• Our hope-filled future is bound up in sharing the story of Jesus, in discipling others, in bringing those disciples together into communities of believers, and in developing and releasing those believers to create other communities... till Jesus the King comes again!

What Do We Bring?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by wtdavid

In a recent WT Asia newsletter, Tim posted the following article.  I share it with you as an insightful reflection on how the Gospel works itself out in our lives and ministries:

“Recently I finished a book, When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.  I was affirmed in some ways and challenged in others in regards to our present ministry at Mercy Medical Center.  In the first few chapters, the author lays out a framework for the four foundational relationships of humanity: relationship with God, with ourselves, with others, and with creation in general.  Each of these relationships (the latter 3 flowing out from the most important relationship with our Creator) has been severed by the fall.

If we are to see lives truly transformed, each of these relationships, beginning with and foremost with God through Jesus Christ, need to be restored.

One of the main themes of the book is “poverty”. Westerners tend to think of poverty only in material terms, but in reality every human being is suffering from a
poverty of spiritual intimacy, a poverty of being, a poverty of community, and a poverty of stewardship.  This has led me to reflect on our ministry here regarding these foundational relationships.  (No answers yet; I am still in process.)

Another point that has me contemplating is: “We missionaries in the developing world are not bringing Christ to poor communities.  He has been active in these communities since creation” (Heb 1:3; Col 1:15ff).  Obviously, the people there may not recognize that God has been at work or that God even exists.  Again I wonder how this affects how I do ministry.  Do I think I am bringing Christ to people?  Maybe I should be looking for how He is working and join Him in that work He has already begun. (Again, no specific answers yet; I am still in process.)

Bottom line is that I find myself striving under a works mentality, at times feeling like I need to do the work instead of depending on Christ and walking in His Spirit.  Last week I turned 53, and I was thinking to myself, I have been walking with the Lord almost 30 years.  Why am I not more sanctified?  Why do I still get so anxious and have sleepless nights at times about my circumstances?  Oh, I have times where I am at peace, but then I want to grab the reins back from God and control things. Why don’t I just rest in Him more and rely on myself less?  (No specific answers yet; I am still in process.)

Wretched man that I am!  Who will free me from the body of this death?  Thanks be to God …”

Filed under: Gospel, Humility, Listening | Leave a comment »

Faith in Himself

Posted on March 31, 2011 by wtdavid

William Still was pastor of the Gilcomston South Church in Aberdeen Scotland.  He wrote the following which I think might have some relevance to our discussion of “faithfulness” and “fruitfulness”:

“God’s faith is not in frail sinners whom he chooses, but in himself, and in his ability to keep them.  When he gives you a task to do that must be done thoroughly and wisely and well, he is not trusting your frailty, although you may think all depends on you.  He is trusting himself, and there is nothing he cannot do through you that he wants to do.”

Read also John’s comment to yesterday’s post.  It provides another helpful perspective.

Filed under: Faithfulness & Fruitfulness, Gospel | Leave a comment »

Living in Your Father’s Story

Posted on February 14, 2011 by wtdavid

Thanks to Albert for today’s post:

“I love the title, Living in your Father’s Story, of Part 4 of this book.  When I try to live out my own story, I tend to use prayer as a way of getting God to fulfill my dreams.  The diagram in chapter 19, page 170, gives good insight on living in my Father’s story.

When I am God-centered, I focus on His power and rest in knowing that He is in control.  When I slip into me-centeredness, I either become demanding, telling God what to do to accomplish my goals or I sink in despair and conclude that prayer doesn’t work because things are out of my control and life doesn’t seem to be working for me.

When I am weary and burdened, Jesus invites me to come to Him for rest.  He tells me to submit to His yoke and learn humility.  He wants me to surrender my desires to be in control.  When I accept Jesus’ invitation and humbly give control to Him the weight of my burdens shift to Him and I experience release and joyous freedom.  I enter His story and discover the wonder and delight of Him living His life in and through me.

My power struggles and discouragements are transformed by a delightful awareness that God is always in control with full power to even use evil to work out His good purposes.  Prayer becomes a delight because it releases me from me—my biggest burden.  I find God praying through me, aligning me with His story, which I know will result in my being part of history—His story.  Wow!  I like it.  I want more of it.”

Filed under: Gospel, Prayer | Leave a comment »

Getting In Touch With My Inner Brat

Posted on January 24, 2011 by wtdavid

Thanks to Laura for today’s post on A Praying Life:

It did me good to re-read (for the third time, ha) chapter 18.  Mr. Miller ends this section, “Learning to Ask Your Father”, with this lovely line at the bottom of page 161:

“We can’t pray effectively until we get in touch with our inner brat.  When we see our own self-will, it opens the door to doing things through God.”

 And earlier on page 157, he states;

 “The great struggle in my life is not trying to discern God’s will: it is trying to discern and then disown my own.”

 Thanks Mr. Miller, you’ve done it again, you’ve managed to nail me to the wall with your honesty about the role of self-honesty in abiding.

