Tommy Mitchell / The Rurban Church Blog

Walking by Faith - Cliche or Reality! - Part One

The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.   If you really want to "live" and really "engage" in the Christian life, we must walk by faith - and not by sight.  This will be a four part post that examines some key features of sight-walking set against faith walking!  I hope there is something in it to encourage you.

1. Sight walking limits the direction of my walk - Faith walking gives me unlimited direction in my walk!

When we walk by sight, we are immediately limited regarding the direction of our walk, for we can only see the direction in which we are traveling.  If we take our eyes off the road, we will swerve in that direction. In sight walking, we can only see where we are looking. And when life presses in on us, we get more constricted in our vision. We actually get tunnel vision and become even less aware of our surroundings.

The church that walks by sight can only go in one direction - wherever it is looking! That church sees nothing more - no other possibilities - no course corrections - and often it's sight gets restricted to just seeing one overwhelming thing - usually a problem or a grave concern. Sight walking disables us. We do not look for and we do not find new directions of travel. When we walk by sight, our focus is on the direction, not Christ, and we only go in the direction of our choosing.

When we walk by faith, we have unlimited direction in our walk.  We, through faith, can see more aspects of a circumstance. For example, instead of only seeing the joy of something that I might own, I can see the responsibilities connected to ownership and the possible bondage it might bring to me (debt, improper priority, etc.). Then I can go in a wise direction.

The church that walks by faith can have a multiplicity of ministries, going in many directions.  Through faith we are made aware of avenues of opportunity and dangerous directions. Faith walking enables us to follow Christ in exciting, and new directions.  When we walk by faith, our focus is on Christ, who leads us wherever He desires.

Poised for Significance! - Part 7 (last one for now)

We continue with the series designed to help us realize that we are "poised for significance" as believers in Christ!  The FINAL Part 7 is below:

7. Be Willing to Immerse Yourself in the Word of God!   Sometimes I see "lists" for how to lead certain ways or accomplish certain tasks in the ministry, and I suppose it is understood that we should have a biblical foundation for what we are doing. (and I love lists!)   But just so we are all clear - if you really want to reach your potential in Christ and find yourself achieving a kingdom significance - get in the word of God.

No matter what I am doing as a pastor, minister, or everyday Christian, the word of God must be on my mind and in my heart.  Every time I open the word, I am amazed.  Real leadership is taught in the Bible. Real forgiveness is taught in the Bible.  Real vision and the mechanics of visioning are taught in the Bible. Passion and love are taught in the Bible.  Character studies are taught in the Bible.  Intrigue, mystery, challenge, adventure, action - they are all in the scripture.

Dealing with difficult people - dealing with unbelievable opposition - dealing with the worst decadence of sinners and the piety of the self righteous - dealing with hope,mercy grace, and forgiveness - WOW - everything is dealt with in the scripture.  Every kind of relationship is in the Bible.  No, I am not going to list scriptural examples - look them up yourself!!!!

I just preached on Malachi 3: 6 - 13.  Though we often use this passage to preach on tithing and stewardship (and that's ok) the passage is about far more.  In verse 6 the Lord says of Himself, "I do not change."  WOW!  That just WOWS me! It becomes a much greater truth when we realize that everything else is life is in a state of constant change.  Yet God keeps His covenant with His children and does not destroy them, even when they sin. That is in the next phrase - "therefore you sons of Jacob, are not consumed!!"  He proceeds in verse 7 to discuss their continual unfaithfulness and the need to return to Him. Yet, they are merely argumentative with Him.  "How shall we return?"  And there is the larger point. They did not consider themselves to have departed from God - even though God will point out to them that they are robbing Him - and that doesn't speak for much of a faithful, following relationship!   How many of us do not consider ourselves to have departed from God, yet steal His tithe?  or fail to share our faith?  or hush our mouths from gossip?  Well, you get the point of the scripture - do you get the larger point????

We can never realize our significance in the kingdom of God if we are not treasuring His word in our hearts.  The word of God will give us much instruction, much understanding, and absolute blessing as we dig into to it.  His Word will not disappoint! Any time we obey the Word, we are going to find ourselves reaching new levels of significant use and ability in His kingdom.  STAY IN THE WORD - or you will dry up!

