ECIPLESHIP for Passionate Christ-Followers

Beautiful Tallinn, Estonia

I’ve been in the Nordic-Baltic region of the world for the past week. Susan and I have experienced some amazing places and wonderful people. We are here with Bill and Arlie Ankerberg as our leaders…people who have invested so much of themselves here for years already. They have established strong friendships and have built invaluable trust with leaders in these Scandinavian nations. There are two big wins in this trip for me:

• I get to learn from a man I deeply admire (Bill Ankerberg). He is characterized by generosity and getting God’s work done through meaningful relationships.He is a master at both. I have been truly inspired by “his way.”
  

  Arlie and Bill Ankerberg

• The Nordic-Baltic Initiative provides a timely opportunity for me to learn how to do missions another way. The old paradigm rarely succeeds anymore. Especially in this environment, missions must be done through strong partnerships, respecting the good leaders of the nation, and being a servant to those that know best here. In my early season as Executive Director of International Ministries of Converge Worldwide, this is an invaluable course in ground-breaking missions strategy. We don’t have it figured out yet, but have an prime opportunity to do just that.
  

  Myself along with Pastor Siim of Oleviste, Bill Ankerberg, and Helari Puu.

I am humbled by the calling that God has placed on my life. What a rare privilege to be a part of bringing the gospel to people all over the world. I know that if I do my job well, many will come to faith in Christ that otherwise would not. On the other hand, if I am lax and choose a mediocre path, the consequences are dire. Oh–how I want to be faithful.

I want to be more like the great missionary, Paul, when he stated, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

So Lord, help me to be faithful. Help me to learn to contextualize missions for today. I want to be an instrument in the hand of the Master. Let my life be used to “finish the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.”

Susan and I arrived in Tallinn, Estonia this past Saturday. We’re here to meet national church leaders from Estonia, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. We beging a Nordic Baltic Church Planting Summit today. We feel so privileged to be a part of what God is doing and wants to do in this part of the world.

I had the rare and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preach in Oleviste Church in Tallinn yesterday. It is the largest church in Estonia, was build in the late 1100′s, and survived the assaults of communism as late as 20 years ago. It stands as a beacon of hope, a voice of the gospel, and a steady presence of Jesus in this city and country. As I preached yesterday, the message was broadcast accross the county by radio.

Early Sunday morning, I awoke at 1AM. God was speaking to me. An entirely new sermon was downloading from the Lord. I slipped out of bed and wrote down the thoughts as they continued to come. As I preached from my pencil-scribbled notes on Sunday morning, I knew that God had given this message for Oleviste. I can’t describe out humbling it was to stand in the same pulpit Billy Graham preached from in the 80′s and know that God was using me too. I have felt way almost every Sunday I was a pastor, but having this experience in a far away land in such a unique place only heightened the honor for me this Sunday.

Preaching from Matthew 28:18-19, I unpacked the words of Jesus when He said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…” This authority is our covering, this Holy Spirit power described in Acts 1:8 (a parallel passage) is our only way to obey this high and holy calling. That’s why Jesus said, “Therefore go.” When we understand our authority and depend completely upon His power, we can see God-things happen…things that are impossible through human ability.

A few things happened after the service.

• Many people thanked me for this needed message.
• An old Estonian came and wept. With tears flowing down his face, unable to communicate in English, he communicated volumns with his broken and grateful spirit.
• One man told me that he was up most of the night praying that God would help this church understand the power of the Holy Spirit in order to be His church in the world. I believe, in part, His prayers woke me up to prepare a totally unexpected sermon for this Sunday at Oleviste.

I love the fact that God uses simple people to get His work done. Thank you, God. I stand ready…again.

God has a great plan for His people. You included.

As I read the account of Israel’s first freed generation on the banks of the Jordan, I am overwhelmed with regret on their behalf. God was longing to give them this land flowing with “milk and honey,” but their eyes were consumed with giants rather than God’s great plan for their lives. They were so hardened in their hearts that they were ready to kill their leaders in order toreturn to an Egyptian slavery. Insanity!

