Sensitivity to His Manifestation

© All rights reserved Photo by walwilrob on January 28, 2011

Dejected leaders...

Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest about Spiritual Dejection. At first glance my thoughts waivered on the relevance of this devotion to my own spiritual life. How could I be spiritually dejected? However, the conviction was incredibly strong. Many leaders tend to think of themselves more highly than they ought to. Thus, the result is an over active vocabulary and an underactive outreach. In fact, I have found out as a leader that I am no more qualified than the students I lead- the only difference is spiritual maturity and acceptance of the Holy Spirits guidance- spiritual discernment.

Wash whose feet…?

This morning, Amanda and I were discussing John 13: 1-17. Our discussion led to the relevance of Jesus washing His disciple’s feet.

-Was it only an example?

-What was Jesus actually showing them… that they should wash other’s feet too?

In all of this, we came to the resolution when Jesus explained, - "the master is not greater than his servant, nor is the servant greater than the master". Jesus was explaining the simple spirit of humility. No matter how big your following is; no matter how spiritual you may be or the amount of spiritual gifts you exercise- you are never greater than those you lead. This was Jesus’ great teaching to His disciples just before His last moments on earth. So, how does this discussion of washing feet connect with Spiritual Dejection?

It’s all because of me…!

I am quick to blame others for the cause of my rash affections. "They said this... or They did that…" Whether I am depressed, angry or any other outwardly distressed emotion- it is because I have allowed it. What’s more is the Holy Spirit provides copious amounts of restraint against such. Jesus was the ultimate example of a leader- obviously. He always retaliated with a more than appropriate tone and words that stopped the onslaught of hindrances but yet had a clear mind to teach His disciples. That is desire of my pursuit- TO BE LIKE CHRIST!

Dejected!

If we are not careful we will become numb to the Holy Spirit’s convictions. Becoming numb to such will only lead to hardened hearts and decreased sensitivity. Loosing sensitivity causes us to fall out of love with the Father due to our inability to clearly hear and see God’s direction. To sum this up, dejection is completely onset by our flesh superseding the Spirit.

What dejection have you dealt with lately? I’d love to hear and read your comments.

Spiritual Disposition



© All rights reserved Photo by Rolex823 11/9/2009

Lately, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect upon my position of spirituality. I have asked myself several questions:

1. Am I seeking God’s will for my life, or am I only seeking God’s blessings? 2. How is my attitude affecting or influencing others?  3. Are my students seeing me as a leader or a spiritual dead head?

In all of the questions above, what conclusion have I come to- I AM NOT EVEN CLOSE! I am not even close to attaining my Father’s perfect will.

Often times, Christians are overly distressed at the sound of "God’s Will". We tend to think that this is a far off galaxy like realm that is unattainable. This is when spirituality begins to decay. Often times, believers feel "if I can’t obtain God’s will I’ll make my own". We start to think of programs and ideas that will satisfy our spiritual decay- essentially filling the void of what we have stopped being sensitive to. I want this post to encourage all believers, that God’s perfect will for you life is not unattainable. It is very much achievable. In fact, God desires for His children to find His will for their lives. It is only through persistent pursuit of God’s will that His Kingdom will advance.

Like many believers I have fought fleshly emotions to give up during strife. Unfortunately many believers have given in to the falsehood that disagreement from others means that you’re out of God’s will. Or, that dissimilarity means that you’re operating in the flesh- because everyone should be on board if its God’s will… right? WRONG!

In my experience- disagreement from others (in many cases, not all)  confirms a direction, vision or idea. Jesus did not aim to please people or satisfy their desires- His goal was to complete God’s will for His life and that’s exactly what He did!

Recently, God gave me a great vision of the church and the believers thereof. While praying for deeper sensitivity and spiritual discernment- The Holy Spirit gave me a vision of the church. A great awakening of visions and freshness will begin to expand across the congregation- but it will not come without growing pains! Medically speaking- growing pains are part of hyper growth. The church is seeking freshness from God, but there are many that are unwilling to welcome the expansion.

