thou, Teach thou, or Prophesy thou…” He said, “Be thou…”

Our example matters! I remember Brother Hagin saying that it seemed like some ministers felt that God had two sets of rules—one set for them, and one set for everyone else. He was referring to people who preached one thing, and then lived another way. May that not be said of us.

In dealing with the Corinthian church, Paul was dealing with people from different backgrounds, different perspectives, and different levels of maturity. The point he made (again) was that we must be careful about our influence and our example, and we must not contribute to another person stumbling. The specific context in Corinth was that of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Though the issue is somewhat culturally and historically removed from us, the principle is an abiding one. Consider Paul’s counsel to the church.

1 Corinthians 8:9-12 (NKJV)
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Some Christians and ministers see no problem with drinking alcohol in moderation (I am not writing to debate that issue in this letter). However, I know of more than one example of young believers seeing high-profile ministers drinking wine, and saying to themselves, “Well, drinking must be OK because I saw Rev. So-and-So doing it.” Emboldened by the minister’s example, they began to drink, and before long, became alcoholic. Perhaps the minister was able to drink in moderation, but the example he set facilitated another believer’s drinking who had a propensity toward addiction. I think that’s a very serious issue.

Lincoln’s mother died because a cow had ingested a plant that brought it no harm, but was deadly to the people who drank its milk. The moment you and I become leaders in the Body of Christ, our influence, example, and teaching takes on greater significance. James said, “Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards”(James 3:1, MSG).

My prayer for myself is that through word and deed, I will never cause anyone to stumble. I want my example to draw people closer to Christ and to never repel them. I pray that through my influence, people will be gathered unto Him, and never scattered from Him. That’s my prayer for you, too.

Focus and Tenacity: The Only Way to Get There From Here

By Andrell Corbin

Focus is a powerful thing. Proper focus will keep you centered and on course regardless of intervening influences. Without it, you won’t reach your desired destination. Staying focused during a crisis, however, is easier said than done. In fact, staying focused to persevere through difficult circumstances is one of the hardest things you will ever do — especially when you’ve been caught off guard or hit with a flurry of unexpected blows.

If you’ve ever had to “hang in there” to see a dream or goal come to pass when you really felt like throwing in the towel, you’ve already discovered that your biggest fight is to hold yourself calm no matter what. It takes focus to maintain your confident expectation when everything around you begins to spiral downward, becoming the very opposite of what you envisioned. To get through that kind of crisis, you must simply keep moving forward. This is challenging to do — particularly when your world is reeling and you aren’t even sure which way is up, let alone forward. But in order to make progress and lay hold of your destiny, you have to toughen up and endure hardship, just like Jesus, who “for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the Cross, disregarding its shame” (see Hebrews 12:1-3).

Make God’s viewpoint the filter through which you see every situation. That will keep you focused.  You cannot deny the difficulties you face, but you CAN deny them the power to destroy you. Redirect your focus away from the difficulties and focus on the One who said: “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties…” (Isaiah 41:10 AMP).

Whose Report Will You Believe?

By Cathy Creek

There is a story Lester Sumrall used to tell about Smith Wigglesworth. Lester was a young minister living in London, England, during World War II. One day he came to visit Smith, who was mentoring him during those days. Being a dapper young man, Lester dressed in the London fashion, regaled in the obligatory bowler hat with an umbrella in hand and a newspaper tucked under his arm. But Smith wouldn’t allow Lester in his house with the newspaper, calling it the lies of the devil. The paper reported all the horrible things happening in the war, but Smith believed that England would win the war.

In these troublesome times, I believe we can learn from Smith’s example. In Scripture, we see the 12 spies going up to scout out the land of Canaan. Was the land “flowing with milk and honey”? Absolutely! But there were giants in the land. “Those giants are too big for us,” said the ten. “But they are not too big for God,” said the two.What faith and boldness demonstrated by two unredeemed men under an older and lesser Covenant! Are we not now sons of the Most High? Does the Greater One not dwell in us? Can we not do all things through Him? Yes, we are well able!

