Confession Time...
By
August 26, 2009"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23) I am going to confess something to you which I am not proud of. It happened 23 _ years ago, back in February of 1986. It was my first full month in sales for a Nashville copier company. I wanted to make a good impression on my new employer and coworkers and I wanted to be a good representative of my faith in Christ. Too often, slovenly, unsuccessful, undisciplined people try to witness for Christ, but their exterior betrays them. What is on the inside usually manifests on the outside. To be completely accurate, what we firmly believe at our core is precisely what we manifest on the outside. But I digress... In the copier business, they would have been happy with 1 or 2 sales my first month and not the least bit upset with zero sales. Once you got established by your third month, your quota was 4 units per month thereafter. I went to God and asked Him for a number of sales I could make my first month with His help that would be high enough to amaze my coworkers and give me a platform for Him, yet low enough that I could believe it possible. Yes, I believe God could arrange for someone to order 1000 copiers for delivery in some multinational company, but I didn't for a second believe He would.Ê The number God and I came up with was 10 units my first full month. By 2:00 PM on the last day of the month, I had only 8 sales. Yes, it was easily 400% of the best they had hoped for, but it was 2 sales shy of what I believed for. My wife tried to encourage me by telling me I had already set a record and suggested that I not put myself under that kind of pressure to secure two more sales in just three hours without a single prospect on the horizon. I lovingly and politely told her that I could not allow her to speak such words to me and I hung up. Shortly after that call, a man drove by our office, pulled in and by 5:00 purchased a copier I sold him from one of my customers, who in turn had to buy a replacement, giving me a total of 10 copier sales by the end of that day. I am totally convinced that my absolute and unshakeable belief that somehow against overwhelming odds and with no prospects on the horizon, I would hit my target of 10 sales, is what triggered the events that led to the outcome and realization of that goal. It also gave me the platform where others sought out my testimony and over the next two years, led several of my coworkers to Christ. What I am not so proud of is just how rare this kind of thing is in my life. Yes, I do have lots of stories, many of which would be thought of as miraculous, but that kind of thing is not nearly as commonplace in my life as it should be. If I don't need a miracle, I'm probably working in the wrong field. If I do need the miraculous to accomplish the goal, but am not seeing it, I am probably not believing it will happen; only that it can happen. There's a big difference. I am about to embark on a big expansion in my faith and I invite you to join me on my journey. In my next posting I will explain how it's possible to have faith and confidence in God and still not see the results you are believing for. Have a blessed day my friends.
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Amen! I receive that today!
Dave Bennett at 2:33pm EDT - August 19, 2009
Michael, You are so right. We are all "works in progress". Every man on earth is God' s work in progress regardless of what he may believe or think. For, as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, it is God who works in us to do his will and good pleasure as Philippians 2:12-13 says. This is true for all mankind. But the Church today seems to have lost sight of this truth of universal salvation and have erred in ignorance and arrogance in believing that God is only working in those who believe and have accepted Jesus as their personal savior. But the early church, especially St. Paul, did not operate in this error. When Paul wrote Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." it is true he was writing to believers in the church of Ephesus, but he meant that ALL men were created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Moreover, in Colossians 1:15, St. Paul wrote that Christ was the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature. Genesis 1:27 says twice that man was created in this image of God, which is Christ. And Corinthians 15:22 further illuminates this truth in saying, For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive. 1Timothy 2:4 sums up this truth of God' s universal work of salvation in all mankind in saying, "(God) will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." If this truth is concealed and hidden from most people then it is God' s glory to do so as Proverbs 25:2 says. But also it is the honor of kings to search out a mater. In His Majesty' s Secret Service, David Thompson
David Thompson at 3:19pm EDT - August 19, 2009
I have preached this to young people for several years. The Bible is true and your feelings, thoughts, and circumstances are all liars. I know as a parent my children were not perfect, but they never ever stopped being my kids. God's love is so much greater than ours why would we ever doubt our sonship or daughterhood. When satan tempted Jesus the first two temptations were about His sonship. If you are the son of God..... We should notice that in both situations Jesus did not even answer that question. It didn't deserve an answer. You are right. We should pick ourselves up, repent, and get moving. The prodigal son got up every morning and continued his walk to Father.
