Just watched the full video I made from our recent mercy mission into Haiti with our Grow Group. Some snippets are on here.
Looking forward to being able to share a little more on Sunday at all services at Ivy Manchester, as we prepare for another big scary step of faith to help the people who need it most right now – let’s fill the Apollo!
1 Sam 16. 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Contrast between the man who wore the crown but lost the anointing vs the man who had the anointing but not the crown.
Nobody knew Saul was yesterdays man – went on another 20 years.
David has no platform/ power/prestige. A secret anointing, nobody would know for years. He ahd not sought it. He did have some gifts and talents as a musician and suddenly he is given this anointing.
First test of it – Goliath. He saw him merely as an uncircumcised philistine, not his height.
Do you identify with David, as being without the crown. If Samuel was to say that the man who was his hero would become his enemy and seek to destroy you for the next 20 years. The biggest mistake we can make is to think the anointing has made us ready for the crown. David would need that 20 years. He needed deliverance from various things -
Jealousy of his brothers. Eliab was angry with him when he turned up at the battlefield. “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
Underestimation of his parents. He was totally bypassed by them at the feast. No affirmation.
Underestimation of the established leadership. Saul said, “You’re only a boy!” (vs 33).
Various colleges rejected eg G Campbell Morgan and Spurgeons. Elvis was rejected by his church choir!
David had the secret anointing, to know in his heart killing Goliath would be no problem.
But his next test was being true to yourself.
Remember how Saul was something of a giant himself? David couldn’t go in his armour, he had to take it off. The hardest lesson is to learn to be yourself. Folly of trying to be someone else. When God made you, he threw the mould away. Instead of asking, “Why couldn’t I be this or do that?’ Don’t take yourself too seriously.
We can want to mimic our mentors. Cf the Southern Baptist preacher who would put his left hand over his ear. People loved him. He became professor of preaching, and all his students at South Western Theological Seminary would put their hand over their ear too. Why did he do it> He was hard of hearing – not the anointing.
Dr Lloyd Jones told of a preacher who flicked his hair back, and a generation of hair flicking preachers followed – even a bald guy who did so when he preached.
Maybe your time has not come because you’re trying to wear Saul’s armour?
Next test; The maidens came singing the sing that made Saul angry and jealous.
The best preparation you can get is to have someone jealous of you and learn to cope with it in a Christlike way. David was wise in all his ways here. The best thing that ever happened to David was the worst thing!
Long haul preparation.
RT had 6 months of visions after his conversion. But he never got his grandmothers approval – or the car back. He asked God why. Hebrews 12:6 came into his head.
Chastening – doesn’t mean God is getting even. Tit for tat. God has not rewarded us according to our iniquities. God got even at the cross! Chastening is God’s way of refining our anointing. David wasn’t ready to be King!
If you are waiting for your time to come, maybe you are not yet ready for it.
The worst thing that can happen to a person is that they succeed before they are ready. Most of us cannot handle the praise that might come our way.
It says even Jesus was ‘made perfect through suffering.’ I don’t get that verse! But its’ what it says, and if he needed it – how much more you and i?
Spurgeon: If i had 25 years left to live, I’d spend 20 of it in preparation.
If what you dream of, or the prophetic word has been postponed, it’s for your good! He has spared you of all you dreamed of, until his time has come.
Chastening is not pleasant. It’s no joke.
Suppose there were two lines – 1 side, “All those who want the anointing through laying on of hands, this side.
2 All those who want it through suffering!
But David had a good friend. Jonathan. We need to be accountable to those who will tell us what we need to know. You need to get your self esteem largely if not entirely from God’s approval.
RTs life verse – John 5:44 How can you believe, when you receive honour one of another but make no effort that comes from God only.
When you come to the place where you only want HIM to look down at you and say, “GOOD.” Get your kicks, your thrill from that inner testimony. When that is all that matters to you, you will react to criticism and praise much the same.
David needed to develop a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. There was handed to him an opportunity to kill his enemy. David said no, let’s not d that – but let’s have a little fun. Cut the hem off his robe. But then, he was conscience stricken. Why? He was hearing something those around did not here – he knew he had grieved the Spirit.
The dove.
32Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God
Notice that word remain? I know what it is for the Holy spirit to come down, and it’s wonderful. But i my case, he flies away. A dove is shy and sensitive. You can feed the pigeons at Trafalgar square for bread. Doves don’t go there. They are in the same family, but different. You cant train a dove. Pigeons are not shy of people. Counterfeit spirit. Pigeon Religion!
The easiest thing to do is to grieve the Holy Spirit. He is sensitive. If we say a person is hyper sensitive, it’s not a compliment. But the Holy Spirit, if you know him, you will want to know his ways.
Heb 3, Psalm 95 – they have not know my WAYS.
God wants us to know his word and his ways.
What if God spelt your love for him TIME.
How much do you pray?
Suppose it was on the screen and all could see how much time you spend alone with God? A poll was taken of church leaders in the west, average time church leader prays.
Martin Luther’s journal. “I have a very busy day today, must not spend 2 but 3 hours in prayer.’ Wesley, 2 hours a day.
Average church leader spends 4 minutes a day in prayer – do we wonder why we are powerless? Give at least one hour a day to pray!
When J John met Sister Teresa in India, do you have a word for me? 45 minutes later, she cam back with a list. Last one on it –“God likes your company.
You get to appoint where you realise, “If I finish that sentence, the dove will fly.”
How long does it take to admit you were wrong, you sinned? Close the pride gap. Our temper gets us in trouble, our pride keeps us in anger.
Narrow the time gap between sin and confession and repentance! Then, you get to know his ways and sense when you are ABOUT to grieve the Spirit.
