Saturday, October 8, 2011
I didn’t expect to wake up this
morning to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, but you never know when God is going
to whisper to you, or hit you with a sledgehammer! Part of my reading today brought me to (Acts
15:12) which says, “And all the assembly
fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs
and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.”
There’s a lot packed in to one
verse which I’d like to comment on, but let me just say at the start that this
convicted me about how I listen to reports. So, this is a bit of confession, since I’ve
heard “reports” for decades but often listened to them half-heartedly or not as
intently as I should. You know what I
mean, we listen but we’re not listening.
Or, we listen, but we’re not hearing!
I am also guessing that I am not alone in my dilemma or practice
either. If it’s a church service, and I
am preaching then some of this might be the result of really being focused on
my message, but that is really not an excuse as the whole part of a worship
service is worship, and not just my part. No, what I’m talking about is really a heart
problem that affects my auditory capacity (my hearing).
The problem is that we can fall
in to the habit of taking things for granted that should really feed our faith
in God. Let’s face it, we hear so many
reports: reports in Sunday morning service about ministry endeavors over the
weekend, or during the previous week.
Some are about what God is doing in our local church while others are
reports of people ministering in other places or churches they’ve been invited
to. Some special reports from some of
our evangelists, a good deal are reports from overseas and some of our
missionary works in different countries.
Some reports are the variety of outreach and local ministry expressions
that some of our people are involved in.
You’d all agree about the tremendous excitement of one of the pastors
giving announcements about upcoming
church activities. :-) Then there is
the “mother of all reports,” the
testimonies given during our Bible Conferences, even if they are held to three
minutes in duration. We certainly do try
to showcase “reports from the field” of what God is doing in our baby churches,
and through some of our pastors. I know
that I’ve been guilty of not giving my full attention or appreciation for what
is being communicated.
So, let me share with you a few
thoughts that have been bathed in repentance and being cleansed by the Blood of
Jesus to help me put into practice in the future.
- The
Importance of the Assembly.
First, I’d like to point out that the text says “the whole assembly.” Wow!
Does that ever happen, that the whole assembly is present at one
time in a service? Relax, this is
not a guilt trip to boost attendance.
I realize people’s work schedules often get in the way and have to
be sorted out. I know that people
are gone on vacation or other things as well. I am well aware that sometimes for
people even to make it to church qualifies almost as a minor miracle of
sorts (which is why I’m not always offended if someone starts to doze off
in church, although I will qualify this more in a bit). No, the statement is important because
it lets us know that behind all this is a view that understands the
importance of assembling together regularly, and the age-old tendency is
to neglect that. (Heb.10:23-25)
lays things out for us, “Let us hold
fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is
faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good
works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing
near.” They’re all connected
you see: a steadfast confession of hope and faith, being able to love and
build up one another, all of this is connected to a lifestyle habit that
gives priority to assembling together as the Church. The text says to ignore this is to let
some bad habits develop in our
lives. You see, it’s in the assembly where
God is speaking like no place else.
The original meaning of the word “church” gives us insight.
It comes from the Greek word, ekklesia
that meant the “called out ones,” and the history of the word refers
specifically to those called out to assemble together in order to hear the
king’s message.
- The
importance of Paying Attention.
Back to our scripture which says “they fell silent and listened.” Whoa!
They were not talking to their neighbor or floating in and out
either physically or mentally. They
were not checking their hair and make-up which they did just 30 minutes
ago. Your baby is fine in the
church nursery, and rest assured, if there was a problem, you would be the
first to hear about it and be called.
They weren’t hanging out in the hallway or courtyard, you know,
“fellowshiping.” No, it says they fell silent and listened; they were
giving their full attention to something!
I’ve been convinced for a long time of the discipline and the art
of paying attention, and the difference it can have. I don’t have time to go in to great
detail here, but one of the cultural symptoms of our distracted age is
A.D.D.H. (Attention Deficit
Disorder + Hyper-activity). I don’t
know if there’s a specific gene causing this, but I do know that
spiritually such a thing exists and we’re warned repeatedly. “Just
make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don't forget
anything of what you've seen. Don't let your heart wander off. Stay
vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you've seen and heard to your
children and grandchildren.”
Translated, pay attention,
not just for your sake, but for those near and dear to you. I really believe that the challenge of
attention and intention is a major issue, especially today; and there is
no such thing as putting your walk with God on “auto pilot.” (Heb.2:1)
clearly warns us, “Therefore we must
pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from
it.” You see, this has always
been a problem with human beings, but I believe it’s amplified in our
technological age. Albert Mohler
wrote, “We are all living distracted
lives that promise only to grow more complicated and distracted in years
ahead. The discipline and
stewardship of attention is a matter of great and unquestionable urgency.” I’m sure that resonates with all of
us. I mention it because it is an
important quality of Christian discipleship. Mohler again emphasized, “People who cannot maintain mental
attention cannot know the intimacy of prayer, and God does not maintain a
Facebook page. Our ability to focus
attention is not just about the mind, for it is also a reflection of the
soul. Our Christian discipleship
demands that we give attention to our attention.”
- God’s
Instruments. In this case
it was “Barnabas and Paul” and
their missionary journey to the Gentiles.
You talk about something that was a true paradigm shift, this falls into the spiritual earthquake
category! This is not just limited
to the seeming “heavy weights” like Barnabas and Paul, but what about what
God does through YOUR life! Even if
it doesn’t get expressed or recognized, it is just as important as what
God is doing through church planters or globally. You too can be a “chosen vessel” unto God.
That’s God’s will for your life!
That’s all any of us will really be anyhow, we are called to be
vessels through whom God can move.
- News
That Is Fit To Hear. We are
inundated with information today.
The phrase “information
overload” is not an exaggeration.
We are inundated and overloaded with information at almost every
turn. Technology has brought to our
fingertips a staggering amount of information and news sources today, and
at real time. Speaking for myself,
I have stacks of articles, books and other resources that I need to get
to, which I might need more than one lifetime to accomplish! But, news that really matters and news
that lasts longer than the regular news cycle today is NEWS (REPORT) ABOUT
WHAT GOD IS DOING! Barnabas and
Paul were relating and reporting “the
signs and wonders God had done through them.” Jesus said “heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall never pass
away.” I love Peter’s
perspective in (1Pet.1:24,25) when he said, "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of
grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord
remains forever." And this
word is the good news (good report)
that was preached to you.” He
is contrasting what will be eternally significant from that which at best
is temporary and fleeting. That’s
the news I want to be tuned into!
My point in all this? It’s not just that we become good spectators. No, God called us to be active participants, but part of that is giving
attention to our attention. How does the
song go? “Who’s report will you believe?
We shall believe the report of the Lord....” Let’s give heed to God and the reports of
what He’s doing in and through people’s lives, both here in Tucson and around
the world. Solomon captured this best
when he said, “Like cold water to a
thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” (Prov.25:25) All the
good reports that we hear will bring a needed refreshing to your soul and
mine. There’s an awesome promise backing
all of this up, "Truly, truly, I say
to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater
works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” To me that says the best is yet to come and let’s
believe and contend together for “greater thing.” That way there will be more reports to tell!
At least I’m committed to trying to do a better job in the future.....so join
with me!
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