…spreading the fragrance of His knowledge…
No, I’m not talking about the flesh, females, and finance :D. I’m aware those have been preached about countless times.
Also, when I mention “ministry” here, I’m not just talking about the pulpit. I’m referring to anyone God has given a message to pass on to another, especially those called to share the Word in any capacity. Read More…
At certain times in our lives, we get to crossroads where we have to make life-changing decisions.
Usually, at these points, we hesitate: Left or Right?
Yes or No?
Leave or Stay?
Keep or Cut off?…
I used to wonder why the master – in the parable of the talents – called the servant who hid his talent ‘wicked.’
Slothful? Yes. Fearful? I can understand…but ‘wicked’? That’s quite a stretch…
“Shhhh…You know you are not married.”
“You’d better not say anything – at least, until you’ve had even one child.”
“How can YOU teach on holiness? Everyone knows you fell into sin many years ago. Choose another topic.”
“All this public declaration of ‘I am blessed, blablabla’ – when you don’t even have a grain of rice in your one-room. Don’t embarrass yourself.”
And so we keep quiet – and the enemy of our souls laughs loudly, cackling in glee, rubbing his hands joyfully together:
Another Redeemed of the Lord has been silenced!
Of all the fears I’ve mentioned in this Bootcamp Courage series, this is probably the biggest fear God will deal with in the life of His children:
The Fear Of Public Opinion.
Ironically, when I began to write on this topic, I thought, “What will people think? They might misunderstand.” Then, it dropped, “Deborah, you are doing exactly what you are writing about”, and I laughed.
I was in my first year in junior secondary school. It was a boarding school. My parents had decided to send me and my sisters to a popular girls’ school in our homestate for ‘exposure.’
At that time, my parents were conservative Christians, and the church we attended was word-based – but quite conservative. Even though they believed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit, these were not really exhibited – like they were in other pentecostal churches.
Example One.
A preacher once shared about how his son (now grown) used to be terrified of the revving of a car engine when he was young. Anytime he heard the sound, he would run away in terror and hide.
One day, his father carried him up in his arms, and took him to where the car was being revved. As they got nearer, the boy tried to pull away from his father and climb down in fright, but the dad held on to him. When they got to the revving car, his father held the boy’s hand and put it on the car.
“Come to the edge,” He said.
“We can’t, we’re afraid!” they responded.
“Come to the edge,” He said.
“We can’t, we will fall!” they responded.
“Come to the edge,” He said.
And so they came.
And He pushed them…
And they flew.
(Guillaume Apollinaire)
Get ready.
We are in a time and season where God is going to ask you to do things that will take you beyond your comfort zone – way, way, way beyond your comfort zone.
Debby Osa 