OUR COMMITMENT

This week the 30th Olympiad from London, England was on the world stage. Now I really like London it is a wonderful city where I have had many great memories and met so many friends. I probably watched too much of the Olympics after all the Olympics are nothing more than flesh glorifying flesh and country glorifying country through sports. The words of the Roman poet Juvenal, “give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt” was visible for all the world to see. Emperor Vespasian (who built the Coliseum) also liked this phrase when he said “to control the mob all I have to do is give them bread and circuses” (food and entertainment) in other words; a superficial means of appeasement, a simplistic motivation and manipulation of the common people. The phrase refers to entertainment intended to foil discontent or distract attention from a situation. In ancient Rome, “bread and circuses” were used to keep the underprivileged poor people quiet, but enough of that. However, what really caught my attention (and impressed me) was the commitment and dedication these athletes had. For some this was their third and fourth Olympics 12 to 16 years of training of steadfast commitment to their sport and to be the very best at one moment in time when it counted, when they crossed the finish line. So too in our lives God rewards us when we cross the finish line; not during, or at the half way point, but at the end. I wonder why we think we deserve rewards in this life? Knowing the pain and sacrifice these athletes made for years was impressive, but they strove for something of this earth that will quickly pass away as their memory will in time. Now here is my point, I thought do I have the same commitment and dedication for God as these athletes? Of course I quickly said yes, but in my spirit I knew God was going to check me and I was right, not so fast there big boy. The Holy Spirit is always good (if we have allowed Him to operate in our lives) to give us a gut check when we think we are moving correctly a most blessed thing indeed. You know one thing that surprised me was to discover not all Christians are committed to God at the same heart level until I realized not all Christians really love God. You cannot be committed to someone and not love them. Funny me I thought all Christians studied the Bible, prayed, and had a heart for God and His children, but after walking with the LORD some time I learned not all Christians really love God enough to be committed and dedicated to Him. Oh I know the naysayers are going to say how can you judge us, well it is not hard our lives and check book speaks volumes to our commitment and dedication to God and His people. Now I have been walking with the LORD for over 50 years at different levels of His grace and am just amazed to how things operate in church denominations and religious organizations. Sadly the commitment to denominations and religious organizations has superseded commitment to God. Now let us be clear here, Jesus never gave Himself totally to all people, but He did give His life for everyone. There is a critical lesson we must learn here. God will bring certain people into our lives for a certain length of time (based on our commitment to Him and the person) for certain purposes and intents of His. We must operate within them correctly to be able to go forward in Him and if one person fails to meet their end of the bargain God will not strand the other person who is committed, oh no God will move that person on to the next thing He has for them, but here is the sad point the intents and purposes of God will be lost. What wonderful things did God have in mind for this relationship that did not manifest because of no commitment. Either we will walk in what God wants us to walk in for our lives or we will go our own way and the end therein is loss and destruction. Isaiah tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) Now it says “all” that included you and me. I can personally speak of this with our church in Germany. I know certain things God had planned never happened because of lack of commitment to relationships in the leadership and sadly God moved (even though we stayed exactly seven years to the minute -- a completed work of God) Karen and I back to the States early. Did great things happen yes! Were many souls saved yes! Did miracles happen yes! But in the end what God planned and purposed was not totally accomplished. This is the lesson Jesus was teaching the disciples here in Matthew, to work within confines and framework of God. In Matthew we read, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23) It was not that the people did not know God to a certain degree they used His power and authority, but it was God that did not know them. The people did do many wonderful, mighty works for God, but was never committed to Him and the people God brought into their lives. The word “iniquity” does not mean bad or evil, but lawlessness, outside the law, or outside the framework of what God wanted to see happen. The people here operated in lawlessness or outside the framework of God’s intentions and in spite of God’s word going forth, miracles, and such loss and destruction was the end result. We the Church have gotten so far off track for doing things for God and even answering to God it is alarming to me. The Church while “rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" has hamstrung itself whereby it can no longer be led by the Holy Spirit. The Church is so plugged into the world’s system of conducting business with the forms, rules, and regulations of this world they have forgotten God’s system and ways of conducting business. They have forgotten along with the forms, rules, and regulations comes government oversight and intrusion where freedom to be led by the Holy Spirit WILL be lost. The less government is involved in our ministry the better and the better we will be able to hear from the Holy Spirit. I cannot begin to tell you of the number of great evangelists, pastors, preachers, and teachers with a heart for God that have submitted, outside the will of God for their lives, to a board of deacons, elders, and a denomination. The pastor is the lead dog in the sled team in God’s eyes. He is responsible and accountable for the word God gives to him for the people and for the operations of the local body not the deacons, a denomination, or elders. We as leaders are to be committed to the people God has given us, but first and for most we are responsible and accountable to God. Today in the Church many denominations have their accountability programs whereby men are accountable to men. These programs are a humanistic approach to spiritual problems, but if there is sin in our lives who is best to tell us man or God? Are we trying to please men or God? Paul told the Church at Galatia, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:10-12) How many pastors have watered down the truth trying to please a denomination, the deacons, or the elders to keep the peace in the church? When we are committed to God we will not be a man pleaser because we will be able to behold the revelation of Christ. And something just as important we will have a freedom to speak and move with God without fear of man. There will be a bold, fearlessness and a liberty in the Spirit knowing it is God who sits in judgment over us. If God has called you to be an evangelist, preacher, or teacher and you willfully take decision (for whatsoever reason) to change things you will not be able to operate correctly in God. Sadly these accountability programs in churches are just another way denominations can manipulate their people. Again as leaders in the Body of Christ either we will be accountable to man or God, we cannot be to both. Why do we give to God to get a tax break? Pastor Joseph Mutua from Nairobi, Kenya told me once that in the past Kenyan pastors had all kinds of tax breaks; free duty on cars, trucks, and mini-vans, income tax exempt status, and a respect within the government, but due to gross abuse the pastors and the churches lost this most favored tax status. Should we not be giving to God so that others may receive? Is our commitment to God and seeing others receive as shallow as receiving an end of the year giving letter? We Christians are so plugged into the worldly system of business. Yes I do give out donation letters, but I thought you would like to know the biggest donator to BHG who basically bank rolled the building of the clinic In Aveile, Nigeria asked me NOT to give him a giving letter because he gives to God and then counts on God to take care of him, his family, and businesses. We Americans better get use to not getting an end of the year giving letter the winds of anti-Christian sentiment is blowing strong in our society and I feel sure the days of Christian non-profit organizations and churches getting a tax breaks are numbered, but is it not better to count on God than on the government? Lastly, rewards from God now and in heaven are given to us based not on what we did for Him, but on our commitment and dedication to Him and His people. In Matthew the servant was told “well done” not much done by his lord. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21) It does not matter what we do for God, but how we do it. Did we do things with the right heart condition and with the right motives? Were we committed to God and what He has asked us to do? How did we treat the people God put in our way? You know most Christians are some of the most impersonal people on the planet and do you not know we always go toward the people we see value in or want to use for our benefit. How many times have we ignored calls or emails from people who we think have no value in our lives? Well guess what God thinks they have value. Or worse when finally calling or emailing we placate them with excuses, but do we not make time for people we think are important? My friend doing the right thing is always tough and rarely convenient for our schedule, but ignoring people is just flat out arrogant, self-serving, and displays no true commitment to God and people. Often making excuses is nothing more than a cover up for being offended at the person or God and not strong enough inwardly to tell the truth. Committed people and people who know dedication are responsible people and can handle the responsibility and accountability God has given them. People who shirk responsibility and side step people will never be committed to God oh they may act the part, but within their heart they and God know the truth. Our commitment to God is a thing of the Spirit of God. Our commitment to God is a heart condition like our testimony not what we say, but what people see of our lives. Written by David Stahl