By Eddie Smith
Kingdom assignments move us toward Kingdom purpose and ultimately to complete our Kingdom potential.
I was reared in a pastor’s home. As a preacher’s kid, adults would often ask, “Are you going to be a preacher like your dad?” In my natural struggle to discover my own identity as an individual, rather than as my parent’s child, I would always answer, “no.” I was going to be a commercial artist.
The day I registered for college, I heard about a full music scholarship being offered. I had intended to study art, but decided that I could study music and add on the art classes. As a result, I auditioned and I was given a full music scholarship. As a musician in a Christian college all the “preacher boys” wanted me to assist them with their revivals and crusades. So, I faithfully took the assignments as they came. Clearly, I had not escaped life in the ministry.
After a year and one-half in college I joined the U.S. Navy. After testing, they determined that I was perfectly suited for the job—chaplain’s assistant. So, during a three-year period I found myself working for approximately 150 Navy chaplains of various denominations. I set up for their worship services, scheduled their counseling appointments, and assisted them in their ministries. I had still to escape ministry life.
After an honorable discharge from the Navy, I went back to college and from there took assignments directing local church music. From there I moved into nightlife street evangelism on Sunset Strip, Christian coffeehouse ministry in Houston, and eventually itinerant music evangelism. You guessed it. I was still living the life of a minister. I served as an executive director for three crusade evangelists, setting up their stadium crusades and training their altar workers. After sixteen years in evangelism and 14 years in local church ministry—part of that time as senior pastor, Alice and I began our current ministry 1993. I've yet to discover “the exit” from Christian ministry.
As I look back over my life, to this point, I can see how Kingdom assignments God's given me form a beautiful mosaic in my life. Individually they may say little. However, woven together, they form a tapestry and a pattern that is a clue to my Kingdom purpose.
From the beginning God has purposed that I would experience ministry on many levels to equip me to minister to leaders of various denominations and nationalities.
Kingdom Potential
Your Kingdom potential is the highest value Christ can achieve through your surrendered life. It is the Spirit’s greatest accomplishment through your personality, your sense of humor, your soul (mind, will, and emotion), and your physical body. Your Kingdom potential is ultimately the primary reason you're here.
Most Christians know they're to receive the Holy Spirit. But like a forgetful person who walks into a room and says, "Now what did I come in here for?" They don't know what they're supposed to do or how they're to do it.
Friend, God is not some ethereal vapor. He's a lovely, thoughtful person with intention. Every thought God thinks and every action He takes is in concert with His divine eternal purposes. His activity is specific. He's as intentional regarding a single cell of your body, as He is the occupation you pursue. Scripture records that He's counted every hair on your head. At the time of the teaching, a human hair was the smallest known quantity relating to human existence! If Jesus were teaching that today he might say that God has numbered the atoms that make up your body. (I don't know what's smaller. And don't e-mail me. I don't want to know.
Two-thirds of God's revelation to us of Himself is as an intercessor. The Holy Spirit is an intercessor according to Romans 8, and the Son is an intercessor according to Hebrews 7. Two-thirds of Jesus' earthly life was spent in intercession. God “is into” intercession. Our unlimited God chooses to limit His activity to partner with praying people. We could say that a person or a church must become a house of prayer to fully partner with God and reach its Kingdom potential.
One of the greatest joys Alice and I’ve experienced has been on Christmas mornings. In the late fall, when our children were young, we’d begin listening extra closely to them. We’d their responses to television ads, store displays, and toy catalogs. Why? We hoped we’d discover what they wanted for Christmas.
Soon the day would come when Alice and I would compare notes. Each would share with the other what we felt our kids wanted, what would be good for them to receive, and what we can actually afford. It was always a special feeling when these three things coincided.
Over the next few weeks we’d locate the items, shop for the best prices, make the purchases, and then came the hardest part. Where would we hide the gifts? Once that was settled, we’d wait expectantly for Christmas morning—or, as was the custom in Alice's family, Christmas Eve.
That evening, after a huge celebratory meal, one of the adults would distract the kids while the rest of us placed the previously hidden toys around the tree. Then, when everything was ready and the stage was set, we would call everyone together in the living room where we’d sing Christmas carols, read the Christmas story once again to remind ourselves what Christmas was really about, pray and exchange gifts.