“Cathy, don’t you understand that these are the end times?” Yes, hallelujah! It’s our time to shine! It’s what we were made for. It’s time to finish our race. Jesus said, “…Occupy till I come.” He did not tell us to bow down, wimp out, run in stark terror, or give up. No! Never! We wrestle not against flesh and blood as we put on the whole armor of God. The weapons of our warfare are mighty! We have the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit. There is no weapon formed against us that can prosper.

I know there are many naysayers in the Body who talk about the decline of our nation. If I were moved by what I see and hear, I’d be forced to agree. But then I read First Timothy 2:1-4!

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. — 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Why pray? To get a result. What result? “…That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” Paul gave this instruction in an era where debauchery was a part of the worship of Roman “gods.” It was a time when one had to bow down and publicly worship the  current emperor in order to buy food in the market. It was a decadent, vile era, yet Paul told believers to pray for their leaders. Will prayer work? It will if we work it.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. — 1 John 5:14,15

I am persuaded that God raised up our nation with a divine destiny. To date, we have contributed more to worldwide evangelization than all other nations put together. We have contributed more to disaster relief and humanitarian aid. When we war with a nation, we help rebuild it. Ask Germany. Ask Japan.

When I think of these things, I ponder God’s requirements for a “sheep nation.” Of all nations, America surely measures up. Even in the Old Testament, God gave an open invitation for us to “plead our case.” As a result of Abraham’s intercession, He would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of ten righteous people. Are there not more than ten righteous in the cities of our nation? As the righteousness of God, we are in a better position than Abraham. As First Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.” We have an open invitation.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. — Hebrews 4:16

Let us lift up our voice for our nation. God wants to do what man cannot do. Ours is to pray. His is to act. Why pray? Souls. This election is about souls. The economy is about reaching the lost. The return of righteousness to our nation is about souls, for God

“…will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” — 1 Timothy 2:4

Let us pray, and God will do.

Nine Facets of Relationships

By Robb Thompson

There are all kinds of relationships in the world. When you are in the ministry, it is especially crucial that you learn how to evaluate each relationship in your life for what it is.

As one called to the ministry, you will constantly be approached by new people with different motives—and often by people who have hidden agendas. The starting point in learning to discern these relationships is to understand the two basic categories of people in life: givers and takers. In other words, there are those who come into your life to give and to be a blessing to you and to others, and there are those who come to see what they can get from you.

Let’s now examine the motives, attitudes, and actions of givers and takers. In doing this comparative study, it is my hope that you will search your own heart, give yourself an honest appraisal, and assess in which category you fall. Remember, relationships will eventually disintegrate if one or both parties are takers. If you seem to have consistent problems within your relationships, you need to evaluate whether you have been contributing to them or leeching from them.

I would also encourage you to scrutinize each of your associations to determine if you are in relationship with a giver or with a taker. If you find that you are attempting to single-handedly sustain a one-sided relationship, I would urge you to discontinue that relationship as soon as possible.

Let’s investigate nine different aspects of relationship and see how the Law of Mutual Benefit is either hindered or enhanced by takers and givers, respectively.

 1. Value

When a giver pursues a relationship, he has one thing on his mind — he wants to add value. He is constantly searching for ways that he can esteem more, appreciate more, contribute more, and honor more. His focus is to bring greater weight to bear on the dreams and desires of his partner, and to continually add significance and worth to his partner’s pursuits.

In sharp contrast, a taker is not looking to add, but rather to extract value from the relationship. He might see that being associated with this particular person can potentially bring him more respect, honor, and recognition. His desire is to gain greater merit and support for his own pursuits by attaching himself to what he perceives to be a prestigious, prominent, or influential individual. He disguises himself as a giver, one who is in your life to add value, but internally you sense that the opposite is true.

The taker is continually searching for a more influential individual who will bring him greater benefits. The giver, on the other hand, creatively searches for ideas and ways to increase his value to the relationship.

