Don't Pray for the Holy Spirit... if You Just Want to Warm the Bench

There’s nothing worse than mismatched timing.  It makes us uncomfortable.   It makes us nervous. 
Perhaps, it even makes us feel foolish.  Whatever it makes us feel, we know that something’s not right.

It's like a zoom call where the audio doesn't match the video.  It’s like a choir where the sopranos are three words ahead of the altos who are two notes ahead of the basses and the tenors are “ten or” twelve notes behind everyone.  What a noise!

A car doesn’t run well when the timing is off.  Baking bread either burns or is still raw when the timing is off.  It seems every time we try to use timed bake, the timing is off.  (Actually, I don’t think it ever comes on!)  Relay racers rely on good timing as they pass the baton.  Rock climbers have to have split second accuracy as they leap across a chasm to a miniscule ledge.  And preachers have to have good timing.  (Let ‘em out by 12 and you got it made!)  

But most of us don’t realize that  Christians have to have good timing too.  We need to be “in-synch” with God.  The problem is that many of us are so busy that we fail to recognize what God’s timing is.  And because we are “out-of-synch” with Him, we don’t get done what He’s asking and providing power for us to do.  So, what does it take to be “right on time” with God?

The book of Acts gives us a good clue. Let’s get some background.  Jesus was just about to return to heaven.  But before He left, He described again, to the disciples,  how the Messiah was to suffer and die, and then be resurrected.  He then promised to be with them as they shared these things with the world.

Acts 1:8   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Luke 24:49   I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." 

Jesus is saying that once you are a believer in Him, the first step to getting in touch with His timing is waiting.  Waiting to be clothed with power from the Holy Spirit.  And that’s what the disciples did.  But they did not wait in idleness.

Luke 24:52   Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. 

Acts 1:14   They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 

Neither Acts 1,2 or Luke 24 provide much more detail, and I wanted to find out more.  What was going on there.  The book entitled “The Acts of the Apostles” (AA) helps fill in the details.   In chapter 4, it’s as though the author, Ellen White, were adding color to a picture that was just a sketch.  Let’s fill out the picture.

First, she says (AA)P. 35  “In obedience to Christ’s command, they waited in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father-the outpouring of the Spirit.”    First, they waited.  

Second, (AA) p. 36 says, “As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief.” Wow... They humbled their hearts and confessed unbelief as a sin.

Third, (AA) p. 37 tells us, “The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ.  Putting away all differences, all desires for supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship.”  They prayed for a desire to lead others to Christ, and they put away all their differences and selfishness.

Continuing on-  (AA) p. 37  These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching.  The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul saving. . . . They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls.  They realized that the gospel was to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised.”  They felt their spiritual need, and as a result, they felt a real passion for saving others. 

Then the Holy Spirit came.  Scripture gives us this scene in Acts 2 beginning with verse 1.  “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.   2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.   3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.   4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.   5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.   6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.”

(AA) page 38  “The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples with a fullness that reached every heart. . . .Lost in wonder, the apostles exclaimed, ‘Herein is love.’   They grasped the imparted gift.  And what followed?  The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief.  Thousands were converted in a day.”

There it is in a nutshell.  Wait in obedience for the Holy Spirit.  Humble your heart and confess your unbelief.  Pray with intense earnestness, claiming the promise that the Holy Spirit will be yours.  Accept the gift.  And then . . .warm the pew.    That’s right!  Ask for the Holy Spirit so that you can get that bench just a little warmer.  Yeah- It’s like a teacher of mine once said. . . “grab all you can-can all you grab, and sit on the lid while saying quietly to yourself, ‘I got the Holy Spirit!’ ”

If you think that’s it, think again.  Same author, different book.  A little book called “Christian Service.”    On page 253 it says, “The Holy Spirit won’t be poured out  while a majority sit still.”  Friend, if all you’re wanting to do is keep the pew warm,  they sell battery-operated stadium seat warmers.  You don’t need the Holy Spirit for that.  And my guess is, as long as the seat warmers are available, the Holy Spirit won’t come for that purpose anyway.  Don’t pray for the Holy Spirit if you just want to warm the bench.

(Paraphrase of AA p45) When the disciple were training under Jesus, they were led to feel their need of the Spirit.  He had promised it, told them they needed it, and told them what it was for.  Under the Spirit’s teaching they received the final qualification, and went forth to their lifework.  They were no longer ignorant and uncultured.  No longer were they a collection of independent units or men in conflict with each other.  They  weren’t looking for worldly greatness anymore.  

