Vision, Perseverance, and Hindrances

Vision, Perseverance, and Hindrances

A couple weeks ago during church the Lord spoke to me two words: Perseverance and hindrances. As He spoke He imparted a backdrop of vision. Meaning, I knew the context for perseverance and hindrances was vision that God had at one time given to individuals. 

The following week the Lord gave me a word of exhortation. It seems like a word that will encourage more than just those at my church. I cannot reiterate it word-for-word, but the message will be the same. God began with a question.

“What has the passing of time done to your faith?”

Romans 4 says of Abraham, (paraphrased): Contrary to hope, in hope Abraham believed God. Abraham did not become weak in faith through the passing of time. And though he knew what God had promised was naturally impossible, he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief. Instead Abraham continued to be strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform.

All the heroes in Hebrews 11 have in common that they did not give up through the passing of time or in the midst of hindrances. They continued to believe God. Some of these heroes even died in faith not having received in this age what God had promised. Their faith carried them, not only past their current situation, but also past their life in this age.

What has the passing of time done to your vision—to your faith? Have you continued to believe God, to be strengthened in faith, or has your vision began to die? Maybe it even needs resurrection.

God says that where there is no vision people cast off restraint; they run amiss; they perish. 

Remember what God has spoken to you in the past. Bring it back into the forefront of your mind. Write it down; begin again to pray about it; plan for it; believe for it. Allow God to breathe new life into that which has become dim.

Faith endures circumstances; faith endures time.

Believe God, again.

Don’t let the sun set on your vision.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

What is Serving?

What is Serving?

Should we, rather should I, serve? If so, then what should I be doing?

Over the nearly 38 years of walking with God, open doors for servant-hood have availed themselves often. Early on I found myself saying “yes” to [too] many open doors. The church George and I are now a part of has many open doors where we could serve. Yesterday the pastor gave an overview of our church’s heart and areas available for serving. After church George and I talked about how we should serve. Usually we’d be having people over for dinner and opening our home for small groups. But we don’t have a house right now. We are building and in the meantime staying with George’s sister 30 miles from the church. Situations where we can’t do what we have always done makes us take a step back and ask again, “Lord, what does serving look like for me in this season? What should I be doing?”

In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 Paul discusses different spiritual gifts. Service is mentioned, as is prophecy, teaching, administration and healings, among others. Is serving then waiting on and investing in your spiritual gifts? Or is serving only for those who have the gift of service? There are some things we should all have a heart for as Christians; widows and orphans would fit into that category.

It is easy to feel unwarranted guilt when areas to serve are discussed. Should I go to the park and help feed the poor? Maybe. I have a gift of prophecy and am finishing up my 2^nd book. I know I’m supposed to be doing both of those, but can they be under the banner of service for me? Furthermore, is evangelism a gift to serve others, as well? Of course. Then does it fit under the banner too? Or is the food pantry, going to the park, cleaning the bathrooms, and sweeping the floor only areas Jesus acknowledges? Don’t get me wrong, our pastor didn’t put the heavy on anyone, rather his message caused us to reflect and reconsider what we are doing.

Are some gifts classified as serving and not others? 1 Peter 4: 10-11 says, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Everyone can and should serve, but where? I believe if you don’t know, ask the Lord to direct you and do something helpful. Sooner or later He will make it clear what gifts you have and where you should specifically be serving. If you do know give yourself to it.

Romans 12 puts it this way, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

And 1 Corinthians 12:14-20, 27-31: “For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

“27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

We may not know where we should serve, but we do know we are to serve. In fact, Jesus said that the greatest was the servant. Even to give a cup of water in His name will be remembered by Him. So, what does serving look like in this season of your life?