What fun it was to watch the faces of our children (and now our grandchildren) as they opened those colorful packages which contained their hoped for toys. The look of delight in their eyes was all the “thanks” we ever really needed.
Your heavenly Father takes special delight in the surprised look in your eyes when good things come, things that you’ve longed for and for which you’ve earnestly prayed.
At this point in human history, we should listen more closely than ever to the Father to hear what He says in His Word and in our hearts. We should take note of what He really desires to do. We should ask Him to reveal His purposes to us so we can be His effective Kingdom partners.
Moses did that. The Psalmist said, “He (God) made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.” The Children of Israel knew God’s deeds (what God did). But Moses knew God’s ways (why God did it). Why do you suppose this was the case? Was Moses simply smarter than the others? Was it because he was “a minister” and they weren’t? No, that’s not it at all. Moses knew God’s ways because He sought to please God, and he asked to know God’s ways. In Exodus 33:13 Moses prayed, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you…” And the Lord answered Him in the next verse saying, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And although God spoke to others in riddles, He spoke to Moses face-to-face. So says, Numbers 12:7-8. If you know the ways of God you can rest, even in the midst of tribulation!
Scripture records, “God testified concerning him, ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’” (Acts 13:22). David also knew the ways of God. Why? Was it because he was a nationally known giant-killer or a king? No. Was it because he was a talented “Israel’s Got Talent” harpist? No. It was because he knew, moment to moment, what was on God’s heart.
David knew God’s ways for the same reason Moses did. Psalm 25:4 records David’s prayer, “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths.” Pray the Jabez prayer? Sure. Go for it. But you might also consider praying the Moses prayer, and the David prayer, “Lord, show me your ways!”
We can only pray Kingdom prayers, prayers that are prayed with understanding as God gives us Kingdom understanding! And as God’s appointed day nears, so will our excitement and His.
Like any good parent, God loves giving His children what they truly want. Perhaps we should pray,
“Lord, make me to want, only what you want. Cause me to see only what you see, and feel only what you feel in every matter, with every person, and concerning every situation for which I am called to pray. May my heart be so in tune with yours that the very prayers that I pray will have originated in heaven.”
The Kingdom was central to Jesus’ teachings. He said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” So we should also interpret our earthly existence and experiences in the light of the Kingdom.
Our challenge begins with understanding what achievement really means. If we define achievement in terms of health, wealth, fame, and earthly success (you know, things that moths, rust, and thieves can ruin), then we limit what God can do through us. Truth is, God can give us surpassing Kingdom achievement without any of those things.
An example would be a poor widow with a young son. The widow worked long hours cleaning houses to feed her family. She attended church regularly, but never served on a committee, held a position of leadership, or made a visible difference in the life of the church. What did God think of her achievement?
After her husband died, in her grief she prayed and asked the Lord how she should live her Christian life. She told Him she couldn’t devote many hours to volunteer ministry service, though she wanted to. She could provide large financial gifts to her church. God told her that her primary responsibility was to raise her young son to love and obey Him. She did this with all her heart. She devoted every available minute to this one task.
Her son grew to become a famous evangelist who led thousands of people to the Lord. What did God think of her achievement? The now elderly widow prayed, obeyed and trusted God with the results.
What does God think of your achievements? What does He ask of you? The lady in this story began with an understanding what she could not do, but ended understanding what she could do—reach her Kingdom potential, and prepare her son to reach his!
ABOUT EDDIE SMITH,
Eddie, along with his wife Alice, are intercessors. You can visit their website at
http://www.eddieandalice.com/
Eddie and Alice offer a F-R-E-E-E-E 52-week school of prayer at: http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1024616944&msgid=31025419&act=X4L6&c=82062&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.TeachMeToPray.com
My comments.
Who has impacted your life?
Whose life or lives have you impacted?
I would like to hear how you answer these two questions, and I would like to publish them in connection with this article as an encouragement to others. If you do not want your name published, I can use your initials or first name.
I am going to wait a few days before publishing the responses to give everyone an opportunity to respond, and then I will publish them all at one time.
Send your input to ephesians4teacher@hotmail.com