Instead, they were in harmony with each other.  ch 4:32 says they were “one in heart and mind.”  Christ filled their thoughts; the advancement of His kingdom was their aim.  No bench-warming here.  When the Holy Spirit is granted to  a person, there is no sitting still.  They have to do something.  They have to move.  That’s because the Holy Spirit is a moving agent.  

When Peter got done preaching that day, 3,000 people  came forward for the call.  The Holy Spirit moved through that crowd.   And verse 41 says they were all baptized that day.   I wonder what would happen to the Pastor that had that happen today.   No studies.  No commitment cards.   They felt the Holy Spirit working on them, and they responded.   And the disciples didn’t know any better, so they baptized them.

When the Holy Spirit moves on hearts, there can be no bench-warming.  Things will happen, and the work of God will not sit still, but will go forward with power and conviction.  Those who grasp the gift of the Holy Spirit cannot stay the same.  They will become like Jesus both in thought and in character. 

 Notice Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  What better statement can be made about a person?  

 The disciples were filled with an intense longing to carry forward the work that Jesus had started.  Not out of a sense of dreary, “I-know-I-ought-to-do-this-because-I’m-a-Christian” attitude.  Rather, they had hearts that were supercharged with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching, that it compelled them to go to the ends of the earth testifying to the power of Christ.

They had been brought, through the Holy Spirit, into such close communion with God, that their very words seemed to burn  into the hearts of those listening.  There was an excitement, an aliveness, about them.   The Spirit animated them and spoke through them.  The peace of Christ shone from their faces.  They had consecrated their lives to Him for service, and even their physical features were changed to give evidence that they belonged to Him.

Have you ever wished that could happen again today?  I have to agree with the author of  Acts of the Apostles  when she writes, pg 49 “The promise of the Holy Spirit is not  limited to any age or to any race.  Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end.  To all who have accepted Christ as a personal saviour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide, and witness.  The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer’s love and of His saving grace.”

Do you know why we don’t see these things happening today?  I believe its because we don’t pursue holiness.  As far as God is concerned,  the time period we live in is not the issue.  Christ‘s promise to send the Holy Spirit hasn’t changed.  We have.  We have grown tired of hearing the “same old thing," and so we content ourselves with warming the bench, putting in our time at church, and then going home to watch TV on Saturday night  “where the real action is."   We don’t really appreciate the promise of the Holy Spirit.   We don’t think about Him; don’t ask for Him; don’t expect Him;  and as a result, we don’t get Him! 

And what happens?  The church dies for lack of fire.  No living water.  Spiritual drought and spiritual coldness.  And the tragedy  is,  we like it that way!   We don’t want it to change.    It’s no wonder,  in Rev. 3:16,  that God wants to spew us out.   We wouldn’t know what to do if the Holy Spirit really started a movement  here.  It’s possible that we would  rise up against and squelch it, considering it’s not prone to look like what we expect or have grown use to.  Really, what would you do if 3,000 people suddenly ran in to your church begging to be baptized right now?  

The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children.   We should be asking God daily for His Spirit, because His presence will give our words of truth a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could give.  Do you realize, that if we were a people empowered by the Holy Spirit, Seventh-day Adventists would be known for far more than just the church that  "worships on Saturdays."

We need to be a people known for our passionate pursuit of life lived by the power of the  Holy Spirit.  A people consumed with petitioning God daily for His grace and Spirit to continue working in our lives to make us holy.

Holiness is not just some euphoric experience:  “it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father;  it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting  in His love.” AA p51

Amid the confusion, the striving, the wrestling with life’s questions, the Holy Spirit wants to sustain and give you strength.  When you stand facing your failures and your mistakes, He offers forgiveness and comfort.  When you’re not sure if you want to accept Christ into your life, He pleads in tones of mercy and love.  And if  you’ve just sat warming the pew, He wants you to see that He is ready for action.  

Don’t pray for the Holy Spirit if you just want to warm the bench.  But if you’re tired of the same old dreary cycle of religious meanderings, then start praying.   If you want to be of service and become action-oriented, pray.  If you want power to proclaim and advance the Kingdom of God, pray for the Holy Spirit.  Pray and wait with a humbled heart, as you confess your unbelief.  Claim the promise of Jesus, and grasp the greatest gift since Salvation.  And once you have grasped it, you won’t be able to just sit and warm the pew.   You will be compelled, out of your fullness,  to advance God’s Kingdom.  To seek and bring  salvation to the lost.   To call others out of their boredom with a religious system, and into an aliveness that is true spirituality.