This week, I realize that I am touch irritated with my husband (gasp). I am sure no one can relate, but there I am.  I spoke about this with a friend trying to put a good spiritual face on it by making it clear I knew my husband was not the problem and that I didn’t want to pull away from him emotionally.  She wisely suggested that I speak to him directly about it and get it out in the open so we could pray through it.  “Great idea”, I responded, “I’ll do that before it becomes a big deal”.  But later that day and the next I find that I don’t actually want to talk to him about it for the very reason this author mentions—I haven’t disowned my own will.  I see my own will (there are certain things I want) and I know it is wrong, and I am NOT so quick at disowning my self-will as I thought.

The women I disciple/coach tend to have difficulties discerning their own will as being over and above God’s.  They say, “Of course I want God’s will here,” when they really don’t.  Much of this is an issue of time, maturing and spiritual breaking (for these particular women).  We can’t disown what we don’t own up to in the first place. 

Then there is the actual letting go once we own up to our “brat”.  This is my battle. This is where God becomes God in my head and heart and I say, “Ok Lord, I give this up to you and I won’t demand it from someplace else”.

Reread chapter 18.  What is harder for you, to own up to your self-willed brat or to disown it?

Filed under: Gospel, Humility, Prayer | Leave a comment »

What do we do with Jesus’ Extravagant Promises about Prayer?

Posted on January 17, 2011 by wtdavid

Thanks to Jacob for this week’s post on A Praying Life:

Miller gives us quite a reasonable question in the very title of this chapter (chapter 15). What, indeed, do we do with Jesus’ extravagant promises about prayer? Do we explain it away, making it either conditional or restricting it to the realm of “spiritual” things? Do we give it lip service in our meetings, using it to rally people with emotion at public gatherings, while quietly wishing it were true in the daily practice of our lives? Or have we grown cynical, considering these “promises” as too good to be true?

Recently, in a conversation with a fellow World Teamer, I confessed one of my struggles in life. I said, and almost in so many words, “It seems to me that God does not want me to succeed.” The response came wisely. “So, Jeremiah 29.11 applies to all others but not to you?” Good answer!!!

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son… If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14.13-14) Jesus really does make extravagant promises!

During the past week, members of the WT Europe Region gathered to consider the World Team mobilization crunch. We were challenged! And we came away from the workshop with a new word – “crisitunity.” Susan Best sees this current crisis as an opportunity!

Susan did a great job of delivering the sobering news, along with the challenge for the future, in a context soaked in prayer. Throughout the week we heard, prayed, and repeated again, the phrase, “Lord of the harvest, please send more workers into your harvest fields!”

We can ask this prayer boldly. Why? Jesus said we should! And so, as we ask it in Jesus’ name, we can do with confidence. As Miller says, “Asking in Jesus’ name isn’t another thing I have to get right so my prayers are perfect. It is one more gift of God because my prayers are so imperfect.” Wow, I don’t know what that statement does for you, but it gives me breathing room. It gives me hope that I, struggling as I am with the cynicism that threatens to strangle me at times, can pray, “Lord of the harvest, please send more workers to World Team.”

So, our very “work for God” can turn us to relate to God. After all, Miller reminds us, our asking is relating. We, like little children, come to our good Father and ask; “Please daddy, I would really like that.” We are called to be real before a real God. We are called to be bold before our Father. Yes, we are called to surrender to His will: even when we don’t understand it. But that’s no excuse to stop asking. We can ask! It would seem from the examples given that God does not mind being pestered by our requests! He is not niggardly with his gifts. He delights in giving us good things!

What surprises me in all this is Miller’s conviction that “the praying life is the abiding life.” He says, “One of the best ways to learn how to abide is to ask anything.”

So, really, what are we going to ask for? What is it that we really want? What do YOU want?  What does GOD want?

Filed under: Gospel, Mobilization, Prayer | 3 Comments »

“Longed For” Prayer Answered

Posted on January 11, 2011 by wtdavid

When I read John’s post from yesterday, it immediately made me think of another event.

John wrote:   “This came to mind during Christmas when I preached on Simeon holding the longed-for Messiah in his arms and thanked God for answered prayer. How long had Simeon been praying? How long had the Jews been praying for Immanuel to come, during those 400 years of God’s apparent silence since Isaiah made those great hope-filled Messianic prophecies?”

The translation of the Bible into the Kimyal language was the event that came to mind when I read John’s comments.  Watch the video clip below and you’ll understand why I made the connection.

A “longed for” prayer, that the Bible would be translated into the Kimyal language, was answered that day.  But more importantly, the Word of God which brings the life transforming message of Jesus Christ to people was now in the hands of the Kimyal people.  The Kimyal people would now take that Word to others that they might come into relationship with Christ, grow as His disciples and come into communities of believers.  This is our and their ongoing “longed for” prayer: that the earth would be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea; that many others from all nations would be brought into God’s great worshipping community.

This is one of God’s ministry highlights for 2010.  I would encourage you to share this link with others within the World Team community and outside, so that together we may rejoice together with our workers who participated in this work at God’s amazing grace and His desire to hear and respond to the prayers of His people.

Filed under: Contextualization, Gospel, Prayer | 6 Comments »

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