Thursday, August 31, 2006

How about a note from Richard Halverson?

Hey everyone,

I was reading through some old reprints I have in my possession, and I found the following article from the November 10, 1971 issue of Perspective. The truth of the article is as valid today as it was 35 years ago. The brief article is by Richard Halverson. Let me know what you think of it.

God calls a man . . .

Gives him a vision . . .

Anoints him for its fulfillment.

Obedient to the call in the light of the vision and the power of the anointing--his labors are blessed with unusual results.

Others take notice . . .

Want to get in on the act.

They ask the man how he did it (the assumption being that if they did as he did, they would achieve as he achieved).

He begins to analyze what he did--comes up with the methods which were born out of the call, the vision and the anointing.

If enough people ask him how he did it--he'll publish a manual setting forth the methods he used.

Then anybody can buy the manual, apply the methods, and get the same results . . . or so the idea goes.

Somehow the call, the vision, and the anointing are forgotten or ignored or subordinated to the mechanics.

As though God could not do another thing with another person.

As though God had run out of calls or visions or power.

As though God had no new ways to do what had never been done before.

How distinct the servants of God in the Bible! How different their ways of doing things! How incredible their effectiveness . . . When each was himself as God called and envisioned and anointed him to be.

God has not changed. He wants to do the same today with those who will yield to Him, to be led by Him, allow Him to teach them His ways.

"Don't make a principle of your experience, let God be as original with others as he was with you." Oswald Chambers

This article reminds me of another Chambers quote--"Where would you be if God took away all your Christian work? Too often it is our Christian work that is worshiped and not God."

How sad it is that we often enthrone methods and means, and forget the end of all things is to worship God and enjoy him forever.

Where would we be if we were dependent completely on God for our vision?

What would the church look like if we relied on God's Spirit and God's Word more than our methods, our books, or our plans?

Wouldn't you like to see?

Me too!

Thanks for reading!

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