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Recently I overheard a dear lady who said that she was a bit discouraged because in her mind her responsibilities seemed more than she was able to do. Have you ever felt that way before? I know I have! But after years of “getting it wrong, I finally started “getting it right”. So I would like to share with you some of what I learned:
Recently I overheard a dear lady who said that she was a bit discouraged because in her mind her responsibilities seemed more than she was able to do. Have you ever felt that way before? I know I have! But after years of “getting it wrong, I finally started “getting it right”. So I would like to share with you some of what I learned:
Let me start by start by stating up front that you can do what you ought to do. Our loving Heavenly Father never allows anything in our life that He hasn’t already prepared us to withstand and conqueror. The Apostle Paul, or as I like to say, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." When I was still new in the Lord and working as the assistant to the pastor at the church I was attending, the pastor shared with me a glorious, liberating nugget of truth when he said, "God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called!" That He does!
Beloved, you can do what God has given you to do. You can do what you ought to do. You can do what you are supposed to do. If this be true, and it is, it must still be appropriated by faith – like everything else in the Christian walk. Faith is the key that unlocks God's cupboard. Talk to your Heavenly Abba and ask Him for an impartation of His strength to perform the task before you.
After you have prayed and asked God, in accordance to His Word, for what He has already promised to give you when you ask, do not un-do in doubt what you have previously done in faith. When a job has been accepted in faith, do not un-do it in doubt. Do not look at circumstances, or listen to the news casts, or read the paper that tells you how bad it is. Look to the Word of God that tells you how good it is! He said He would meet all of your needs according to His riches in glory, not according to the lack on the earth! When you cast your cares on Him, leave them there, do not give in to the temptation to pick them back up!
Has God called you to do a task or a ministry? He will then equip you for it. Has God led you to a place? He will then qualify you for the job.
Next, realize that success in the Kingdom of God does not depend upon talent. One of the most important lessons you can ever learn is that the great prerequisite for success is not talent but character. Character seeks talent. Talent often flees from character. Talented people often mistakenly think they can make it on their own. Wrong! People of character realize they cannot make it on their own and must work to equip themselves for their job. Integrity, diligence, honesty, and hard work are the main secrets to success. Over the years I have noticed that more times than not average public speakers often become more successful preachers than more gifted men. Mediocre singers often accomplish more for the Kingdom than a dozen talented ones. When we look for people to work with us and for us at the Atlanta South Metro House of Prayer, we look for traits such as loyalty, tenacity, and integrity, rather than natural ability, skills to play instruments or a great singing voice. Because one has a talent does not mean they have loyalty and character. But, if one has character they will learn to type if the job requires it.
Get it?
Work as hard as you can believing and trusting God will do the rest. God will not do what you can do. I heard it said one, "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." A lazy intercessory missionary who believes God will provide his needs is not living by faith but by folly. A shiftless pastor who believes that somehow God will grow his church has misunderstood the entire meaning of faith. Faith is doing everything I can do, and then trusting God to do what I cannot do. God can do what I cannot do, but He will not do what I can do if I refuse to do it.
After the appointed job is done, give God “ALL” the glory. It is sad but true, that many of us fall prostrate on our faces before the Lord pleading for His help before attempting a task, then we bow gracefully and proudly as we hear the applause coming from men after “we” have accomplished the task. In my own life I started out as a very poor boy with no hope for a bright future. When God called me in to the ministry as a teacher, preacher, prophet, psalmist, worship leader and intercessor, I was as untalented and unprepared as one could be. My first sermon ended in total failure and frustration. Actually my first couple of dozen attempts at ministry tended to go in that direction. But quitters never win and winners never quit. Though tempted, I didn’t quit. You shouldn’t either.
And when successes do come, I know that I must never forget those early days. I must always remember that I am what I am by the grace of God. I have what I have by the grace of God, and I have done what I have done by the grace of God. "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh…" (Romans 7:18) It is His work and not mine. It is done by His Spirit and not mine.
Kathryn Kuhlman, one of the greatest healing evangelists in the last 100 years, told this story once.
Kathryn did large healing crusades that were attended by tens of thousands of people. There were many venues where they turned away more people than were in the building! God did amazing signs and wonders through this small, frail Missouri girl. The secular press world-wide constantly did article on her ministry because of all the undeniable and verifiable miracles that took place in the meetings.
I believe it was at the Shrine auditorium where a number of secular reporters from several newspapers and magazines asked to interview her. She agreed, but told them it would have to be after the meeting. So these reporters attended the crusade and saw things they had never seen before as the Kingdom of God broke into their reality with power that afternoon. Multitudes of people trusted Christ, Many who had walked for a long time away from God came back. Hundreds of people who were sick were healed that afternoon. People with headaches, backpain, blindness, deafness, people with crippling arthitus danced, people who had been diagnosed with stage four cancer received a touch from God (and later brough back the new test results showing the cancer was gone).
After the meeting, Kathryn met with the reporters back stage. They couldn’t talk they were in such awe of what they had seen (and had experienced) that afternoon. As the interview progressed, one of the reporters asked how she “did all that”. She replied that she didn’t, God’s Holy Spirit did. Then another asked a piecing question. “Ms Kuhlman, we have seen many unbelievable things today. Many miracles and things we don’t understand. But even with all the wonderful things that happened, I couldn’t help but notice that there were still a significant number of people who had come for healing that left weren’t healed. How do you explain that?”
Her reply? “I can’t”
“You see, I can’t heal a fly of a broken wing. I have no power to heal anyone. It is God alone Who heals. I can’t explain how it happens, I just know that when we love Him and worship Him, He often comes into the room by His Spirit and does marvelous things that we could never do in a million years. So since I can’t explain why or how people are healed, I can’t take credit for anything that happens. On the other hand, since I can’t take credit for those who are healed, it’s also true that I refuse to take credit for those who aren’t healed either!”
Then she said, “I have been doing this for many years now, and I rejoice at the wonderful things that God does. But I also still cry myself to sleep every night because of those who aren’t healed.” Then she smiled and confessed to the reporters, “Sometimes when people are touched by God, saved, or healed or delivered, thay want to thank me for what they received. As I have already said, I know it wasn’t me or anything I have done. So I tell them, ‘Don’t thank me, thanks God!’
She went on, “But sometimes I am tired, and a ministry like this is taxing, and it is a lonely lifestyle. And there are some days when grateful people flood around me and say, ‘thank you” that I don’t answer them, as I should, ‘Don’t thank me, thanks God!’ Instead, I say thank you. But you know what I do after everyone has left and went home, and all the lights are out, and I am back in my hotel room, just me and Jesus, you know what I do?”
There was a long silence. Then she finished, “I kneel down before Jesus and I lift up my face towards heaven, and I lift up these feeble hands up to Him and offer Him all my love, worship and adoration, often with tears streaming down my face I say to Him, “Jesus, I have something that belongs to You – the glory for all that happened tonight! Jesus, I know, and you know that I know, that it was You!”
As she finished stating that, she lifted her hands to Heaven, and with tears streaming down her face, she began pouring out her love unashamedly on the One she loved.
The reporters were speechless. They didn’t ask another question. They just turned and silently slipped away leaving Kathryn to worship her best friend.
Get it?
When the victory comes, and the accolades of man come, don’t forget to step back in to the shadows and say, "Jesus, I have something that belongs to You – all the glory! The Lord gave. . .blessed be the Name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)
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