Lesson 12 – Faith always produces action

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The Preface:

What is something that God has spoken to you about recently?  Did you act upon it?  Were you prepared to worship and thank Him when what He said came true?  

As I work with these new missionaries, and see areas of needed growth in their lives, I am recognizing that I often do not trust God for change, I am trying to change them myself.  

I am learning that, while I need to follow through and speak the truth God gives me, I need to leave the growth and change in God’s hands, and be prepared to worship and thank God when He does the work!  As much as I want to see people walking with God and prepared for success in church planting, God desires it even more.

The Passage: Matthew 2:1-12

Commentary:

Ken Gire in “Moments with the Savior” shares these thoughts on these events. “The birth of Jesus was the well-kept secret of God, whispered among the stars. Only a handful of people even cupped their ears to listen. And they were from Persia, not Palestine. They were Gentiles, uncircumcised and without the promises of God.”

As these “wise guys” studied their charts, and reviewed the Jewish scriptures left behind by the descendants of Daniel, they began to see what they believed to be the fulfillment of what Daniel had written about(Dan 9:24-27) and what their countryman Balaam had written, the star of the king! (Num 24:17)

Odd that the revelation of a Jewish Messiah was heard by foreigners. Astrologers, of all people. Odd that it wasn’t heard by priests or rabbis or members of the Sanhedrin. Odd too that the messenger was not a prophet but, of all things, a star.

These wise guys watched the signs in the heavens. They knew the teachings of Daniel. when they saw things begin to transpire, they packed their bags and prepared to be amazed.

We don’t know exactly how far they traveled, we can be confident it was a long way. Their faith motivated them to action. People must have thought they were crazy. But, they didn’t care. Because in faith, they believed what God had said in the past, and when they saw the signs, they acted upon their faith!

When their journey was a success, and they saw the fulfillment of their faith, they worshipped God, and presented the gifts they came prepared to give.

The Purpose:

(What was God doing? Why is this written?)

What evidence do we see of faith in the story of the wise men?

They believed God’s promise and looked in anticipation for it’s fulfillment.

When they saw things begin to unfold, they packed their bags in preparation for a long journey. Their faith motivated them to action.

They were so convinced they prepared gifts of worship, expecting to see the fulfillment of their faith.

As I continue to grow as a Life Coach, I am learning that coaching is a partnership that puts the own-ness on the individual and his relationship with God! Partnering them to hear the Holy Spirit in their lives, and help them to respond to him with intentional steps to growth. That’s what we see in these wisemen. God spoke to them through His Word. By faith, they believed what God said. That faith motivated them to do something about it. I don’t know what the Holy spirit is putting his finger on in someone’s life. I have tried to do that in the past. In my role in orientation, at times I have to point things out in people’s lives, and because of that I have taken on the role of the Holy Spirit to try and force change. But, that’s not my job. I am learning that it actually shows trust in them to present the expectations, to give them the target (qualifications of an elder). Then to invite them to assess themselves, and ask the Holy Spirit what He is the pointing out to them of where the most growth is needed. Coaching then is coming along side, and partnering with then to be intentional to work on it. Then in a month, two months, evaluate again. As we walk with God and study His word, faith should lead to action! These guys were so convinced they would find what they believed God had said, that they even brought gifts to give to the king! Now, that’s faith! They didn’t just talk about their faith, their faith motivated them to action, and they came prepared with gifts to offer in worship

The Plan:

(What can we learn from this? What is God saying to me and my life from this passage?

What is my faith motivating me to do?  My faith is motivating me to partner with the Holy Spirit to speak the truth, and leave the working out of it to Him! 1 Thess 2:13

How confident am i in what God is leading me to do?  I know He wants to use their lives to plant churches here in PNG.  That’s a pretty important task!  God has a much higher interest in seeing that success than I do.  He IS going to be pointing things out in their lives that are going to be a hindrance to that!

Do I believe God can work in the lives of these orientees?  Do I believe the Holy Spirit can convict them and bring about change and growth?  Whether I believe it or not, it’s true!  I need to be convinced that this is His work.  I am simply partnering with Him in the work He wants to do in their lives.

How am I prepared to worship when I see God do what He said He would do?  I need to be looking for evidence of God’s work in their lives.  When I see it, I need to celebrate with them!

The Power; Declarations of Truth:

  • God wants to see these guys become the model for their future churches to follow!
  • The Holy Spirit will be pointing out the things that will hinder that.
  • My job as their coach is to partner with the Holy Spirit, and help them be intentional to grow in those things.
  • I need to be watching for and pointing out when I see God at work and celebrate that work with them!

PS: If any of you would be interested in Life Coaching, as I described it above, please send me an email @ david_watters@ntm.org. I would love to partner with the Holy Spirit in your life and help you take intentional steps to grow in what the Holy Spirit has pointed out in your life!

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