I challenge you to go  today, seeking that experience.  We desperately need those who crave that type of experience.  Those who will pray that God will send His Spirit to empower their work.  That’s when we’ll see a harvest.  That’s when we’ll see the work finished.  That’s when we’ll go home.    And when you talk about God’s timing,  it’s impossible to be more finely-tuned!   For the sake of the Kingdom, seek Him today.

The Wisdom of Worship

Feeling unsettled no matter how much you binge watch or play video games?  Always seem to have that dark sense of foreboding hanging over you when you stop focusing on anything?  Let me take you on a journey back in time, in light of this current coronavirus pandemic, to look at a story in Scripture that I think may help give you a much more peaceful outlook.  So…to the story.

In the early morning light, in the desert of Tekoa, a strange and fascinating scene was unfolding before the eyes of the soldiers as they stared at the oncoming army.  Usually by this time, someone would have sounded the command to attack, but they all stood transfixed in their ranks, listening to the unmistakeable sound of- a choir?  What would a choir be doing out on the battlefield?   Before their question could be answered, suddenly there came warriors out of nowhere.  Fierce. Big. Determined.  With a single slash of a blade, 10 men would fall.  Panic.  Run for your life.  Kill or be killed.  And the once formidable army became a terror-filled, “every-man-for-himself” retreat.

In the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 20, a fascinating story is recorded that every Christian should acquaint themselves with.   On different boards and committees, we often worry about what type of precedent a given vote might set.  This story contains a number of key decisions that I think would serve as precedents for the modern Christian.  So let me share with you 2 Chronicles 20 beginning with verse 1.  I’ve chosen to use the New Living Translation for it’s easy readability.

1After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites^a declared war on Jehoshaphat. ²Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom^a is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.^bThey are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)

This was no run-of-the-mill army. These were long time enemies that wanted to settle old scores. These were the children of Esau wanting to do in the children of Jacob, now named Israel.   In fact, they wanted nothing less than to wipe the Israelites right off the map.  And now they had joined forces with other countries around them and were descending, even now to leave a path of death and destruction in their wake.  And word reaches Jehosphaphat, and the message is very clear…”YOU are a DEAD MAN Big J!”

Oh, great!  What a day-brightener.   Ever have one of those kind of days?  You’re doing fine until someone comes and says,  “There are three known cases of the Coronavirus that have been identified to have been in the same building you were in.”  Or “You’re  Corvid-19 test came back positive.” Or it could be more along the lines of general life, “You owe $4,000 more in taxes.”  Or “There’s been a terrible accident…”

No matter how it comes, bad news seems to always catch us off guard.  It causes our knees to go weak, our stomach to develop a pit of anxiety, and our mind to start racing.  We immediately start trying to… what?  Figure out what we are going to do.   We start checking our savings accounts, calling to see if we can get our credit limit extended, or looking for the name of the best doctor available.  Anything we can do to help us out of the bind.  And most of us won’t stop until we have arrived at some form of a solution.  But notice what Jehoshaphat did.

Precedent # 1.  v.3Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. Jehoshaphat was human.  He developed the pit in the bottom of his stomach.  But his reaction was far different than many of ours would be.  He begged the LORD for guidance, and then proclaimed a fast, so they could have clear minds to hear whatever God was saying.  In short, he took his problem to the Lord in prayer.  He didn’t just complain about what a difficult situation he was in and then whiningly hope that others would pray for him or that it would somehow work out.  He went directly to the Throne, himself.  Immediately.

 v.4 ⁴ So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help.

2Chr. 20:5      Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD. ⁶ He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!

Notice his approach. (He first acknowledges God’s greatness.  He says, “I know that you can do anything.)  

 v. ⁷ O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? ⁸ Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. ⁹ They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war,^a plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’

(He refers back to a prior agreement that God had already made with His people.  He claims a promise, as it were.)

  2Chr. 20:10   “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. ¹¹ Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. ¹² O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. (He acknowledges that he has neither the resources nor the strength to fight the battle.) We do not know what to do, (and here’s the kicker) but we are looking to you for help.”  

The New International Version says: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” Not focused tightly on the problem, but on God.   

