Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Kingdom Opportunism by Andy Taylor
An ‘opportunist’ is someone who takes advantage of someone else’s misfortune for his own benefit. But I believe there’s such a thing as ‘kingdom’ opportunism. I’ll explain. There are many times when individuals or families are going through severe trials. It may be that someone in the family has died. Maybe someone is in the hospital for serious surgery. It might be a house fire that destroys everything a family owns. Maybe a negligent dad has walked away from his marriage leaving a mother and children with no income. Well, an opportunist would seize the situation. He would find a way to take advantage of the misfortune to benefit himself. But ‘kingdom opportunism’ is altogether different. As kingdom people we should also seize the situation. But in our case, what we should do is find a way to show them the kingdom! It’s our opportunity to show them by our conduct, our care and our concern how God is! We should be on the lookout for those who are experiencing misfortune in their lives. We should be aggressive and take the initiative to help them with whatever need that they might have. There are so many people out there who don’t have anyone around them to give them spiritual stability. For some….no one is praying for them. Nobody is there to give them the help that they need. In many cases….nobody cares! God cares! He cares very deeply and if we are acquiring His heart we will also be caring. What is keeping us from doing it now? Is it a lack of time? Is it finances? Is it the lack of knowing just what to do? Do we expect someone else to do it. Just what is it? Why can’t the church just do what the church was designed to do?
I believe that these are some of the very people who will do valiant exploits in the name of the Lord in these last days. But who will rescue them? Who will be the advocate for the poor? Some churches just take the ‘comers’. But there will be some who ‘go after’ those who are in dire straits. Oh, and the other thing…..the help has to be given with no strings attached! The help should be ‘from the heart’ and from a desire to show them the kingdom! God can sort the rest of it out!
An ‘opportunist’ is someone who takes advantage of someone else’s misfortune for his own benefit. But I believe there’s such a thing as ‘kingdom’ opportunism. I’ll explain. There are many times when individuals or families are going through severe trials. It may be that someone in the family has died. Maybe someone is in the hospital for serious surgery. It might be a house fire that destroys everything a family owns. Maybe a negligent dad has walked away from his marriage leaving a mother and children with no income. Well, an opportunist would seize the situation. He would find a way to take advantage of the misfortune to benefit himself. But ‘kingdom opportunism’ is altogether different. As kingdom people we should also seize the situation. But in our case, what we should do is find a way to show them the kingdom! It’s our opportunity to show them by our conduct, our care and our concern how God is! We should be on the lookout for those who are experiencing misfortune in their lives. We should be aggressive and take the initiative to help them with whatever need that they might have. There are so many people out there who don’t have anyone around them to give them spiritual stability. For some….no one is praying for them. Nobody is there to give them the help that they need. In many cases….nobody cares! God cares! He cares very deeply and if we are acquiring His heart we will also be caring. What is keeping us from doing it now? Is it a lack of time? Is it finances? Is it the lack of knowing just what to do? Do we expect someone else to do it. Just what is it? Why can’t the church just do what the church was designed to do?
I believe that these are some of the very people who will do valiant exploits in the name of the Lord in these last days. But who will rescue them? Who will be the advocate for the poor? Some churches just take the ‘comers’. But there will be some who ‘go after’ those who are in dire straits. Oh, and the other thing…..the help has to be given with no strings attached! The help should be ‘from the heart’ and from a desire to show them the kingdom! God can sort the rest of it out!
Labels: Benefit, Kingdom, Misfortune, Need, Opportunism
Blessings or Tests? by Andy Taylor
The Christian Life is a life of paradox. To really live in Christ you must die to yourself. To be great you must serve. To receive, you must give. To be exalted, you must be humble. And the list goes on and on. Looking back over my last twenty years of learning to walk with the Lord there is an incredible pattern that has existed. Looking back at those times when I was undergoing intense testing and trials, those times now appear clearly to be times of great blessing. And, equally as bizarre, now looking back at the times of blessing, it’s obvious….they were tests! The tests of our lives are truly blessings. It is during those times that we are tempered under the pressure of God. Something that is absolutely necessary if we are going to grow to spiritual maturity. I’m more serious about prayer when I’m being tested. I press in to my relationship with the Father more when I am being tested. I have really gotten to know the Father in times of testing. I just learn more when I am being tested. Looking back, it’s those times that have served to bring maturity and character in my life. Testing produces humility. With that perspective, I’d have to say that those intense tests have been some of the greatest blessings that I have experienced in my life.
On the other hand there are those times when the blessings of God are flowing! Prayers are being answered. God’s voice is easy to hear. Ministry is effective. Relationships are easier and without any serious problems. The bills are all paid. Everything seems to be working perfectly. So, here’s the test: Can I really be trusted with the abundant blessings of God? Can I remain focused on my relationship with Him and the things that matter most when everything is so perfect? Will I be grateful to the people who might bless me with gifts or services? Or will I begin to expect it? Will I cross that line of genuine servanthood to ‘professional’ ministry where I expect people to serve me? Will I, all of a sudden, think more highly of myself than I ought to think? Are you getting the picture? It would do us good to think about these things and to, at least, realize that we are at risk. Blessings bring the potential for pride. It’s the flesh…..and it’s not far from any of us.