Poised for Significance - Part 6

We continue with the series designed to help us realize that we are "poised for significance" as believers in Christ!  Part 6 is below:

6. Be Willing to Trust!   Trust, also known as faith, is vital to fulfilling your role of significance in the kingdom of God.  This hardly seems like a statement that needs to be made, but trust me, it does.

Trust God!  If you have every detail worked out on a "kingdom level" project before you begin; if you think you know every contingency and have everything accounted for - I submit that you have the best laid plans of man and not God.  Not that God will lead you to be ill-prepared - but "kingdom level" projects are born out of the heart of God. They, by their very nature, require not just a measure of faith to be completed, but are a total faith venture.

When the Lord called His disciples with a simple "follow me," they had no details and absolutely no understanding of the magnitude and significance of what their obedience would mean to them, and eventually, the church!  When Peter said yes, he had no idea of the significant role he would eventually play in the early church. But, he did have a simple faith in the One who knew all things. 

This is part of the frustration we encounter in "kingdom level" projects.  Our churches are often dominated by folks who walk by sight - not by faith.  We have grown to accept this as the norm. This is problematic for us because people want every detail of a "kingdom level" project given to them.  Where is every dime of the resources coming from? Who all will be impacted? Who all will serve? What are all the possible pitfalls?  In a "kingdom level" project, we may only see as far as God has enabled us to see - the rest requires faith. Sight walking is too often the norm with people. It is not the level of maturity accepted by the Lord. 

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7, We walk by faith, not by sight!  Hebrews 11:6 says, And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder  of those who seek Him.  We must have faith - trust - in God!  This faith topic may become a series for another set of posts, but consider this. God seldom releases resources until faith filled obedience becomes evident! 

Trust People!  I absolutely believe this one is as hard or harder than trusting God! At some point, early on, we are going to have to trust some core people to take up and advance the "kingdom level" project. No one person is usually sufficient to carry out a God-sized, kingdom level project or ministry.  We must trust people!  Will they do things just like I would do it? Probably not! Should they? Probably not!  When people are walking together by faith, there is a multiplier of ministry at work that is truly phenomenal.  What God may have begun in our heart as an idea or ministry or project - by trusting Him and entrusting others - becomes something that may travel the whole world and impact millions!  We never know.

Trust! Faith! They are well placed in the Lord. And they are the only way we will play a significant part in the Kingdom of God!

Poised for Significance! Part 5

We are continuing a series regarding the awesome significance for which every believer is poised when involved in building the Kingdom of God.  Part 5 follows!

5. Be willing to Persevere!   While similar to being willing to pay the price - this one merits a separate mention!  When do you persevere - when do you punt?  I'm not sure I can really answer this one for everyone else - but I know how I make those determinations.

Persevere when:
       God has told you to do something.

       God has not told you to stop.

       Opposition mounts up.  Sometimes we quit at the first sign of opposition. There may be good or bad
reasons for opposition.  Maybe more explanation is needed - maybe the packaging or the methodology for implementing the vision is in need of change.  Or maybe the opposition just needs to be exposed as such. Better to know who supports what God is doing than to not know!

        When you have doubts.  If you quit the first time you have doubts about something, then you will always have doubts about whether you should have quit.  Stay with what God has given you - unless it becomes absolutely clear that you have not heard from God.

Punt when:
        You recognize that you are trying to accomplish something great - but not something that comes from the heart of God.

        You get a release from God.  If people will not buy into something that God is doing - and you have given much time to it - and every indication is that people will not, for whatever reason, come around, then you can punt.  Again, if God gives you the release.  God will move His plan and blessing around according to whether or not people are obedient.  If you are obedient, but others are not - God does not hold you accountable for that. 

        You realize you have passed the test!   You did what God said do - you worked with others to do it - and now, there is nothing else you can do.  And again, if God gives you the release.

I'm sure there is much more I could add - and that you can add.  The main thing - walk with God - closely. As you do, you will get a real sense of when it is right to persevere in spite of all odds - and when to punt.  The spirit of God must lead.   More times than not, we do not persevere long enough - and we punt way too early!  Great work is not easy work!

A Most Momentous Day!

Well, I certainly do rejoice today!  Our building vote was taken today and passed with an 86% majority!
I am thankful for a Building Team who worked for years - took the time to listen to the people and to be certain that everyone understood what was being presented. 

Most of all, I am thankful to the Lord! My only aim is that He will be glorified and that we will continue to be faithful for the hard work that is to come!

Hallelujah!