Precedent #2.  They choose to wait.  They have made their request known to God, and now they wait and trust that God will do what He has promised.  Jehoshaphat knew that no matter what befell he and his people, if they would simply turn and seek the Lord, God would take care of things.  It takes humbling oneself, acknowledging that you have neither the answer or the direction, but enough faith to know that if you will but wait, God will deliver on his Word.  Not only the leader, but his entire people stood there before the Lord.

Nothing is needed more in the Church right now, than for Christians to stand humbly before the Lord.  No pretense.  No politics.  No power plays.  Just prayer and faith-filled hearts that He will provide.  When we wait, He answers.  Let’s go back to the story.

v. 13 As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children, ¹⁴ the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.

V15   He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷ But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”

How do you respond to a message like that?  Wouldn’t it be great in the face of this virus and life’s uncertainty for the Lord to say, “Stand still and watch the Lord’s victory.”  I believe He is.  

But wait, Pastor Don…what was the point of going out if they didn’t need to fight?  What is the point of  taking up their positions and then standing still?

In the midst of the waiting, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have to do anything.  We need to continue to be obedient to what God has asked of us.  He has asked us to bring courage to those around us, and in the going out, or in this case, the staying home yet with peace and sharing that, that may lead others to find peace as well.  We practice common sense and precautions, yes, but it also means that we acknowledge we don’t have the resources, the knowledge, the wisdom, nor anything else to make a difference in the outcome.  We are trusting and waiting on God.  And in the waiting, notice how Jehoshaphat and his people respond.

Precedent #3.  They worship.  v.18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD. ¹⁹ Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.  

This wasn’t just half-hearted worship while wondering how the roast in the oven was doing.  This was full-blown, “we-have-an-answer-from-God-so-get-up-and-shout” type worship.  It was a celebration-type of worship-(of course I’m sure they didn’t use drums-ha).  But notice something here.  This celebration of worship happened before God had even delivered them. 

They got peace in their hearts on the issue and went ahead and rejoiced because they knew He would do what He promised.  They were joyous because they knew that no matter how scary the problem had seemed a few minutes ago, that whole picture just changed when God came on the scene.  Those Moabites and Ammonites and Meunites were a mighty big force, but when God walks in, their party’s over!

No matter how dark your picture looks, no matter how scary, or hopeless, or bleak, when God gives you an answer, it’s time to celebrate, because we know that He’s going to do exactly what He says.  Don’t sit there whimpering, “Oh, I hope it works out.  Oh, I hope He does what He promised.”   If you have prayed, if you have waited, if you have gotten an answer, from the wealth of promises in scripture, or from the Holy Spirit impressing you, then go ahead and throw a worship party. He’ll do what He promises when you can hold on by faith.

When you can learn that type of spiritual walk, the Holy Spirit will empower you to be a mighty, dynamic and effective witness for His cause. People will take note of the life you live.  Jesus wants to empower us to do His work.  He wants to make us powerful witnesses.  When you and I can learn to wait for His empowerment, trusting that He will make good on His promises,  great things will always happen.  Back to 2 Chron.

20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”  21After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the LORD;

his faithful love endures forever!”

Now this just blows my mind.  The king consults the people and they all agree that the best thing they can do is put the choir out in front of the army.   They want to show that they are not worried about the Lord keeping His promise.   And some of the choir boys probably said, “Yeah, that’s easy for you to say”, but the very fact that they went out first speaks of their confidence in the saving power of the Lord.  They saw wisdom in worshipping.  They realized that their worship brought their salvation.  

Can you imagine the enemy army.  They look up through the clear desert air and see. . .a choir?  

“That can’t be a choir.   It’s a mirage- just a vision.  Fairly realistic though, because I can hear music too.   We been out here too long!”

 22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. ²³ The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. ²⁴ So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

Precedent #4: They watched the Lord’s deliverance.

When God grants victory, He truly grants victory.  Did you know that in light of your own salvation, that’s all you can do?  Pray, wait, worship and watch.  Pray for forgiveness and seek deliverance from sin.  Wait as the Lord works in you to will and to do His good pleasure, worship Him for His goodness, His mercy and love, and watch Him take you to heights that have been unattainable to you.

Whenever you face trials of every kind, know you can find peace through His chosen route.  Pray for deliverance, wait, trusting in Him, worship Him, watch His mighty deliverance.   

In our current crisis, we have received the bad news. There is a new plague among us! We can panic and freak out, or we can practice the precautions we do know and turn our eyes towards God.  Are we praying?  And in the current crisis, there is nothing we can do but wait…it has been mandated.  But are you just waiting it out or waiting on God?  

