The Monday Memo from John Stanko

880: The Fear Factor

Did you really think we were finished with the "Go and . . ." series? We are, but I want to write an epilogue for my book, so we will take one more week to wrap things up. The "Go and . . ." series has emphasized God's bias for action, but this final thought will focus on mankind's resistance to that call to step and do whatever it is God has spoken. While the refusal to go is based in people's rebellion against God and His authority, its roots are in fear, and that is why I have titled this week's entry, "The Fear Factor." Let's look at that concept now.

THE REFUSALS

I can think of two cases where people refused when God told them to go. The first was Jonah, the reluctant prophet, who was told to go to Nineveh and deliver a hard word that God's judgment was coming. Instead of heading to Nineveh, Jonah got on a ship and went in the opposite direction. He eventually revealed that he didn't want to go because he knew the Lord would relent of His verdict if the people repented—which they did and He did. Jonah ended up going, but it was through the whale express that transported him to a spot within walking distance of his assigned destination.

The second refusal was on the part of the apostles. They heard Jesus' words to go, which we looked at last week. The apostles, a title which means 'sent forth one,' chose to stay in their Jerusalem comfort zone. it took persecution for them to get up and go. They prove it is no guarantee that we will go just because we have heard from the Lord, something that many people claim to be true: "If only God would speak to me, then I would know and do His will."

Jonah was afraid God would change His mind, and Jonah wanted Nineveh, the enemies of his people, to be wiped out. The apostles were afraid of what their fellow Jews would say when they went to the Gentiles, so they did not go, even with their marching orders in hand. The most significant refusal, however, is found in the Old Testament and we can learn important lessons by examining it more closely.

A TOWER AND A CITY

The Lord told Adam and Eve, and then Noah, to be fruitful and fill the earth. God wanted them to go and spread out, but their descendants rebelled and stayed put. In Genesis 11, we read that the people decided to make a name for themselves, so they settled down to build a monument or tower to give themselves an identity and place they could call their own. What did the Lord do when they refused to go? First, he confused their language and then, "The Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:8-9).

This refusal to go was revisited and reversed at Pentecost in Acts 2 when God once again intervened, this time to give mankind a language of the Spirit that would restore their ability to obey God and go. As they went, the Spirit would this time aid their communication as evidenced by every man present in Acts 2 hearing God being extolled in their native tongue. Whereas before, God had confused their language, this time He would clarify it, so they could overcome a major barrier to going and that was the inability to communicate.

The people who built the tower were afraid. They were afraid to go out for whatever reason. Perhaps they were afraid they would lose their identity. Maybe they were fearful of what they would find as they went. They were willing to make bricks in the desert, adding heat to an already unbearable climate, just so they would not have to go.

Are you doing the same thing? Are you making bricks in the desert with people you don't understand (and who don't understand you)? Has God confused the communication between you and others because you are in the wrong place? Is all this rooted in the fear factor that if you go, you will somehow lose something instead of gaining? When I say go, it doesn't mean you have to go far away (although you may). It does mean you must be in motion to take the initiative on what God has put in your heart to do. Where is the fear factor keeping you from going and doing?

As we close this series, and this time I really mean it, I advise you to consider where you are and where God wants you to be. If they are not the same, then your work and way are probably hard. If you go, whether it's to go and write, go and speak, go and learn, go and build, go and proclaim, or go and create, then God will go with you and you will experience the true power of Pentecost. God will help you and it will be exhilarating. Your message will be clear because you are clear. May the Lord reveal to you what your go is and then may you face and overcome your fear and obey, knowing that He will be with you to the ends of the earth—or to the end of your street, wherever it is He has chosen for you to serve. Have a blessed week!

