Date: 24-July-2024
Name: Barry
Topic: GIVE GOD SPACE
Content:
Give God Space
This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Hebrews 19:24-25
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Dear brothers, I have stood witness to the works of God through men during our mission trip in Vietnam. We came together in a mutual understanding that we were doing the will of God, honouring and supporting each other and in turn, edifying our Lord Jesus and His ways.
2Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Prayer Point 1
Father God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to do Your works not only during missions in other nations, also in all the marketplaces in our lives. Let us be be guided by You to do Your will alone in the steps of our most precious Jesus Christ amen.
This was my first mission trip and I have seen ministry, healing and even deliverance by a group of faithful Christians who allowed the Holy Spirit to guide them.
How was this possible?
Submission and obedience to the Will of God.
This entails an emptying of self and a filling of the Spirit. And I saw the manifestation of this on the first day of our trip.
The agenda that was planned had taken a turn when one of the “items” on the “ to do” list was cancelled. There were slight murmurings of what do we do, and possible disappointment.
It was during the bus ride to our meeting with pastor Abraham that I felt the change in the men’s spirits and we did not look back.
A sudden realisation that we were doing God's work created a peace and joy amongst the fellowship and we began to allow God the space to work through us.
From then on, our paths were blessed and a tight knot formed. Egos and experience were put aside and we worked as a unit of disciples, obedient and willing.
When you give God space to work through us, it is as though God is a fine craftsman and we are tools to be used as His Will.
Each tool has a specific purpose and when there are many available to do our Lord's work, much can be achieved.
A tool is empty of its own ambition, it waits for the master to choose it for a specific purpose and is totally governed by the masters hands.
This is how we must be to maximise what God can do with us and through us always for His glory.
Emptying Yourself
When something is full in its natural state, it cannot be filled anymore without external force.
Sure there are ways of compressing air or liquids into a container or maybe eating that extra piece of chicken when you know it will cause discomfort.
Avoiding semantics, when something is full, there is no room for anything else.
When someone is described as full of himself, we can imagine he has no room for anyone else.
When we are full of our desires, fears, anxiety, work, hobbies and don’t make a space for God to work in us or through us, why do we complain that God does not answer or produce the miracle we prayed for.
We must empty ourselves of ourselves so that God may do His work unhindered by our flesh. How often we get in the way of God’s blessings in our lives by being in the flesh.
Can I offer you all one foolproof way of emptying oneself?
Worship and Praise and Praise and Worship
Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
When the day is dark and you feel helpless, alone, defeated, anxious and full of fear. Lay down your troubles at the foot of the Cross, look heavenward and through even gritted teeth, give God praise and worship!
Turn your eyes to your Heavenly Father and thank Him.
Thank Him until you and your troubles fade away and are forgotten.
I assure you that the peace and assurance that is God’s promise to us will descend on you and joy will fill your hearts IJN.
Prayer Point 2.
Heavenly Father, we come to you with thankfulness for our lives and every breath we take. You are worthy to be praised and worshipped with all our hearts.
Have mercy on us, your children and assure us of your loving kindness through your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ.
That we empty ourselves to be filled with you, as one with you, to do Your will, for Your glory IJN.
When You Give God Space
I will give personal testimony of what I observed in Vietnam when you give God space.
Firstly , there was an anointing felt by all of the men. We knew that God had us in the palm of His hand and there was joy. Each man was fully himself but was full of God. We felt purposeful and we worked together, humbly acknowledging each other's gifts.
Church
2 Timothy 4:2-3
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
The first church we visited, there was a palpable feeling of the Holy Spirit, such was the prayer inside. We were swept up in it and there is nothing like seeing a figure as large as Ps Chidi dancing up a storm at the front.
The entire congregation was full of joy and we were blessed to be part of it. Remember, they were all worshipping and singing in Vietnamese.
Through an interpreter, Ps Chidi and Ps Lakers gave a message each and they were well received. These two men are anointed messengers of God.
Ps Sam then asked the congregation if they wanted to be ministered to. To watch the men lay hands on the people, moving busily and with Holy attention, softened my heart.
We were all seriously doing God’s business.
The men were literally glowing with the Spirit and the people knew this was an appointed and anointed group and everyone was hungry for a Holy Spirit impartation.
Orphanage
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
Visiting the orphanage was a joyous experience for all the men. I truly feel we were blessed more than the children we visited.
To witness their happy faces and take part in in a few duties made a connection in each of us that was transformational.
The owner of the orphanage, Mr Ling looks after the 40 children on site and up to 80 others in need. I asked him how much it costs annually and when converted into AUD it was approximately $110,000.
He was proud that through local benefactors and the industrious nature of the orphanage, the costs are sustained. And there was no indication from him that they required any help.
The fact that we visited and encouraged them was an answer to their prayers.
I know though, that our connection with the orphanage will by God’s grace allow them to flourish in the future, such was the anointing in that space.
Food Outreach
Deuteronomy 15:11
For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’
Proverbs 19:17
He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.
Helping at the food outreach was also a humbling experience. This was so well organised by Thien’s wife Lily and her friend, that orderly lines were formed, vouchers were presented by the needy and food hampers were distributed.
Brother, Ronnie, we know that you have personally sowed into this space to make it happen and I honour you for your faithful service and sacrifices.
Mission Accomplished
Spiritual seeds have been planted, not only in Vietnam, as they were also planted in the hearts of the men of the mission.
With time, we will see these seeds sprout to become a rich harvest of salvation for the glory of God.
I don’t consider myself as a prophet or one who sees visions, but by Gods grace this can be our portion.
When praying in a small church in Vung Tau with my brothers and a very small congregation of elderly Christians I saw what must be a vision.
There was a large translucent blue-green wave breaking over the nation of Vietnam carrying within it many people.
This I felt was a wave of revival and we may have just started the ripples during our time there.
Prayer Point 3.
Lord, we pray that you use us as Your disciples, to do Your mission work wherever you see fit. May we empty ourselves to provide the space for You to work through us with the guidance of the Holy Spirit for Your glory in the name of our most precious Jesus Christ, Amen.
Ps Lakers.
Prayer Points:
Prayer Point 1
Father God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to do Your works not only during missions in other nations, also in all the marketplaces in our lives. Let us be be guided by You to do Your will alone in the steps of our most precious Jesus Christ amen.
Prayer Point 2.
Heavenly Father, we come to you with thankfulness for our lives and every breath we take. You are worthy to be praised and worshipped with all our hearts.
Have mercy on us, your children and assure us of your loving kindness through your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ.
That we empty ourselves to be filled with you, as one with you, to do Your will, for Your glory IJN.
Prayer Point 3.
Lord, we pray that you use us as Your disciples, to do Your mission work wherever you see fit. May we empty ourselves to provide the space for You to work through us with the guidance of the Holy Spirit for Your glory in the name of our most precious Jesus Christ, Amen.
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