doors of opportunity

EVERY CHRISTAIN A MINISTER

(April 01, 2022) Charles Schwab shares that every Christian is a minister so let’s cut to the chase…

I feel led by the Holy Spirit to share here my long-term convictions about Christians taking up their God-given capacities to be vessels of God towards a whole range of needs in the lives of others.

Yes there can be challenges to Christians – ordinary Christians – when it comes to being mobilised in ministry. We will come to these in a moment.

Biblical truth
Since the Protestant Reformation (1517 AD – 505 years ago) which highlighted the biblical truth that justification – being made right with God – is a consequence of faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (Romans 5:1), various other biblical truths have been resurrected from relative obscurity.

One such truth is that every believer has one or more areas of ‘ministry’ or service to which the Lord has called and is equipping them. We don’t get to ‘call the shots’; God determines and in such a way that we are not consulted!

The notion that ‘the priest is the minister and does everything that is central in the life of the church’ had its ‘back broken’ in the Reformation.

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EFFECTIVE GOD-GIVEN DAYS

(October 25, 2021) Robert and Maureen McQuillan share an encouragement…

We had a tear in our eyes when reading a comment by Henry Winkler last month. Renowned for his iconic role as the Fonz in the hit TV series Happy Days, after years as Arthur Fonzarelli, he questioned whether his career effectively used his ‘God-given talents.’

According to www.movieguide.org, having been trained as a classical actor, he had always meant to be a ‘serious’ actor – doing drama, not comedy.

‘Occasionally I would wonder: Was playing the character of Fonzie doing anybody any good? I’d been raised in the Jewish faith and still felt a real peace and closeness to God when I worshipped in a synagogue,’ he said. ‘Was I doing what I was really meant to do? Was I using my God-given talents in the best possible way?’

One day an answer came in the most unexpected way. Back in the 80s Henry Winkler had been chairperson of an annual event called the Special Arts Festival held at the Music Center in Los Angeles. Children came there with mental and physical handicaps come to perform in their own amateur theatrics, to show their talents, and exhibit their artwork.

‘Children are there from all backgrounds and all walks of life, and as I walked through the crowds, I’d do a lot of hugging. I’d hold the hand of a little girl in a wheelchair. I’d joke with a young boy without a leg,’ he said. 

‘Fonzie!’
In a  www.guideposts.org 1985 article, Henri Winkler said he remembered one interaction with one of the children that confirmed for him that faith and entertainment were not separate. He wrote: Several years ago there was such a racket that it was amazing I heard the voice at all. ‘Fonzie,’ someone said. A small, shy voice in all the hubbub. ‘Fonzie!’

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CHOSEN TO BE ACTIVE SERVANTS

(September 6, 2020)
Editorial note:
Last month Dr George Forbes, former director of Australia AoG (ACC) World Missions, passed on to his heavenly home and great eternal reward. Internationally recognised as a missions’ statesperson, he was most certainly actively and passionately committed to faithfully serving Christ and to reaching the lost, even up to the end!

George Forbes’ heart was always for those who don’t know the Lord, not only in his preaching, teaching and writings but even for those around him in his final months in a care facility. Still strongly trusting God he would even take every opportunity to pray for any there who asked for prayer and hope… as well as praying in his daily devotions for missionaries that he’d encouraged and inspired over many years.

Honouring Dr Forbes we re-run his last article, praying that readers will be deeply challenged…
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CHOSEN TO BE ACTIVE SERVANTS – SEVEN HIGHLIGHTS
We continue to hear of more Covid-19 cases around the world, of troubled people, even Christians, and of increased suicides and crime… and Jesus Christ is the answer to peoples’ needs.

I would share these seven vital points…

1) Worldwide opportunities to actively reach the troubled
We’re still in a time of desperation worldwide – but with God-given opportunities to share
Jesus Christ’s gospel of hope whenever, wherever we can! Even in aged-care facilities.

I repeat what I been declaring recently – if ever the world needed hope it is most certainly today and Jesus is still the answer! But I add this challenge… today we (every Christian) are his chosen ones to witness Christ!

2) Old Testament active chosen ones
Throughout Israel’s history, chosen men of faith heard God’s voice –

  • Men whom God called and appointed.
  • Men of faith who pleased almighty God, creator and upholder of all things.

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I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR

(May 14, 2019) Dr George Forbes, missionary statesman, encourages us to enter every fruitful door of gospel opportunity…

In Revelation 3:8 (MKJV) Jesus declared: ’I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it. For you have a little strength and have kept my word and have not denied my name.’