879: Go and . . . Make Disciples

This is it. This is absolutely, positively the last in the "Go and . . ." series, which we began last July. I have already compiled each entry into one document, which I will edit in December and put into production for a book in January. It should be available in February. I asked last week about a title and here are the responses I received:

1. Responding to God’s Call to Action
2. When God Says Go and Do ... You Had Better Go and Do
3. What Part of Go Don’t You Understand?
4. God’s Bias for Action
5. Obedience to God’s Call for Action
6. God's Call to Action

Write me and let me know which on you life, or suggest another option.

For this last entry, let's look at Jesus' last words found in Matthew 28:18-20:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I thought I would do a point-by-point presentation for this last entry, so let's see what we can learn from these famous words regularly referred to as the Great Commission.

WHAT PART OF GO DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

Go is a two-letter word that has serious implications for us. Go implies motion, leaving where we are and heading someplace else. Go is open-ended, for we may go across the street or 2,000 miles away. Go is a command without any other specific instructions, which indicates we are expected to figure it out along the way. Go ushers in change that may involve new relationships, assignments, or scenery. The disciples heard these words from Jesus Himself, yet they did not go, lingering in Jerusalem's comfort zone for many years. Some never were able to overcome their bias against Gentiles and their preference for Jewish home cooking and culture, so they stayed -- until persecution and divine intervention forced them to go.

Here are some things to consider about this Commission called Great:

1. Jesus has the authority to send you to do whatever He chooses. God will not apologize for what He asks you to do. It is a privilege to serve Him, but it is important to do so willingly. God is not interested in hostages or slaves; He wants volunteers. Will you volunteer to go and do? Or is fear causing you to shrink back?
2. Jesus expects His followers to make other disciples. He did not say, "You go and I will make disciples." You may want God to initiate, direct, supervise, develop, and empower your purpose. It's safer and less risky if you put the onus of going and doing on Jesus. You are then simply along for the ride. That is not what "Go and . . ." represents. I have worked to make purpose disciples since 1991. It's what I teach and why I write and publish. What is your strategy to impact, train, and raise up others to do what you do?
3. Jesus demands that you overcome any bias you have for other people groups. That means the world is your stage, as Shakespeare wrote. That is a scary proposition and may mean you have to abandon the safety of your shoreline for foreign ports of call, or at least places in your own country you would not usually frequent. I often see people act out this prayer: "God, I'll do whatever you want me to do -- as long as it's in my country, in my state, in my area, with my people, in my town, in my church, on my street, on Sundays from 7 to 9 or Wednesday from 4 to 6, and as long as my child doesn't have a recital or I don't have to work overtime. But God, You know I will do whatever it is You want me to do." If you put restrictions and limitations on God's will, don't be surprised if He is not moving in your life our using you for His purpose. When that happens, you can settle for being a good church member, doing God a favor when you attend and even give some money
4. Jesus wants you to take what He teaches you and find a way to share it with others around the world. That is one reason why the Internet is so exciting to me. it is something God wants us to use to disseminate His will and teaching, giving us all an outlet for our testimonies, which will help us and others overcome the evil one.
5. Jesus promised that He would be with you no matter where you went or what you did. You are in partnership with God! Be careful, however, and keep in mind Paul's admonition: "As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
   

There you have it. We have looked at 19 examples of God's commands that included the words "go and." Whatever I choose to call the book, I hope it does not diminish the urgency God is conveying to you as you find and express your purpose and creativity. You are God's hands and feet, and if you don't go and do, then no one will go and do. The good news is that Jesus goes with you when you go, but does that mean He does not stay with you when you stay? That's a scary thought, so i will continue to go and do as best I can, taking Jesus at His word that He will never leave or forsake me to the end of the age. I hope to see you along the "Go and . . ." road. Have a blessed week!

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THANKSGIVING OFFERING: Thank you for responding to my appeal for a special Thanksgiving offering for the orphans. We were able to raise $1,200, which I will be distributing this week. I will be back with a yuletide campaign titled, "Give a Kid a Christmas." Stay tuned.

ISRAEL 2020: I am planning another trip to Israel in April 2020. Watch this five-minute video and then write to let me know if you want more information.

