In our culture we often reveal the product of our success while keeping the process a secret. Others are then unable to duplicate our success because we have hidden what it takes to get there. One of my favorite shows on MTV was “Making the Video.” It allowed the viewer to see the behind the scenes raw footage that went into making the polished finish product. This week I am preparing for a message that will equip, and empower individuals in the areas of sexuality and relationships. I am certain that by Sunday, God will give me the finished product, but I just want to share the behind the scenes footage and my personal process.
This process mimics that of the High Priest in the Old Testament served as a liaison or mediator between God and mankind. 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; We all are given the responsibility of representing God to mankind causing the world to become connected with Him though us.
It is 3:30 a.m. and prior to being used by God in any fashion there is a spiritual detox that happens. A spiritual, emotional, and mental emptying must occur. The degree to which we are empty determines the capacity to which God can fill us.
The Old Testament High Priest went through a similar process (stopping at the laver, lamp stand, altar of incense, the table of Showbread the veil, and ultimately arriving in the Most Holy Place, where the presence of God resided) where gradually He became more like God, as He prepared to see God face to face. True Worship of God is when we stand face to face in His presence and God sees Himself in us and us in Him. The High Priest stopped at the brazen altar, a place of repentance. It is here where I acknowledge everything that is not like God, and relinquish and turn away from it. This process is not always easy. Sometimes hurt that we experience can produce bitterness and resentment. We then can feel entitled to hold on to it, however when God looks at us, it is our desire for Him to see His reflection in us, and He doesn’t have bitterness and resentment, but unconditional love.
The Old Testament High Priest alluded to Jesus the ultimate High Priest, who was 100%man and 100% God. He represents man to God, meaning He takes on all of our sins, inadequacies, and deficiencies, goes beyond the veil on our behalf to atone and cover what is not like God. After coming from the most Holy Place, the High Priest then represents God to man. Jesus, this morning as I aspire to be an effective mediator like you, I attempt to place myself in your position and now I have nothing but gratitude.
Jesus it effects and hurts you personally when I sin. Often I find it hard to imagine how Judas could betray you, and Peter deny you and I forget the times when I have embodied both of them through my behavior. Yet you don’t allow your personal hurt to stop your assignment of going to God on my behalf. To be effective in ministry you have to be exposed and vulnerable enough to be touched by people. This exposure can lead to hurt however being a victim can’t take precedence over the assignment of connecting people with God. What has happened personally that is coming between the profession or calling and responsibility that God has given you? Give these hurts to the Ultimate High priest, so you can effectively be used by God to bless His people. What you have gone through is a vehicle to take you to what God wants for you. Embrace the process and God will reveal a new you in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Now the World Premiere of he New You…
It is amazing how much time of our life is spent living in the past, both reliving victories and wallowing in losses. If the past isn’t used to affect the future then the past is overrated. Don’t get it twisted, I am not implying in the slightest, to adopt the mentality of, “Oh, well, the past is the past, get the dirt off your shoulders, get over it and move on…” only to later repeat the mistakes of the past again in again. What I am suggesting is that one treats the past as an archaeologist, using the past as a place for discovery, to reconstruct a new you for the future to see. Deal with the consequences of your history so you can embrace the possibilities of your future.
“But time don’t go back, it goes forward can’t run from the pain, go towards it.” –Jay Z Kingdom Come “Lost Ones”
(Did he just quote Jay Z? yes and I totally am willing to discuss the implications of music, how the Lucifer prior to being kicked out of heaven was influential in the arena of music, how masses are hypnotized by a beat, while subliminal sinful, misogynistic messages are woven into the tapestries of their minds, that later effect behavior. The debate of life imitating art vs. art imitating life, how the church can ill afford to reach the world by mimicking it giving them what they already have without any creativity, without any message of Jesus, how if one is going to cross-over, they must carry the cross (the gospel) over literally. With all that said, this quote simply substantiates the point I am attempting to make regarding the past and pain.)
