Author: Richard Spann

Our security is dependent upon God’s grip on us,

not our grip on Him.

     We were created to walk in fellowship with God and enjoy His presence.  In that knowledge of Him we are told in Hosea 6:3, “So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.  He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.” (NASB)  In this verse we are assured of the certainty and the abundance of His provision as we walk with Him.  Each day is a delight as we relish in His presence with us and in His provision for us.  Not every day, however, do we find that we are conscious of His nearness and direction for us.  The psalmist David many times cries out seeking the nearness of God and lamenting that the Lord seemed far off.  The prophet Habakkuk likewise had serious doubts about the provisions that God was giving to him and to his country.  If we are honest, it seems like many days are spent wondering just where God is in relation to us and when He is going to act on our behalf.  It is in those times that we may lose our grip on God.  Some of these times just seem to come with no reason and we must conclude that those days are sent to accomplish what our Lord has designed for us as described in I Peter 1:5-7.

“Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the

salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly

rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief

in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith-of greater worth

than gold, which perishes though refined by fire, may be proved genuine

and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Other days may come to us as they did Asaph, who was troubled when His gaze shifted from the Lord to others, to circumstances, and to himself.  He related in Psalm 73 how a consideration of each of these led to a loosening of his grip on God which he describes as “my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (vs 2)  His grip failed because his eyes were directed to others, “I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked,” (vs 3), to circumstances, “This what the wicked are like-always carefree, they increase in wealth,” (vs 12), and in himself.  “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.” (vs13)  We can sense the lack of grip that Asaph had on God as he relates the despair, the disillusionment, and the discouragement that he felt, leading to his statement in vs 21-22.  “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.”  This was his low point, when he had no more strength or ability to grasp the hand of God.  It is at this precise moment that the Lord steps in and reveals the truth of His presence and provision for Asaph in the next verse.  Asaph records this revelation as follows in vs 23-24.

“Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right hand.

you guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

It is at this point that Asaph realized that his security was not dependent upon his grip on God; it was dependent upon God’s grip on Him!

When our oldest granddaughter was still quite small we would take her and her family to a theme park in Branson, Missouri.  As we walked together around the crowded park, she would become distracted at times and forget to hold my hand.  At other times she would want to exercise a degree of independence and walk on her own without holding anyone’s hand.  I soon realized that the only way to keep her safe was for me to grasp the hood of her jacket.  She was totally unaware of my firm grasp on the coat she was wearing.  She felt free to come and go as she would choose, but always with my presence and protection.  The Lord desires us to be assured that His grip on us is infinitely more certain than the grip I had on my granddaughter!  What he reveals about Himself to Asaph is what he desires us to know as well.  His presence was revealed to Asaph by the words “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”  He expresses his assurance in God’s provision with the words “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

How is your grip on God?  Is it at times like that of Asaph?  Then we need to remember the word “Yet” in verse 23.  Yet He is always with us and holds us by our right hand.  His grip is secure and He will never let us out of the grasp of His infinite love, His perfect knowledge and His absolute control.  With His firm and loving hand holding us by our right hand we are reminded that He will guide us with His counsel, and afterward will take us into His glory.  Our consciousness of His presence and of His provision is not essential.  Our todays and tomorrows are secure and determined by His grip on us, not by our grip on Him.

In Christ,

Richard Spann

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will
glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?
Is it not you?  Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

I Thessalonians 2:19-20

     Recently my wife and I attended a wedding which was similar to all other weddings but singularly different in one respect.  The music was superb, the attendants did their duties properly, the pastor’s comments were appropriately done and the couple themselves did a commendable job with their vows and greeting of guests.  Everyone gathered for the wedding supper and one by one they took their places at the banquet hall.  The flowers, the lighting, the tables of food were all ready for the bride and groom to appear.  And appear they did, to the shouts and congratulations of everyone.  They took their seats at the usual elevated table with the attendants, and the wedding feast was about to begin.  At this point the father of the bride stood up to ask the blessing.  But before the blessing was given, he paused a moment and then did something we had never seen at any previous wedding.  He related that the wedding was made possible to a significant degree by the efforts, time and prayers for the preceding five years which had produced spiritual fruit in preparation for the wedding.   As he asked them to stand and be recognized by all the guests, a couple sitting off to the side of the crowd slowly arose.  With joy the father continued recounting his thankfulness for all they had done to make this marriage possible.