ALASKA 2019: I am also planning a ministry vacation to Alaska in August 2019. Watch this four-minute video and then check out the website to get more info or to download a brochure.

878: Go and . . . Do not Hesitate

We are almost there. After this Memo, there is only one more week in our "Go and . . ." series (although yesterday in church, I thought of another entry, but I am going to let it pass by without picking it up). I have already compiled the past entries into one document and will edit and publish them. Here are possible titles for the book: 1) Coming and Going: God's Call to Action or a Biblical Call to Action or 2) What Part of Go Don't You Understand? God's Bias for Action. What do you think? Perhaps you have one to suggest? 

This week's focus is on the story of Peter's call to go to the Gentiles in Acts 10. Peter was praying on the roof as he waited for his meal and had a vision of a sheet being lowered with all kinds of unclean animals in it. He was commanded to eat, which he refused to do because he kept a kosher diet, and this is what the Spirit said to him:

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them" (Acts 10:17-20).

Let's unpack these verses to see what we can add to our growing understanding that God wants us to be going and doing.

STOP PRAYING AND MEDITATING

Peter went up on the roof to have a quiet time with the Lord. The Lord interrupted his devotions to impart the next phase of his ministry purpose Jesus had introduced in Matthew 16:

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:17-19).

Peter had the keys to the Kingdom and he had to go to the Gentiles to open their door. The problem was that Peter didn't want to go! He was a good Jew and even though Jesus had personally told him and his comrades to go, they were still hanging around Jerusalem and its environs as good Jews who did not like the Gentiles. The Gentiles were unclean, had strange customs, ate foods forbidden by the Law, and were idolaters -- not to mention Judah's military overlords.

God told Peter to leave his comfortable rooftop perch and without hesitation accompany the men who had come to lead him to Cornelius' home. God was not interested in Peter's prayers or his solitude. God was interested in the gospel reaching the Gentiles and it was to start with Cornelius, and Peter had to be the one to go.

THE LESSONS

All my life, I have watched believers retreat into the comfort and safety of their "prayer closets." As a Catholic, I had a relative who was a Franciscan priest. I had regular contact with monks, some who were priests and others only brothers. Then when I found the Lord, I ran into many people who defined their ministries as "intercessors," some praying alone while others conducting prayer walks with others or solo. And why wouldn't they?

The prayer closet is quiet and secure. The environment in the prayer closet can be controlled by the one praying. It is a place of study and solitude, meditation and reflection. The problem is that many of these intercessors never came out of their closet, except to refresh and retool to go back in again. There was no messiness of interaction with others and no danger of the prayer agenda being interrupted--except by the Lord. It is all too easy to block out the Lord in the very place we have gone to meet Him, however, as Peter did in this story. God was telling him to do something and Peter said no three times. There are two words that never go together and those words are Lord and no. If the Lord is beckoning, the response is always yes.

Are you on the rooftop praying? Is God interrupting your alone time and asking you to go? Go write a book, go take a missions trip, go back to school, go volunteer to help the homeless or youth or the elderly? When you sense any of those, do you run down the stairs from your rooftop perch or do you return the next day and the next and the next, waiting for confirmation or for the Lord to reveal more than He already has? I encourage you to go to your closet but when you sense the Lord speaking, say what Eli taught Samuel to say in a similar situation: "Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10b). Then when He speaks, and God is always ready to reveal His will if you are listening, get up, go downstairs, and allow others to lead you to the purpose God has for you. Have a blessed week and don't forget to let me know what you think about the title for this series book.

