STAR OR SCAR

God’s vision for our lives often revolves around our gifts — areas in which we shine like a star. Sometimes, this vision is birthed out of a scar, after we have gone through painful struggles.

                                                                           
God may use our talents for a particular ministry. We may be gifted in making complex theological truths simple and easily understood by the masses. The vision God inspires in us might then be writing articles or books. This is the area where we shine for Him like a star.

However, He can also use the pain that we have experienced to help others. For example, God can even “use” the scar of a sexually abused woman. Her vision is to lead a ministry to fight human trafficking. Having gone through much pain herself, she can empathise with today’s victims of modern-day slavery.

A former drug addict, who got AIDS through indiscriminate sharing of needles for injecting drugs, now manages a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and AIDS victims. He is just the man for the job because many would shrink in revulsion at the mere mention of AIDS ministry. Furthermore, he can easily identify with their struggles on account of his past.

A mother’s grief over the death of her newborn may be the launching pad for her to go into counselling ministry.

When a student failed to finish college because he succumbed to a rare disease, his parents decided to launch a foundation to fund research on this disorder.

We will never know all the “whys” this side of eternity when bad things happen to good people. It is pointless to ask, “Why God? Why are you so unfair to me?”

But when God turns ashes into beauty, then we might realise why there is a purpose in pain.

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God comforts us so we can comfort others:

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Related post:

FROM PROBLEMS TO POTENTIAL

http://limpohann.blogspot.com/2012/07/from-problems-to-potential.html

SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND LIGHT

In the end times that we are living now, there will be two sharply contrasting scenarios on earth:

While man’s evil and tumultuous signs (earthquakes, wars, famine, pestilence) become more and more pronounced, there is a spiritual awakening of unimaginable proportions.

On one hand, man’s evil and ominous portents increase. On the other hand, God’s glory is being revealed more and more.

As world news becomes more and more depressing, light appears at the end of the tunnel. There is heightened spiritual activity and blessing.

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2: 28-29).

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). Since 70% of the earth is covered with water, this means His glory will be experienced far and wide, as widespread as the oceans.

The outpouring will be great and unprecedented – even on common people, the ones we would least expect. It’s not only the ministers who will be anointed.

Imagine your maid prophesying. Imagine a young man being used of God in a healing ministry Imagine people getting healed when the shadow of the godly fall on them. We should be pulling out all the stops to what God can do!

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Notice also the contrast between two groups of people, one group filled with wisdom and the other without:

“Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10).

The wise will shine brighter and brighter even as darkness and evil triumph more and more. Though the uninitiated rush here and there, frantically doing this and that (age of jet travel and mobile technologies), they will not understand what is happening, even though they have lots of knowledge (information overload).

“And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).

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Expectancy:

Let us therefore lift up our heads to the heavens and, with expectant hearts, look forward to God’s end time outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

May the revelation of the Holy Spirit illumine our minds, may His light flood us with understanding, just as Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:18-20).

There is so much more God has in store for us in these end times. At present we are just scratching the surface. So we have to be watchful in prayer and worship – anticipate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and all that He is ready to reveal to us.

He’s going to use us in a measure we’ve never thought is possible. It’ll blow our mind. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).