-But time don’t go back it goes forward
No matter how much we live in the past, it is what it is, the past. Only God has the power to effectively and directly address our past. Genuine true repentance that comes from a sincere heart, and turning away from what we are repenting for, and asking God for a clean heart and right spirit, and allowing the blood to cleanse us is how we deal with our past. 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The best tool for me to address the past is the present and the future. Paul a man with a checkered past, flaws and all pre Christ (Acts 9) and Post Christ had the courage and wisdom to declare Philippians 3:13-14 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus told Peter, Satan desires to have you to sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you that your faith fails you not, and when you are converted, strengthen the brethren (I am so doing this text an injustice not mentioning Peter’s impulsive nature, how he constantly gets things 100% right in one instance only to get it 100% wrong the next, how he was a part of Jesus’ inner circle (James and John the sons of Zebedee being the others) yet, he denied Christ 3 times at the time when he needed him most, but later affirmed his love 3 times and preached the inaugural message of the New Testament church) Peter takes the mistakes of his past and uses them as fuel to make him a better Peter in the future.
-Don’t run from the pain run towards it
I had the pleasure of spending time with perhaps the most insightful introspective person I know, my mentee Matthew Mason this weekend. I will tell anyone clearly he is the real mentor in the relationship. We discussed this idea of the past and pain the scripture that clarifies the matter is when Peter after seeking God three times to remove pain, listens to God’s response. 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Many people deny the pain and try to masquerade it. While others fail to acknowledge their weaknesses and some after acknowledging them loathe and wallow in their weaknesses. I ask God intentionally when I experience pain, setback, or heartbreak, allow me to feel the pain completely and so I don’t have a pseudo-healing only to have the pain reemerge later. Satan wants us to run from the pain, because there is power behind the pain. When we identify these areas of pain and surrender to Christ, when we discover our weakness we have just discovered Christ’s strength and it will infuse and empower us to transcend the past, and empower us to accept the future and destiny God desires for us.
The simplest way to influence is with a smile. “A leader’s smile can give people life; his kindness is like a spring rain” Proverbs 16:15 –Rick Warren author, Senior Pastor Saddleback Church, I must admit I have been extremely negligent in my blogging, with the completion of school, new opportunities in my career, and the chance to serve the youth on a larger scale (both secular and spiritually), my blogging has suffered. To that end I found it necessary to share a lesson God has been and continues to teach me: The importance of being delivered from people and their inconsistencies to effectively minister to people consistently.
The word minister contrary to popular opinion doesn’t mean exclusivity, being catered to, and revered by the masses, but actually means to serve, to operate with humility while being attentive to the needs of others. Honestly, nothing brings me more joy than serving others. It is my passion; it is what I do intrinsically with no ulterior motives or hidden agendas. While I enjoy receiving, it pales in comparison to the joy of giving. I am hypersensitive to the needs of others, and will do anything in my power and through the power of God to ensure those needs are met. I am not talking about the myopic form of ministry of preaching or teaching, but I am referring to the preaching that occurs in the absence of words when the actions of my life resound in the lives of others. Just like a waiter who anticipates the needs of the customer, it is my desire to serve everyone I meet, it makes me smile.
I have been in a fight for my smile. The more people we encounter, the more opportunities we have to serve, but it also increases the opportunities to be vulnerable based on the position that true service places us in. While it is a gift to be sensitive to the needs of others, it also entails a danger where you can become susceptible to the negativity and criticism of those who you serve. It is here where I have seen so many and have even fallen into the trap myself of becoming bitter, callous, and indifferent towards others. The mentality behind this behavior is hurt and insecurity and the desire not to feel this again. We then minimize love by only loving those who are convenient, and shout when the preacher talks about haters, but get extremely quiet when the preacher gives instructions to love our enemies. We often become the victim and adopt a victim mentality all the while our true self, heart, and passion, are being eroded slowly by unresolved pain, and ultimately we lose our smile.
If we lose this internal battle and succumb to bitterness, we will lose our external smile, impact, and influence and belief in the ultimate good and potential in others. I have resolved this is not an option. Jesus’ inner circle of Peter, James, and John wanted to build Jesus a tabernacle in the moment of his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, but were sleep in the garden of Gethsemane in the moment of His most intense pain and anguish. While some will indeed desire to tabernacle with you in the mountain, the reality is they will sleep on you and abandon you in the moments of pain. If we can resist the urge to become bitter, we will see that Peter, James, and John will evolve into powerful world changers and ultimately we will rise from our pain and God will be glorified. And when God is glorified, my smile returns.