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THANKSGIVING OFFERING: My heart is burdened for the 100 plus orphans we have a relationship with in Kenya. This week in America, we will consume more food than many of those children will see all month. What's more, the Stanko family welcomed a new addition this week, a brand new baby boy named Benjamin. I want to give an offering of thanks to the Lord in honor of my grandson, and I invite you to join me. Every penny you give will be forwarded to our partners in Kenya, who desperately need our help to feed the children. You can give your Thanksgiving offering through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

877: Go and . . . See the Wicked Things

I have never written anything about the prophet Ezekiel, nor have I ever preached a message about him. His book has not been a focus of study or attention for me over the years. In fact, I realized as I wrote this entry that I have purposely avoided Ezekiel. He always seemed so eccentric, the epitome of the Old Testament prophet, and I was afraid I would not understand what I read if I dug into him and his story too deeply. All that will change this week as I continue the "Go and . . ." series, with two more after this before the series is done -- I promise.

In Ezekiel 8, Ezekiel saw the Lord, "his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal" (8:2), who "stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head" (8:3), and instructed Ezekiel to “go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here" (8:9). Then in the verse 12, Ezekiel witnessed the elders and leaders of Israel doing abominable things offensive to God. It was so bad that the Lord later said, "Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them" (Ezekiel 8:18). Why would the Lord tell Ezekiel to go and see the wicked things even though the Lord was angry with His people? I'm glad you asked, but to find out, you will have to read on.

FACING REALITY

God would not allow Ezekiel to be His prophet in isolation. Ezekiel could not be a hermit or go into hiding to protect himself from the messy situation his nation was experiencing. He had to face the reality of his peoples' depravity and evil, and see them like God saw them as the abomination they were. Even the leaders had abandoned their oaths of obedience and were carrying out secret, sinful practices they believed no one saw, even the Lord. This reminds me of what Jesus prayed for His disciples:

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified" (John 17:13-19).

The world is a nasty place but we must balance on the tightrope of living in the world but not becoming like the world. God would not allow Ezekiel to look away or ignore the reality of God's fallen creation. He will not allow you to ignore the condition of the world either.

THE LESSONS

We in the church tend to desire a nice, safe, predictable place where we can withdraw from the world. We have done so under the guise of staying holy and pure, but when we withdraw from the world, we deprive the world of any hope of escape from their depraved dilemma. We must follow in the footsteps of Joseph, Daniel, David, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Paul, and even Jesus Himself, who were all clean but got involved in the unclean business of human existence.

God wants you to express your purpose in churches that have abandoned their role as salt and leaven, in businesses that serve not much more than profit, in government that is looking to use God and His people for their own purposes, and in causes saturated with selfishness and greed. As you immerse yourself in these entities, you cannot become more loyal to them than you are to Him. In other words, you will have to face their abominable practices while you serve them at God's behest. They will want your obedience and fealty, but you cannot give it to them while you serve them, as Daniel did with Nebuchadnezzar.

You must fulfill your purpose as Timothy did, among imperfect people who argued and practiced evil as a hobby. Paul's instructions to him are the same instructions the Lord gives us today: "And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Have a blessed week as you serve a holy God in an unholy society.

876: Go and . . . See the Land

We go back to the Old Testament for this week's installment in the "Go and . . ." series, which has already gone on about two months longer than I thought it would—and I have three more planned before we close (then I will turn all these posts into a book). In Numbers, the Lord spoke to Moses as he was about to die:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin) (Numbers 27:12-14).

This story is a mix of human failure and God's grace, so let's examine it more closely to see what we can learn that will help us in our pursuit of purpose and productivity.

THE FAILURE

In Numbers 20, we read why Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land with his people:

So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them (Numbers 20:9-12).

What was so wrong with what Moses did when he struck the rock? In essence, the Lord told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come forth. Instead, Moses struck the rock, which we learn later was actually Christ: "They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). Moses made it appear that God was angry (He was not) and also made it look like it was Moses, through his act of striking the rock, who was bringing the water forth. For this misrepresentation of God's intent at a time in his life when Moses knew better, he was barred from entering the Land.

THE GRACE

God did not completely banish Moses, but instead allowed him to see the land he was unable to enter, and that was an act of God's grace:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16).