Poised for Significance - Part 4

We continue with the series designed to help us realize that we are "poised for significance" as believers in Christ!  Part 4 is below:

4. Be willing to disappear - (be humble)!  Don't confuse significance with self-promotion! In each of these posts I have begun with the reminder that every child of God is "poised for significance" as Christ uses us in His kingdom.  This "significance" should not be confused with fame, fortune, or promotion.  One can be famous and well known, even within the Christian community, and not be realizing their potential in Christ.

If anyone arrives at "significance" in the Kingdom, it will not be by self-promotion - or even the promotion of others. It will come through His promotion - His using us as we respond and obey Him.  I believe it is possible to fulfill all the "significant" matters God places before us without anyone else ever recognizing it. Truly, that doesn't matter!  As long as we serve Him faithfully, we will gain our significance in Him, and receive our blessings from Him. 

We must be humble!  Work hard - don't worry about sharing the credit or who gets the credit. If we are in a God directed enterprise - really - doesn't He get all the glory?

We will never realize our potential or reach our significance in Christ if we are full of human pride. Humilty, however, places us directly in the heart of God and in His stream of blessing! Be humble.

Poised for Significance - Part 3

We are continuing a series regarding the awesome significance for which every believer is poised when involved in building the Kingdom of God.  Part 3 follows!

3. Be willing to pray - often!  There is often much prayer that precedes our involvement with Kingdom advances and our usefulness in those advances.  Sometimes I get those visions, directions, ideas, etc. in a very direct line - I pray - I get a result from prayer.  At other times, I have received those impressions on the heart and directions from God regarding prayers prayed quite some time back. God answers and reveals when He is ready and always to conform to what He is doing!

A common mistake that we can make is to be prayerful until we "break through," and then get so tied up in enthusiasm and excitement for whatever God is doing that we go eagerly to work and cease our prayerfulness! 

God uses our prayer time for many things, no doubt! One thing God desires to do is to shape and chisel our hearts to conform to His. We may have the absolute "word from God" regarding some great Kingdom work. We may be on the path of God's significant use of our life in advancing the Kingdom - only to get side-tracked due to a lack of prayerfulness.

A prayerful heart enables us to share vision instead of holding on to it.  Prayer enables us to bring all focus on Christ and away from us. Prayer enables us to capture the unfolding nature of God's plan! 

If we fail to pray - we will never be able to achieve significant work in the Kingdom.  God is an "on-time" God - and often a "just in time" God!  And because we lack full perspective - He sometimes seems to us to be "just a little late!"   It is a spirit of prayer, accompanied by faith, that provides us with the ability to trust Him as we follow Him in great work!

As Kingdom work advances - so must prayer - or we will not be poised for significance - but irrelevance!

Poised for Significance - Part 2

Each person who knows Christ is "poised for significance" as God uses us to accomplish His kingdom agenda.  How may we make a significant difference in His Kingdom?  We continue with Part 2.

2. Be willing to be misunderstood.  There are two types of misunderstanding you will encounter in living out God's purposes in your life.  One type of misunderstanding is essential and there is nothing you can do about the other type.

Type One - When God is speaking to our heart and giving us a fresh outpouring in a new ministry, idea, vision, thought, movement, or direction in the kingdom, we are understandably enthusiastic.  I know that when those moments come, I want to share them with folks.  Unfortunately, I have at times shared these throughts, ideas, visions, and directions with too many people with such excitement and little detail as to put people off.    When I receive this kind of outpouring in my heart, I mostly understand my feelings, thoughts, and knowledge about the subject.  But one person removed from me may not so quickly pick up on it all. After all, what lives in my heart may have to be explained a bit before it lives in the heart of another person.  This type of misunderstanding is essential among a few folks to enable us to sharpen and give explanation to what God is leading us to do.

I am fairly confident that many times I have been on the right track with God's unfolding vision - with bold plans and kingdom agendas - only to blow it by sharing them too soon - but more importantly - too broadly!

When God is moving in your life in powerful, kingdom ways - and expecting you to lead out in advancing the kingdom of God - take the time to share your heart with a close, kingdom-minded friend or friends.  Answer their questions.  Reflect on your own understanding of what God is leading you to. Pray!  Work it through. I'm not talking about over analyzing or picking something to death - just understand that what has exploded into your heart may cause an explosion for no other reason than lack of good communication in sharing the vision with others.  We can do something about this kind of misunderstanding!

