Man, this is good, pastor John. Good lessons.
I remember seeing a young man once, in a factory break-room where I was doing electrical work. I noticed him reading a book, and suddenly a feeling came over me – Jesus came over me – and I had to push through that crowded room to reach him. Nothing else was more important, and I would have been back-slidden at that moment if I didn’t reach him. As I approached, I came down low enough to see the cover of his book, and the title was something like, “How to find God.” I wasn’t the least bit surprised because that boy’s Answer, Jesus, had just sent him his help. In those two minutes before his break was up, I told him all about having to be born again of the Spirit, and every holy thing on my heart that went with it.
When I walked away, I knew if I had not done that, I would have backslid from the Lord, right then and there. Going to him was like taking my next breathe; I had to do it.
That experience let me know that Jesus can and does send his people to help others. And the experience rescued me so that I now know all the times when he ISN’T sending me, and I don’t have to devise something I think I should be doing to help God out. I think it’s kind of like a healing. If God heals you just one time, it will save you from being a liar about it the rest of your life because you’ll know when He HASN’T done it, and you don’t have to act like He did.
It’s like brother Oral Roberts (or was it Preacher Clark?) told the man who acted like he was healed after being prayed for, when he wasn’t: “God doesn’t need any help. Now get over here so God can heal you.”
If we are shining, we are a refuge for everyone God calls. We are the Truth, and their very best chance in this world. And if He hasn’t called them, there isn’t a thing in the world we can do for them. All we can do is invent ways to help.
Love this.
Jerry
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I am so glad that Jonathan asked his questions, and I loved your answers, pastor John. This sentence especially stood out to me: “The light of Christ is not shining to change society; it shines so that God’s lost sheep can find it.” I also loved brother Jerry’s response.
Worrying over whether I do everything I’m supposed to do to be the light of the world is something I have been wrestling with as well, but a few months ago I had a very sweet experience that helped me in learning to discern what it is like when Jesus sends me versus some other spirit or just my own ideas about serving God.
One day, I was working in close proximity to one of my co-workers, and I just had the thought that I should initiate a conversation with him about God. I was thinking about asking him if he believed in God, but something about it just felt off. So I started talking to Jesus, and told him: “I really want to share something from you with Dávid, but I want to feel that it is you sending me, and not just me doing it.” Only a few minutes later another colleague of ours walked up to Dávid, and started talking to him, but from the first moment I could tell that she really wanted to include me in their conversation. Her intention was so obvious that it felt like God, as an immediate answer to my prayer, literally made her come over there and ask me questions, so I have an opportunity to speak. She ended up asking me how me and my wife had met, so I was able to share my whole testimony, and talk about how God worked in the midst of all that – and Dávid looked deeply invested in it. After I finished, he said, Wow that’s amazing, sounds like a Hollywood movie.
Like I said, it was a very encouraging experience, because I knew without a doubt that God did it, and it helped me see that even when you have good intentions, or a good thought, you still need to be led by the Spirit. And God showed me that when he sends me, it feels just right, and I don’t have to wonder if it was Him or not. If we have a heart to serve Jesus and be a light, he will create the opportunities to do good, and it will be perfect.
I just want to emphasize how good your response to Jonathan’s questions and Jerry’s e-mail both felt. Thank you to both of you.
Zoli