What you do next will determine the amount of peace you experience.  Why not Worship?  I’m convinced if we would follow Jehoshaphat’s example, God would be able to bring about victory after victory in our life. Fears would melt away.  Doubts would flee.  Long-term rivalries would end, and forgiveness would begin to flow where once only grudges resided.  And yes, your trust in God would grow exponentially.  Worship takes us out of the present and transports us to the throne of Grace.  No matter what the circumstances, there is wisdom in worshipping God.   

There is no wiser course we can set but to worship.  Not  ho-hum worship, but worship that lifts the soul heavenward.  Worship that we participate in that allows us to experience God’s forgiveness, acceptance, love and yes, His peace.   Worship that has at its very core, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Worship that allows our hearts to dance with the joy of His victory.  And when you participate in that kind of worship, it will be said of you, as it was of the Apostles in Acts 3:13,  that “these men had been with Jesus.”

If we are worshipping, we are already demonstrating that we believe His deliverance is coming. Watch for His deliverance. It may not be in the form that we imagine…because God seldom does the expected.  It may not even be in the form of protecting us from the Coronavirus or from dying.  Even in the face of death, I can have peace knowing that God will bring about our ultimate deliverance!

Let’s finish our story.   25  King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing,^a and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! ²⁶ On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing,^a which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the LORD there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.

27   Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the LORD had given them victory over their enemies. ²⁸ They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the LORD.

29   When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the LORD himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. ³⁰ So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 

When you pray, wait, worship and watch, the Lord brings to you blessings.  And the most important blessing is the ability to have peace when everyone else is freaking out.  Had Jehoshaphat stopped with the collection of the plunder, he would have missed the greatest blessing of all.  But because he saw Wisdom in Worship, God granted he and his country the greatest blessing, peace on every side.   

And friend, if you’ll put into practice God’s way, seeing the wisdom of worship no matter how dark or scary your circumstances may seem, that’s exactly what He will give you.  I’m praying that peace for you this day!

Hurry Up and Wait! Expect Delays!

Ever played that game?  The "hurry up and wait" game?  I was playing it on the freeway from Atlanta just this afternoon.  I was zipping in and out of traffic, trying to get past all of the slow cars, only to get 5 miles up the road where a lane was shut down because a car had caught on fire...and as all of the traffic came to a standstill, I found myself waiting...in the middle of it...unable to move!  Frustrating...but there was nothing I could do about it except embrace it.  I was where I was and no amount of wishing would move me an inch closer or a minute faster towards my goal.

I began to think of all the times I play the "hurry up and wait" game and how it really is rather stupid.  Yet I do it all the time.  Like on airplanes.  As soon as the aircraft comes to a complete stop and the little bong sound chimes, I've got that seat belt off, standing up and grabbing my items from the overhead bin like I'm headed to a fire.  The only problem is--everyone else is doing the same thing.  And usually, I'm about 3/4 of the way back, so I have to wait for the whole plane to unload before I can even pick my stuff up.

Or when I'm shopping at Wal-Mart and I only have 15 items (or less)--and I see some elderly grandma with a hand full of coupons and a full grocery cart, meandering towards the same lane I had already picked out.  If I can get away with it, I accelerate rapidly and try to get in ahead of her.  If it is too close to call, and I might get called for being a rude pastor, I back off and start checking all of the other lines to see if there might be some hope of getting in a faster lane.

But I noticed that I'm not alone.  You do it too!  What's THAT all about?  As I sat in traffic today I pondered that question.

I think it comes when we begin to view the world through the eyes of "how will this affect ME?"  And if it affects me adversely, the "I don't like this one bit!"  My focus suddenly shifts from how others are affected to how I'm affected and my selfish nature takes over.  I  become the center of my universe and though I may have a tinge of empathy for the poor person who's car went up in flames, I was more than relieved when the tow truck got it hefted up on top and drove off, clearing the rest of us to accelerate back to normal (and in many cases, above normal) speeds.

I, however, didn't try to zig and zag out of traffic any longer, as I continued to ponder the question: Just what is it about ME that I think I deserve to have life always go my way all of the time?  Just why do I tend to get so upset when I get into the "hurry up" mindset and then am forced to wait?  But most importantly...How do I STOP the "hurry up and wait" mentality in the first place?  How can I come to the point of "going with the flow" instead of blowing my top?

The sign may say "expect delays" but instead of learning to accept that and adjusting my life to reality, I always seem to be shocked when I find myself facing delays.  I grow angry and outraged that my world is being affected.  That I am being forced to wait still again. 