Get wisdom! Get insight! From where? The Holy Spirit.
For 20 years David was learning to wait on God. He got another chance to kill Saul, and he said, ‘No, I’m not even going to cut his robe, I’m doing nothing – let God do it.”
Don’t try and succeed until God says you are ready. We know what it is to have egg on our face because we have not heeded this. We know what it is for the dove to fly away.
RT tells of the time he and his wife had an argument, Saturday morning, before sermon preparation time. Hours of silence! Blank sheet of paper. Nothing! ‘Lord, you have to help me.’
A voice faintly answered, ‘Really?’
More hours. Went to his wife, and apologised, it was all my fault. Kissed and hugged. Then went to eth same chair, bible, and in 45 minutes he had all he needed, because the dove came down.
You can accomplish more in 5 minutes with the dove down than 5 years with the dove grieved!
There has been a silent divorce in the church between the word and the spirit. Paul said his gospel came in BOTH. It can be word only. When there is a divorce, sometimes the kids go with the mother, sometimes with the father.
One says, “Get back to Jonathan Edwards, reformation.”
Another says, “Get back to miracle power, shake the house.”
What’s wrong with either emphasis? Nothing – but it is not either/or.
If the day was to come when the two come together there would be spontaneous combustion.
Some churches you come to hear. Others you come to see.
But the day is coming when those who come to hear will see, and those who come to hear- will see!
Luke 1.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.[b] 16Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23When his time of service was completed, he returned home.
CONTRAST / COMPARE….
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.”
38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
AND….
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Zechariah asks, ‘How will this be?” and gets struck mute. Mary asks and gets answers – because there are different ways to ask the question.
The hallmark of our culture is that we don’t know what the questions are, let alone the answers. Culture of confusion. There’s a difference between me saying, “Did you really say that?” For clarification, and “Did you really say that?” From doubt.
The angel is happy about the message, expects the recipient to be happy. Zechariah is rebuked because he has a question of disbelief as his only response. A question can be an argument – because its designed to shut you up. The problem then for Zechariah is that now he cannot speak.
Have you ever heard, ‘Give enough monkeys typewriters and you’ll end up with Shakespeare.
Comes from Anthony Flew – philosopher. Used to be the poster boy for atheists, used to debate against Christianity, saying that if you give enough time etc any miracle is explainable. Believe it or not, they did a research degree, where they put a computer in with monkeys, and they didn’t produce a single word! The chance of getting a one letter word with a space either side is 1 in 30,000.
The chances of getting ‘Shall I compare thee to a summers day’ would be 1 divided by 10to the power of 690.
If you took every particle in the whole universe and add them all up you’d only have 10 to the power of 80.
The idea that language makes sense and can get beauty from it without intelligence behind it is nonsense. Without God in the universe there is no hope for any meaning, none of it makes sense without God.
Michael spent a day with Anthony Flew once. He said his father had been a Methodist minister. He said ‘If there is a God, the only God there could possibly be would be Christian God.” But he said he was too old to come to Christ. Pray for him.
Misanthrophy = the opposite of philantrophy. The more TV you watch, the more cynical you become. If you withdraw from TV the symptoms are the same as if you take people off drugs.
$500 was offered in 1977 for 5 couples to give up TV for a month. They had to ask hundreds before they could get their 5. Their consumption of alcohol etc went off the charts. One woman said ‘It’s terrible, I had to talk to my husband.’
In a cynical culture we disbelieve everything, even the good.
Zechariah finds he can’t speak.
Later when the Spirit comes to him, he prophesies.
2 Kings 6.
24 Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. 25 There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels [a] of silver, and a quarter of a cab [b] of seed pods [c] for five shekels. [d]
26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”
27 The king replied, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?” 28 Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?”
She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ 29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.”
NOTE THE RESPONSE OF THE KING – ANTI GOD / CYNICISM…
30 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his robes. As he went along the wall, the people looked, and there, underneath, he had sackcloth on his body. 31 He said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!”
Interesting that the King was so cynical. Earlier when Naaman had come to him to be healed he took the most cynical position possible.
Those around him were even more cynical. Next chapter -
Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah [a] of flour will sell for a shekel [b] and two seahs [c] of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.”
2 The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” (He’s not saying, Wow! How can this happen – he’s arguing against it).
“You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!”
Some people around us are leaning on us and trying to make us more cynical.
But a bunch of lepers found the truth, and a miracle makes it happen. And the captain sees it but is crushed in the rush for food. Because of unbelief and cynicism. When someone doesn’t want what you say to be true – that’s different to Mary’s response.
She asks, ‘How can this be?’ She is troubled, BUT the response is submission, discipleship.
He was invited to speak at the Oxford Union. They try to be rude to the invited speaker! He was asked to speak on ‘God and the tsunami.’ He said that he wasn’t at peace with the title, “God of love and world of suffering?’ And I will address that.
And a line kept coming in and out in the preparation. Should I say it or not? Is it appropriate. Eventually put it in –
Tried to explain that there’s a loving God who created the world and because of rebellion its now suffering. Then he said, “You may say BUT when you see what we’ve seen, doesn’t that make you doubt?” That’s a valid question. If I was to see things happen that Jesus said wouldn’t happen, then i would have cause to doubt. Jesus said in Luke 21, the nations will be appalled at the waves.’ Not just captains at sea- the nations.
Any questions? A long silence.
Someone stood up and said, “In light of this, what should our response be?”
He thought, Oh this must be a Christian asking a set up planted question. Talked about the cross, etc,. How we respond in faith.
Turned out he was actually a well known atheist. Later they had a conversation, ‘Why did you ask that question? You should have let a non Christian ask their question.”
‘I’m an atheist!”