On our way home from the wedding, my wife remarked that it reminded her of a wedding that will take place in the future.  It will be one of the most grand events in all eternity, the presentation of the bride of Christ (The Church) to the groom. (Christ) It has been called the marriage supper of the Lamb and its account is found in Revelation 19:7-9.  “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)  Then the angel said to me, “Write;  ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!‘ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’”   This wedding supper will be like none other we have ever attended.  Will it be located on the crystal sea, as described in Revelation, with 10,000 times 10,000 angels in attendance?  Will the Heavenly Father be seated on his throne of sapphire, resembling jasper and carnelian, with the radiance of His Glory resembling an emerald?  Will He, in unspeakable Glory, condescend to leave the throne and begin to tell us of His joy in the presence of the bride and then to proceed to make introductions of all those who have chosen to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him with His work in the lives of individuals?  Will He, one by one, call out the names of those people and explain what they have done; from great to small, from known to unknown, to those faithful with small things to those faithful with great things, those who went forth and preached and those who stayed and prayed, bringing to the remembrance of all the culmination of His words in I Corinthians 15:58.  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (KJV)  There will be much rejoicing at the wedding supper of the Lamb.  This side of eternity, however, we are given a window of time in which to prepare for that celebration.  The choice is ours as to the degree in which we desire to participate in the celebration of the joy of our Heavenly Father as He welcomes the bride at the wedding supper.

The Apostle Paul’s purpose in life is stated in Colossians 1:28-29.  “So naturally we proclaim Christ.  We warn everyone we meet, we teach everyone we can all that we know about Him, so that if possible we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ.  And this is what I am working at all the time with all the strength that God gives me.” (Phillips Version)  In I Thessalonians 2:19-20, Paul proclaims that others are his hope, his joy, his glory, and his crown.  Is our hope the same?  Or does our hope fasten on things of the world?  Does our joy come from seeing others mature in faith?, Or does it fluctuate depending on temporal issues?  Is the glory we seek that which comes from the world, or is it that which our Heavenly Father shares with us in the day of His celebration.  Are we living for a crown from men, or are we investing our lives with others in such a way that their appearance in Christ’s presence as part of His church will be our crown?  May His Spirit so direct our lives in such a way that we can say with Paul in the Lord’s presence that the bride of Christ has been our hope, our joy, our crown, and our glory.

In Christ, Richard Spann

Not that I have already obtained all this,

or have already been made perfect,

Philippians 3:12

Many are satisfied with their progress in the Christian faith.  They attend church regularly, and perhaps even participate in a Sunday School class.  They may tithe regularly, take part in Bible studies, and serve on church boards.  They are well respected in the community as well as in Christian circles.  Within their families and occupations they may also have respect and honor.  Some may also have a consistent walk with Christ in their daily lives, with a regular quiet time characterized by scripture intake and prayer.  They may have memorized scripture faithfully, shared the gospel with others, and been involved in discipling others.  Have these people reached their goal in Christian life?  Have they, so to speak, arrived?  There is a tendency to plateau and to be satisfied with a certain level of attainment in the spiritual realm.  The Apostle Paul, however, despite all that he had accomplished and to which was committed, recognized that he had not yet obtained, and was not already made perfect.

In the athletic world we do not find complacency.  No one says, “I am as good as I can be.”  They all strive for improvement, even in a sport in which they will participate for only a few years.  They have a daily commitment to physical exercise, training and conditioning.  They do not accept mediocrity, or merely being able to “get by” in their sport.  Any imperfection is rigorously addressed with regard to its removal.

Three months ago, I had an accident with a mountain bike while in Colorado.  Some of the injuries included trauma to the right wrist and hand.  A tendon in the small finger was ruptured by a stone which penetrated the middle joint of the finger.  Surgery was required and I was required to wear a splint for four weeks until the tendon was healed.  In the last two months, two hours a day have been spent in finger, hand and wrist therapy.  Gradually, the two joints of the little finger have become more flexible.  In my visits to the orthopedic surgeon and the hand therapist, they have told me that the finger will stop improving and become fixed at whatever point I stop the therapy.  Initially, I started with only 18 degrees of flexion of the joint tip of the finger, compared to over 90 degrees in a normal finger.  It has now improved to 44 degrees, and I have recovered about 80% of the function of the hand and finger.  There is still functional disability, however; and I am left with a weak grip in the right hand.  The therapy continues to be time consuming, involves some discomfort, and there is discouragement with either slow progress or what I see at times as lack of progress.  If I choose to stop the treatments, however, I will be left with permanent disability.

Do our attempts to progress in the spiritual realm seem arduous at times?  Do we regard it as too time consuming?  Does it involve discomfort?  Are we discouraged with a seeming lack of progress?  To the measure that these decrease our commitment to pursue growth in the spiritual realm we are left with some degree of spiritual disability and a weakened spiritual grip on all that we possess in Christ.