Yet, on the other hand, I readily admit that I want to make a difference in life.  I want my life to have purpose and meaning. That I want my life to count for the cause of God.

Is it conceivable that my expectations are unrealistic?  Can I really have it both ways?  Can I be "king of the road" and serve another King at the same time? Could it be that the reason  I get so upset at the "hurry up and wait" game is because I believe, deep down, without question, that it really should be all about me after all?  Of course I would never say it out loud...or would I?  Perhaps my loudly yelling at the other "idiots on the road", or muttering and sighing loudly as grandma goes through all of her coupons is my subtle way of telling the world that I sincerely believe that I really should be the most important person in the room or on the road?

Wasn't it Jesus who really addressed the problem head on when his disciples asked the question about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom?  Do you remember what Jesus told them?

Matt 20:25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Among you it will be different!  Is it possible that the delays of life could actually aid me in developing meaning and purpose?  Could it be that God designed the delays because He is more interested in my holiness than He is my happiness?  Is my whining and complaining really only showing God where MY heart is rather than pointing out how stupid everyone else appears to me or how they bother me, or even annoy and disgust me?  I think so.  The angry, griping, or whiney words I say really are more a statement about me and where my heart is than it is about those who annoy me.  And scripture would bear this out.

Luke 6:45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

So how you and I handle the "hurry up and wait" game really reveals our hearts as well as our characters.  I don't know about you...but I want what flows from my heart to reveal a Savior, not a slime ball.  A character of distinction rather than corruption.  A heart full of love for God and others, not so focused on myself that my short-sightedness eclipses someone else's view of God.  Which brings to mind one other text...

Is. 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Teach me Lord, to wait!  And then let me soar!

Go

What are you passionate about?  What is it that you just can’t live without?  What is it that you love doing so much that you would let everything else go because of it?  Pretty strong question, isn’t it?  As a Christian, we think we know what our answer is supposed to be.  We’re like the little boy in Sabbath School who, when the teacher asked, “Boys and girls, what is gray and has a bushy tail and scampers everywhere?”  said, “Well, I know the answer is Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.”

We’ve done the same thing in the church.  When we ask the question, “what does it mean to Go?” we often find ourselves giving the answer we think we should give, rather than what we really think.  We give the answer we’ve been given for years because it fits into our personal Theological framework and many of us have already written this posting off, because we think we’ve heard this one before.  Don’t write me off too quickly.  You might want to read all the way to the end and see if your concept doesn’t change at least a little bit.

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I have heard and believed that text all of my life.  But somewhere in my growing up years, I got a bit warped…(what? Let me finish) I got a bit warped in my thinking about what it meant to Go and preach the gospel or to go and witness.  When I look back at those years, there were a lot of people who tried to tell me or show me…but I’m not sure they had it all right.

In my earliest years, I remember being handed a can that said “Ingathering” on it.  Those of you who are older Seventh-day Adventist will remember this.  And to really help me out, someone would put a dollar in the can that would just stick out of the top so that it was like a subliminal suggestion to give dollars rather than just your change.  So they would put this can in my hands with the “bait” money sticking up and they would walk with me to the door and ring the doorbell and when someone answered, I was supposed to say, “Hi, I’m a little missionary out working for Jesus. We are collecting money to help those who are less fortunate. Would you be kind enough to help us?”  Of course, implying that if they were indeed a kind person, they would help…and likewise, if they didn’t help, they must not be kind.  Then we would go back to the church to drink hot chocolate and count the evenings haul.  And we could say that we had obeyed Jesus command to Go.

When I was a bit older, I joined that wonderful organization that just about anyone growing up Adventist has been a part of at one time or another: Pathfinders.  I loved Pathfinders.   What do you do with a group of 9-12 year olds on a Sabbath afternoon that will keep them out of trouble, and perhaps even advance the gospel?  I don’t know who thought of this, but at the time I thought it was sheer genius.  Literature bombing.  You read that right.  Literature bombing.  I think it came out of World War II, but I can’t be sure.  We would spend the first hour or so in the Pathfinder room taking all the stacks of leftover Little Friends, Primary Treasures, Junior Guides, and back then—here’s my age showing—The Youth Instructor, which predated Insight Magazine—we would take all of those stacks and start rolling them into well designed missiles, suitable for throwing.  We would have a younger kids box—Little Friends, Primary Treasures and maybe a Jr. Guide rolled together.  And an older kids box.  Jr. Guide and Youth Instructors rolled together.  Then we also would take some old people’s literature, like the Signs of the Times or Liberty Magazines that had been laying around the church for awhile and roll those together for any adults we might happen upon.