When Moses saw the land, he welcomed the promise of God and in a sense, he entered into the joy of the Promised Land as if he was in it. It didn't stop there, however, for centuries later, he paid another visit to a mountain in that same land, this time to encourage and strengthen Jesus: "Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem" (Luke 9:30-31). Moses came back to see the most important promise of God, which was not about a physical land, but a spiritual restoration to be accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection. Moses' failure could not stop God's grace when he was alive and even after he was gone.

THE LESSONS

What is God showing you? Can you receive it in faith and thank Him for it, even though it has not come to pass? I have written a verse-by-verse commentary on the entire New Testament, and it has sold very few copies. It has been on my website for years, free of charge, and I don't know how many people in the world have accessed it. Why did I do it (it took me nine years) and why do I take pains to publish it (requiring another five years at my own expense)? I do so because one day, perhaps after I am gone, God can and will use those commentaries. They are part of a "Live the Word" series, and are presented in a devotional format to not only help people understand the Word, but also to apply it to daily life. I have seen the promise and welcomed it from afar, and in a sense, my books are a gift to God to use (or not) as He sees fit.

God has probably already taken you up to a high place to see your Promised Land. I encourage you to enjoy and savor the view, but realize it is not just to be a spiritual experience. It is to be a reality to be cherished now and in the age to come. Have a blessed week!

875: Go and . . . Stay Near

As we continue the "Go and . . ." series, we want to look at the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch:

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it" (Acts 8:26-29).

Here are some interesting things that stand out to me from this encounter.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

1. The angel of the Lord and the Spirit spoke to Philip. This was not an extraordinary event, but seemed to be normal in the life of Philip. Is it normal in your life? If not, why not? Do you even believe this is possible or normal?
2. The Lord spoke to Philip regarding his purpose (evangelism) and not some random act of kindness. God will speak to you about your purpose as well. You should expect exceptional guidance where your purpose is concerned.
3. Philip received specific, detailed instructions about he was to do—what road he was to travel and who he was to meet.
4. Philip did not receive specific, detailed instructions about what he was to do once he got there. That only came once he obeyed and went. You may be waiting for information that is not forthcoming. God may direct you to go and you find out what you are to do once you arrive—not before.
5. Even once Philip obeyed and got hear the chariot, the Spirit did not tell him what to do. He had to come to his own conclusion that he was near so he could hear, and once he heard, he initiated contact with the eunuch. You may be waiting for specific instructions that will never come, for you are expected to use your brain and reasoning ability to deduce what God wants you to do.
6. Philip did not have to exert much energy to find the expression for his purpose, but he had to exert great energy to fulfill it. The Lord spoke to him—that was the easy part—but then he had to travel by foot to meet the eunuch. You will work in your purpose, but not to find your purpose. God wants you to know, but then God expects you to "walk" down the desert road He shows you and apply your creativity to what you see and hear.
   

We have looked in past Memos at how you will see things in your purpose that no one else sees. It is easy to assume everyone sees what you see, but they don't, because they aren't wired like you are. The same is true for what you hear. Others would have heard the eunuch and not known what to do, but Philip knew because it involved his purpose. It is similar to Nehemiah when he heard the report of how bad the conditions were in Jerusalem. Others heard the report, but only Nehemiah was moved to action. When you hear things that pertain to your purpose, you will be moved while others have no idea what's happening. If you expect them to move as you do, you will be disappointed or miss your opportunity to serve the Lord.

PERSONAL EXAMPLES

I can't say that God has spoken to me to write any of my books. I am a writer, I have ideas, so I conclude that I am to act on those ideas, without waiting for a sign from heaven. In fact, signs are for the unbelieving, not those who have faith: "A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah" (Matthew 16:4). The sign of Jonah was Jesus' resurrection and that certainly did not convince the unbelievers who were set against Jesus' and His ministry.