The taker continually looks for connections whose influences surpass what his present circle of relationships offers. He is constantly scanning the horizon for “better contacts” and has no loyalty to the people he presently serves.

The giver is also conducting a search; however, it’s not for better contacts. It is for better ways of honoring and serving the ones to whom he has given his loyalty.

The giver goes to his boss and asks what it would take to become more valuable. She will go to her spouse to find out how she can better fulfill the role God gave her in their marriage relationship. The giving son or daughter will go to his or her parents to find out how to become more pleasing, more obedient, and how to fulfill every dream that the parents have for him or her. The taker does the exact opposite. He is a user. His self-indulgent attitude is an abomination.

My wife Linda is an incredible giver. She has given me the best years of her life. Linda loved me and cared for me when I was nothing. Linda will now get the best years of my life, in gratitude and in thankfulness, for having to put up with all the pressures of my life. Linda will always hold a voice in my life, even in my darkest hour.

When God puts people like Linda into your life, you keep them close to you. You don’t just arbitrarily remove such voices because they no longer say the words that you want to hear.

Never allow the gifts that have been bestowed upon you to ever eclipse the one who bestowed them. I’ll never forget the day that someone I once trusted sat across the desk from me and said, “The only reason that I wanted a relationship with you was because I knew what it would do for me.” That statement revealed to me that all along, I had been in relationship with a taker and a user. Those words crushed me, and I am not sure I am completely done with them yet.

Givers energetically celebrate the people who have deposited goodness into them and have brought them to a place of success and favor. They celebrate their mentors in huge fashion, for this attitude of gratitude and humility keeps them from proudly thinking about the giftings in their own lives.

True givers never let the gifts they’ve received become more important to them than the giver of those gifts. Remember, the most inspired ideas for adding value in a relationship will spring from the fertile ground of a grateful heart.

 2. Benefit

A giver is ever searching for what he can contribute to the relationship. However, the ever-present thought of a taker is, “What’s in it for me?” He wants others to show an interest in his exploits and achievements. He searches for personal projects that would qualify for the support of influential givers.

As a son, I never ask for my fathers in the faith to be involved in anything that I do. I’m looking for a way to be involved with what they do. My question is, “What can I do for you?” not “What can you do for me?” It’ll be that way until the day they die.

The taker wants to own what the giver has earned through his seed. He will ask, “Why should God do all that for you? Don’t you think you should share some of what God has given you?” This is his approach because he is a prodigal, who only wants to own what the giver has earned.

The giver wants to know what his mentor has learned so that he can apply that wisdom in order to bring a contribution and a harvest back into the life of his mentor. He knows that the greatest truths in life do not come by learning something and walking away. The greatest truths come when you choose to hang on, even when circumstances aren’t the way that you want them to be.

I grew up believing that whatever didn’t serve me was unnecessary and that I should just get rid of it. I didn’t recognize that I was an extremely needy person. I lived that way until I discovered that life isn’t in having things that serve you. Abundant life is finding the pearl of great value, calling it precious, and treating it as precious, rather than taking it for granted or treating it with contempt and disrespect.

We must look for how we can contribute and bring benefit into the lives of others instead of how we can consume and attempt to benefit ourselves. The reason that 20% of the members of an organization often have to do everything is because 80% of the people won’t do anything. We must stop consuming and start contributing for the mutual benefit of all.

 3. Motivation

The focus of a giver is always turned outward. His thoughts are concentrated upon finding ways to position others to succeed. His motives are entirely ç and generous, having been birthed in a servant’s heart.

Conversely, the thoughts and purposes of a taker are consistently selfish. He is motivated by greed and self-interest alone, showing apathy and indifference toward any situation or relationship that he feels will bring him no benefit. He believes that others should respond to his needs.

“Can’t you see what I’m going through?”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard these words from the ungrateful takers in my life. Yet interestingly, when I walk into a room of grateful givers, they start crying, saying, “You cared for me when no one else did. You are so precious to me!”

