Limiting God?

Saints, 

Can we limit God?

Mark 6:4-6 (NIV)
⁴ Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
⁶ And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

I realize to even ask this question is venturing out into deep theological waters. Even so, let’s consider this question today. I realize that many of you have worked through questions like this and have solid convictions—I am not trying to change your convictions. Today, we are merely looking a level of living which we can all agree on regardless of our denominational or theological bent. I want to speak to our daily moment by moment world in which we gravitate toward one outlook or another. What are these two attitudes or orientations?

For our discussion let’s agree that as Christ-followers we can have two different attitudes about life. Obviously, this is an oversimplification, but it helps to consider this question of limiting God.

Let’s start with an assumption to ensure we are all on the same page. Let’s assume that as Christ-followers our purpose is to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. You may be thinking, “Well obviously, yes, that is our purpose.” Just to clarify, then, let’s articulate what is not our purpose. Our purpose, then as Christ-followers is not to have a good marriage. Our purpose is not to be healthy. It is not even to be spiritually healthy. It is not to attend church. Our purpose is not to have a good family.

You may be thinking, “These are very important things.” Yes, I agree. But they are less important than our purpose as Christ-followers, which is to reach people with the gospel. If we are not careful, we can mix these up.

Let’s pause right here. If you are stuck here--if you can’t get your mind around this, then please stop reading right now and pray. Father, I ask that you would grant grace to every Christ-follower to allow You to clarify what Your gospel is and what Your gospel is not. Lord, please help us here, we are easily distracted. We can be a lot like sheep, just like Jesus said. Amen.

One attitude: We have a black and white outlook on life; we clearly see what will burn and what will last eternally. We see this eternal difference more clearly than the stuff we see with our physical eyes. Our thought life is consumed with reaching people with the gospel, whether we are used by God to bring someone one inch closer to knowing Christ or whether God uses us to bring someone to the feet of Jesus. We are convinced our thoughts, prayers, words, and actions have eternal value. Jesus died for me so that I can share His life changing love with others. Our lives are driven for the purpose that God will use us to build His kingdom no matter the cost to us.

Second attitude: We see life in one way. We can’t expect too much, just too make it through life and hopefully help a few souls to consider God. What will be, will be—my lot in life is to just accept that. I can’t really have much impact on this lost world. Thankfully, Jesus died so that I can go to heaven.

I believe that at times we think that following Christ is like a beehive. You have your queen bee and your worker bees. The queen bee is like the pastor. The worker bee is the normal Christian in the pews. The job of the worker bee is to work and provide for the hive so that the hive flourishes and the queen bee has enough. This can be a picture of the church. I disagree with this inward-focused model. This is what man has made out of God’s design. The church is not so much an institution—it is an organism--designed and empowered by God to powerfully impact the world.

The question is, “Is the church being used to powerfully impact the world or not?” (Obviously, the answer is both yes and no, depending on where you focus on the church) If not, why not? Is God tired? Is God out of power? No, we have lost our first love—Jesus Christ. We want other things. We have wavered from a powerful God-centered faith which caused Hudson Taylor to spend his life in Asia powerfully witnessing to hundreds. This same God-centered faith drove Stephen to preach powerfully which led to his murder. Stephen’s murder caused the church to scatter—the gospel to spread. In short, we really don’t fully believe God’s Word. Remember our scripture passage from Mark. What amazed Jesus? Their lack of faith amazed Jesus. Jesus was not amazed at their lack of knowledge—He was amazed at their lack of faith. We can be just like the folks Jesus encountered in chapter six of the Gospel of Mark. We may know much, but we believe little. Remember the father, who exclaimed to Jesus,

Mark 9:24 (NIV)
²⁴ Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Let me ask, which of the two attitudes rings true for you? Maybe you are somewhere in the middle? The Bible is clear. The only option is the first option for a true Christ-follower! We do not live for the here and now, we live for eternity. It has been said that the men and women who have the most impact on this world are the men and women who live for the next world.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Yes, brothers and sisters we can limit how God uses us. When we don’t think truth, we limit how God uses us. When we don’t pray, we limit how God uses us. When we don’t see the purpose of our lives is to reach the world for Christ, we limit how God uses us—its lack of faith.

So what do we do? We love God more than anything or anyone else! We read, meditate, believe, and live God’s Word. We pray--not just requests for our comfortable lives. No, we pray Bible-based, Spirit-led, kingdom-focused prayers which are immersed in faith.

Are we being the church?

Father, forgive us for what we have made your church—something other than what you designed. Please help us to truly be your hands and your feet, Please give us eyes to see as Jesus does. Please give us Your heart to have compassion on the multitudes. Lord, teach us to pray! Compel us to pray and be Your witnesses. Help us adjust our lives so that we can truly say our life purpose is to share Jesus with the world.

Compelled to pray and desperate for God, Steve