Paul’s goal for the body of Christ is stated in Ephesians 4:13.  “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  His response to his recognition of not having already obtained and the lack of perfection in his own life was clearly stated in verse 14 of Philippians 3.  “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  To press indicates the presence of opposition and resistance.  We will experience opposition rendered by discouragement over seeming lack of progress, by discomfort, and by the demands on our time.  Our goal, however, is the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.  It is my prayer for you that you let nothing hinder your progress toward that prize.

In Christ,
Richard Spann

 

Live life in such a way to leave a mark, not a blur.

Lorne Sanny

Webster’s dictionary defines a blur as follows.  “To obscure, soil, or blemish by smearing; to smudge, to make dim or indistinct to the sight.  A smear or stain which obscures without effacing.”  It is something which cannot be depended upon to give information or guidance.  It blends in with the background.  It is something which is passed over without thought as we look to something of substance to give direction to our thoughts or lives.  A mark, on the other hand, is defined as a “thing aimed at; a target; a goal.  It is also defined as a limit or standard of action or fact, and as a conspicuous object of known position serving as an object for travelers.”

In the New Testament, we have two examples of fellow workers in the Kingdom of Christ, one of whom left a mark, and the other a blur.  They were laboring together for a number of years, but they departed ways based on the choices that each one made.  The choice of one of these was chronicled in Galatians 6:14.  “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”  The life of the Apostle Paul left a mark.  His life has been for many a “thing aimed at, a target, and a goal.”  His life was conspicuous, serving as an object for other travelers of the Christian faith.  The other choice is noted in II Timothy 4:10.  “For Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.”  The life of Demas blended in the background of his day; it was “dim and indistinct to the sight.”  It could not be depended upon to give information or guidance.  He chose to live for self rather than to live for the Lord.  His choice echoed the same sentiment found in Peter’s rebuke of the Lord.  A.B. Bruce makes these comments regarding Simon’s advice to the Lord in “The Training of the Twelve.”   “That advice was substantially this:  ‘Save thyself at any rate; sacrifice duty to self-interest, the cause of God to personal convenience.‘  For the whole aim of Satanic policy is to get self-interest recognized as the chief end of man.”  Self interest always leaves a blur, not a mark.

We are far removed from the days of Paul and Demas, but Paul has left several words for us by which we may judge whether our lives are lived by the principle of Galatians 6:14.  These words are affections, ambition, and attitude.  The first of these is mentioned in Colossians 3:1-2.  “If ye then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Affections refer to a “bent of mind, natural impulse swaying the mind, or disposition.” (Webster’s)  Does our disposition lead us to daily seek those things which are above?  Do things above determine our bent of mind and sway the mind?  To the extent that we experience the affections described in these verses, our lives become a mark, not a blur.

Paul describes his ambition in Romans 15:20.  “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.”  Is our ambition in this life only to succeed in business, or does it also include a passion for the furtherance of the Kingdom of Christ?  Do we have an ambition to see others come to the knowledge of Christ?  Do we have an ambition to see others discipled and become a part of his Church?  To the measure in which these are a part of our lives, our lives are a mark, not a blur.

Finally, Paul also describes the attitude which is needed in our lives that characterizes his choice in Galatians 6:14.  It is found in Philippians 2:5-8.  “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!”   To the degree to which this is our attitude is the degree to which our lives are a mark instead of a blur.

A speaker at one of our Navigator conferences once stated that we live our lives in either Philippians 1:21 or in Philippians 2:21.   To live our lives in Philippians 2:21, “For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ,” is to make a blur.  To live our lives in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” is to make a mark.  As your lives are lived out in Philippians 1:21, my prayer for you is found in II Thessalonians 2:16-17.  “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

In Christ, Richard Spann

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

     It had been a long day.  We saddled up early in the morning and took the horses up above timberline to a remote Colorado Lake.  The three of us fished, and spent most of the day near the summit of the mountains in the region.  In the late afternoon a sudden thunderstorm accompanied by lightning, hail and drenching rain descended upon our camp.  The horses spooked and it took quite a while to get them calmed down.  About one hour later, having been drenched and pummeled by the hail, we made our way down the slippery trail to base camp at 9,000 feet from above 13,000 feet.  The footing was tenuous for the horses and we were often in fear of falling off the ledge.  When we finally reached a plateau some several thousand yards from the corral, my horse bolted for the barn and I was fortunate to hang on, but was hit by a number of branches of the trees in the path the horse had chosen.  When I staggered from the horse at the corral, I mentioned a complaint about the weather to the wrangler.  He calmly took care of the horse while I wobbled to a nearby fence.  His only comment to me was “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  My immediate thought was “You take this horse for a ride in this hail and let me see you rejoice in this day!”