To these givers I always respond, “I’ll be precious to you until the day that you die. You just keep pressing. I will make up for all of the people that ever betrayed you. I’ll wipe away all the tears and all the pain that people have brought to you.”

My motivation is to make sure that those who have sown into my life receive a harvest from that precious seed. There must be reciprocity; there must be harvest from seeds sown.

Many times people want forgiveness, but they don’t want to forgive. They want to be pardoned, but they want to continue to blame and point a finger at others. Let’s say that you invested twenty years of sowing into a relationship. Don’t you think that at some point you would get into the reaping phase? Part of the curse of the law is that people would have children, and someone else would enjoy them.

I will not allow myself to become a non-producing, barren son. I will continue to tune my heart to hear the whisperings of my fathers. I will listen — really listen— to what they do not say, as much as what they say. I will seek to understand them, not just their words. I will value the relationship more than the results, knowing that in focusing on the relationship, the results will come. I will sow compassion and kindness because I realize how very much I need to receive compassion and kindness.

 4. Reward

A giver is not motivated by the recognition of men or temporal rewards. He does everything with his heart turned towards the eternal rewards that only heaven can bring. He is not concerned with self-preservation or self-protection, for he knows that as he takes care of others, God will take care of him.

A taker, however, is driven by the applause and approval of men. No matter how much he receives, it’s never enough. In fact, a taker is oppressed by the fear of never having enough — never enough recognition, influence, respect, financial reward, or power. This incessant, nagging fear causes him to be a “user.” Having no regard for the people in his relationships, he sees those associations as mere stepping-stones to get where he wants to go.

You can always spot people who pursue a relationship for what they can get out of it, because they are actively seeking others to solve their problems. Then, once their crisis is over, they disappear. The only time you ever hear from a taker is when he needs something!

Givers are generous in relationship because they trust God implicitly. They are willing to risk their entire future based on that trust. Jesus was like that. When He was mocked and insulted, He did not retaliate—when He suffered, He did not threaten revenge, but instead He entrusted Himself to the Father, “…who always judges fairly” (1 Peter 2:23, NLT ). He said, “God, I trust You.”

Trust is a difficult subject for most people, due to the many times that others have hurt them and taken advantage of their trust. Before they even get to know people, they are already conditioned to believe that others are going to take advantage of them. And truthfully, most people distrust God for the same reason. But how can I trust God with my future if I will not trust Him with my present?

Ruth was an individual who trusted God so completely that she was willing to risk her entire future. When her husband died, she did not have to stay and take care of her mother-in-law, Naomi. In fact, her sister-in-law, Orpah gave Naomi a kiss and then left her. But we are told that Ruth clave unto Naomi. Orpah was a kisser, but Ruth was a cleaver.

There are a lot of people that will “kiss” you, but Solomon tells us “…the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6). Beware of the people who are “kissers” in your life. Kissers should always be willing to prove to you who they are. Are they going to kiss and leave, or are they going to kiss and cleave?

Ruth made the choice to cleave, saying these words, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!’ So when Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her” (Ruth 1:16-18, NLT).

This is the choice that Ruth made. She chose an eternal reward, rather than a temporal reward; but in doing so, she also obtained a temporal reward! Her choice was to be a giver rather than a user.

Friend, you’ll get more fulfillment from committing to believe the best about a challenging person than from having an uncommitted relationship with a wonderful person.

Every great man or woman is being pursued by both givers and users. In Chapter One we discussed Elijah and Elisha, and the exchange that happened between them at the end of Elijah’s life. God had spoken to Elijah and told him to go and anoint Elisha as being the prophet in his stead. In spite of the fact that there were other “sons” of prophets who were following Elijah, Elisha was the only son who received Elijah’s anointing. The other sons had used their relationship with Elijah only to become what they wanted to become. In the end, they were somewhat put back, disappointed, and resentful when Elisha received the reward of transparent relational intimacy. They didn’t understand that selfish motives are never rewarded.

 

NOTE: The above article is an excerpt adapted from Robb Thompson’s The Ten Critical Laws of Relationship, copyright © 2005, pages 163-169.