He know our works too!

Jesus knew the situation of the local church in Philadelphia, their faithfulness, their testimony to people where they worshipped and where they lived.

And he told them that he had set before them an open door that no one could shut. A door of opportunity, witness and fruitfulness. He did this because he knew their works; he had watched and seen their faith at work and knew they could achieve even more.

I feel it is appropriate to apply this challenging word of encouragement given by the Lord to that early church to every Christian today, to every church because…

  • He knows the works of every one of today’s churches.
  • He knows the works of every servant of God.
  • He rewards faith, hope and love.
  • He trusts those who trust him.

There are doors and there are doors
Some are basic, providing simple access to a room or place. Others are designed to be beautiful and even, magnificent. Others to secure valuables, treasures, money, gold ingots crown jewels and the like. (more…)

THERE IS MORE!

(September 9, 2018) Tim Edwards shares a challenging thought…

Paul’s great challenge in Ephesians 5: 15-17 should hit home to Christians of every generation! The apostle warns, ‘Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.’

What do these verses say to us today?

  • What does Paul, indeed any pastor, want Jesus’ followers to know? To realise that no matter how long we’ve been following and serving Jesus, God has more in store for us!
  • And what does Paul, again any pastor, want Christians in any age to do? To understand that we should be asking God for more of himself and what is his plan for our life!

I have a little thought to share here that I trust will both bless and challenge those who are truly aware that the days are indeed evil and that there is still much kingdom work for us to be involved in before the return of our Saviour, King Jesus. My little thought? There is more! Let me share…

Relevant relationships today
Ephesians is such a great Bible book to read and meditate on – in fact it is just  so good, and there is a huge amount we can learn, even from the text above. Basically the book is a letter to the church at Ephesus in which Paul is endeavouring to – (more…)

DOORS… LOITERING WITH INTENT

(January 22, 2018) Stuart Reynolds shares an interesting concept …

Muriel (not real names here) was a small town local church gossip. Unmarried, she was the self-appointed monitor of the church’s moral behaviour and was sure to keep an eye on people, sticking her nose into where it did not belong. Several church members were unhappy and uncomfortable with her extra-curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

And so, Muriel continued undeterred in her presumptions… until the incident with new church member, Harold. One evening just before the prayer meeting, she accused him of being an alcoholic… she’d seen his car parked in front of the town’s only bar that afternoon.  Before several others she sternly told Harold off, saying that everyone seeing his car there would know what he was doing!

Harold, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment, then turned and walked away. He didn’t explain, defend, or deny anything. He said nothing… but later that evening he quietly parked his car in front of unmarried Muriel’s house… and left it there all night!

Contrast that with this: Your car breaks down and you find yourself unexpectedly stranded at midnight in an unfamiliar, intimidating, dimly lit city back street. As you try to get your bearings, you hear the noise of voices from some young men who have just exited a building and appear to be loitering. Then they notice you, look at one another and start coming your way, their footsteps noisy on the cobbled pavement…

Wouldn’t it make all the difference in the world to know whether this ‘gang’ had just left a night club – or an anointed, exhilarating Bible study?

Two striking examples of loitering with intent – one presumptuous, the other pressing.

Loitering… legally, society deems ‘loitering with intent’ to be a crime, but scripturally, it is about a claim – God’s claim. It’s not about stalking but seeking. Loitering with intent for God’s purposes comes from… (more…)

LOST DREAMS AND HOPES?

(April 23, 2017) Maureen McQuillan brings a great encouragement …

When you were very young did you have dreams and hopes about what life had to offer you?

I remember as a little girl sitting on the doorstep of our small home in a little country town back in Northern Ireland and dreaming of travelling faraway and – well, many other things too.

I guess we all did something similar. But I wonder… perhaps life has had its disappointments and today you’re sitting somewhere looking back – with regrets.

The too hard basket
Perhaps those little child’s dreams and hopes of yours have long gone, maybe even been shattered. Today they’re in the too hard basket. Maybe you’ve been knocked off your feet by life’s hard knocks and it’s just too difficult to start dreaming and hoping afresh.

Maybe too many doors of opportunity have been slammed in your face, or you feel locked into in an unsatisfactory lifestyle with no apparent way out. You’re thinking: What’s the use of even hoping, never mind dreaming for something better?

And perhaps as you look in the mirror each morning, you realise yet again how time has passed so quickly and you wonder what you have really achieved in life. (more…)