If you enraptured to a new area, how you viewed the map would say a marvellous operate nearly what motivates you ... and what your rising holds.
- Would you appearance for "good hospitals" and a "good situation to retire"?
- Would you locate all the "good schools" and "good neighborhoods"?
- Or would you outward show for the uncharted, undiscovered, unknown land?
In every generation, God is stirring. In all generation, you can see three responses to His heartbreaking among His people:
RISK-TAKERS Every excellent determination of God began with RISK-TAKERS. Someone was lief to "pay the price" and forfeiture to complete a worthy dream.
Many have gone up of us sacrificing their reputation, position, finances, and their in-person order and indemnity. They were "Spiritual Gamblers" - They knew they could forfeiture a elflike in writ to get a lot! They were "Spiritual Entrepreneurs" They laid speech "NOW" for the welfare of "LATER." They risked the fury of the official set-up and go God's prevailing poignant among men.
The political unit of Israel deepened Manna day after day in the desert. New Manna every day! The simply day they "doubled-up" was Sabbath (so as to "keep it holy").
RISK-TAKERS are never contented next to yesterday's Manna - yesterday's Word. What is God spoken language today? "Today, if you perceive His voice, become fixed not your whist." (both Old and New Testaments bear witness)
The day we eat "yesterday's Manna" is the day we abstain from self-propelling spiritually! It has happened in EVERY Great Awakening and Revival of the other. "Spiritual offspring" renew the RISK-TAKERS (that is, the Movement's leadership). But, there's a dilemma. They do not have the suspicion of a RISK-TAKER. They don't possess the Spiritual driving force that propelled their RISK-TAKER-Fathers.
Rather than anointed RISK-TAKERS, they turn weak CARETAKERS of another's vision!
CARETAKERS Unfortunately, CARETAKERS get bogged set in the list of conformity a "well-oiled machine" going. They european country the machinery of Revival and stroke of luck in bidding to living it moving "just close to the angelic old days." They bury that those "good old days" were not so solid for their forefathers. (It wasn't casual man a RISK-TAKER!)
CARETAKERS like luxury, status and smoothness. It's "business as usual" - "Keep the class quo" - It was "good enough" for the RISK-TAKERS and it's "good enough" for me.
In Luke 5:39, Jesus warned of those who aforementioned the old inebriant was "good sufficient." RISK-TAKERS nick the grapes of morality and token out New Wine for New Wineskins. CARETAKERS paint the town red the alcoholic beverage that the RISK-TAKERS printed out.
CARETAKERS are haunted beside externals - Legalism, buildings, etc. When Jesus walked this earth, the ethnic group marveled at the Temple. "Look at these divine buildings!" But, they MISSED the TRUE TEMPLE - Jesus.
In Bible College and Seminary I was hardened to be a CARETAKER. "Here's how you maintain it active like it's ever been going." That didn't be fitting me then, and it doesn't proceedings me now.
Some complaint for "the honourable old days" when their church, movement, denomination, etc., was in the outpouring of God's blessing. But, are we of a mind to pay the price? News Flash - It will NEVER be that way over again ... but it CAN be BETTER!
Haggai (chapter 2) told the Jews and tells us today: "The laurels of the last mentioned provide somewhere to stay will be greater than laurels of the ex abode." It can't be repeated, but it CAN be surpassed!
It gets worse ... CARETAKERS habitually wipe out recently raised-up RISK-TAKERS! They perceive it's their tariff to guard the class quo so much, that they beg to be excused to let God to put out of place once more.
"Matthew 23:29-34 "Your (caretaker) fathers killed the (risk-taker) nebiim." They even improved "monuments" to those they killed!
UNDERTAKERS Did you ever admiration how the permanent status "UNDERTAKER" came about? Because they would "undertake" thing - together with embalming and hiding the inert - something no one other required to do!
Becoming a skilled worker is an sincere retail and feature to the community. But, it's not for me. I am uncomfortable at funerals. I am not afraid of death, I retributive can't stand it. It's the second "enemy" the Bible says - and Jesus came to not singular autonomous us from disappearance (eternal vivacity), but to divest us from the FEAR of death!
In the numinous world, UNDERTAKERS grain "called" to BURY thing new! New idea? New plan? New program? Kill it and conceal it!
The "cause of death" differs:
- We ne'er tested it that way before!
- We tested it that way before, and it didn't work!
I worship Caleb in the Book of Joshua. At age 40 he said, "The giants can't enclose us back, let's clutch the 'Promised Land'." But, the Nation believed the bad buzz fairly than Caleb's. So they wandered for 40 geezerhood in the inhospitable surroundings. At age 85, Caleb said, "I poorness to brawl the giants in the mount territorial division." The "hill country," no smaller number. At 85 you'd feel he would at smallest possible request flat ground!
Unfortunately, the middle place of worship is forked up coolly linking RISK-TAKERS, CARETAKERS, and UNDERTAKERS. That's why so microscopic of all time gets done!
Think in the order of it, what if a RISK-TAKER-Pastor goes to a CARETAKER-Congregation? He has no zest in attractive aid of their "monuments" - he wants to forge ahead to trounce new territories!
Remember the municipality map? How will you respond?
- UNDERTAKERS - Look for "good hospitals" and a "good lodge to retire"
- CARETAKERS - Look for areas near "good schools" and "good neighborhoods"
- RISK-TAKERS - Look for the uncharted, undiscovered, unknown land!