The definition of a day in which we typically would rejoice is found in a song which is  in the movie entitled Oklahoma.  It goes like this.  “Oh, what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day.  I’ve got a wonderful feeling.  Everything’s going my way.”  Or, like the one Uncle Remus tells us about in Songs of the South.  “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a- dee-day, my, oh my, what a wonderful day.  Plenty of sunshine heading my way.  With a bluebird on my shoulder, everything is satisfactual.  Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-day.” This is the type of day in which it would be natural to rejoice.  In the scriptures, however, we find rejoicing under different circumstances than these.  We read in Acts 5:41 that “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”  In I Thessalonians we are admonished to “rejoice evermore.” (KJV)  In Philippians 4:4, we see that we are to  “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!”

The above account of the Colorado adventure was the first time to my knowledge that I was aware of this verse in Psalm 118.  Although familiar with it, I had not thought a great deal about it until earlier this year when I awoke, saw the sunlight streaming through the window and the first thought that was impressed upon my mind was this verse.  “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Frankly, it was not a day for rejoicing.  The previous four days had been spent in the hospital with recurring abdominal pain, and the loss of one third of my blood volume which had weakened me to the extent that I was not able to get out of the bed and walk.  The previous day, the surgeon that had performed surgery earlier had reported to me that this malignancy was aggressive, had penetrated within a few millimeters of spreading throughout the body from the bladder muscle, and had features which made it hard to treat.  Three times he reported that this was indeed a poor prognosis, and that treatment might not be beneficial.  If it did not make a difference, there was a 22% likelihood that distal spread of the malignancy would occur in the near future.  Yet, the Lord had awakened me with this verse.  I think that the Lord wanted me to know that He was in charge, that He knew each cell of my body, that ultimately He was the one who determines and leads us through each day of our lives, and that I could rejoice in Him, regardless of the outcome of the cancer.

Only recently have I come to realize the context of the verse quoted above.  It is not a verse in isolation, but one which is closely related to the preceding two verses.  Verses 22-24 are as follows.  “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  The day which should cause us to rejoice is the day that our Lord has become the capstone!  As the last Adam, He became a life giving Spirit.  He has taken away all sin, our sin nature, and grants us His very life to live in and through us.  Because of His triumph on that day, He now brings meaning and purpose to every other day.  He charts the path ahead of us, lays His hand of blessing on our heads, and when our way is difficult to our understanding we hear the words given by Him to Asaph in Psalm 73.  “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”   The apostle Paul addresses our difficulties in II Corinthians 4:16-18.  “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

One of our associate pastors retired about eleven years ago and we attended the reception given in his honor.  One of the ladies in our choir sang one of his favorite songs for him, and as she sang I also realized that it was meant for my wife and myself as well.  The previous week, I had been tested and found to have an elevated PSA, and  the results were to be returned the next morning after the pastor’s reception.  We were fearful of the result and knew that the following morning might bring news about a malignancy that we would need to deal with.  As she began her song, I knew immediately that the diagnosis was cancer of the prostate, and I also knew that the Lord was going before us to let us know of His care and presence for the future.  Her song was as follows:

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future, life is worth the living, just because He lives.”

When our Lord became the capstone, our future was changed forever.  Every day is given to us with His infinite love, His perfect knowledge, and His perfect control.  Because He lives, we can face our todays and our tomorrows and by His Grace, learn to rejoice in them.

In Christ, Richard Spann

 

Leadership Development

Christianity is always one generation from extinction.  In Judges 2:10 we read these sobering words:  “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.”  Each generation must supply the succeeding generations with not only disciples and laborers, but also with leaders.  Before our LORD calls each of us home to be with Him, our work is not finished unless we have built and established others in leadership.

Dr. W. Maxfield Garrott, a missionary who served in Japan with the Foreign Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention published a message entitled “How Jesus Trained Leaders,” in the October 1941 Quarterly Theological Journal published by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary .  Included in the article were the following four principles.

1. That a few workers thoroughly trained are more effective than many superficially    trained.  THE PRINCIPLE OF CONCENTRATION.
2. That the essential training for Christian leadership is character training.  THE PRINCIPLE OF PERSONALITY.
3. That the most patent instrument of character training is personal association.  THE PRINCIPLE OF CONTACT.
4. That character training is most thorough and effective when it is carried out under life conditions.  THE PRINCIPLE OF REALITY.

Several years ago I met with a friend for several months looking at what the scriptures had to say regarding passing on leadership to others. We looked primarily at four relationships:  Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, the Lord and Peter, and Paul and Timothy.  From the interactions of Moses with Joshua we discovered twelve examples in their relationship which helped to define Joshua’s development.  In all of these, the four principles as described by Dr. Garrott may be observed.  These twelve are as follows.