People do need to be challenged in their unbelief. Zachariah was. So was the captain at the gate.
But there are some types of questions that it’s okay to ask.
He was in Hong Kong, prayed with a couple, told them at the end of Job he had asked all kinds of questions, and hadn’t sinned. Turned out they had just a cot death. There is an appropriate way to ask questions, and we can encourage people to ask. People bury them. Their theological questions shouldn’t be buried because one day it will undermine everything you stand on now and it will collapse.
Some questions people are asking and they are desperate for answers and we need to speak lovingly into them, and let them know it’s okay.
Eg. Financial collapse. (Years before, he was offered £30,000 a day to work for the IMF. He knew he wasn’t called to do it). We are in a confused culture.
Some of the most insightful people on the planet are evangelists. Godly wisdom. Not from a university. Most university degrees, you learn information you will never need, then go and do something proper.
But godly wisdom is not like, “I learned that, so now I can forget it.”
Proverbs 4 – get wisdom – INSIGHT. Evangelists speak into hearts of people.
The prophetic voice is interpreting the times. It’s looking at what’s happening in the world and saying., “This is what’s happening and this is why…” So people can understand why this is the why it is, then pointing to God, the way out, back to him.
When revelation comes to the shepherds – they have no questions. We are scared. But they simply respond, “Let’s go and see.”
We must not feel embarrassed about revelation. Biblical, Hebraic concept = faith is linked to truth and reality. In the West, after Spinoza – he asked questions and said, “That’s not really happening, but there is a truth in it.”
Kant then said, “Revelation and truth are two different things, revelation is just a feeling.”
But the biblical mindset is that revelation reveals truth as it really is. To separate truth n revelation is very different. Did it really happen? Revelation brings truth and reality.
For those of you who were there, it was an unforgettable moment. It was such a mixture tonight I wasn’t listing on my laptop – but I grabbed a pad and roughed out these priceless pearls from this man who has blazed a trail for us to follow. If you think I missed one, please comment to add them in.
Keep your doctrine
Preach the blood! ( I never preach healing, but there is healing in the atonement)
Keep to the narrow road
Find out what grieves God and don’t do it
Go out – remembering you are a harvester
Keep the fire, the passion to beat discouragement. Don’t worry about the wet blankets, have enough fire in you to dry them out!
There has never been a revival without the evangelist.
The evangelist is the most loved and the most hated.
Love the people
Go to them
Watch your tongue – it’s in a wet place, and may slip.
Keep the word and faith before you – you’re God’s harvesters in the last days and this is going to be our finest hour
Remember, healing is in the atonement!
At the Evangelists conference this evening I’ve been invited to give a few words. As time is short, I want to be able to make the best use of the time. Speaking to these guys who are passionate about getting the great good news out, I thought I’d strongly recommend some resources that have helped me massively in the last year. They fall into the categories of the three kinds of book I can’t resist – public speaking, leadership (in this case, church leadership) and devotional.
1) If I could only point you to one book on how to preach better, Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley would be IT. All my team have read this book. He reminds us that our purpose is not merely to INFORM but TRANSFORM, and gives some great hints and a process for how to do that better, no – a lot better!
If you’d allow me two in this category, I’d also tell you to invest in The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, by Carmine Gallo; currently on offer at Amazon, anyone who will ever have to give a talk will benefit fron this masterclass.
2. In the Leadership category, i started over Christmas and almost finished on the train here The Apostolic Congregation by George Hunter III. I do not want to finish this book! It’s like every page is so packed full of helpful truths I’m savouring it slowly, I will be so sorry to end it, but alreday happy to implement from it. Chapter 5 alone is worth the price of the book.
3. Devotionally – I was challenged by J John in a series of texts back and forward while I was in the USA last year that I was in danger of becoming a conference junkie. Hardly fair in my opinion as I only went to two I wasn’t speaking at and only went to four in total! However the last one, at the last one, Catalyst I received a massive sense as I processed all the great teaching that what I really needed to do was spend more time just praying and reading the Bible. As I had come to that conclusion, annoyingly, J John texted me – “You just need to spend more time praying and reading the Bible.’
Amazon don’t seem to know who the author of that one is, but those of us who do, need to read it more and more!
Nuff said!
Barry Kissell at the Evangelists Conference.
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire [a]
and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3 “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD : He said to me, “You are my Son [d] ; today I have become your Father. 8 Ask of me,and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter [f] ;you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;be warned, you rulers of the earth.11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.Blessed are all who take refuge in him 23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
” ‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.[c]‘[d] 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people[e] of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
In 1972 first went to India, to minister with Michael Harper. He met with a missionary couple and learned from their insights before going, that helped.
Each decade we need to take a cultural check. We spend much of our time commenting on pur religious culture instead of what’s happening in the city?
Since the 60s, British culture has changed completely. Forces of secularism and Islam. We are froazen in the headlights of PC. But the time has come for us to speak.
Secularism is dominating every area of the nations life; family disintegrating, civil partnerships given same legal status as marriage. It is illegal to teach one man & woman for life in schools. Destruction of life in womb is just another choice. We experiment on embryos. It is illegal to teach that Christianity is true. Aggressively anti Christian media.
Change language and you change the world. Political correctness gags the truth. Homophobic? Racist?
Secularism has created a dysfunctional generation who cannot cope. They have had little if any exposure to the Christian faith, but fashioned by secularism. Many seek comfort in alcohol, drugs, celebrity worship etc.
What are the characterists of these kids?
Individualistic, independent, unmarried, with many unsuccessful sexual rels, unable to commit (especially men) experimenting with drugs, working for long hours. Looking for parental figures. Open to spirituial experience. Their poets are the rock stars. They are cynical about politics.
There has been a powerful invasion. Insidious. A cancer.