Dave Robbs at 3:53pm EDT - August 19, 2009
To David Robbs, You are correct sir. And, I would add, if we are unable to pick our selves up, repent and get moving, we can be sure that God WILL pick us up, give us repentance and empower us to move on to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for God is working in us and in all mankind to do his will and good pleasure. One might ask, "Where is man' s responsibility if God is doing everything?" I think the answer is that God does not give man any responsibility to do anything unless he causes man to fully understand precisely what that responsibility might be and then he empowers and enables man to carry out that responsibility. When Jesus walked the earth, God did not leave him alone to figure out what his (Jesus' s) responsibility was. God the Father was always showing Jesus by example what the Father wanted Jesus to do. And Jesus said he only did what he saw his Father doing. Today, God' s will and plan for earth has not changed. He is still leading and showing each and every man on earth by his example what he wants a man to do. The bottom line is God is in complete control of everything that happens on earth. He will carry out his will and plan to conform all mankind to the image and stature of his Son, Christ Jesus as per Romans 8:29. I believe this is true even of Osama Bin Laden and all others who now, at present, seem to be in the control of Satan. But the Bible is so clear in so many places that God controls even Satan and in due time He will break Satan' s control over mankind and thereby restore his kingdom on earth as is depicted in Revelation 11:15 where voices in heaven are "tweeting", "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever." I believe God created the Internet interactive system called "Twitter" to let the world know that God is completing the restoration of his kingdom on earth. The almighty Zeal of the Lord of Hosts is performing this. Amen! In His Majesty' s Secret Service, David Thompson
David Thompson at 4:49pm EDT - August 19, 2009
Oh How He Loves You and Me!!
Mike Dittman at 4:52pm EDT - August 19, 2009
Your blog today is so true, because I am facing this now first hand. I divorced about 10 years ago, and the way it happened was an affair on my part, and I married the woman that I had an affair with. This has eaten at me for these many years and I could not find it in myself to forgive myself, because I was and am a christian, and I felt that I had sinned against God, which I did, and I know he forgave me, but it has and is keeping me from getting back to where I once was with God. Sometimes I really feel powerless. Do you have any suggestions on how to get through this and get the victory over it? It really steals my energy and joy at times. Thanks for your wisdom and challenge from your blogs.
Mark Bandy at 5:46pm EDT - August 19, 2009
Michael, Was this post about universal salvation? Are all saved no matter what they do? If we don't "perform" something, ie, by the grace of God believe in your heart and confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, are we saved anyway? Please, David Thompson, let Michael answer this and not your usual multipage tome. Joe
Joe Nathan at 8:05pm EDT - August 19, 2009
Hi Joe Nathan; No. I am not of the persuasion that all are saved no matter what. I do not subscribe to universal salvation. Didn't mean to give that impression. Hope this clarifies. Blessings to all, Michael
Michae Pink at 3:02pm EDT - August 20, 2009
Mark; What you have shared in this blog is really not the best place to get into the issue you have raised because there are obviously a lot of deep, personal and sensitive details which do not belong on this blog. That is not a rebuke by any means, only my way of saying that we can't go as deep as is likely needed to get you the long term help you do need. However, I would suggest a few things. First of all, if you have never told your first wife how genuinely sorry you are for the pain you caused her, that is a good place to start. I wouldn't even ask for forgiveness from her. Just simply and sincerely, fully acknowledge the pain you caused and that you are deeply sorry for it all. Don't ask for anything in return. Secondly, take the same approach with any children who were wounded in this. Explain that your actions were wrong and that you are deeply sorry. After that, remember that David and Bathsheba did produce Solomon. David was restored and so can you be. There's more, but I've got a call right now and wanted you to have something to start with. Blessings, Michael
Michae Pink at 3:10pm EDT - August 20, 2009
Thank you for this word; it is so true!
alfred p licata sr at 5:28am EDT - August 21, 2009
Michael, I don't consider myself to be a business man. I'm a 52-year old who's giving it all I have to be a successful full time student / part time worker, struggling to survive. But your book, "Rainforest Strategy," and your emailed articles have meant so much to me. They're always insightful, encouraging and inspiring. I need this so much in these turbulent times. God bless you so much, my friend. Steve
Steve Morrison at 1:56pm EDT - August 21, 2009