Transparency

In the minimal free time that I have, I have been reading through Larry Stockstill's book The Remnant. I'm going to share a lengthy portion of the preface here because I just cannot seem to stop considering it these past few days.

"I'm going to shake this nation. The words thundered into my spirit on an airplane somewhere over Oklahoma. . . . When I returned home that evening, the Lord spoke to me again about His promised shaking, that it would begin with the body of Christ and would be unlike anything we had ever experienced before. I asked the Lord to begin by shaking me, waking me out of my own lethargy and sleep. I then shared this word with a small group of pastors I meet with monthly in Baton Rouge for fellowship and accountability. Finally, I preached on it that weekend at our church, Bethany World Prayer Center, where I have been pastoring for almost twenty-five years. We all took the challenge to allow the Lord to stir the smoldering coals of our hearts and awaken us from the stupor of apathy. . . .

"As painful as God's shaking has been (and will continue to be), it  has awakened a new breed of pastors and laypeople alike who will ask the tough questions: Where has the glory gone (God's glory, that is) in the American church? When did we make the shift from laying it all down for the sake of Christ to joining the latest "bless me" club? When did the simple, pure gospel of the Savior become about "me", "my", and "mine"? What happened to the transparency and integrity that marked the church for centuries, when following Christ meant hardship, denial, and even death? . . .

"However, the question becomes, how much longer will God tolerate our duplicity? It is amazing to me that as our churches grow larger, our nation seemingly grows darker morally. The church seems obsessed with growth and 'relating' to America, but it reminds me of Samson before his haircut. Though engaged in immorality, Samson continued to function in his gift for years, but he no longer carried his anointing.

"How can an individual continue to grow a huge church or ministry and yet be struggling with secret sin? The answer is simple: a person's gift will make room for him and attract the notice and attention of others. Furthermore, that gift, though legitimate and God given, can be operated in pride and arrogance rather than in submission to God. This was Satan's problem: unbroken, unyielded giftings.

 "In the church world, education, connections, manipulation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and aggressiveness can amplify a person's gift. The fact that someone's ministry continues to expand and looks exciting is no guarantee that the person is operating in the anointing.

"The anointing operates in brokenness and is yielded at the cross. The anointing focuses people on Jesus instead of a person. It is 'pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy' (James 3:17 NKJV). The anointing submits to the correction of others, is transparent, and operates in relaxation and peace.

"When we begin to force ourselves, assert ourselves, and promote ourselves, we are moving in our gifting. Unless we daily bring our giftedness to the cross and allow it to be broken, we can easily move into the pride and curse that Satan suffered in heaven.

"God is calling for change. . . . We have a unique calling in the body of Christ. We each exert influence in our families, churches, and communities. Our lives are our ministries, and as such, they must reflect only the highest standards of integrity."

- Taken from The Remnant by Larry Stockstill
(Purchase the book on Amazon.com.)

After all of that I'm not sure that there's much I need to say. There are so many things to focus on & take from the selection above (& the entire book for that matter), but for the sake of space I am going to share an area in my life that has been a struggle lately.

I like to compartmentalize my life. I want to keep my relationship with the Lord in a box, my ministry in another box, keep my personal/family life in a third box, & then again my educational/professional life in a fourth box- there must be more boxes, but this is all I can think of at the moment. I'm a private person who doesn't necessarily want everyone to know the joys, pains, temptations, & victories that I experience daily. I put barriers up to keep people out, the trouble is that's not ministry. How can I be real, genuine, & transparent with people if I won't share what is going on in my life or what God is showing me?

I want to be available to people.

I want to be transparent with people.

I want to serve people as they walk down a path that I've been down before- both rough paths & joyous paths.

I want to encourage people to explore their God-given gifts & abilities & to submit those at the cross as worship to a great God!

I want to be used by the Lord to build a team that effectively equips people, so they are able to minister to God through praise & worship in an unbridled manner, both corporately & privately.

I want to walk in integrity & live a life of ministry that reflects the indelible grace of God & the ardent love of my Saviour, Jesus Christ.

So this is my first step at becoming more transparent. No more boxes, no more walls.

I want to daily submit my gifts & will to His will & to seek His presence & operate in His anointing through brokenness & humility.

I want to be shaken by God.

"Forever You will stand
Your kingdom has no end 

O Holy God I stay amazed
You are so much more than words could ever say
O Holy God I pour out my praise
On the One who never ceases to amaze"