• You must travel with them and spend personal time with them.  (Exodus 24:13)
• They must learn to assist you.  (Exodus 33:11)
• Give them responsibilities. (Exodus 17:8-10)  Joshua was sent to battle the Amalekites.

• Give them a vision for who they can become.  (Numbers  13:16)  Moses changed  the name of Hoshea (Salvation) to Jehovah-Hoshea (I AM your Salvation)

• Let them express themselves.  (Numbers 14:6-9)
• Teach them from your responses to life situations.  (Numbers 11:28-30)
• Give them duties they are expected to perform.  (Numbers 32:28)

8)  Wait for the Lord’s confirmation of your selection of leadership.  (Deuteronomy

1:37-38)

• Commission your successor publicly.  (Deuteronomy 31:7)
•   Encourage the leader who is to follow.  (Deuteronomy 3:21)
• Wait for the Lord to commission them.  (Deuteronomy 31:14)
• Lay your hands on them. (Deuteronomy 34:9)  Give them a final prayer of blessing, bestowing words of direction and encouragement.

Leroy Eims, in his book “Disciples are Made, not Born,” relates the importance of selection in those whom we train to be leaders.  He mentions five qualities that are needed in those we select.

• They have organizational ability.
• They can spot and recruit achievers.
• They have fight and drive.
• They have stability.
• They have judgment and creativity.

We are all called to train those who will follow us in leadership in various areas of our lives.  Areas of spiritual leadership are the most essential from an eternal point of view.  It is my prayer that the Lord will give you insight into these four principles, these twelve examples from the life of Moses and Joshua, and these five qualities of potential leaders as you are led by the Lord to develop leaders in your lives.

In Christ,

Richard Spann

 

 

To know Christ in my own life in ever increasing depth

and to make disciples, and develop laborers

AT ALL TIMES, UNDER ANY CONDITIONS,

IN EVERY  PLACE I GO.

The above statement summarizes the commitment of the Kansas navigator team.  There are different seasons of life, and in all of these this objective helps govern the purpose and passion of our lives.  This is not something to put on hold because a career is just getting started, is at its busiest point, or retirement is in view.  Each time of life has its peculiar demands but none of them should prevent the opportunity to spiritually impact the lives of others.  I have known some individuals who, when challenged to invest in the lives of others, declined to do so until their children were grown and had left home.  I have also seen families whose lives were under the control of little league coaches for a number of years, preventing them from investing in the lives of others.  There are also other families, however, who were able to maintain a meaningful ministry with others while their children were small.  One couple included their children in their home Bible studies with others.  The children greeted others at the door, made name tags, and brought in the coffee, tea, and other treats for the group.  As they grew up and became teenagers, they would babysit the children of those who came to weekly evangelistic Bible studies in the home.  Not only did they participate in the family outreach to others, this exposure served as a model for their own lives.  When they were in graduate school, they began to reach out and develop Bible studies for their class mates.  As we model “at all times” in our lives, those around us will begin to manifest this in their lives as well.

The Lord desires that we make disciples and develop laborers not only at all times but under any conditions as well.  The Apostle Paul described his life in II Corinthians 4:8-9 as follows.  “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  The Macedonian churches were commended because “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” (II Corinthians 8:2)  I recall Lorne Sanny mentioning once that most of the important things in life were accomplished by those who were tired or didn’t feel well!  Ecclesiastes 11:4 tells us “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”  The Living Bible says this more clearly.  “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”  Dr. Don Davis, a World Impact missionary in the inner city, developed a teaching syllabus for the purpose of training and preparing individuals to lead and pastor others in the inner cities of America.  Not only has it spread throughout the U.S.A. and a number of other countries, but has been used extensively in a number of prisons.  Inmates, once hardened criminals, are being brought to the Lord, discipled and equipped to minister to others in the inner cities of America.  Many of the future leaders of our inner cities are being prepared for their ministry by those who are working under any conditions in which they find themselves.

The objective of making disciples and developing laborers was never intended to be limited simply to those we interact with at church.  It is to be accomplished in every place we go.  This includes, of course, our workplaces and neighborhoods.  Are we praying regularly for them?  Do we initiate interactions with them?  Are we, at some point, identifying with Christ?  Are we praying about opportunities and planning to invite them into our homes to look at the scriptures together?  Every place we go also includes the periodic encounters we have with others.  Some years ago I spent time with a new Christian who worked at a gas station.  He had come to know the Lord through a customer who bought gas regularly at the station.  The customer took an interest in him, and after a period of time, was able to help him come to faith in Christ.  Another man whom I met a few years ago is a barber in our neighborhood.  Soon after we met, I learned of those whom he knew and discovered that several of his customers had shared the gospel with him.  They were faithful to be involved with the ministry of the Lord in every place they went.