Type Two - Sadly, there is nothing we can do about this type of misunderstanding.  There are people out there who will never understand anything about the kingdom. Their heart is dull and closed to the truth. Nobody likes to acknowledge this - but if you poll enough church leaders you will find out that these folks exist in every church!  Some would say, "If Jesus Himself tried to communicate a vision of kingdom advancement to them, they still would not understand."  Well, the truth is, Christ has tried to communicate that vision to them through His Word, through leaders, and through their heart! 

If you do not let Christ lead you in His kingdom work because of those "who never get it," you will never realize your own Kingdom potential. An attempt should always be made to carefully communicate what God is doing and what He is up to - but we should never be disobedient because of those who are dull of hearing!

Being misunderstood - it is part of reaching your Kingdom potential!

Poised for Significance - Part 1

Everyone who knows Christ is "poised for significance!" Yet, there are many barriers to useful service in the Kingdom. I could probably write three of four pages on the topic without taking a keyboard break.  A friend who preached a few months ago gave us a little reminder - "If you are not doing all you can do in the Kingdom, then your church is not doing all that it can do -since you are the church!"  TRUE!  So, how can we make a "significant" difference in the Kingdom of God?

1. Be Willing to Pay the Price! Part of what hinders us is the reluctance to pay the price for significance! Every major opportunity to be significantly used by God in building the Kingdom comes with a price to be paid.  The price may be giving up your own agenda (more later), opposition by others, finding the right fit, hours of work - even months and years of work. We often desire to see great Kingdom results without paying the price.  Examples:
    People coming to Christ without the hard work of telling the Good News!
    People becoming great disciples without our personal mentoring.
    Great advances in transforming culture without involvement on our part in that culture!
    Results without investment!

We cannot and will not be guaranteed that every time we "pay the price" that we will see an equal result. I would even submit to you that sometimes we "pay the price" for those who come after us and enjoy the harvest of results.  But, whatever God calls upon us to do to further His Kingdom, we should do - we should be willing to pay the price and leave the results to Him.  Then we will have a significance that honors God and blesses us. And remember this, sometimes we "pay the price" and see amazing advances in the Kingdom! 

If we pay no price - we will see nothing! And the kind of significance and usefulness we desire in the Kingdom will be elusive!

Preaching! Preaching! Preaching!

If I thought much about what God has called me to do - I might get depressed!! You see, I do a lot of stuff as the Pastor of Agricola Baptist Church, but as far as I am concerned - God called me to preach!  I guess I do all the other stuff so I will get to do the preaching part.  Now, about the depressed part - I am called to do what I hear people say they don't want anyone to do - preach!  (You know - "I don't like it when people preach to me!") 

Now, one might argue that they mean something a little different - but truly - I think it all fits together.  Through more than 30 years of preaching, I find people listen less and less.  Preach about marital purity and faithfulness - then watch couple after couple - year after year - in your church - go separate ways!

Preach on sexual purity in tempered language - bold language - or blunt language - and watch as child after child enters this world without the benefit of an intact home - a mom and dad - prepared and faithful - to nurture that child.

Preach on obedience and watch people run from God.

Preach on stewardship  - and watch people howl about you preaching on money!!!!!

Preach on leading people to Christ - and see how many take the challenge to lead someone to faith in Christ.  People seem more and more resistant to preaching based on their actions and reactions!

Not all people!  But a good number!!  Yet - God will not be silenced.  The message must be preached - and I absolutely thrive on preaching the message!  And I love preaching the texts in a spirit of love and hope and repentance and forgiveness.  God is faithful - and loving - and SOOOO forgiving.

I fully understand that the messenger can get in the way of the message - and that the message can be butchered by an angry messenger, a discouraged messenger, a cynical messenger.  But, I pray for a great outpouring of God's spirit on His people - that they will listen to His word and respond.

I HAVE SPENT this afternoon under the leadership of the Holy Spirit working through topics, texts, and preaching possibilities for the remainder of this year.   May and June are a lock - July is pretty strong.  December is pretty much done - and special events and Lord's Supper dates etc. are on the calendar.  In about a week I will have a pretty good idea of what I will be doing for the remainder of the year.

It is exciting to plan preaching! You have to listen to the Lord - be flexible to change as you go forward - and think and pray about what God wants to communicate to the people you serve.  I am looking forward to the rest of the year.