By Gobel Brockman
(Note - This week's devotional is taken from my e-book "Just Follow Jesus (& Let Him Set the Pace)
I remember a trip the family took to King's Island when our kids were little. We had a great time. On the way home, we got off our exit and began the drive through the country home. It started raining. Moments later, the tell-tale rumble in the back of the car let me know that we had a flat tire. There was no real safe place to pull over, so I had to move quickly to get the tire changed. I was very thankful that the spare was ready to go. It would have been a long walk for help. A long walk in the rain. Yuck.
Several years ago I read an article in a Christian magazine that had a profound impact on me. A man told the story of how he had committed his life to Christ when he was in his twenties. He had reached his sixties, and one day in prayer he was asking God why He had never really used him in ministry, despite his desire to do so. He said that the Holy Spirit gently spoke this to his heart:
"Son, I did use you. You were my spare tire."
The man said he had no idea what The Lord was saying to him. Then he said the Holy Spirit continued: "Over the years I've used you in several ways. You've served in many church offices, filled in for Sunday School teachers on a moment's notice, helped pastors with visitations, and even been willing to preach when emergencies came up. You were my spare tire, and when I needed you, you were ready. Many people have been blessed by your life and ministry." The man said his heart was filled with joy as he realized that God had indeed used his life to glorify Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you've felt like that man. I know I have. Sometimes you may be tempted to wonder if you've really done anything for the Lord. It can be easy to feel insignificant when you look at what others are doing. "Real" ministry is done by "real" ministers - those who spend hours in prayer and Bible study, only after spending years in seminary. Those pastors who pastor the so-called "mega-churches" - now THOSE guys are the real men of God. But just as that man needed to be reminded that everyone has a role in the Kingdom of God, so do we. There are people in your life who those pastors may never speak to - but YOU will. You don't need a seminary degree to tell people about Jesus, you just need a willingness to be used. As someone once wisely said, "God doesn't need your ability, just your availability."
I can attest to that. I have no Bible college or seminary degree. I've often said that the only reason I have a high school diploma is that the school didn't want to deal with me for another year. I don't consider myself a very intelligent person. And in spite of all of that, God has granted me the privilege over the years of serving in many different roles in ministry. My wife and I have said for years that we have a "Spare Tire' ministry. What I mean is that if you have a love for Jesus and a desire and willingness to be used by Him, you will be amazed at the opportunities that God opens up for you. Don't let your lack of experience or expertise cause you to fear or doubt. As Christians, the God we serve is more than able to make us ready. When God says you're ready to roll, just roll with Him.
"Spare tire." "Roll with Him." (Accidental pun, but you get the idea.)
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
It's Not Too Late
By Gobel Brockman
I write this as I'm sitting in a Pastor's home several hundred miles from my house. I was invited to join a group of ministers in a series of Outpouring (revival) services this week. I'm both honored and humbled to be asked to take part in these meetings. I'm simply amazed at what has been taking place in my life the last two years. A lot - a LOT - has changed in my life.
And how I thank God for that.
There have been many changes both in me and for me. I'm getting the opportunity to take part in things I could only dream of before. I mention this is because I'm reaching the age where some would begin "winding down" their activities a bit - and here I am with the chance to "ramp it up" and see God move in new and incredible ways. My point is this: I've learned that it's still not too late for God to do great things in my life.
It's not too late for you either.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says this:
"If any man is in Christ Jesus, old things are passed away, and behold, all things are made new."
Many times we may be tempted to feel that "our best days are behind us." Or perhaps we've faced situations or suffered failures that cause us to think that it's too late for us to ever be useful to God or man ever again. I want you to understand that isn't the case. When God ministers in your life, He takes the old life away and gives you new hope and new purpose. Things you wouldn't have dared to dream can become reality. All because when He makes all things new, He makes them well. Stop reminding God of your past and let Him reveal His future to you. You may think it's too late, but I promise you that God thinks otherwise.
So stop thinking you're too old, too ordinary, too much of a failure, or too whatever you're thinking. God's bigger than that. Surrender your life to Him and let Him prove it to you.
And be ready for Him to take you on an incredible journey. Even if it means getting on a plane and flying halfway across the country. It's a wild, adventureous ride.
