Collaborating
with God’s Heart
During 30 years as a minister, my offices have been broken into and
ransacked three times. On one occasion the police used carbon micro
dust to find fingerprints. The evidence went to their files, but nothing
ever came of it. They operated on the assumption that “presence”
leaves evidence: residues, odors, hairs, footprints or fingerprints.
Whenever God is present, creatively engaging our world, there is evidence
too, but God comes to woo and win, not to break in and steal. God
providentially engages all those who want to do His will in ways that
provide faith-affirming evidence of His presence. When we discern
the evidence — the nudges and nods of the Spirit — we are
able to link with His purposes more effectively.
In July 2001, my wife and I attended the World Methodist Conference
in Brighton, England, an ocean-side resort town. One afternoon we
bought tickets for a bus tour of Brighton and somehow managed to miss
our bus twice!
While we waited for a third bus, a man approached and struck up a
conversation, introducing himself as Luis Baldeon, a native Peruvian
and fellow attendee. He had heard that our denomination was now working
in Peru and told us about Miguel Algorta, a zealous man of Wesleyan
conviction, struggling alone to plant a church in Tarma, Peru.
That “chance” encounter on a Brighton sidewalk led to fruitful
collaboration for the kingdom. Today, the Lord is helping us gather
a critical mass of like-minded Wesleyans to proclaim the gospel in
Peru.
Here’s a key truth: God loves to engage supportively and providentially
with, and on behalf of, those who want to do His will. That connection
on a Brighton, England, sidewalk was a God-thing and He delights in
moving simple connections on to collaboration for any who are serious
about kingdom work.
Collaboration is the act of working together to accomplish more than
one person could alone. Do you not think that any person, congregation
or denomination that moves closer to the heart of God will find more
and more evidences of God’s presence? Doesn’t God tweak
circumstances, arrange encounters, soften hearts and bust doors wide
open?
Pastor Greg Hall was driving to a nearby town to preach at a revival
meeting. On the road ahead he saw the battered, blue pick-up truck
of a man for whom he had been praying. The Spirit seemed to say, “Greg,
stop and invite Ken to go to the revival service with you. Maybe tonight
he will repent and believe in Jesus.” Greg honked him down and
they both pulled off onto the shoulder of the highway.
Upon approaching the truck, Pastor Hall was shocked to see that the
driver was not Ken, but a blue-collar worker wearing a badge with
the name “Robert” on it. With foolish abandon Pastor Hall
extended the challenge he thought had been intended for Ken: “Robert,
are you saved? God told me to stop you and ask if you would come to
the revival meeting tonight.”
Robert started to cry. “I knew I should have gone to the altar
last Sunday,” he said. “God was working in my heart, but
I refused to do it. I am not saved and I want to be.” They prayed,
and Robert entered the kingdom.
Here’s my question: Do you think that we could be so faith-driven
and bold that God would regularly collaborate like that with us?
Collaboration is more than just connecting with God. It is more than
just coordinating or cooperating. Collaboration is yielding our desires,
passions, hopes and dreams to Him. Collaboration means that we get
a bigger picture than just one life or congregation or city. Collaboration
means whatever, wherever and whenever. We sever worldly entanglements
and prepare to seize new opportunities for the kingdom.
In our booklet, “Working Together in the 21st Century,”
we bishops write about the Free Methodist Church as an apostolic movement.
We state it as achieved fact, even though for many it is still just
a desire. We wish to be a “sent” people, reaching new territories
and peoples with the gospel; finding God regularly collaborating with
us to bring the resources near. Here’s the good news: anyone
who offers radical obedience finds God engaging supportively, providentially
on his or her behalf. |
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