MISSION UNIQUENESS

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

1 Corinthians 9:22

“As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.”

John 20:21

“Go ye therefore, and teach [disciple] all nations.”

Matthew 28:19

Continuing my thoughts from the previous blog on Creative Unigueness, I want to connect the “so that” and look at “by all means.”  Just as I am uniquely made with design and purpose, so I am spiritually unique.

Oswald Chambers says on the subject of being useful to God:  “All God’s men are ordinary men made extraordinary by the matter He has given them.  Unless we have the right matter in our minds intellectually and in our hearts affectionately, we will be hustled out of usefulness to God…it is the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God’s wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God.”

Jesus said that “we would receive power, after the Holy Spirit comes upon us; and we will be witnesses” unto Him on mission wherever we go in the world. (Acts 1:8)  We are given more specific details on the “You-niqueness” of how we will be empowered (gifted; equipped; have the means) in 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12 and Ephesians 4.  We learn that The Holy Spirit empowers us with abilities that are fitted to our created design and purpose.  These are not natural abilities, but supernatural abilities that can only be done in the power of God.  This gift is not for selfish means.  They are to be administered in the Love of God.  They are for building up, strengthening and encouraging other Believers; and for demonstrating God’s Love to unbelievers.  Believers are referred to as The Body of Christ; likewise, each Believer is a Body part with Jesus as The Head.   Our gift will fit our body part; i.e. a mouth will be a teacher or preacher with the gift to deliver the Word.  Shoulder – administration that calculates details of how to deliver the Word..  Hands – Workers that put the Word into action.  Feet – Leaders that give direction on where to take the Word.  Knees – Prayers that make intercession on behalf of the whole Body to be in oneness of the Word.  I think you get the picture. 

Just as the body needs each body part to function effectively, each body part has a specific function and needs all the other parts to be efficient.  I need you and your section gifts and you need me and my special gifts.  We all must continually seek the Head (Jesus) to know how to co-ordinate and work together.

One thing that we are ALL to do is to be a Witness unto Jesus and His saving grace.  That is to tell how we met Him, believed and was changed by Him.  We can ONLY do this by knowing His Word and telling what we know about it by the power of The Holy Spirit who knows the hearts of all men.  We do it because it is His unique plan to tell the whole world that they are redeemed from the penalty of their sin.  Jesus has paid the debt.  He uses our “You-niqueness” as a tool to attract to Him.  He knows who needs to hear my story.  They are waiting; will you go… The Spirit of God is with you!

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some…as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you…go ye therefore, and teach [disciple] all nations.”

How marvelously made we are!  We are, each one, a one of a kind, “You-nique” and the only one who can be me and do what I am made to do in the power of The Word and The Spirit of God…for His glory; and so that the world, that doesn't know Him, might believe.

     Lord, this seems to be an impossible task – to be sent as Jesus was sent!  He came to shed His blood to redeem the world from sin!  I hear You, Lord…You have given me the same Holy Spirit and power as You did Jesus, to tell the world they are redeemed!

     Lord, help me to believe that “all power lives within me” and You will teach me and bring to my memory so that I can teach others wherever I am.  Thank You for 20+ years of learning and teaching Your Word verse by verse.  I should have sufficient for You to work with. 

     Love is the motive.  You Love us so that we can Love them so that they can know Your redemptive Love so that we can all Love You and live with You forever! Amen…

~Betty Nunes

CREATIVE UNIQUENESS

“I am made all things to all men,

that I might by all means save some.”

1 Corinthians 9:22

“I am made”…indicates to me that there is design and purpose in my being.  My ego and intellect curiously wants to know more specifics!  Normally when we want to know more about any subject, we look for information from those who are experienced and knowledgeable on the subject; either in person or from written accounts.  Is that not true?

So, where does one go to find out how and why they were made?  I know that this brings up numerous thoughts of simple and complex reasoning.  If I remain simple; such as I am, I would begin with the obvious.  I was made by my parents.  When I ask them about how and why I was made, they will either give me a biological explanation or a heart-warming affectionate story.  Neither of these will truly satisfy but bring up more questions because they don’t give specifics about me personally.  My parents didn’t create me, they birthed me.  Their love or affectionate desire for a child didn’t create me, it desired me.  (I realize that not all people are birthed because they were desired and wanted…just bear with me.)  My “simple” mind asks:  If I’m created from my parents, where did they come from?  If I’m created from a desire of the heart, where did it come from?  I want specifics!

I know that you have probably run ahead of my thinking and established that the answer will be either one from the view of Evolution or Creationism.  My simple mine, once again, is what I have to function with.  In my search of finding experienced and knowledgeable on the subject of creation is that evolution has not produced anyone who can explain by experience the process of being created without using already pre-existing matter.  I found that the intelligence of these who believe that we were created by chance really aren’t intelligent at all.  I could probably make them go mad with my simple reasoning.  A child wouldn’t accept circular reasoning; and the intelligent minds of evolution have written volumes on the ridiculous to only prove how dumb they really are; and only proves that their theory requires more faith than the opposing view!