Are you willing to accept rejection and dismemberment from others to pursue God’s will for your life? I raise this caution: It will cost you nothing because it is genuinely a great desire to pursue the Father’s will; but it will cost those that are unwilling to accept it a great deal. Jan 11 My Utmost for His Highest

What questions do you have about pursuing God’s will? Do you know what God’s will is for your life? What questions to you ask yourself about your own spiritual position?

Why Waiting is Really Trusting

Everyone hates waiting. I am aware of only a few others that have patience shorter than I do. Waiting has seemingly plagued my life as it is the one thing that exacerbates every ounce of energy I have. I tend to not do well when I have to wait on others to follow through on a promise they've made or when I must wait in a tremendously long line at the post office. The worst though, is waiting in line at the drive through of the bank. The whole time I am waiting for my simple transaction to transpire, I am thinking, "now shouldn't you have been ready before you drove up to the window?"... I know what you're thinking- selfish and bigoted attitude. Thankfully the Holy Spirit convicts me of these thoughts so that they are quickly repented over and not produced into hurtful verbal assemblies.

So you can understand that I have an especially tough time waiting on God. He just doesn't seem to fit His plans into my rushed, hurried, panicked world. And in reading the Scriptures, I've learned that He hasn't changed.


In fact, almost all of the great men in the Bible had to wait. Some agonizingly long. Let's look at three examples.


Your Prince is Ready


Though Moses grew up in the house of Pharaoh and was groomed to be the next in line for the throne, I believe he saw all of this as God raising him up to deliver his people, Israel. His mother probably had something to do with that.


As the years passed and Moses looked from the window of his stately palace and saw the oppression of his brethren, he grew more and more impatient. Finally, he acted on impulse and killed an Egyptian taskmaster.


So that meant 40 years in the wilderness. Here God's people were suffering and their future deliverer is leading sheep in the backside of the desert. Yet God wasn't delaying. He wasn't stalling. He wasn't anxious.


Finally, when Moses was broken and humble enough to be used as an instrument by God, God sent the 80-year old prince-turned-shepherd back to Egypt.


But do you see what is happening? The headlines wouldn't read, "Prince leads coup. Prince leads revolt. Prince overtakes Pharaoh." No, it wouldn't be about Moses anymore. It would be about God. How about, "God Miraculously Delivers His People"?


Dreams of Greatness


As a young man, God spoke to Joseph through dreams. In these dreams, Joseph was leading and his brothers and even world leaders were bowing at his feet. Kind of heady stuff for a teenager, don't you think? And it didn't play too well with his brothers.


Joseph knew God was calling him to a special place. God was calling him to a place of impact, leadership, and power.


So that's why Joseph was probably stunned and shocked when he found himself in the bottom of a pit, praying that his brothers wouldn't kill him. Times slavery in a strange country or imprisonment for rape charges were probably the furthest from Joseph’s conceivable thoughts of what Gods manifestation of His will for the young ruler would look like.


Didn't seem like those dreams were panning out too well, did it? Didn't seem like God was working out His plan?


Oh, but God was working out his plan. And Joseph, while he didn't know a lot, He knew He could trust God.


Running for King


Okay, so this prophet comes to his house, dumps some oil on his head, and then whispers in his ear, "Oh by the way, you're going to be Israel's next king." But then it was back to the shepherd's fields, back to being the forgotten son and brother, back to obscurity.


David was anointed king as a teenager, but he waited 14 long years to assume the throne. And those 14 years were hard years. He was Israel's next king, but there was his madman, Saul, who was determined to see David dead and buried.


If you read the psalms you can experience David's angst. He scratched his head in wonder, "Why is God allowing Saul to do this?" "Why doesn't God just move Saul out of the way?"


But again, like Moses, like Joseph, David had to learn to trust God. And waiting is trusting. David had to be broken, humble, and read to lead God's people.


Do you see a pattern developing here? God often gives his people a dream, a desire, a calling and then puts them through a period of waiting.


It is in this waiting where your real courage and character are forged. It is in this period of uncertainty that you're life takes on a whole new dimension. You learn how to trust God. You learn to lean on God. You learn what's important and what's not important.


So if you're like me and you really don’t like to wait, know that waiting is trusting. Isaiah 55:8-10.