Militant Islam has relased demonic forces ti rise up and destroy our civilisation. Recent poll – half the nation is really worried about it. Future attacks may involve nuclear weapons.
This is the reality of the 2010 into which we are called to bring the good news.
HOW? As it has always been – this is the answer – THROUGH THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
At Antioch (Acts 11) they were seen to be anointed, and so they were called Christians = Sharers of Christ’s anointing’
How did God bring the good news? He anointed Jesus. He was filled –Luke 3:21
At his baptism, heaven was opened. The Father affirms his Son. Then he’s ANOINTED, the Holy Spirit, without measure.
And from his overflow, a limitless supply is available to us. Cf. Geysers, where the forces underneath push the waters out over a huge area – and you can get as drenched as you like. The closer you get to the centre, the wetter you get.
God poured out at Pentecost – on us! Without limit! God HAS DONE the outpouring. It’s the anointing which communicates the good news. God’s answer to the cultures need = the anointing of you and me! There’s no other plan! That we would be anointed. Not some special people, we are ALL special people! If you belong to Christ, you have the Spirit. That’s what identifies us as believers.
At his baptism, Jesus accepts his calling and identifies with sinners – like us. For the anointing to work there must be IDENTIFICATION and COMPASSION. We have the answer because we have the anointing! To what? Whatever! We need to be humble about it, but we have the answer! The more anointing we have, we can speak the answer. That’s the source of the change in the other.
What did the Holy Spirit do? Three things –
Mark says then the Holy Spirit drives Jesus into the desert
Then he anoints him to be good news for the poor
Then he urges Jesus onwards and upwards.
1) In the desert the Father showed Jesus the nature of the opposition, and how the battle will be fought & won. OUR battle is NOT against flesh and blood. There is a power behind secularism/ Islam etc. In Matthews gospel (4:3ff) we see that this was a battle for man’s free will. With Adam & Eve’s disobedience, their free will was infiltrated. But Jesus broke the power of disobedience by perfect obedience. ‘It is Written!’
Every act of disobedience was broken as Jesus became obedient- even to death on a cross. He frees himself from satan in order to free everyone! Your ministry is to set people free who have been locked in the power of secularist thinking. There’s a spiritual power holding them. Only the anointing will break that! Nothing we have by nature can set them free. As Jesus advances, the demons are now in retreat. ‘If I by the power of God cast out devils, then the kingdom of God has come.’ When we come with the word, the demons are being challenged – by the anointing. Attitude to demonic? If I am seeking to walk in the light, I will see the darkness. If it appears, deal with it NOW with authority, but don’t go looking for it.
In the desert, the anointing he’d received meant he could do miracles etc., but he used it to push back the anointing. It’s as if God were saying, “How will you use it?”
We believe the anointing is going to be coming more and more powerfully on more and more people. The question is – HOW WILL YOU USE IT?
It’s great that the Holy Spirit has moved over the recent decades. But I haven’t seen whole 7 vital churches growing and going out of that. Had thought, ‘well the Holy Spirit is moving, so loads of people will come.’ But we are going to see it – the Holy Spirit will be visible on us. People will want it, today or tomorrow – a harvest time. Everything else has been leading to this – and now it has got to go to the lost and bring them in. We must have confidence in the power of the anointing. David said, “I am weak, the anointed King.”
2) The Holy Spirit anoints Jesus to be good news to the poor. You have to be able to humbly say that. ‘The Spirit is on me!’ If not, what’s the point? Before you preach – you say and know that! And ask for more! The transforming power comes, the guilty are forgiven and reinstated, the blind see – it’s jubilee time! Freedom! The slaves debts are cancelled. We minister in that year.
3) The Holy Spirit urges Jesus onwards to fulfil his calling. When the 72 returned with rejoicing that the demons submit, Jesus said to rejoice that their names were written in heaven – but Jesus is encouraged! Encouraged and joyful by the Holy Spirit. He wanst to do that for us.SHIFT from self reliance to reliance on the Holy Spirit, from what I can plan to what he can plan. Drawing the Holy Spirit into ALL ministry situations, asking ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’ Listening to the person – but In your inner heart – conversing. That’s when the key that frees the person comes. Refer everything we’re responsible for to the Holy Spirit. We are good at talking – spend more time listening to the Spirit. Just sitting and listening! You are not wasting an hour – you’re opening your whole being to him. He may not say anything, but if you are still you’ll know he’s God- (what does that mean?) you will know God better!
Keep coming back, and being dependent – again and again. Starting all over again, as if you had nothing in the first place.
Continually be asking people around us to pray for us!
God’s answer to this culture – is your anointing!
Michael Ramsden. Evangelists Conference.
He was converted as a child, while living in Cyprus. Knew he would have to give up everything for Christ. He loved the Bible immediately. They asked at the first Bibel study, ‘If God could give you one thing what would you want?’
His reply: “I would want to be an evangelist.” Always knew that’s what he was called and appointed to.
But there can be a performance mentality, and being judged by numbers. Retreated from that – a turning point came when he was preaching in South Africa, and at a golf club a business man had arranged an evening meal. Hoping for 60 people to come – 137 came. There were more non Christians than Christians. Afrikaans high class business types. Someone came up to him and told him the meeting was a mistake, they would not be receptive.
And that experience happened when there was complete silence to all his points, and his heart was sinking! Cold sweat! But then at the end he gave an invitation. Then cards were offered for a response.
A to E. Grade it – A = one of the best sermons you have ever heard
E = the worst. Uh-oh!
Then there were various responses. From ‘I became a Christian.’ To ‘Never invite me to an event again.’
Afterwards he was wrecked. Couldn’t sleep.