On the other side of reasoning, I find experienced and knowledgeable people who have proven with detailed masses of intelligent information how intricately and purposely designed all of creation is.  Only a Perfect Creator could design and produce such perfect creations…from NOTHING but His imagination.  He has given His record to us in His Book, The Holy Bible.  The Bible has been proven to have no errors!  The facts that are given in The Bible have been experienced by knowledgeable people from the beginning of Creation.  The Bible has been preserved throughout thousands of years because the truths contained in it are Eternal.  The Creator GOD became personally involved with His creation so that we could have relationship with Him and experience all the marvel of His creative purpose. 

I have learned from the intelligence of science, that I am a Miracle that cannot be explained except by faith; I am Priceless because there is NOTHING or NO ONE who can make another of me the way I was made; I am a Perfect Masterpiece of a Perfect Master Creator.  My Creator has etched His personal identifying signature in my newly discovered DNA and my original fingerprints.  These identify my “YOU-niqueness” to all the intelligent world.

More specifics on how and why I was made, is that “I” have experienced the reality of my Creator GOD by His Holy Spirit living within me and causing me to behave just like HIM!  I KNOW that The Bible is true because every word of it has been proven in MY life.  My Faith is built on the reality of what I experience daily that can’t be explained any other way than by Perfect Design.

I cannot stop here because the Best part of Who I am comes from The Reality of GOD coming to Earth and demonstrating His Love by taking on flesh for the sole purpose of shedding His perfect blood to redeem sinful mankind from the bondage and penalty of choosing to disbelieve.  By my faith in Him, His Spirit now lives in me so that I can have the power to overcome sin and tell the world that still disbelieves that they are REDEEMED!

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

1 Corinthians 9:22

Lord, thank You for Your design – each one is unique in creation and “You-nique” in service and mission; and in mind and heart.  We are “You-nique” in purpose and relationship with You.  May I choose daily to be Your partner in the life You have planned for me…so that I may bring some to You.  I want to be Your woman in all things, to all people, using all the unique means (matter) You have blessed me to be ME!  Amen.

WALKING WITH GOD

“Enoch walked with God…”

Genesis 5:24

My interpretation of this could be summed up simply.  Enoch had a close intimate relationship with God – a real personal Love Relationship.  He was at leisure with God.  It appears that God was his only interest and delight.  I sense that when they walked, they never hurried.  I also think that they had a lot to talk about; and I also think they spent much time when they said nothing, just enjoyed each other’s presence. 

Part Two of my impression of Enoch walking with God is that it was his lifestyle!  He didn’t just have times of walking with God, I think he started His day talking with God about His Plans for where they were going to walk and what they were going to do along the way!  I think they were such partners that Enoch knew how to keep stride with God, letting Him set the pace for when to hasten redeeming the time and when to slow down or linger for fun and fellowship interacting with others along the way; or stopping to feast on the beauty of God’s Creations.

I think in God’s Promise of being with us always that He walks at our pace with us until we learn to walk with Him at His pace! 

Conclusion:  I think, one day when Enoch and God were walking that God said to him, “Instead of us going to your house tonight, why don’t we just go to Mine and spend all Eternity together?”  I think God totally delighted in Enoch wanting to walk with Him!

Thank You, Lord for walking with me

and setting the pace.

As I walk daily with You,

I delight in learning to Love You

like Enoch did.

I know I will get more in stride with You

as I spend more time with You

 so that I can walk with You at Your pace,

 giving my very best ~ like a second wind

when you think you can run forever.

I want to delight You and feel Your pleasure.

 “Enoch walked with God…and he was no more.”  He went with God home!

OBEY WHAT YOU KNOW

“I thank Thee, O Father…because Thou hast hid these things

from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

Matthew 11:25

Babies are very smart.  They learn very quickly about love, trust, and obedience.  They are selfish, demanding and innocent.  They are shaped and molded by their surroundings, what they see and hear.  It will remain with them the rest of their lives!  This is why it is so important to introduce them to Love because Love teaches them to be unselfish, trusting and obedient. 

Babies do exactly what they are taught; and the first thing they probably learn is obedience.  It comes by way of learning what is acceptable behavior and what is not.  Whether the teaching is done in Love or not determines whether the obedience will be out of delight or duty!

Matthew in God’s Word says that God reveals Who He is, His ways and His purposes to babies; not to the wise and prudent.  Is it not obvious why?  Think about it…

Help me, Lord, to see the truth about being wise and prudent.

I have been in Your Word for over fifty years

and teaching it for thirty.

I know a lot,

which makes me accountable

to a lot of obedience.

You have blessed me greatly

with wisdom and revelation of Your Word,

Please protect me from spiritual pride

and keep me simple and obedient,

bringing us both delight.

Amen.