To Confirmed

Acts 13: 1-3

As I read these verses the word “confirmed” came to mind, and in that we are in the Olympic games at the time of this writing, I wonder, could anyone reach that level of skill and accomplishment without the confirmation of a parent, a coach, and others who believe in their abilities?  As a parent is it not our desire to encourage and build up our children, to pray for them and train them in the ways of God and yes, to confirm that no matter what happens, no matter how much they miss the mark that they and we the parents have set, they will always be loved and accepted by us?  With that established and deep-rooted into their soul, it sets the child free to dream bigger dreams and to share those dreams with their parents.  A caution is often needed for parents and even mentors, that God may change the dream in which you had put so much time and energy, but that is where we must trust both our young child and God to establish it as true in our heart where the new direction is taking them.

Can anything be more important than prayer in giving direction to and confirming our Children?  My thinker went to how easy it is to look past what God’s best is and yet believe that you are on the right path.  Do you recall God sending the prophet Samuel to the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, with this instruction from his sons, I have provided for myself a king.  We know that Samuel did as instructed by the Lord, and the oldest of the sons seemed perfect in Samuel eyes, but God said this to Samuel; “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV)  And in that you read the account that both Samuel and Jesse were not on the same page as God, but with prayer the Lord showed Samuel that David, the youngest and maybe the lesser in Jesse eyes was a man who God had confirmed. 

If Samuel was the average leader of the church today who often states; lets have a quick prayer so we can move on to what is important, (note: None would dare say, so we can move on to what is important, but it comes across very clear without words) and that the important is often centered on what they have to teach or preach, or some activity.  It will be rare that type of leadership will hear the plans God has for a class, a church, a state, or a nation.   And that brings us to this account from Dr. Luke, “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:1-3)

These men were not assembled to pray to other men, they were, as stated, worshiping the Lord, fasting, and open to listen to the Holy Spirit; so when he instructed them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work that He had called them to, they continued fasting and praying and then they acted on what the Spirit had said and sent them off.

Often, I fear in my life and the life of the church that we are so busy with our plans and programs that we make little room for the Holy Spirit to give us direction, and then we complain about the lack of power and the lack of movement of the Spirit in our life, and in the life of the church.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice