Life and Gifts

I visited a brother and his family last week at their home. Initially, I had no intention of ministering anything, I just went there to visit after many weeks gap. Though I decided not to speak anything, as we were in their living room, the sister asked if I had any word of God for them from the Bible. In fact, she was ready with her Bible, waiting for me to minister the word.

Then I exercised to minister what the Lord had ministered to me recently on the matter of growth in life versus the gifts God has given to His children. From the life of Solomon, we read his good beginning when he asked for wisdom and God gave him wisdom and understanding and riches as well. But the gifts he received were not accompanied by the dealing of the natural man and he failed terribly. We compared Solomon's life with that of Joseph who could control himself and ran away from the temptation of the flesh, which ultimately led him to reign in life.

This truth of the need for growth in life was so timely for me and the brother and sister with whom I ministered to. I was supplied by the Lord's speaking through me, and the brothers and sisters were also so supplied. They were even so convicted that they testified to not pray blindly for anything but to seek wisdom and discernment from the Lord in doing anything. They also have been preaching the gospel, taking tuition for poor children, and trying their best to do something for the Lord according to their good human concept. But I warned them that the gift they may have from the Lord can even be misused if it is not accompanied by growth in life. Many Christians are doing the Lord's work today with genuine gifts, but how many of these ones are truly growing in life unto maturity?

One day we all have to stand before the Lord and be judged by Him. On that day, we should not be claiming that we did this and that in the Lord's name. But the Lord might say that He did not know us at all. There is a great danger of serving the Lord according to self-will and not being recognized by the Lord. 

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he who does the will of My Father who is in the heavens. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, was it not in Your name that we prophesied, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name did many works of power? And then I will declare to them: I never knew you. Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness. Mt 7:21-23

I have been praying for this family since I met them first. I trust the Lord in His will and work that He would shepherd my brother and sister into the church life and that they would see and take a stand for the testimony of Jesus in this city. I cease to do anything to achieve my burden, but I learn to fully leave the matter of gaining people to the Lord that in His time and in His way He will do what He needs to do. I simply cooperate with Him in shepherding and ministering what He wants me to minister.

The same experience is with the meeting with a group of brothers and sisters from Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday evening. Last week the same message ministered online as well as to the brother and sister in Gurugram. Though I had a set of messages from a book that I intend to minister, the Lord did not lead me to minister those but gave me the instant word instead. The message was,  "Life versus Gifts."

Lord, make me a man of life with gifts from You for You. Amen.