IF YOU WANT SPECIAL ORDERS YOU MUST FIRST OBEY STANDING ORDERS
GOD is preparing to use each of us to reach the this unit. Chaplains can only do so much. However, you are here 24 hours a day–seven days a week. The Almighty has called you to minister right here–right now!
We know that revival and spiritual victories come through prayer and worship. However, God’s miracles also come from sweat-from-the-brow work. Will we be ready to serve? Will I be ready to serve? Will you be ready to serve?
“How will I know what to do?” you ask. How will I know God’s will for me in kingdom work? Begin by doing what you know to do. My life verse is Proverbs 16:9: IN HIS HEART A MAN PLANS HIS COURSE, BUT THE LORD DETERMINES HIS STEPS.
The principle can be seen in the way ships change directions. If a ship is moving it is relatively easy to steer the the massive structure towards a new course. However, if she is stationary, it takes tremendous energy to get the shipping moving so that she can be maneuvered.
How one finds a call to missionary work offers another illustration. Christian sociologist, Tony Compalo, suggests that Christians should make disciples overseas unless they are called to stay in America. Why? Americans have heard the gospel so many times, and there are many places where people have not heard even once. An agency I once served with, Mission to Unreached People’s, has a beautiful slogan for assessing whether one should serve in missions: Unsure? Just Go!
In my own life. I faced such decisions several times. When I was about 16 my church had a small and dwindling youth group. At one point the volunteer adult leader suggested that we disband, and that the young men help with the boy’s program--Royal Rangers. The purpose for the suggestion, I now believe, was to stir us to say, “No–we can make this youth group alive!” However, I said, “I’ll do whatever God wants?” Two weeks later the Royal Ranger leader asked me to come and help with the boys. From this ministry, I volunteered to teach Sunday school and also to help with counseling at the children’s summer Bible camps.
When I went to college I did not know what I wanted to do when I grew up. Little did I know I never would! In any case, I first declared myself a business major, thinking I could make lots of money. One day I was thinking, and God brought to my mind the reality that I really enjoyed teaching. So, why don’t I become a teacher! So, I did! I ended up as an elementary school teacher for a missions school in Korea. A leader of an English Bible study ministry asked me if I would lead an English Bible study. I agreed, and over the course of six years it turned in to a full-fledged campus ministry. We saw over 100 students a week–the majority of whom were not Christians. I also oversaw three other foreign volunteers. And–it was while doing this mission work that God gave me the “call” to full-time ministry.
You say, I want to serve God–I’m willing. But, I need God’s assurance that what I am doing is right. What if I make a mistake--am I out of the will of God? Some people get so crazy with this notion of finding God’s perfect will that I imagine them sitting down to eat and praying, “What do I eat first?” What does it matter! It all goes in the same place, and comes out the same way!
Matthew 6:33 gives a wonderful principle that will guide you as you boldly do his work. BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.
After high school I wanted to go to college, but did not have money. So, I attempted to join the Army. After several months of trying–taking several tests, the military determined that my eye-hand coordination was not sufficient. Since I had left my parents while I tried to join the service, my status became independent. Of course, I did not have any money, so now the government said I could qualify for help to pay for college.
You might think I had failed to find God’s direction by attempting to join the Army. However, God used my efforts to put me in the place to both minister to some people, and to qualify financially for college. God can shut doors and change our direction quite easily when we are moving for him.
In college my majors were History/ Politics, and Education. Only later did I study theology. Had I missed God’s will by my earlier majors? No! I am now teaching God’s word in a multi-cultural setting, while under the supervision of Caesar (government). My study of history, education and government perfectly prepared me for my eventual ministry here!
You may think this teaching sounds to much like encouraging you to trust man’s efforts and wisdom. “I want to be led by the Spirit,” you say. Why are you afraid to act based on your gifts and the opportunities available? Do you fear being wrong about the will of God? Consider Joseph and his brothers. Joseph may have been too quick to brag about his dreams. However, he ended up leading Egypt and Israel from the brink of starvation!
Consider also the alternative--doing nothing. Missionary Dave Grant preached one day about his ministry in India. Afterwards a young lady came to him and said she had received a definite call to serve as a missionary to India. He asked her what she was doing for God at home. She said, “Well–I attend church and youth group.” He said, “Stay home–we don’t need you! You’ll arrive full of vigor, and with your first case of dysentary you’ll be on the first plane home to cry to your mommy. Stay home–we don’t need you!” Wow! Strong words. His point was not to belittle the student, but to shock her into the reality that before you can claim callings to exotic and exciting far-flung missions, you should be faithful to humble spiritual work in your own home turf. It is only after you obey what you know to do right here right now that you get to do God’s special jobs.
What do we already know to do? What is the Great Commandment? Love God and your neighbor. What is the Great Commission? Go...make disciples...teach them to obey my commands.
I started by saying in high school, "If God wants, I can help with Royal Rangers, I’ll do it." I continued by accepting "opportunities to minister."
Then god called me.
Most of the time, God simply allows us to do the desires of our hearts for his kingdom. Those times when he calls are usually to difficult or surprising works. He must call us because we are not expecting what he has for us. I have received three such calls. The first was a call to be a missionary. I had faithfully served God as a volunteer–as opportunities arose. One day, three years after I had begun my campus missionary work in Korea, God opened my eyes and said, “Look around you. See what you have accomplished for me. This is what I want you to do.” From then on, I knew that I was no longer a faithful Christian, working for him. He has called me to live as a minister of the gospel.
Even though I came to understand that I would serve God full-time, I still believed I would be a teacher first, and missionary second. I planned to study history or English, so that I might better teach. One night God gave me a two-hour vision. He continuously flashed pictures from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary catalog before me. Yes, I had looked at the book before–but only so I could advise students who might want to go. I never imagined that I would go to seminary. That, of course, is why God had to call me! Are you catching the idea? God can move is so easily if we are not headed his direction. It is better to venture off in faith, heading the wrong direction, than to refuse to move, because you are not 100% where God wants you.
My final call, of course, was to serve as a minister–a chaplain–in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Again, I needed to hear God’s voice because who intentionally plans to minister in jail? My journey to the chaplaincy was a hard, long road. I needed God’s call, because, in my own strength I would have given up and done something else. God wanted me here, so he told me to stay the course–and not give up.
Today, people ask me if prison ministry is hard. I say, “Of course–but it is the best work I could be doing–because it is God’s will for me. How did I find God’s will? By doing what I knew to do when I had the opportunities. Then, by obeying God’s voice when he did speak to me supernaturally.
Brothers, I had been serving Christ 10 years before he gave me a calling. Don’t waist precious gospel time waiting for God to give you a word, a dream, or a vision. Do what you know to do. When you have proven faithful–then he will give you special works. Amen.
How shall we conclude? Let us Do the will of God by doing what you know to do. Love God and your neighbor. Make disciples by teaching men about Jesus’ story and his commands. Say yes when you have opportunities to serve God with talents he has give you. Then, when God wants you to do something special, He will trust you and tell you what to do.
May you be Christ to the world by keeping your hearts holy. May you speak Christ to the world by keeping your tongues holy. May you do Christ for the world by keeping your hands holy.