In the midst of this crazy chaos, Joshua and Caleb demonstrate radical faith:

They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” 10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle. Numbers 14:7-10.

Notice some important realities in these verses:

• Joshua and Caleb are gripped with the character of God more than the obstacles before them – “…if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us.”
• These two returned with a vision for how clearly God’s glory could be seen by defeating the giants in their way – “don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
• Joshua and Caleb are filled with courage rather than overwhelmed by fear — “Don’t be afraid of them!”

These two standout spies demonstrate authentic faith–a faith that is willing to die for the God they love and serve (v.10a)

“And then, the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to ALL the Israelites at the Tabernacle.” Why now rather than earlier? Because God calls us to live by faith! As Hebrews 11 clearly states, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Yet, all around us are Christians that seek a sign, who want to see God’s miraculous hand at every turn, who believe that God needs to show Himself every time they ask. This passage would not support it. God shows Himself AFTER the “sides” have made their stand. The verdict is drawn. The stage is set. The message is, “Trust and risk your life on the character of God, not on the demonstrations of God.” Even after Israel had seen the most amazing miracles, their hearts were still hard. They faltered in their faith.

Except for a few.

Consider these three closing Biblical truths that emerge from this text:

1. God honors and protects those who live by faith. When Joshua and Caleb were in danger of death for their defiant faith, God shows up in an undeniable way. We NEVER lose when we trust in God.
2. Hard faithless people stubbornly reject the best that God longs to provide. Though the land flowing with “milk and honey” is their’s for the taking, they cannot conceive of a God who would actually help them get it. They are sentenced to life of aimless wandering in the wilderness of despair.
3. Following radically after God often creates intense conflict with others. Even among those that claim to be God-followers.

Radical faith can never be manufactured. Rather, it is forged in the daily disciplines of meeting with God, knowing Him intimately, and obeying Him in the small things of every day life. A long obedience in the small things produces a radical faith for the big things.

Leadership is hard. It’s not an easy calling. Some of the greatest leaders in all history were those who risked their lives to get Israel into the Promised Land. Moses was strong, determined, and humble. Joshua was focused, courageous, and influential. Caleb was fearless, radical, and a model of faithfulness.

Consider this: These great leaders had few successes for most of their lives.

Check out the situation right after the 12 spies returned from Canaan with their report:

So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”  Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel. Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes,” Numbers 14:4-6.

As I consider the painful events of failing to enter by faith, I’m reminded of some critical leadership principles:

1. Great leaders often become great leaders through heart-wrenching failures.
2. Great leaders need to be sold out to God’s cause and God’s plan no matter what. Even when everyone turned against them, they neither wavered nor compromised. Their conviction to enter the land remained strong. They had heard from God, knew His character, and were unmoved by the whims of those they were leading.
3. Great leaders must demonstrate humility. “They fell on their faces.” Just think of how strongly you must believe in something to demonstrate this kind of sorrow in front of thousands you are leading. But they did it. They didn’t try an new tactic to change their minds. They didn’t manipulate the people or “cut a deal.” They responded to God on the behalf of the people with absolute brokenness.
4. Great leaders develop great leaders. Caleb and Joshua, the only two who returned from their reconisance mission with faith instead of fear, “tore their clothes” in a similar act of remorse and repentance as Moses. As difficult as this all was, this tradgedy formed a bond which lasted for 40 years of God-honoring service together. Moses mentored these young men into godly, courageous, sold-out God-followers–who also became great leaders of people.

I often hear people say, “I’m not a leader.”

• First, everyone can lead someone…and usually does, whether they know it or not.
• Secondly, become one. God is looking for men and women who are ready to sell out for the Great Cause and lead a movement for His glory.

It’s not easy. Great leaders are formed in the everyday crucibles of life. Choose faith over fear, risk over safety, God’s promises over your own preferences.