This first step was very important, so we took it seriously, knowing that the fun was about to begin, if we prepared carefully.  Once all of our missives were rolled into missiles, we would pile into staff members cars—always wearing our Class A uniform, of course—to give the proper impression and show that we were an official organization—and, I think, to let our parents know that the money spent on uniforms was well worth it.  So we would pile into cars with a staff member who had worked with the other staff members to divide up the territory—and then we would drive through the neighborhoods, hanging out the windows of the car, spotting hapless victims…er potential church members, size up their age, ask the munitions officer for the proper payload, and then prepare to unleash a missile, trying, of course not to hit them…but to get it close enough to them that their natural curiosity would cause them to go over and pick it up.  Ok…we tried to hit them…though we were told not to.  That was part of the fun for a 10 year-old boy.

So the idea was that they would get this literature, read it, be converted, find the nearest  Adventist church, which would be ours, of course, and come begging to join.  I can’t remember that ever happening, but I remember going home being praised for going out and “spreading the gospel like the leaves of autumn.”  Boy did we ever.  No bombing crew in a B-51 could have taken more pride and joy in unloading their bombs than we.  And back at the Pathfinder room, we would share our stories with joy of how we had “accidentally hit that one guy mowing his grass while shouting God loves you.”  We had truly witnessed.

As I grew older, it was Park Evangelism, where we stood by a booth covered with psychedelic posters and sang, “They will know we are Christians by our love”—All the while hating being out there…but doing our duty.  No one ever came to ask us why we were so happy.  Imagine.

In Sabbath School, they always took a few moments at the beginning of class to see how your personal witnessing was going as they went through a checklist of good things you might have done.  And of course you didn’t brag about it…you just held up the appropriate number of fingers so that the recording secretary could write it down and  hope the totals from your class beat the totals from the other classes.

Person’s Helped.  Number of items of food given away.  Articles of clothing distributed.  Literature distributed. That’s where I would rack up on the Sabbath after literature bombing…I didn’t have enough fingers so would have to politely say 57 or some such number, as the adults would nod approvingly.  Hours spent laboring for others.  And the biggie: Number of Bible Studies given.   And we could go home feeling like we were spiritual because of all of the things we had done.

No where in my growing up years was I introduced to the idea that Jesus called us to BE a witness, not just DO witnessing activities.  No where did the church really tell me that it was more about who I was than what I did.  As long as I looked good, I must be good.  Never mind that my heart was rotten to the core.  Never mind that my thoughts were impure or filled with anger and hate.  If I presented well, I was labeled a good Christian.  And believe me, I learned to wear the mask well.

I could go out and witness with the best of them.  I could help when the evangelist came to town by passing out Bibles and then collecting them again at the end of the meeting until someone came so many nights and then they would be given that Bible.  Never mind the fact that the whole time the evangelist was preaching, I was trying out my moves on Linda or Holly or Rhonda or whoever happened to be forced to come by their parents.  My thinking was warped.  I thought you could do whatever you wanted to do, as long as you told people about Jesus when it was on the schedule.

I never got the connection between the head and the heart.  I just learned to play the game and I did whatever it was we were supposed to do—most of the time hating every minute of it.  I had no passion for witnessing.  I had no passion for Jesus.  I didn’t even have a passion for the church.  I just had a fear of it and of a God who could send me to hell if I didn’t have my act together.

And then I met Jesus.  I had heard all about Him, but never really met Him.  And I fell in love with a Savior who could take the worst in me, wrap it in love and dissolve it, leaving me forgiven and free.  I began to understand that He already knew me to my core and He loved me anyway.  He really wanted to save me.  And when I began to understand that, I began to get a passion for sharing.

When Sandy and I began dating, I was real wary, because I had been dumped 6 times in a row by 6 different young ladies that I thought loved me.  That’s another blog for another time.  But I was wary.  I wanted to take it really slow.  Those of you who know Sandy know that she has an infectious smile and you can get lost in the warmth of her eyes.  You know that she is compassionate to a fault.  She really cares about people.  She genuinely loves from the depth of her being.  That’s who she is.  And I fell in love.  I couldn’t help it.  And let me tell you—it was easy to talk about her to just about anyone who would listen.  It’s still easy to talk about her.  