As we consider the objective of the Kansas navigator ministry, we do well to recall Paul’s objective for his life as stated in Colossians 1:28-29.  “So naturally, we proclaim Christ.  We warn everyone we meet, we teach everyone we can all that we know about Him, so that if possible we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ, and this is what I am working at all the time, with all the strength that God gives me.”  (Phillips Translation)  God’s grace was sufficient for Paul to accomplish this objective in his life.  As Paul directed Timothy in II Timothy 2:1 to be “strong in this grace,” so my prayer for you is that you may also be strong in His grace so that this objective would be accomplished in your life as well.

In Christ, Richard Spann

To know Christ in my own life in ever increasing depth and to

make disciples AND DEVELOP LABORERS at all times under

any conditions in every place I go.

     The statement above is the personal objective of the Kansas Navigator ministry teams.  It emphasizes the need for a deep knowledge of the Lord and a commitment to his work.  His desire for us is not only that we make disciples but that laborers are developed as well.  At the end of the Lord’s ministry here on earth there were no doubt countless believers who had placed their trust in Him.  I Corinthians 15:6 states that He additionally appeared to more than 500 disciples on one occasion.  These were those who had the mark of discipleship as characterized by their love for one another (John 13:34-35), who had denied self, taken up the cross and followed Him (Luke 9:23), and who had continued in His word (John 8:31).  But there was another category of people referred to in the Gospels as laborers (Luke 10:1-17).  The Lord appointed these 72 individuals and sent them to tell others that the Kingdom of God was near.  They were to be personally involved with others in their journey of faith leading to discipleship.

Disciples do not gradually evolve into laborers.  It requires intentionality on the part of those helping others in this process as well as intentionality on the part of those who desire to be laborers.  As the Lord calls us to work with others to a point where they are actively involved in the harvest, the most important thing to remember is prayer.  Prayer is vital to the accomplishment of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives.  Prayer is needed that their eyes would be opened to see the needs of others, that their hearts would be opened with compassion, and that their mouths would be opened to speak the Lord’s words to others.  Prayer is necessary in order that they would be faithful in interceding for others in prayer, faithful to initiate relationships, faithful to invite others to look at the scriptures, and faithful to invest their lives with those who come to faith in Christ.

If we desire that others become laborers, we must be laborers ourselves.  They learn from observing our lives.  They will model what we are.  Our interaction with others will determine their interaction with those who follow.  Learning to be a laborer is caught more than it is taught.  We must model the pattern that we want them to follow.

For a person to be a laborer for Christ, it must be a priority in their lives.  They cannot  accomplish this work on the backstroke.  It is not done with the leftovers of their lives.  If one tries to fit this in their day after everything else is accomplished, it will not happen.    If other lives are to be impacted for Christ, they must give Him the best of their day to accomplish this.  By making this a priority in their lives they are “seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)  They will then discover that everything else they need will be given to them as well.

In addition to prayer for them, being a pattern to them, and helping them establish this as a priority in their lives, we need to provide opportunities for them to connect with others with whom they will be able to minister.  Encouraging them to simply develop relationships with neighbors and co-workers will allow opportunities for ministry to develop.  Asking them for their assistance in teaching, training, and some leadership responsibilities will produce other relationships that the Lord may use in their lives to promote their ministry to others.  Jim Morris used to say that “everybody can help somebody.”  The Lord is far more desirous of using their lives to impact others than the individuals are desirous of being used by Him.  As we persist in prayer the Lord will, in His time, bring the people whom He desires to these individuals.

The task of helping others become laborers is a long process for some.  It may take months, even years before their lives are being used to impact the lives of others.  If we are to see the 4 generations of disciples as Paul describes to Timothy in II Timothy 2:2, this will require perseverance on our part.  This is the perseverance referred to in Luke 8:15.  “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

It is very seldom that a person will continue to labor faithfully for the Kingdom on their own.  We need partnerships with others who are likewise committed to being laborers for the Lord.  In Luke 10, the Lord sent them out in groups of two.  The Apostle Paul had small teams throughout the Roman Empire who worked together in communities, encouraging one another to be faithful to do that which the Lord had called them to do.  We are called to partner with others as we labor for the Lord in His harvest field.

As we labor for others in His Kingdom we have the confidence that we are called into fellowship with Christ (I Corinthians 1:9).  G. Campbell Morgan explains this word fellowship (Koinonia) as meaning that we have all things in common with our Lord.  He uses the two words “resources” and “responsibilities” to describe the impact of this in our lives.  In fellowship with Christ, then, all His resources are made available to me to meet my responsibilities.  Likewise all my resources are to be made available to Him to meet His responsibilities.  It is in this fellowship that we may have the confidence that His laborers are being developed through our lives.

