Acts 4:29

Acts 4:29
What are some of the things God desires to give us that can only be released into our lives and through our lives in relationship to threats, persecution and conflict? What if our lack of real trouble hinders us more than helps us become powerful in Christlikeness. It would almost be like what Jesus warned us, that only through tribulation does one enter the Kingdom of God.

I want to proclaim the greatness of those who are willing to fight for the Lord. I know of many people who love to be esteemed and valued by God, people who boast about the favor of the Lord being on them. But what if that favor is not really favor at all but rather the mercy of God protecting them because they are not able to stand and fight in a Christlike way. I once had a pastor of a large congregation tell me that he could not do what the small church pastor was doing. He could not mow the church yard, shovel the snow, clean the church, go to homes and the hospital. He was talking like he was above that, that God somehow raised him up to live a life of favor.

In my mind I thought the Lord was protecting him because he was basically a whimp. This guy could only serve the things that served himself and had little or no interest in serving others through practical and loving ways. I love the people that can handle of load of “other serving burdens”. To me these people are not the scorned by God but the truly favored by the Lord. Sure they do not feel like it. That is what makes them even more worthy of double honor. Think of Luther, John of the Cross, Fenelon and a thousand others who served the Lord at the cost of persecution and renouncement.

So here you are and you are upset because you have to battle against pornography, drinking, drugs, same sex attraction, laziness, joblessness and whatever. Don’t waste your energy by being upset. Use your life to live for Christ and overcome all the works of the evil one. Don’t let your mind think that “others” do not have the troubles you do because they are “more Godly” or “highly favored” by the Lord. Living right bears fruit through sowing and reaping and you want to start receiving that harvest as soon as possible. So allow your pride to die and get on with fighting the fight the Lord has set before you. But your fight is for you to overcome.

The Maser does not have a magic wand that He waves over our lives to make everything better. We live in relationship with God and out of our friendship with God, He speaks to us, heals our bodies and directs our steps. But the main thing is the relationship, not the “live is easier now”. Beware of the idol of “easy and blessed life” when the Master is calling you to be an over comer, preserver, endureing and trusted friend.

I said all this to start to lay the foundation for understanding what the “bond-servant” of the Lord is. In Acts 4:29 these bond-servants call out to the Lord for the ability to speak. Before we have authority, we need character. Trouble and treats have a great way of helping us mature.