A substantial part of any ‘being used’ in the Kingdom for the growth of the church, if we would know ourselves so, is to the end as Paul described in all giving of the gifts of ministry in the church.
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:…(Eph 4:7-13)
We learn a great part of this work toward us which we apprehend in differing measure is often that, when coming to some light appearing new to us, the area is already clearly marked and that we are indeed ‘not crazy’ (except to the world). We are neither alone in this seeing nor understanding…the territory is, and has always been the Lord’s. We just neither knew nor understood.
Now this would, at first glance, seem to steal some of the newness or freshness…even wonder of it…but it does not. On the contrary, the assurance(s) we may find there are themselves no less than marvelous and breathtaking in seeing a path clearly laid out and already tended for us to bring us here. Yes, that is a great marvel. Our ‘being guided’ never gets old in either experience or the beholding of the hand and heart guiding.
And it especially rightly deals with any solipsism and /or tendency to self exaltation or a unique specialness feeding a sense of superiority to any others. As though we are the ‘sole-est’ of seers…ever.
As to the crazy (or drunken) the world might seek to hang upon us comes Peter’s “this is that!” on the day of Pentecost. A thing written once of some obscurity but now made manifest. A matter kept in holding (for Peter ‘kept’ that scripture) but not quite understood till the fullness of it had come. So it is with us…of the many things written, and of which we too have read (and perhaps hold, even dearly)…that when seen as very present before our eyes in unmistakable light…we too are astounded.
When Peter spoke of Paul’s words often described as ‘hard to understand’ he was leaving that room that not all is either easily grasped or available immediately to all. Paul did indeed speak ‘very much ahead’ of things, lining a path with light(s) but also in such manner that not all was immediately lit to the disciple. He understood the benefit of such appearing as even prophesy, knowing that in many things he would not be understood…but nevertheless given to endorsing such form of sight in writing “seek that you might prophesy”. It would not matter at its lack of general reception…if it is the Lord He will confirm His word.
Now, I know our views are so often influenced in matters of biases of which we are not even aware. Paul’s letters come to us in great leather bound volumes, handed down over a great length of time as sure…so that we easily think that, and no doubt, in ‘his day’ everyone would have been flocking to him, his ‘cred’ beyond reproach, and so on. But his own words tell a different story.
“If I be not an apostle to others…” he wrote, for obviously something was being called into question for which he was constrained to write for establishment “yet doubtless I am to you…”
No less is he pressed to write Timothy:
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
A man only protests his honesty when a question of it, or his legitimacy, is already about.
And now I am writing this for that some of you who may read…that some of you who may even be experiencing entrance into ministry, or some (even) seeming successes in it, or delights of many things being manifest before your eyes as promised and that must never lose their wonder. Even a ‘grand acceptance’ or endorsement of colleagues and brethren in some recognition of your calling. You may even much like “amens”. Or, ‘not like’ rebuff.
But, for those who already know, you know. God is showing you things that are even in some ways ‘hard’ for you to accept, and would likewise be almost laughable (or you would think so) to ‘the many’ at large. Things perhaps of which you may even find it ‘not lawful to utter’.
I make no claim for myself. Yet, I am persuaded some have gone…and are even ‘going there’ as this is written. And some of you may be so locked up to Him as to seem to have no notable earthly presence, nor influence…at all. I will not tell you have valuable your prayers are, their weight is already measured in a blood far too precious to be calculated.
Yes…God can so set free a man to be locked up to Him…and without a care as to being understood to his own satisfaction ‘among men’. And deliverance and salvation take on a much different hue than once observed or understood, but which is as real and true, and more so, than previously able to experience or describe. And part of the wonderful matter of it all is that you may not even know, or care, who you are, at all.
But what you know, you know.
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