In Christ,
Richard Spann

My Objective is to know Christ in my own life in ever increasing

depth and to MAKE DISCIPLES, and develop laborers at all

times, under any conditions, in every place I go.

 

The above statement has been a part of the Kansas Navigators team for many years and is based on Philippians 3:10, John 15:8 and Matthew 28:18-20.  It serves as a reminder and a standard to which our daily lives are committed.  To know Christ deeply is foundational to all else that is included in this objective.  It is only His life manifested through us that enables us to make disciples.

Not long ago I met with a young man who was attempting to make a difference in the lives of other Christian friends.  His approach was to tell them what they ought to be doing differently and then chiding them for their failure to do so.  As he asked for suggestions, I was reminded of an acronym I heard years before, which is a descriptive model of how our lives are enabled to successfully interact with others.  Each letter describes an interaction that the Lord had with Peter and serves as a model for us as well.  These are as follows:

Prayer-Luke 22:31, Example-Matthew 14:28-31, Teaching-Matthew 17:24-27,

Encouragement-Matthew 16:17-19, Rebuke-Matthew 16:23.

Prayer is foundational to all we do as followers of Christ.  Lorne Sanny was fond of saying  “Don’t pray for the ministry, prayer is the ministry.”  We need to pray with them and for them.  I have found the prayers of Paul in Ephesians 1, Philippians 1, and Colossians 1 to be helpful.  Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is that they would know Him better, know the hope of His calling, and know His power to accomplish His work in and through their lives. (Ephesians 1:17-19)  His prayer for the Philippians was that their love would grow in knowledge and depth of insight and that they would be able to discern what is best. (Philippians 1:9-10)  He prayed for the Colossians that they would know His will and live a life worthy of the Lord. (Colossians 1:9-10)  I am also helped in my praying for others by the Lord’s prayer, that the Name of the Lord would be hallowed in their lives, His kingdom would be made evident in their lives, and that His will would be done in their lives.  The prayers of our Lord in John 17 are also of significant benefit in praying for others.  In addition, prayer that they would have a heart for the Lord, a heart for His word and heart for people is foundational to their growth as a disciple.

In regard to being an example, a member of G. Campbell Morgan’s church once told him:  “Don’t tell us we should follow Jesus, show us the Jesus we should follow.”  Paul stated “Follow me, as I follow Christ.”  In Philippians 4:9, we read “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”  In addressing Timothy, Paul writes “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings-what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.” (II Timothy 3:10-11)  The Lord Himself, when calling His disciples to Him in Mark 3:14 declared that they “might be with him.”  We need to live close enough to others so that they see our purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance.  The closer the contact, the greater the impact.

Teaching is not merely the dissemination of Biblical information.  It involves training in how to handle the difficult times of life and remain faithful to God’s calling.  They need to be taught how to study the Bible for themselves, how to grow in relationship with the Lord and with their fellow man.  In Titus chapter two, Paul tells Titus to teach them to manifest self-control, reverence, kindness, integrity, and trustworthiness.  We are not to simply tell, we are to teach.

Hebrews 3:13 states “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  The importance of encouragement is signified by the word “daily.”  In my recollection, only three other things in scripture are mentioned that we should do daily.  One of these is reading the scriptures, (Deut. 17:19); the others are prayer for our daily bread, and to take up the cross daily.  As we look at our own lives, the lives of others, and the world around us it is easy to be discouraged.  To encourage means to come alongside someone and restore hope by our words and presence.  The Apostle Paul referred to this as imparting a spiritual gift in Romans 1:11-12.  “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

In Matthew 16:23, the Lord rebuked Peter because his mind was focused on things of men, rather than the things of God.  Rebuke seems like a strong word, but it is necessary when there is significant departure from God’s will and blindness as to its significance and consequences.  A softer word, which is always needed in our relationship with others is accountability.  It is in our accountability to others for our time in the word, time in prayer and in our ministry to others that habits are formed which manifest themselves in the character and conduct which make the invisible Christ visible in our lives.

Prayer, example, teaching, encouragement and rebuke were all used by the Lord as Peter became a disciple and laborer for Christ.  Peter states the effect of this in II Peter 1:3-4.  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  As the Lord lives His life through us, He desires to use these same five factors in our ministry to others, so that they, like Peter, may participate in His divine nature.