I love Sandy for who she is so I don’t mind sharing.  It’s not a hardship.  It grows out of our relationship.  I love Jesus for who He is—and it gives me joy to share Him with people.  Especially struggling people.  Because I have a love relationship with Jesus, it has changed who I am as a person.  Witnessing comes AFTER I know Him and love Him.  It comes from who I am…it’s not just something I do.  I do those things because He loves me and I love Him…not in order to gain points in hopes that something might click and suddenly I’ll feel like witnessing.

The disciples had spent 3 and a half years with Jesus.  Jesus wanted them to know what He was like.  To learn to trust Him.  To learn to love Him as well as His ways.  Jesus knew that if they were ever to share the story about the love the Father has for this world, they would have to experience it first-hand.  But He also knew they needed more than that.  And so do we, if we are going to go out successfully.

 Acts 1:4-8 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  6   So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  7   He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus said, “Go back to Jerusalem and wait.”  Why?  So they could receive the Holy Spirit.  Was it time spent in idle waiting?  No.  It was a time of repentance,  confession, finding forgiveness and continuing to seek what the Lord would have each of them do.  Then the Holy Spirit came.

Notice vs 8 again. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you AND you will BE my witnesses.  Did you catch that?  Holy Spirit first—brings you power AND you will BE.  Holy Spirit—you will BE.  Nice Pastor Don, but what does that mean?  It means that if you haven’t waited for the Holy Spirit to empower your life and your work, you are just DOING rather than being!  It means that you are not really being His witness, but instead are just doing witnessing events.  Doing without Being will burn you out faster than anything else in the spiritual life.  If you haven’t become a witness through the power of the Holy Spirit, and you are just doing things for the sake of witnessing—stop.

You heard me right.  Stop.  Because you and I can do more damage to the cause of God than help it if we are trying to do God’s work in our own strength.  These two—waiting on the power of the Holy Spirit and then being a witness…or a channel of hope for God to work through, are interlinked.  They must go hand in hand.  It is a cycle that is the pattern for holiness.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit—BE a witness.  Witnessing is not something you DO—it’s who you are!  And either you are taking the time to wait on the Lord for His Holy Spirit or you aren’t.  Either you are becoming a witness through His strength or you’re not.  They go hand in hand.

Wait-Go.  Wait-Go.  Wait on the Holy Spirit, Go out in His power.  It has to be a daily cycle.  If you go out before you wait, you risk misrepresenting God to the world around you.  Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, if that’s what a Christian is, then I want no part of it!”?  That’s because they are looking at a Christian who has gone out before he/she has waited.  They are looking at a Christian trying to make it on their own power instead of God’s.  That should be our weekly cycle as well. Come and fellowship, find renewal and new strength in the power of the Spirit—and then go.  Go out to the world and live as one who can bring hope and light to your workplace, to your home and to your neighbors. 

When you go out in the power of the Holy Spirit, you won’t have to work at witnessing.  It will come naturally.  The Holy Spirit will give you the right words to speak at the right time.  Luke 12:11-12 11   “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,  12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” 

If He’ll do it at those times, why wouldn’t He do it when you are seeking to share Him with someone else?  If you have taken the time to wait on the Holy Spirit, then of course He will.  But you have to wait before you go out.  You have to be filled before you try to work.  Think about it: You can’t give something you don’t have. 

The disciples understood this.  Though they were still tempted by their old sins and habits, they daily waited for the Holy Spirit and then moved out.  Author Ellen White,  in her book, Acts of the Apostles, pg 49, 50 says this:  Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.

Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit's working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled. As in humility they submitted to the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the divine.

Yeah, but Pastor Don, that was then…this is now.  Take a look at the next paragraph.

The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ's parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfillment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude.

So there it is.  If you want to go forth to be a witness with power, you must ask for the Holy Spirit.  If you find your spiritual walk dry or dying…you need to go back to waiting.  Once you’ve been renewed by the Spirit, then move from that position of power out into a dying world.  Then they will listen.  Then they will drawn to Jesus.  Then they will accept.  Then they will be saved.  Go…but go in the power of the Spirit.  If you try to go out any other way…you are not moving forward.  You are simply asking for defeat.  It's like a car revving its engine while in neutral.  A whole lot of noise, but no forward momentum.

Are you putting God’s power to work…or just sitting in neutral? Go.  Not from a guilty conscience, but from an overflowing heart.  Go.  Not because you have to, but because you want to. Go. But only after you Wait.  Go…but make sure you are going in the power of the Lord. Go, Jesus said, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”