730am next day the organiser rang. He dreaded answering the phone!
46 people ticked box A – ‘I gave my life to Jesus.’
48 people ticked box B – ‘I want to go to the Bible study.’
4 ticked box E.
Weeks on, loads from box B became Christians. 2 from box E did too.
Resolved therefore… to always give people the opportunity, no matter how I feel. My feelings are not a strong basis to operate this ministry from!
It’s about trust. Trusting God.
But many Christians are not sure if they can morally trust God.
Non Christians like Dawkins would say our God is morally abhorrent. (The cross is abusive).
If you can’t know God is trustworthy – you can’t trust him.
Cf Jonah. The whole city was saved. Remarkable, you’d think that was encouraging? Mass salvation of an enemy nation. How does the preacher feel?
Chapter 4:1 – it displeased Jonah greatly – (literally gut wrenchingly exceedingly upset) and he was angry.
I sometimes get displeased that revival doesn’t come. Here it’s the other way round! Jonah hated the people he was preaching to, and he knew God was gracious and compassionate – the kind of God he was, is Jonah’s problem.
We can get angry and upset when we see people forgiven and restored. So, here’s the issue. We sometimes seem as if God’s schizophrenic: On one side loving and nice, or there’s fierce wrath.
We need to not set them in opposition to each other, but see them in the light of each other.
In Pride and Prejudice there is a scene where Mr Darcy says he loves her against his will, his better judgement and his character. (Unsurprisingly she rejects him!)
If there are some people who know you (everything- the real thing), YET they love you – those are the most valuable relationships. To be known warts and all – and loved.
True love does not exist in the absence of judgement – but in the presence of it – like in a marriage where as you get to know each other and in the face of flaws etc you healthily grow in depth, where there is love in the face of knowing you, when spoken by someone knows you.
God really knows you. Do you have emotional stability that comes from knowing that God loves you despite your flaws? (Doesn’t mean God is happy with them or that we should excuse them). He knows it.
God is not interested in covering things up. That’s not the path to true relationship.
Like when you say something stupid to a friend. Next day you go to them and apologise.
It’s great when they forgive you.
But if they say, “It’s nothing” – and walk away, and you know – it’s something! And now there is something between you. It’s not the same.
OR – we try to make up for it. We make a fuss. We serve in some way to earn the forgiveness rather than look at the problem. We no longer have real relationship. Covering up wrongdoing (in that sense) becomes a barrier to relationship.
The word Compassion – comes from ecclesiastical Latin. Means ‘With Passion.’ To make a moral judgement and be moved from the depth of your being to do something about it. You have compassion when you say, “That’s wrong – we have to DO something!”
God is a compassionate God, because he looks at the sin of the world and he is moved to step in, to go to a cross – not to cover our sins but to justify us by publicly dealing with it by God – who then seeks us out and offers us, as a gift, and then gives to us – salvation.
The message is nothing other than that while we were still sinners, he found us! He had already paid the price, he has moved! He knows exactly what we are like, and what was required. And he’s with us.
We hear the phrase, “God loves you” so much, it becomes meaningless.
God loves you because he knows who you are. He is not deluded.
So…
I don’t have to pretend to be what I’m not, with God. He already knows! It’s not helpful for God for me to be transparent with him. It’s good for me.
It also gives me transparency with others. I know I have been forgiven – because he forgave me.
There is only one basis for me to be forgiven:
If I have done wrong to someone – I should not be able to say ‘I’m forgiven’ – except and unless the other party is willing to forgive, and offers it – and through repentance I have received that forgiveness.
If that’s the case, it is not arrogant for me to say, “I am forgiven.”
We are dependent on him, his promise. God has said it! It’s dealt with. So I can be secure, whatever other insecurities I might wrestle with.
Are you totally assured as to the character of God? Are you utterly sure of him?
Are you utterly sure he really means his words of love and assurance? That he has chosen, called and loved you? That’s the reality!
Are you prepared to fail on that basis?
The basis on which I know I can fail, is that I know it’s not about me. I do and can blow it. When preaching, it’s not about how many respond etc. I am okay of others reject me on the basis that God has accepted me.
We need confidence – to trust the God who transforms lives.
In all other worldviews God can be merciful, by passing over his justice. For us, it’s not at the expense of his justice, BOTH operate together.
He then gave a few examples from some difficult places and situations he has visited. Do you REALLY believe God can reach everyone? He’s still in that business. He can change anyone.
He shared a platform with Prof John Woodbridge. He was talking about the history of revival. Challenging seminars, kept on asking, “Do you believe God could do this today?” That in very secular and sceptical places, where there is no evidence that God’s moving right now – revival can happen!
TODAYS MAN. Evangelists Conference – RT Kendall Session 2.
1 Samuel 16 1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.”
The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down [a] until he arrives.” 12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.
In this first verse we see three classes of persons – Saul (yesterdays man). Today we look at Samuel – a type of today’s man – Samuel – and he anoints tomorrows man.
To get to the place where its easy (the anointing) there is a cost. To be today’s man or woman you have to go outside your comfort zone. God wants to see how much he loves you, so he takes you to a place where you could be embarrassed or misunderstood.
The place that’s outside your comfort zone then becomes your new comfort zone. Then he calls you on again, and we wish it wasn’t that way, we think we paid our dues – but he always calls us on.
Samuel had been the man who none of his words fell to the ground, but God tells him to go and anoint the next king while the existing one is alive and well. Danger is required to have the anointing. The willingness to bear the stigma.
Comes from a pure greek word – that Paul used, I bear in my body the stigmata – a tattoo burned into the body with a hot iron- on slaves, who’d run away, for stealing. Embrace the stigma – count it such an honour that you get to do it. You used to avoid it.