I have done a lot of work in Africa, but I cannot say God has always directed my work. He has directed me to go, and I find what I am to do once I obey and go. If I stay near to my friends there via social media and then personal visits, my days are full of purposeful activity that is fulfilling and joyful. What's more, I seldom leave Africa before I schedule my next visit. How do I know if I have chosen the right date to return? I don't, but I make my choice and count on God to show me if I am not supposed to go. In most cases, I end up returning on the dates I have chosen—in faith.

Where or to whom does God want you to go and stay near? You go in faith and only then will you know what else you are to do. When you hear it, you will know it, but you have to act with the same faith that caused you to obey and go in the first place. This should help you de-mystify the concept of obedience, for while the Lord may initiate your good deeds, you will have to decide when and how to fulfill them. Don't worry, God's not trying to trick you. He wants you to be fruitful, so you can go and do in the freedom you have in Christ. Have a blessed week!

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KENYA NEEDS: I am trusting the Lord for $400 this week to send to Kenya for the needs there. Last week, the $300 need was met—who can help me this week with this faith goal to help the poor? You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you for your help.

874: Go and . . . Report

Every week, I think this series is about to end and every week I find something new to write about to continue it. I know I have at least one more after this one, but who knows, there may be more. This week we look at what the Lord said in Isaiah 21:6: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.”

The Lord was sending His word to Israel through the mouth of a lookout and He is still doing the same thing today. Let's examine that in the context of your life purpose.

THE LOOKOUT REVISITED

In Ezekiel 33:7-9, the Lord warned His prophet about not sharing what he saw:

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved."

Ezekiel could not afford to assume that everyone saw or heard what he did. He had to express what he saw -- in a sense express who he was -- or God would hold him accountable for not sharing his insight. Many people apply this concept only to the prophetic ministry, but it has larger implications. You are also a watchman for God's people in the purpose God has assigned you, and God wants you to feel the same pressure Ezekiel felt as you express it.

YOUR UNIQUE INSIGHT

Your purpose causes you to see the world as no one else sees it. What you see is so clear and natural, however, you believe that everyone must see it, and if they are not acting on it, they must be disobedient or lazy. What you misunderstand is that your view of the world is unique to who God made you to be. if you don't express what you see through art, the written word, starting a business that meets a need, or some other creative expression, you are depriving the world of a contribution no one else can make.

My purpose is to create order out of chaos. When I look at a person or a situation, I see the potential and quite often it is so clear to me that I wonder why others don't respond. They don't respond because they can't see it; only I can see it. My job is then to find a way to share what I see or else it won't ever have a chance to be seen by others.

When you walk into a room and see hurting people, you can get angry that no one is helping them because their pain is so obvious to you. Have you ever considered that the others cannot see their pain, and you are the one to point out the pain but then are the one to do something about it? When you say, "Someone should do something about this or that," have you considered that no one is doing anything because they cannot see the need or don't feel what you feel?

God is holding you accountable to help others according to the gifts and insight He has given you. Stop complaining about how others aren't doing something about your burden and do something yourself. It's time that you take your place on the wall and tell the people what you see, however you are wired to do that. When you do, you will begin to see that God has designed you to be His special envoy to the world with a message found only in you. If you don't respond to what you see when you stand on the wall, then God's cause will be hindered and the people will never have what only you can provide. Have a blessed week.

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MINISTRY NEED: This has been a challenging time financially in my ministry work. I have a special need of $300 and ask you to consider helping me help them at this time. You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you!

873: Go and . . . Ask

This past week, I finished editing the revisions on my second book I ever wrote, I Wrote This Book on Purpose . . . so You Can Know Yours (to be released in time for Christmas 2018). This expanded edition will include seven PurposeCoach sessions not in the 1997 version. In one of those sessions, I discussed the importance of asking good questions in order to find good answers. That made me think of this week's verse, "The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying" (Acts 9:11).

The Lord gave this command to a man named Ananias and the man who was praying was Saul, who later became known as Paul. Let's examine this "go and" encounter that both men had with the Lord to see what we can learn and apply to our lives.

MORE INFORMATION

The Lord and Ananias went back and forth about this assignment:

"In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" (Acts 9:12-16).

