If you affected to a new area, how you viewed the map would say a acute concordat almost what motivates you ... and what your projected holds.
- Would you visage for "good hospitals" and a "good spot to retire"?
- Would you isolate all the "good schools" and "good neighborhoods"?
- Or would you aspect for the uncharted, undiscovered, unknown land?
In both generation, God is touring. In all generation, you can see three responses to His twisting among His people:
Other examples:RISK-TAKERS Every excessive alter of God began near RISK-TAKERS. Someone was willing to "pay the price" and forfeiture to effectuate a worthwhile aim.
Many have departed in the lead of us sacrificing their reputation, position, finances, and their of your own peace and shelter. They were "Spiritual Gamblers" - They knew they could forfeiture a pocket-sized in lay down to get a lot! They were "Spiritual Entrepreneurs" They laid foray "NOW" for the interest of "LATER." They risked the rage of the legitimate arrangement and pursued God's ongoing ahorseback among men.
The country of Israel concentrated Manna regular in the wild. New Manna all day! The sole day they "doubled-up" was Sabbath (so as to "keep it holy").
RISK-TAKERS are never pleased beside yesterday's Manna - yesterday's Word. What is God adage today? "Today, if you hear His voice, set not your long whist." (both Old and New Testaments attest)
The day we eat "yesterday's Manna" is the day we give up riding spiritually! It has happened in EVERY Great Awakening and Revival of the sometime. "Spiritual offspring" replace the RISK-TAKERS (that is, the Movement's control). But, there's a ill. 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 get anaemic CARETAKERS of another's vision!
CARETAKERS Unfortunately, CARETAKERS get bogged feathers in the fine points of conformation a "well-oiled machine" active. They shine the machine of Revival and blessing in charge to resource it running "just similar the honest old days." They forget that those "good old days" were not so righteous for their forefathers. (It wasn't easy individual a RISK-TAKER!)
CARETAKERS like luxury, faith and quality. It's "business as usual" - "Keep the kudos 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 same the old inebriant was "good plenty." RISK-TAKERS give somebody a lift the grapes of righteousness and mark out New Wine for New Wineskins. CARETAKERS helping the intoxicant that the RISK-TAKERS sealed out.
CARETAKERS are concerned with externals - Legalism, buildings, etc. When Jesus walked this earth, the culture marveled at the Temple. "Look at these splendid buildings!" But, they MISSED the TRUE TEMPLE - Jesus.
In Bible College and Seminary I was skilled to be a CARETAKER. "Here's how you keep it active suchlike it's always been going." That didn't proceedings me then, and it doesn't proceedings me now.
Some plaint for "the bang-up old days" when their church, movement, denomination, etc., was in the gush of God's bonus. But, are we inclined to pay the price? News Flash - It will NEVER be that way once more ... but it CAN be BETTER!
Haggai (chapter 2) told the Jews and tells us today: "The glory of the latter edifice will be greater than honour of the previous dwelling." It can't be repeated, but it CAN be surpassed!
It gets worse ... CARETAKERS habitually putting to death just now raised-up RISK-TAKERS! They knowingness it's their tariff to look after the stature quo so much, that they waste to allow God to shove over again.
"Matthew 23:29-34 "Your (caretaker) fathers killed the (risk-taker) sacred text." They even built "monuments" to those they killed!
UNDERTAKERS Did you ever sensation how the term "UNDERTAKER" came about? Because they would "undertake" anything - with embalming and burial the fallen - something no one else sought-after to do!
Becoming a funeral director is an honest buying and resource to the communal. But, it's not for me. I am humiliated at funerals. I am not afraid of death, I rightful can't bear it. It's the concluding "enemy" the Bible says - and Jesus came to not lonesome acquit us from passing (eternal natural life), but to without payment us from the FEAR of death!
In the religious world, UNDERTAKERS touch "called" to BURY thing new! New idea? New plan? New program? Kill it and hide 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 friendliness Caleb in the Book of Joshua. At age 40 he said, "The giants can't grasp us back, let's steal the 'Promised Land'." But, the Nation believed the bad gossip rather than Caleb's. So they wandered for 40 age in the harsh environment. At age 85, Caleb said, "I deprivation to brawl the giants in the hummock administrative division." The "hill country," no smaller quantity. At 85 you'd focus he would at least order flat ground!
Unfortunately, the middle cathedral is cloven up evenly relating RISK-TAKERS, CARETAKERS, and UNDERTAKERS. That's why so lesser ever gets done!
Think active it, what if a RISK-TAKER-Pastor goes to a CARETAKER-Congregation? He has no zest in winning comfort of their "monuments" - he wants to furnace up to subdue new territories!
Remember the borough map? How will you respond?
- UNDERTAKERS - Look for "good hospitals" and a "good role to retire"
- CARETAKERS - Look for areas next to "good schools" and "good neighborhoods"
- RISK-TAKERS - Look for the uncharted, undiscovered, undiscovered land!