I write this as I'm sitting in a Pastor's home several hundred miles from my house. I was invited to join a group of ministers in a series of Outpouring (revival) services this week. I'm both honored and humbled to be asked to take part in these meetings. I'm simply amazed at what has been taking place in my life the last two years. A lot - a LOT - has changed in my life.
And how I thank God for that.
There have been many changes both in me and for me. I'm getting the opportunity to take part in things I could only dream of before. I mention this is because I'm reaching the age where some would begin "winding down" their activities a bit - and here I am with the chance to "ramp it up" and see God move in new and incredible ways. My point is this: I've learned that it's still not too late for God to do great things in my life.
It's not too late for you either.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says this:
"If any man is in Christ Jesus, old things are passed away, and behold, all things are made new."
Many times we may be tempted to feel that "our best days are behind us." Or perhaps we've faced situations or suffered failures that cause us to think that it's too late for us to ever be useful to God or man ever again. I want you to understand that isn't the case. When God ministers in your life, He takes the old life away and gives you new hope and new purpose. Things you wouldn't have dared to dream can become reality. All because when He makes all things new, He makes them well. Stop reminding God of your past and let Him reveal His future to you. You may think it's too late, but I promise you that God thinks otherwise.
So stop thinking you're too old, too ordinary, too much of a failure, or too whatever you're thinking. God's bigger than that. Surrender your life to Him and let Him prove it to you.
And be ready for Him to take you on an incredible journey. Even if it means getting on a plane and flying halfway across the country. It's a wild, adventureous ride.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Church Life Beyond the Fads
By Gobel Brockman
I am at a bit of a funny age right now: I am old enough that I have seen a lot, and young enough that I haven't forgotten most of it yet. (I say that in jest. Well, maybe...) But I have seen many fads come and go over the years.
Sadly, that also applies to what I have seen in the church.
In my years of being in church and being active in ministry, I have seen more "How to Grow a Church" ideas and seminars than I care to remember. Many of them seem to promise much while requiring little in return. And on the surface some of them may seem to actually work. Some churches numbers may be up, finances may be up, and there seems to be 101 activities for everyone in the family to take part in. The problem with that, however, is that we cannot judge spiritual success by the culture we live in. Church success can't be measured that way. As I mentioned, fads come and go. So do church growth ideas. What I am suggesting is a return to what worked in the New Testament pattern:
Churches living in obedience to the Lord, being continually filled with the Holy Spirit, and walking in love and fellowship with each other. Christians growing in their understanding of what true Biblical holiness is and living in it. Men and women of God living with an eternal mindset instead of a earthly, temporal one. What I pray to see is what the prophet Joel proclaimed and Simon Peter repeated in his message on the Day of Pentecost:
"And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams...and it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Acts 2:17, 21)
My point is simple: real, lasting, effective church life will take place when the Holy Spirit touches our lives. There is church success that we can say that we are responsible for, and then there is success that only God can receive the glory for. I know which one I'd rather see and be a part of.
May we allow Him to move in our lives and our churches in a greater way!
I am at a bit of a funny age right now: I am old enough that I have seen a lot, and young enough that I haven't forgotten most of it yet. (I say that in jest. Well, maybe...) But I have seen many fads come and go over the years.
Sadly, that also applies to what I have seen in the church.
In my years of being in church and being active in ministry, I have seen more "How to Grow a Church" ideas and seminars than I care to remember. Many of them seem to promise much while requiring little in return. And on the surface some of them may seem to actually work. Some churches numbers may be up, finances may be up, and there seems to be 101 activities for everyone in the family to take part in. The problem with that, however, is that we cannot judge spiritual success by the culture we live in. Church success can't be measured that way. As I mentioned, fads come and go. So do church growth ideas. What I am suggesting is a return to what worked in the New Testament pattern:
Churches living in obedience to the Lord, being continually filled with the Holy Spirit, and walking in love and fellowship with each other. Christians growing in their understanding of what true Biblical holiness is and living in it. Men and women of God living with an eternal mindset instead of a earthly, temporal one. What I pray to see is what the prophet Joel proclaimed and Simon Peter repeated in his message on the Day of Pentecost:
"And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams...and it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Acts 2:17, 21)
My point is simple: real, lasting, effective church life will take place when the Holy Spirit touches our lives. There is church success that we can say that we are responsible for, and then there is success that only God can receive the glory for. I know which one I'd rather see and be a part of.