Ananias did not have enough information after God's command, so in essence, he ashed a question for clarification: "Are you sure, Lord? You want me to go? I have heard that this Saul is a dangerous man!" The Lord let Ananias know the purpose He had for Saul, which gave Ananias confidence for his own safety. Notice that the Lord had shown Saul a man was going to pray and heal him from his blindness.

LESSONS

What can we learn from these few verses?

1. The Lord was not offended when Ananias asked for clarification.
2. While both men had a supernatural encounter with God, neither one of them could be complete or obedient without the help of the other.
3. Saul was praying and waiting for Ananias to come and set him free.
4. Ananias was given the specifics of where Saul was, but he didn't know who he was, so he had to ask for him by name.

There are people who are waiting for you to fulfill your purpose. They cannot move on because God has created a partnership between their need and what you have to meet that need. Your procrastination of hesitation causes them to continue in their situation because you have the key to open their locked door of opportunity, freedom, or understanding. Those people waiting may be across the street, across your town, or across the globe. Your job is to find them. God will give you the specifics but you must "go and ask" for the opportunity that God has assigned you.

That means you have to have faith that you have heard from the Lord. Then you have to get up and go, trusting it will be as God described when you get there. There may be some perceived danger in what you are called to do, which doesn't disqualify what you heard, for God knows more about the circumstances than you do. That only adds to the faith element you need to succeed.

 I encourage you to ask all the questions you need about what you are to do, but by all means get busy doing it. People's lives hang in the balance, so you must write your book, make your trips, start your business, or do whatever else you need so you can "go and ask" for the opportunity for which you have prepared. When you go and come back, I promise you will have a testimony of how God used you as His agent to set someone free who knows you are coming, but just doesn't know when. Have a blessed week.

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KENYA NEEDS: This has been the slowest season of giving to my ministry since 2014 and the needs in Kenya, as well as my own, are great. Please give a gift to my work, either by using PayPal on my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and God bless you!

872: Go and . . . See

Up to this point in the "Go and . . ." series, each of the commands to go and do something have been issued by the Lord. This week, we look at an order that came from a human agent, this time Jacob, Joseph's father. We know Joseph was his father's favorite son, so he kept him close to home while the other sons were out tending the herds. The other brothers hated Joseph, and Jacob miscalculated the depth of their hatred, so he naively sent Joseph on a reconnaissance mission to check on how the brothers were doing: “Go and see if your brothers are safe and if the flock is all right; then come back and tell me.” So his father sent him on his way from Hebron Valley" (Genesis 37:14a).

Little did Joseph and Jacob know that this would be the last time they would see each other for 22 years. Joseph found his brothers but never got to bring back a report because they sold him into slavery, then sealed their crime with a lie that he had been attacked and killed by a wild animal.

GOD WAS IN IT

There is an interesting twist to the story that is found in the verses immediately following Jacob's commissioning:

Joseph arrived at Shechem and was wandering around in the country when a man saw him and asked him, “What are you looking for?” "I am looking for my brothers, who are taking care of their flock,” he answered. “Can you tell me where they are?” The man said, “They have already left. I heard them say that they were going to Dothan.” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan (Genesis 37:14b-17).

Who was this man who helped guide Joseph to his fate at the hands of his brothers? We don't know, but without him, Joseph would not have found his brothers. God used the man to ensure that Joseph would get to Egypt and carry out God's plan, as Joseph later acknowledged: “Don't be afraid; I can't put myself in the place of God. You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened" (Genesis 50:19b-20). The psalmist corroborated Joseph's perspective when he wrote:

The Lord sent famine to their country and took away all their food. But he sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who had been sold as a slave. His feet were kept in chains,and an iron collar was around his neck until what he had predicted came true. The word of the Lord proved him right (Psalm 105:16-19).