Cf when God said to Jonah – go to Ninevah. Jonah said, NO, and God said, “Really?” Then in the belly of the fish, Jonah prays that he may get to do what God wanted him to do!
The flesh always wants to destigmatise (that everyone will like it) the gospel.
1) Do you know for sure, if you were to die today – you’d go to heaven?
2) And if God were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into my heaven, what would you say?’ Why would I ask those questions of a bunch of evangelists? He knew a woman who onteh 4th class teaching Evangelism Explosion, became a Christian.
Suppose those questions were asked – what would you say?
What would you say, for Question 2?
If we looked through the lists – would we say?
I have tried to live a good, godly life. – LOST
I was brought up in a Christian home – you had a head start – LOST
Baptised? LOST.
I’ve kept the ten commandments – LIAR.
I’ve kept the beatitudes. You’re a bigger liar.
What would you write? The more words you wrote, the worst.
All that’s needed? JESUS DIED.
That’s your gospel. If you don’t preach it, you haven’t grasped it. If it comes out of you, it’s in you – out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
What was wrong with Lakeland? How many times did Todd Bentley preach the gospel? Not once.
Two vital words – EXPIATION & PROPITIATION.
Expiation = what the blood does for us.
Propitiation = what the blood does for God. Turns his wrath away from us.
The world is excited about words of knowledge etc., but we get to heaven by nothing else – our words may not help, they could hurt. It’s offensive to say its all about the cross and ONLY about the cross.
1801 – The Cane Ridge revival in Kentucky. The power of God fell, when a Methodist lay preacher stood on a tree stump. 15,000 gathered. He spoke on 2 Cor 5:10.
When he finished, 500 were on the floor as though dead. But six or seven hours later they came up shouting and hundreds of others fell. Out of that came a certain way of preaching, breathless sounds, but 15 years after the preachers were putting it on, it wasn’t real any more.
We may like the liturgy, the worship style – it’s a comfort zone. We have to be willing to keep moving on. Even though we may not like it. We cann think the familiar, the nostalgic, is God.
When he was at Westminster Chapel – hundreds covenanted agreed to pray for the manifest Holy Spirit, and an openness in us to receive him, however he chooses to come.
Just after that was printed, he was talking with Lyndon Bowring and Charlie Colchester, who started to talk about, “This Toronto thing.” What?
‘They lay hands on people and they fall over, laughing!’
RT didn’t want it to be of God. Found the idea offensive. But he couldn’t stop thinking about it. A few days later Ken Costa invited him, ‘Come and speak with me about what the Bible says on about testing the Spirits’
RT came to warn, but when they talked, he was smitten- this is of God! And it means trouble.
Years before – he’d stepped out and nearly lost his job when he had Arthur Blessit speak. He thought, “I have paid my dues – Never again!” and God said, “Really?”
So he stood before his congregation and said, “This is of God, what’s happening at HTB.” And it was then a huge offense, now it’s fairly comfortable!
When Samuel entered the town the elders trembled. And Samuel’s probably trembling too. We should be trembling when we’re preaching!
We can get used to something that’s not right with us. We want it to stay like it is. Like when he lost a filling, but it didn’t hurt – and after a few days he loved sticking his tongue in the cavity.
The leaning tower of Pisa – they got architects in, and gave instructions – ‘Don’t correct the tilt, but keep it from falling.’
People don’t want their problems solved, they want them understood.
When Wesley saw George Whitefield going to preach in the fields, he was at first offended. Later he went to the field.
Later people barked like dogs and fell down. Wesley said, “A lot of that is not God. Stamp it out.”
Whitefield replied, “When you stamp out the false, you stamp out what is real too.”
Part of the stigma! We’d like revival to come in a tidy package, but it’s EMBARRASSING – yet you have to go with it and let them say what they will.
Samuel said, “Consecrate yourselves.”
Verse 6.
To be todays man – You have to be willing to change your mind.
When he saw Eliab, it was obvious –logical, the first born. But God said, No.
‘Do I have to admit I’m wrong – in front of all these people?’
There are people who have changed their position but they put something in print, so they won’t retract it.
The greatest freedom is having nothing to prove! Samuel said, “I got it wrong.”
Is it Abinadab? No
Is it Shammah? – Samuel’s feeling more embarrassed now! All seven gone! He must think his prophetic gift’s gone now.
But the last person anyone would have thought, was the one in God’s mind!
The one who wasn’t even invited to the great occasion. Not even told about it.
Ever missed church and everyone says, “You missed it!” (Thanks God!) You can feel left out, but God knows where you are and he will find you. God is never too late, or too early – he’s always just on time.
David had no preparation time, but he’s the one. The new King!
You may feel the most unlikely person. But that’s the way God works.
When RT met Rodney Howard Browne for the first time. Breakfast meeting. At the time he was persona non-grata at the time. But RT sensed something in him he’d never felt before, and asked, “I’d like you to come and pray in my pulpit, and pray for my wife (she’d had a cough for three years, nothing Drs could do, she couldn’t sleep! She was also seriously depressed.). She would not have gone to one of his meetings, but he came to pray for her in the morning. 5 minutes, mostly in tongues. And then – she was instantly healed of the cough! Later she went to one of his meetings, and the depression was gone.
He will put you in awkward situations. To take hou to where his anointing is.
Samuel had to break with the regime of which he was the central figure. He’d warned them they shouldn’t have a king, but they rejected his advice (God said, ‘It’s me they rejected – don’t take it personally). After God said that, he set off as if it was his idea in the first place.
But then he chose Saul, and when he fell – Samuel GRIEVED. He didn’t gloat! He didn’t say, “I told you so.” He was the only one who knew the truth about Saul.
