Welcome to Hank’s Place —
This world seems always to seek for ‘the qualified.’ And ignore those who in their mind are ‘unqualified.’ God’s wisdom however, is far beyond earthly wisdom.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 addresses the Corinthian believers as letters of Christ, written on tablets of human hearts – hearts, remember that. Paul then speaks of his adequacy as a servant of a NEW covenant – of the Spirit, for while the letter kills, the Spirit gives LIFE. Remember that too! Hearts. Spirit. Life.
Last week I’d shared about my dear friend Ernie, former alcoholic truck driver who had ruined his marriage, family, and life before finding Jesus and receiving His love and His mercies and marvelous grace. He went about preaching itinerantly, doing various mission trips and rescuing people in distress, such as I was. I want to share one of his experiences, since he’s gone on to Jesus and I know he wouldn’t mind.
Ernie was living at the time in the Toledo Ohio area. He preached on street corners, coffee houses, recovery houses, and some churches. One time he felt he should ask the pastor of a larger church if he could speak to his congregation.
He visited the pastor, described the man he’d been and what Jesus had done for him and asked to speak. The pastor replied, “Absolutely not! You are totally unqualified! Your life has been a mess! You have no education. You have no theological training or seminary experience. You are unqualified to share the Gospel. You will never, ever, speak in my church. Get out of here.”
Talk about opportunity to become physically violent – and the old Ernie had been a barroom fighter. Opportunity to succumb to condemnation or anger, vengeance, retaliation, a root of bitterness, or all of the above!
Ernie left quietly. I won’t tell you his thoughts at that time, but some months later he was with a pastor and some men at another church when the church phone rang and the person on the line said pastor so-and-so (the man who’d condemned Ernie) had suffered a massive heart attack and he might be dead, and could some people go to that church and pray for him. Ernie said to the men, “Who has faith for this? Who will go with me?” Two or three men said they would.
When they got to the church, the EMS team was wrapping up. The pastor lay dead on the floor. They documented it. Ernie and the others began with the name of Jesus – who raises the dead – before whom nothing is impossible. The pastor’s spirit returned — the man revived. The head EMS person gave out a shriek and fainted! The team attended to the pastor and to her. She and the entire EMS team became believers! Hallelujah!
Once the commotion settled, that pastor told Ernie the pulpit was open to Ernie to speak anytime he wanted…!
Could you have prayed in faith for the life of someone who had declared you incompetent to minister?
Friend if you are in Christ Jesus, then that same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead, and that pastor, dwells in you, and qualifies you, to share the treasures of the New Covenant, in word and in power, as happened here.
So, today, walk in the New Covenant. You know Jesus, the Impossible Working God. You are qualified by the Spirit. So GO, help others, even if they are dead — to COME ALIVE!
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