RESTING IN HIM

Your life may have been changed forever by a chance meeting, an accident, or an unexpected catastrophe or setback, and you have reflected on that event, wondering "what if" it had never happened. You may still be in the midst of the consequences so the full result has not ripened or appeared for the event to make sense. That is where faith comes in. I once read that the less we feel or understand, the more we should trust. If your life doesn't make sense, if there was an event you considered routine that turned into a life-changer, then it's time to trust God all the more.

I have been reflecting lately on the many life disappointments I have had in ministry. It seems most of what I have done or begun has not ended the way I had hoped, and I have been facing the reality that I have a broken heart where ministry is concerned. I am not sharing that for sympathy, but it is a reality, and I find myself often declaring, "Lord, I trust You, I trust You." I am speaking the truth, but that truth cannot gloss over or anesthetize the pain that is there. I look back and see my times where I went to find my brothers, only to be sent off in a direction I did not anticipate, and I feel like I am still waiting for the outcome and resolution, which may not come before I pass into God's presence.

I am resting in God these days and not my own perspective, for my insight is limited, and as Joseph said, "I can't put myself in the place of God." I am trusting the Lord that my path is the one He ordained, even when I lack His understanding on the end result. I invite you to join me as we follow in the steps of Joseph to walk out our lives, trusting that what we have often declared is really the truth: The Lord reigns. Have a blessed week.

871: Go and . . . Take Possession

Almost five years ago, I left a ministry position at my church after experiencing five years of success. It was my main source of income and I enjoyed the people and the work. I was 64 years old, but I had an idea to start a publishing company to give people without access to editing and publishing services a chance to share their stories. People in publishing at the time advised me not to do it, for publishing was in flux and unstable. I heard them but I knew what I needed to do; I had to take possession of what the Lord had showed me.

In this next installment of the "Go and . . ." series, let's look at what the Lord told Moses in Deuteronomy 1:8: "See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them" and apply it to our walk of purpose.

GO IN

When the Lord spoke to Moses, the people had a promise that God would give them the Land. The people sent out spies, but unfortunately, those spies brought back a negative report and the people believed the report and not the promise of God. Therefore, God had them wander in the Wilderness until all those who had believed the report were gone and a new generation had taken their place.

I felt I was at a similar place in 2014. I had seen the Promised Land, heard the negative report of those who had seen that Land, and had to make a decision. I opted not to listen and entered in to take possession of Urban Press and the rest is history. To date, I have published or re-published 38 of my own books and produced another 40 book projects for other people. My son is in the business with me, and we have partnered with many first-time authors to help them realize their publishing dream.

When I made the decision to leave my position, I woke up at 2:30 the next morning and said to myself, "What have I done?" I did the math and then went back to bed, refusing to give in to the fear of the unknown. This past summer was the leanest time our company has had, but God has sustained us, and we are about to release or get started on many new projects. It's been great fun.

AND YOU?

Is it time for you to go and take possession of something God has promised you? Maybe it's a business or perhaps it's a ministry, a college degree, a missions trip, a new language, or a book, music, or some other creative project becoming a reality. This is not the time to wait, pray, seek advice, or delay. It's time to go and take possession. That isn't a super-spiritual act, but one that is divinely practical. If it's a degree, you have to enroll and go to class. If it's a book, you have to write it. If it's a business, you have to incorporate. If it's missions, you have to take a trip.

The Lord did not transport the people into the Promised Land. They had to walk in. While on their way, they had to eat, sleep, and do all the other things humans do to stay alive. The journey was hot and the days long. That is what it means to go and take possession of what God has promised. That is what you will have to do.

Have you been waiting on the Lord to do what only you can do? Then it's time to get up and get going. When we produce a book, we do it one page at a time until it is all done and then we do another one. There is nothing glamorous about the process, but it is exhilarating to see the finished product(s). The same will be true for you and your promised land. Face your fears, go find the information and resources you need, and then take possession of your land of milk and honey. As you do, I know you will have a lot of great weeks in your future as you step into what is in your heart to do.