On Ronald Reagan’s desk. “There is no limit to the person who doesn’t care who gets the credit.”
Being Tomorrow’s man involves loneliness.
RT had an experience when he was a young preacher. His grandmother had bought him a lovely car. He had a Damascus road experience. The glory of the Lord filled the car, and 2 verses came to mind, “Casting all your cares on me, because he cares on you.” And “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
And then Jesus is there, praying for him. Interceding for RT. And there was conversation he couldn’t hear. An hour later, he heard Jesus say, “He wants it!” The Father said, “He can have it”
And his body was flooded with warmth as the person of Jesus was then more real than any human.
Thinking everyone would be excited, but his father said, “You have broken with God!” and his grandmother took the car back.
He said to his Dad, “I’ll have an international ministry.” When? “One year from now!” In fact, for five years then he was door to door vacuum cleaner salesman.
You may feel that you’re tomorrows man. Waiting.
22 years later, he heard his dad say, “Son, I am proud of you – you were right and I was wrong.”
Evangelists Conference. Session 2 - Andy Economides
When he was in Nigeria he felt the Lord said to call a guy out, and speak about what John the Baptist said – if you have two tunics, give one away. He was to put money in, and his clothes and give it all to a guy called Pius and to go to the poorest and neediest and give their stuff away, because they are not doing it.
And then the ministry started. They went to do it!
Then he had to give his red Dr Marten boots – he loves those shoes! Put these in the anointing. And the pastor put his shoes in too. If you do the crazy things sometimes and that’s your anointing (Andy has an anointing of craziness). He put his good watch in.
What you do without effort – but sometimes there’s a cost.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, (Oh but I did Lord).
No !– you had little to do with it! I chose you. (Full stop.) 1.
Appointed you! 2.
You used to think you chose me, but I chose you. And you’re appointed – to bear fruit.
You are appointed! Because Jesus believes in me.
We talk about having belief in him – but the fact that he chose me, means he believed in me!
NIV Study Bible notes says… Disciples normally chose the particular rabbi to whom they wished to be attached, but not so with Jesus’ disciples – he chose them.
Andy did door to door work, years ago. Invited a guy to come to a dinner. J John was speaking. Lyndon didn’t pray the prayer. No. I wasn’t put off. Went and revisited. Gave him journey into life, ‘If you open the door – will you tell me?’ I will. That night, he did it.
His wife also became a Christian. He was ordained! Became a Vicar. Gets cancer. Beats it. Gets it again. Dies.
During the sermon – two groups of people were mentioned,
1) His family
2) Andy.
So glad I followed up!
THEN – the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name.
We usually desire a strong prayer life, that we might e fruitful – but here, it is the other way round.
When you’re bearing fruit – THEN – the Father will give you whatever you ask, Why? Because you’re bearing fruit. Do I understand it? No? Why not just accept some things!
God says, “I have faith in you! You sometimes do crazy things when the anointing is on you. You didn’t choose me, but when you bear fruit, THEN the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.’
Verse 17. This is my command: Love each other.
Andy tells of how years ago he was in a very broken place. Went to the Dr.
He was visited by a minister, who said, “We are here for you, it’s going to be okay.” Moved and encouraged not just by his words – but by his life.
We are living in a time when we have to love one another. Stand with one another – like never before. THIS is Jesus’ command! It’s really important! Jesus summarises it all in 3 words. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Vs 20. REMEMBER the words I spoke to you.
It’s important to remember the words God spoke to you! God has spoken words to you.
Gerald Coates had a word for him. You’re going to go and speak to big crowds in the world.
Later – Dec 1990 Jean Darnell had a word for him. ‘I see you with a book in one hand a notebook in another. With a notebook. Put the book down, you’re an original. You don’t need the notebook. Throw it away!’
When he went to Africa, soon after, for the first time – he realised he had to throw the book away, ‘you don’t need to be anyone else. Pick up the Bible and a microphone and do what you do without effort.
If you forget the words, you will suffer – the world will suffer. You have a word for someone – and if the Lord’s in it, you will love it!
1) Jesus says – you didn’t choose me. You funny little man.
2) I appointed you to bear fruit that will last.
3) Love one another!
4) Remember the words I spoke to you! Hold on to them. My word. The words I have shared with you through my people.
Session 1 Evangelists Conference with RT Kendall.
1Sa 16:1 One day he said, “Samuel, I’ve rejected Saul, and I refuse to let him be king any longer. Stop feeling sad about him. Put some olive oil in a small container and go visit a man named Jesse, who lives in Bethlehem. I’ve chosen one of his sons to be my king
1Sa 16:13 Samuel poured the oil on David’s head while his brothers watched. At that moment, the Spirit of the LORD took control of David and stayed with him from then on. Samuel returned home to Ramah.
Three kinds of person here
In this passage we have a brief description of 3 kinds of people. They could be here, hope the 1st is not here cos its the last thing we want to be.-
1) Yesterdays man
2) Todays man
3) Tomorrows man.
Saul was now yesterdays man
Todays man = Jesse
David = tomorrows man.
Becoming yesterdays man has nothing to do with age, it’s all about the anointing lifting but us carrying on regardless.
If the Holy Spirit were removed from many churches, 90% would carry on as if nothing happened.
Saul stayed with a level of anointing, though he’d been rejected as king – he carried on wearing the crown for 20 years.
You can be young or old, and become yesterdays man.
Yesterdays man wore the crown, but lost the anointing.
David had no crown, but had the anointing – which would you want most?
To be yesterdays man can be painless – you may feel nothing. Carry on regardless. You can’t teach yesterdays man anything.
If you should be tomorrows man, it can be painful to wait for your day to come. If only Samuel had told David, “By the way it’ll be 20 years till you get the crown..’ David may have thought, ‘any day now.’
