tested | Revelations From The Road

Suffering Successfully

May 17, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

There was a time in my life when I went through a very trying time; a trial that I certainly did not want and prayed frequently for God to deliver me from. However, He chose not to get me out of it but rather to go through it with me. That began for me a spiritual journey that took me far beyond where I had been in my Christian walk and made me realize there is so much more to being a Christ follower than I had ever known since my salvation 35 years earlier. God did take me through that trial and I was not only restored but God has opened doors for me in ministry and is teaching me every day what it means to be a servant.

In the year 2005, as I was getting deeper into God’s Word and my relationship with Him, He began giving me revelations; short “light-bulb-above-the-head” insight into scripture. When these revelations would come, I felt I needed to write them down because someone else might benefit from hearing them as well. So I kept a small notebook in my vehicle, (since most of the insights came while I was driving and listening to preaching), eventually I got a voice recorder for driving safety and where I do my morning devotion. I wasn’t sure how I was going to share these gems but God knew.

I worked in public education as an Instructional Technology Coordinator, and taught how to use web logs or blogs. That was it; a way to create an online presence to share my thoughts and God’s revelations. So in October of 2005, I launched this blog, Revelations From The Road, as a forum to share what God was showing me with the world. It has not become one of the mega-blogs yet but many of you are reading my posts and are being encouraged. God continues to give me insights on a daily basis and I’ve got notes and recordings by the hundreds which will someday show up on the blog. I even have an idea for compiling some of them in a book that could be used as a devotional. I use the revelations when I have the opportunity to minister locally and am encouraged myself as I go back and read what God showed me in the past.

When I was going through that trial in my past, I learned that God wanted to teach me something I needed to learn. I was suffering but He wanted to take me to a higher level; He wanted me to be a success. When we go through trials, we can complain and blame God or we can turn it all over to Him and take the attitude of, “Lord, what are you trying to teach me here?” We’re going to suffer, the Bible says so, but I chose to suffer successfully and God did not let me down; He never will.

Do You Know The Rules?

April 17, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given April 16, 2011

It’s baseball season and you’re coaching in your first game. The other coach is a veteran of the game and is knowledgeable of the rules but you’ve been spending time practicing your team, getting the uniforms and equipment ready, and making sure your camera is ready to get some good shots.

In the first inning, your team gets the third and final out but the other coach informs you that his team gets four outs. Having not read the rule book, you’re not sure what the rule is and he sounds very convincing. Later in the game, one of your guys hits the ball over the fence for a homerun and trots around the bases, first, second, third, and home. As your players cheer, the other coach comes out and states that the rule says when you hit a homerun you’re supposed to run to third, second, first, then home. Since your player didn’t do that, he’s out. Again, you don’t know the rule and give in to the other coach. This type of thing happens several more times during the game and, of course, your team loses. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? Who would go into a game without reading, studying, and knowing the rules and how they apply to the game?

Well, there is a rule book called the Bible and we’re involved in the game of life. The opposition knows the rules well but tries to bend and misinterpret them to us in order to, “kill, steal and destroy” us, (John 10:10). The devil and his troops are always trying to deceive us by lying about what the rules are. And tragically, they are successful many times because we don’t know the rules! We haven’t read our rule book, the Bible and don’t know our rights. “Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). A command of God. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11). We don’t have time to pull out the Book and look up the rule.

Jesus was in the same game we are in but He knew the rules and told Satan three times, “It is written…” (Matthew 4). Satan left Him alone. Are you reading your Bible every day? Are you listening to the thousands of free Bible-based messages and podcasts available for download on the Internet? We need the church to know the rules so we can be a force for God in our area. Know the rules!

Pick Me, Pick Me!

February 28, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 27, 2011

We all have been through or at least are aware of the school days process of choosing teams where two “captains” take turns picking team members from the pool of potential players. Everyone there wants to be on a team and is saying, “Pick me, pick me!”, but invariably someone is the last to be picked because it’s perceived they aren’t very good. Or a leader is choosing participants for an important mission and those interested are hoping to be chosen and are basically saying, “Please Boss, choose me.” Some are picked and some are not.