May we allow Him to move in our lives and our churches in a greater way!
Saturday, January 7, 2017
There's Only One Place We Can Go
By Gobel Brockman
It has happened again.
Another week, another mass shooting.
The latest tragedy took place at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At last report there were five confirmed killed and eight wounded. Innocent people who were merely going on vacation, traveling for their jobs or for a host of reasons left home to fly to another destination, only to be tragically and senselessly cut down. It seems that the question anymore isn't IF a mass shooting will take place; the only questions are WHEN and WHERE it will happen. There are many directions I could go in talking about this (yet again), but for this week I want to go with this thought: the question was asked if there was anywhere in this world a person could go and truly feel safe. Sadly, I know the answer to that question:
No, there isn't.
At the same time that this most recent attack took place, a young man here in America was being tried for the crime of murdering nine people inside of a church. I think it's our natural tendency to believe that we should be able to go to worship and feel safe there, but the tragedy is that's no longer the case. People make different arguments for the solutions to this problem, but I believe it's necessary to understand the root of the problem first. I take you back to the beginning of creation to make a point that I have made here before. Adam and Eve were created by God and placed in the garden of Eden. The first child born to them was named Cain. He soon had a younger brother named Abel. The Bible says that in time Cain murdered his brother Abel, which means this:
The first human being born of woman was a murderer, and we've been out to get each other ever since.
I would dare say (or at least hope) that no one reading this will ever take another human life in a premeditated fashion.I would like to remind you, however, of what the Bible says in I John 3:15:
"Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him."
Powerful words indeed. My point in all of this is simply that we are ALL sinners, we live in a sin-cursed world, and as a result of that there is no place where we can go and escape the ravages of sin. What we CAN do is go to the cross of Christ and receive the forgiveness and power we need to live in this world. God's grace is more than sufficient to not only give us assurance of our eternal salvation, but that grace will also empower us to live in peace and trust in THIS life. No, I can't promise that you won't suffer as a result of someone else's sin, but I can assure you that no one can take you out of the hand of God. I rest in that confidence, and I trust that you will receive it as well.
I pray that every one reading this will place their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and I pray that you will stay close to Him by faith. Regardless what happens, I know you'll be safe there.
It has happened again.
Another week, another mass shooting.
The latest tragedy took place at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At last report there were five confirmed killed and eight wounded. Innocent people who were merely going on vacation, traveling for their jobs or for a host of reasons left home to fly to another destination, only to be tragically and senselessly cut down. It seems that the question anymore isn't IF a mass shooting will take place; the only questions are WHEN and WHERE it will happen. There are many directions I could go in talking about this (yet again), but for this week I want to go with this thought: the question was asked if there was anywhere in this world a person could go and truly feel safe. Sadly, I know the answer to that question:
No, there isn't.
At the same time that this most recent attack took place, a young man here in America was being tried for the crime of murdering nine people inside of a church. I think it's our natural tendency to believe that we should be able to go to worship and feel safe there, but the tragedy is that's no longer the case. People make different arguments for the solutions to this problem, but I believe it's necessary to understand the root of the problem first. I take you back to the beginning of creation to make a point that I have made here before. Adam and Eve were created by God and placed in the garden of Eden. The first child born to them was named Cain. He soon had a younger brother named Abel. The Bible says that in time Cain murdered his brother Abel, which means this:
The first human being born of woman was a murderer, and we've been out to get each other ever since.
I would dare say (or at least hope) that no one reading this will ever take another human life in a premeditated fashion.I would like to remind you, however, of what the Bible says in I John 3:15:
"Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him."
Powerful words indeed. My point in all of this is simply that we are ALL sinners, we live in a sin-cursed world, and as a result of that there is no place where we can go and escape the ravages of sin. What we CAN do is go to the cross of Christ and receive the forgiveness and power we need to live in this world. God's grace is more than sufficient to not only give us assurance of our eternal salvation, but that grace will also empower us to live in peace and trust in THIS life. No, I can't promise that you won't suffer as a result of someone else's sin, but I can assure you that no one can take you out of the hand of God. I rest in that confidence, and I trust that you will receive it as well.
I pray that every one reading this will place their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and I pray that you will stay close to Him by faith. Regardless what happens, I know you'll be safe there.
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