To be todays man is most painful – cos you will have to step outside your comfort zone and be wiling to do aomthing costly.
What is the anointing?
It’s the power of the Spirit – it’s what comes to you with ease. Outside your anointing, you will struggle. What comes supernaturally to you looks natural! It feels easy to you.
Others will say, ‘How do you do that?’
Cf The Peter Principle – being promoted to a level of incompetence.
The Holy Spirit will never promote you to the level of your incompetence. What you’re doing may not have prestige, but you have peace – but if you manipulate & angle for the other role- you are headed outside your anointing.
Chrisma (Gk = anointing) = Smearing.
This anointing was on Christ.
Charisma = a different word. It’s a gift. It can be being likeable.
Charismata = the grace gift.
Those can be given without character, and remain without repentance! (The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable). King Saul, on his way to kill David, prophesies – the Spirit of the Lord came on him!
A person can excel, even in the gifts of the Spirit and mesmerise the world – but have nothing to do with this anointing we are talking about.
It has a lot to do with the way God made you.
Calvin called it ‘special grace in nature.’ – It’s not saving grace.
Even a non-Christian can have an anointing – in the sense of a special gifting, and not be saved. E.g. Great pianists/ violinists, Einstein had a gift of intellect – IQ of 212!
So when we as followers of Christ may want to have some kind of prestige – its humbling to hear that it has a lot to do with how you were made.
There are things I cannot do no matter how much I’m paid to do it.
But there are some things you can do.
Cf Peter and Jesus talking, John says, “What about him?” The Lord says, ‘it’s none of your business – you follow me.’
The Lord said, “How long will you mourn for Saul?” And Samuel had to come to terms with the fact that the man he’d tried to mentor wasn’t it.
It happened way back when Saul had agreed that he would wait and not do what only Samuel was qualified and called to; make the burnt sacrifices.
As he lit the fires, Samuel THEN turned up and said, “What have you done?”
Saul said, ‘I felt compelled to do it…’ – right against scripture. People say, “God told me,’ as if God bypassed scripture – and made a special case for them.
The Bible is the Holy Spirit’s proudest work, and he is proud of it. Take it seriously, and believe it so much that if you get a dream, a nudge, an impression – make sure it coheres with the word; or you’re headed toward being yesterdays man.
Saul took himself too seriously.
Jonathan Edwards taught us, it’s the task of every generation to discover in which direction the Spirit and moving and follow him!
Until David killed Goliath, everything was fine – he had been made an officer in the military.
Then some girls started singing a different song, about thousands and tens! 1 Sam 18:12 – he was scared of a 17 year old boy.
Saul had a brilliant beginning, started a national revival. (1 Sam 12). He had authority! Who’d have thought the same man would so soon become yesterdays man? It was the inability to listen, to take advice, to fit into the structures that God had set in place and make his own way.
I can think of nothing worse than to become yesterdays man, I want to end well. And God is no respecter of persons. I have to hear his voice!
Cf Hebrews 3 – quoting Psalm 95 – Don’t harden your heart – listen!
As long as you can hear his voice – that’s what matters most!
Dr Martin Lloyd Jones said to RT once, “The worse thing that can happen to a man, is to succeed, before he is ready.”
That’s what happened to King Saul.
You may be wondering why you can’t do this or that – God says, “Keep listening – your time will come!’
Imagine Joseph turning up to the Jobcentre today – what do you do? “I dream, and interpret them…’
But there came a day, when Joseph was called out of prison to the Pharaoh, and in a day – his gift made the way. The thing nobody could do better than him.
Better to be tomorrow’s man – waiting for your time to come. Waiting for the time for your anointing time to come.
Why would God use me?
A good beginning doesn’t necessarily guarantee a good ending.
But… Yogi Berra – baseball catcher for the NY Yankees – ‘It’s not over, till it’s over!’
It’s the second half that counts – not the score at the beginning.
Saul had become stone deaf to the Spirit. He wouldn’t listen to the wise counsel of his mentor.
Deafness (naturally) comes in stages. From saying “Pardon me,” to needing a hearing aid, to not being able to hear anything at all – stone deaf.
Hebrews 6 – talks about those who had fallen away, and cannot be renewed again unto repentance. They had repented. It says they excelled, and were converted. BUT they became hard of hearing! The writer says, “If anyone hears my voice,’ because the worst scenario is to become stone deaf to God and never hear him again.
Guard that!
And if you look at this and think, “Could I be yesterdays man?” – good sign, you can still hear God speak!
If you look it over and are not concerned – look out!
Signs of being Yesterdays man?
1) Jealousy. All Saul could think about was David. He was more concerned with him (a 17 years ago) than the real enemy – the Philistines! Saul lived for one thing – to kill David. Get some perspective! Become aware of what stirs you up.
2) Fear of another’s anointing. When you get to heaven you’ll be objective, only concerned with what has advanced the kingdom. If they can do it – rejoice! Then you become a hero before the angels!
3) You can’t keep your word. In the ancient world, you could promise, or you could swear an oath. King Saul swore oaths, including one to his son David – and broke it the same say – that he wouldn’t seek to harm David.
4) Trust your gift not the grace that comes from the ungrieved Holy Spirit – because the gift is not the evidence!
5) Not accountable to those who tell you what you need to know. The last words of those who fall, “I’m accountable to God.” I need friends who I know love me, who will from that close relationship ask me the questions that I need to squirm under the weight of.
How to be yesterdays man – Put yourself above the word. Put your theology above the word. Your reputation. It’s okay to change your mind. St Augustine wrote a whole book on ‘retractions.’ I want the anointing more than anyone’s admiration.