So, you see, the blessings that we experience are some of the greatest tests of our Christian lives. I’m just like you… I love the times of blessing but I honestly realize that the times of testing are probably better for me.
The Christian Life is a life of paradox. To really live in Christ you must die to yourself. To be great you must serve. To receive, you must give. To be exalted, you must be humble. And the list goes on and on. Looking back over my last twenty years of learning to walk with the Lord there is an incredible pattern that has existed. Looking back at those times when I was undergoing intense testing and trials, those times now appear clearly to be times of great blessing. And, equally as bizarre, now looking back at the times of blessing, it’s obvious….they were tests! The tests of our lives are truly blessings. It is during those times that we are tempered under the pressure of God. Something that is absolutely necessary if we are going to grow to spiritual maturity. I’m more serious about prayer when I’m being tested. I press in to my relationship with the Father more when I am being tested. I have really gotten to know the Father in times of testing. I just learn more when I am being tested. Looking back, it’s those times that have served to bring maturity and character in my life. Testing produces humility. With that perspective, I’d have to say that those intense tests have been some of the greatest blessings that I have experienced in my life.
On the other hand there are those times when the blessings of God are flowing! Prayers are being answered. God’s voice is easy to hear. Ministry is effective. Relationships are easier and without any serious problems. The bills are all paid. Everything seems to be working perfectly. So, here’s the test: Can I really be trusted with the abundant blessings of God? Can I remain focused on my relationship with Him and the things that matter most when everything is so perfect? Will I be grateful to the people who might bless me with gifts or services? Or will I begin to expect it? Will I cross that line of genuine servanthood to ‘professional’ ministry where I expect people to serve me? Will I, all of a sudden, think more highly of myself than I ought to think? Are you getting the picture? It would do us good to think about these things and to, at least, realize that we are at risk. Blessings bring the potential for pride. It’s the flesh…..and it’s not far from any of us.
So, you see, the blessings that we experience are some of the greatest tests of our Christian lives. I’m just like you… I love the times of blessing but I honestly realize that the times of testing are probably better for me.
Labels: Blessing, Die, Grow, Live, Tempered, Testing, Trials
Spiritual Warfare #3
The Weapons of our Warfare by Andy Taylor
“For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3
Paul addressed the subject of spiritual warfare more than a few times. It seems that he wanted to impress upon the readers of his letters the fact that they are actually in a war. This war is a real war! There are casualties in this war. The casualties in this war are lost to darkness forever. The enemy first tries to keep us from salvation. Then if we get saved he tries to keep us from the best that God has for us. And hopefully he can get us marooned in a dead church where nothing is happening to advance the kingdom. Here, many lose heart, lose enthusiasm and the joy of their salvation. Their only hope is to someday end up in heaven. Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m for heaven and I’m looking forward to it and the mystery of what the Father has planned for our eternity. But what about now? What about from now until we actually experience heaven. Being in a dead church with nothing supernatural happening sounds pretty boring to me. I’m so ….. not interested!
The good news is that God’s plan is much more exciting than that. The good news is that the supernatural is available to us. It’s part of the payoff of trusting God by faith. When the sick are healed and demons are cast out….boredom is nowhere to be found. The kingdom is coming…either with us or without us. This is why the enemy fights against us. He hates the kingdom, hates it with a passion. I don’t know about you but I’m going for the kingdom. I’m going for it with everything that’s in me. I’m swinging for the fence. It’s why we’re here!
The Weapons of our Warfare by Andy Taylor
“For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3
Paul addressed the subject of spiritual warfare more than a few times. It seems that he wanted to impress upon the readers of his letters the fact that they are actually in a war. This war is a real war! There are casualties in this war. The casualties in this war are lost to darkness forever. The enemy first tries to keep us from salvation. Then if we get saved he tries to keep us from the best that God has for us. And hopefully he can get us marooned in a dead church where nothing is happening to advance the kingdom. Here, many lose heart, lose enthusiasm and the joy of their salvation. Their only hope is to someday end up in heaven. Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m for heaven and I’m looking forward to it and the mystery of what the Father has planned for our eternity. But what about now? What about from now until we actually experience heaven. Being in a dead church with nothing supernatural happening sounds pretty boring to me. I’m so ….. not interested!
The good news is that God’s plan is much more exciting than that. The good news is that the supernatural is available to us. It’s part of the payoff of trusting God by faith. When the sick are healed and demons are cast out….boredom is nowhere to be found. The kingdom is coming…either with us or without us. This is why the enemy fights against us. He hates the kingdom, hates it with a passion. I don’t know about you but I’m going for the kingdom. I’m going for it with everything that’s in me. I’m swinging for the fence. It’s why we’re here!
Labels: Flesh, Strongholds, Walk, War, Weapons