In Christ,
Richard Spann

Be merciful to those who doubt,

snatch others from the fire and

save them; to others show mercy,

mixed with fear-hating even the

clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 22-23

In the first nineteen verses of his short book, Jude describes a horrible scenario in which godless men are described as clouds without rain, grumblers, faultfinders, following their own ungodly desires, taking the way of Cain, rushing for profit into Balaam’s error, and following mere natural instincts, to share only a few of his comments concerning them.  After such a description, one might expect Jude to pass judgment upon them and leave them to their own destiny.  Or, to such men as these, their coming to Christ would seem a daunting task, enough to discourage even the most ardent apostle.  Yet, Jude concludes his chapter with the phrases “Be merciful,” “Snatch others from the fire,” and “Show mercy.”  What is it about mercy that enables it to restore hope for those in such a lost condition?   In James 2:13 we see that “mercy triumphs over judgment.”  If we rightly understand the mercy extended to us by God, we will be merciful to others instead of judging them.  We also see that the ministry that we have been given is through God’s mercy.  II Corinthians 4:1 states “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”  It is through His mercy that He enables us to persevere for others and not lose heart.  It is through His mercy that He removes their barriers and doubts to faith.  It is through His mercy that He establishes them in His Kingdom and provides ministry opportunities for them as well.

“Be merciful to those that doubt.”  Tom (not his real name) came to my office seeking help for a medical problem.  His illness was not severe, but one that would require periodic evaluations and monitoring of treatment.  As the weeks went by, I discovered that he was a successful businessman in the auto industry and we developed a friendship.  On one occasion we explored the basic truths of Christianity, but he was not interested.  This topic would come up on most visits and we would discuss it further.  He continued to have doubts about the truth of the gospel and was hesitant to go further in our discussion.  Some months later, I was called to the hospital where he had been admitted with a stroke.  He was unable to move his right side and was unable to speak.  As improvement slowly occurred over the next several days, I sensed that whenever I entered the room he would try to speak.  Gradually as the days progressed he was able to articulate that the moment the stroke happened, he realized the truth of what we had discussed in the months preceding the stroke, and during that brief amount of time, unexpressed to anyone other than the Lord, he had committed his life to Christ.  In His mercy, God had broken through his doubts and drawn him to Himself.

“Snatch others from the fire and save them.”  Much of my medical practice over the years has been with those who are critically ill.  Many are approaching death at the same time that I am being consulted for their care.  One such patient was a lady in her late 60’s who had been in the hospital in Intensive Care for several days.  She had been in a coma during this time and was not expected to live much longer.  Some distressing respiratory complications had developed which were disturbing to the staff and the patient’s family, so I was consulted for her care.  Although she had been in a coma since admission, to my surprise she was alert and responsive the morning I saw her in consultation.  Although I was able to provide relief for her respiratory symptoms, her basic illness was one from which she would not recover.  As I marveled at how miraculous it was that she was alert, it occurred to me that the only plausible reason for this was that she could have one last chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Thankfully, she was responsive to the Gospel and placed her trust in Christ that day.  On my hospital rounds the next day, the staff informed me that she had slipped back into a coma late in the evening and had passed away during the night.  In His mercy, the Lord had provided opportunity for her to be snatched from the fire.

“To others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”  Jim (not his real name) had grown up in a family characterized by a great deal of legalism.  He rebelled against his parents, the church, and society in general.  He became an alcoholic and while driving under the influence of alcohol, committed vehicular manslaughter.  After spending eight years in prison, he returned to the streets, living in alleys and dumpsters.  When we met, he was free from alcohol, attending AA meetings, but smoking incessantly, and remaining bitter at the church.  He was openly antagonistic to even the mention of the name of Jesus.  I was frankly concerned and fearful about demonic possession at our first encounter.  We met weekly for many months, sitting in the smoking section of a large restaurant for breakfast.  He did not believe that the scriptures were God’s word, nor did he think they had any relevance to his life.  We read them together anyway!  Gradually his demeanor softened and the veil of doubt, hate and rebellion was lifted from his heart.  He became an ardent follower of Jesus Christ although somewhat crusty around the edges.  He began to openly confess Christ and share his testimony at AA meetings.  When he was told by others that “You can’t do that here,” his reply was “The Hell I can’t!”  God’s mercy had reached this man, even though he had spent many years under the control of corrupted flesh.

We live in a world where were it not for the mercy of God we would all be eternally lost and condemned.  It is through His mercy that we are reconciled to Him and through Him have been given the ministry of reconciliation.  All around us are those who doubt, those who need to be snatched from the fire, and those whose lives have been hardened by corrupted flesh.  This ministry of reconciliation requires patience, perseverance and prayer, yet through God’s mercy we know that we “do not lose heart.”

 

In Christ,

Richard Spann