What if Jesus were picking a team or choosing volunteers for a mission and you were there saying, “Pick me, pick me!”? Well guess what…He is! And there are qualifications for those who will be chosen. Jesus said in Matthew 10:37, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;”. He told a man in Judea who had asked what he needed to do to be “picked” and Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”. Matthew 19:21, (God’s Word translation). This guy was not worthy and excluded himself because he valued his possessions more than the chance to be on Jesus’ team. And in Luke 14: 15-23, Jesus told a parable of a banquet that had been prepared but some of the invitees made excuses for why they couldn’t attend. Other things were more important.

Do you want to join Jesus’ team? Are you saying, “Pick me, pick me!”? He’s looking for a few good men and women, boys and girls to help accomplish His mission here on this earth. Are you already on the team? Research would show that most are satisfied to sit in the stands, (the pew), watch, and cheer on the team but some don’t even do that. They don’t even show up for tryouts or make excuses for why they can’t serve. Anyone can be on Jesus’ team but you have to really want to. How about you? Jesus is looking for exuberent, jumping, raised-hand people shouting, “Pick me Jesus, pick me!”

Lessons From Sports – Part 3, Training

September 10, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 2010

In sports, once you’re on the team, you’re taken through a regimented series of activities designed to develop you physically and mentally to the point where you can be effective as a team member and successful against your opponent. The training regime is demanding and difficult but those who dedicate themselves to the cause, making the necessary sacrifices, will increase their skills and reap the rewards. Some drop out before the game; they aren’t willing to pay the price. Some make it to the game but are unsuccessful and require more training. But the coach is always there to guide the willing and obedient to success.

In life, once you’re on God’s team, you have the opportunity to go through a plan designed to develop you mentally and spiritually to the point where you can be effective as a Christian and successful against the enemy. Each is given a measure of faith, (Romans 12:3), and all have the potential to be great but that faith must be exercised, used, and developed. However, the training plan is demanding, sacrifices must be made, and each member must dedicate themselves totally to the coach and the cause. Some do not have what it takes; (When Gideon was choosing his army to go into battle, God said to tell the men, “Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead. So twenty-two thousand men left,”, Judges 7.)

Then when we reach a certain level, according to our Master, we are tested and tried, “The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is.” (1 Peter 1:7 God’s Word translation). If we pass the test, we move up to the next level, “And we all…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV). If we fail the test the Master will pick us up, dust us off, and take us back to the training facility until we’re ready to be tested again. And if we persist, we will become strong, skilled, and feared by the enemy, ready to be a force in the Kingdom of God.

Are you ready to be tested? Are you want to go to the next level? Do you want to please the Coach? Be blessed.

Levels Of Servanthood

January 14, 2008 by Bill 1 Comment

Given January 11, 2008

I pray every day to be a servant of the Lord. I say, “Lord, how may I serve you today?”, and He’ll usually give me some task to do or a person to encourage. As I was praying this day, the Lord showed me that there are levels of servanthood which opened my eyes to my service. I hope it will be enlightening to you as well.

The first level of servanthood is to make the decision that you WANT to be a servant. You cannot serve unless you decide to. The second level is what I call, a day worker. These servants report to the Master each day and ask where do I go and what do I do today. No routine, no regularity, just show up willing to do the Master’s bidding.

The third level comes when the Master says, “Servant, I notice you are here every day willing to go and do whatever I ask. Today and from now on, I want you to report to the barn. I have some daily tasks I want you to do out there.” This will be some hard work but there is regularity with it.

The fourth level may come later when the Master again says, “Son, I see how you come to serve each day, you work well and even stay late sometime. Beginning tomorrow, I want you to come serve me in my house. Report to the Master’s house tomorrow.” This is a good promotion however, while serving in the big house, you must be willing to go back to being a day worker if that’s what the Master requires.

I think these levels of servanthood come with being tested and proven for the work of the Kingdom. I want to be tested and proven to move from glory to glory and have the favor of the Master who says, “…If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. Mark 9: 35b“. It seems like I spend a lot of time as a day worker. But that’s OK. As long as I get to serve my Master. What kind of servant are you?