*The following is based on a true story that I once heard as a child from a visiting
minister. I now attempt to retell it to you, as my memory serves me. Names have been
changed, not to protect their identity, but because I don’t remember them.
The pastor, of the small country church, sat in the front pew, in a nervous sweat. This Sunday, his friend and colleague, a well respected missionary, had returned from Africa, and had requested to speak to the congregation. The pastor was not concerned over the message, or the fact that he was a missionary. In fact, the pastor got nervous whenever anybody new visited the church. The reason was not that he didn’t want the church to grow, for he strongly desired to see revival. The reason was Sister Agnes.
Sister Agnes was among the older saints of the church, and was very well loved. In fact, one could not find a better or more sincere prayer warrior. Sister Agnes was filled with the Holy Ghost and could be counted on to deliver a message in tongues, almost every Sunday. And, being a Pentecostal Church, this was not the problem. The problem, for the pastor, was the manor in which she gave that message. For, when the Spirit moved her, Sister Agnes would raise her right hand in the air, swing it around back, down along her side, and back up again, all while sounding a terrifically loud, WOOOOOOOO!!! She sounded like a fire whistle going off in the quiet little church. To this, the strongest men flinched, the children giggled, and the sleepy awoke in alarm. The pastor, however, got embarrassed. The message was fine, and the interpretation was fine, but why did she have to make that awful noise while swinging her arm every time?
Now, as his missionary friend sat next to him, the pastor silently prayed that the Lord would NOT move on Sister Agnes today. And, to his surprise, there was no outburst from Agnes during either the worship or the offering. And, now that the missionary approached the pulpit to give his message, the pastor began to feel at ease, knowing that Agnes would not interrupt the message. For, although she was loud, she always did things decently and in order. Then, just as the missionary said his closing amen, that arm went swinging…WOOOOOOOO!!! The missionary’s face turned white and the pastor’s face turned red. After the message and the interpretation, the missionary stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity to the pastor. Finally he spoke. “Sister,” he said, speaking directly to Agnes, “I was greatly surprised today by your message in tongues, and especially by how you started it. In the little tribe in Africa, that I just came from, this is the exact manner in which they give God their highest exclamation of praise, and no other tribe does this. God has truly revealed Himself through you today.”
The pastor, feeling both relieved, and a bit ashamed, learned that he need never to be embarrassed of Sister Agnes ever again.
Do you find yourself being timid when it comes to using your gift in public?
Do you feel inferior to somebody else and their gifting?
Do you find yourself reasoning away the urging of the Holy Spirit, in order to excuse yourself from doing something that He wants you to do?
We should never be embarrassed of the gift that we have been given to use for God. And, we need to resist the urge to compare our gifts to those of another. God has given you these gifts for a reason, He knows your strengths and weaknesses. You and your gift are part of His plan. We are warned by the Apostle Paul to not get caught up in comparing ourselves to others, “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body? And if the ear should say,” Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-18 NKJV
You might be thinking, the church already has someone with the gift of healing, tongues, or prophesy, etc., and they are better at it. Great! Go learn from them, practice it, exercise it, and use it wherever God leads, (especially outside the church, where it is needed desperately). Church is our training ground. (Ephesians 4:11-13).
The enemy will do whatever he can to stop us. He knows that we have both the authority and the power to do great things in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:19). So I encourage you to step out in faith, use that gift, grow in it, and try some other ones also. You may have gifts that you don’t even know about yet. Don’t worry about looking like a beginner. We all have to start somewhere. No better place than among friends and family. And, even if you feel like you don’t know what you are doing, remember that God always does. He’s been around for quite a while, and helped people in all walks of life…I’m sure He can help you too.
Till next time,
Jason
minister. I now attempt to retell it to you, as my memory serves me. Names have been
changed, not to protect their identity, but because I don’t remember them.
The pastor, of the small country church, sat in the front pew, in a nervous sweat. This Sunday, his friend and colleague, a well respected missionary, had returned from Africa, and had requested to speak to the congregation. The pastor was not concerned over the message, or the fact that he was a missionary. In fact, the pastor got nervous whenever anybody new visited the church. The reason was not that he didn’t want the church to grow, for he strongly desired to see revival. The reason was Sister Agnes.
Sister Agnes was among the older saints of the church, and was very well loved. In fact, one could not find a better or more sincere prayer warrior. Sister Agnes was filled with the Holy Ghost and could be counted on to deliver a message in tongues, almost every Sunday. And, being a Pentecostal Church, this was not the problem. The problem, for the pastor, was the manor in which she gave that message. For, when the Spirit moved her, Sister Agnes would raise her right hand in the air, swing it around back, down along her side, and back up again, all while sounding a terrifically loud, WOOOOOOOO!!! She sounded like a fire whistle going off in the quiet little church. To this, the strongest men flinched, the children giggled, and the sleepy awoke in alarm. The pastor, however, got embarrassed. The message was fine, and the interpretation was fine, but why did she have to make that awful noise while swinging her arm every time?
Now, as his missionary friend sat next to him, the pastor silently prayed that the Lord would NOT move on Sister Agnes today. And, to his surprise, there was no outburst from Agnes during either the worship or the offering. And, now that the missionary approached the pulpit to give his message, the pastor began to feel at ease, knowing that Agnes would not interrupt the message. For, although she was loud, she always did things decently and in order. Then, just as the missionary said his closing amen, that arm went swinging…WOOOOOOOO!!! The missionary’s face turned white and the pastor’s face turned red. After the message and the interpretation, the missionary stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity to the pastor. Finally he spoke. “Sister,” he said, speaking directly to Agnes, “I was greatly surprised today by your message in tongues, and especially by how you started it. In the little tribe in Africa, that I just came from, this is the exact manner in which they give God their highest exclamation of praise, and no other tribe does this. God has truly revealed Himself through you today.”
The pastor, feeling both relieved, and a bit ashamed, learned that he need never to be embarrassed of Sister Agnes ever again.
Do you find yourself being timid when it comes to using your gift in public?
Do you feel inferior to somebody else and their gifting?
Do you find yourself reasoning away the urging of the Holy Spirit, in order to excuse yourself from doing something that He wants you to do?
We should never be embarrassed of the gift that we have been given to use for God. And, we need to resist the urge to compare our gifts to those of another. God has given you these gifts for a reason, He knows your strengths and weaknesses. You and your gift are part of His plan. We are warned by the Apostle Paul to not get caught up in comparing ourselves to others, “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body? And if the ear should say,” Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-18 NKJV
You might be thinking, the church already has someone with the gift of healing, tongues, or prophesy, etc., and they are better at it. Great! Go learn from them, practice it, exercise it, and use it wherever God leads, (especially outside the church, where it is needed desperately). Church is our training ground. (Ephesians 4:11-13).
The enemy will do whatever he can to stop us. He knows that we have both the authority and the power to do great things in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:19). So I encourage you to step out in faith, use that gift, grow in it, and try some other ones also. You may have gifts that you don’t even know about yet. Don’t worry about looking like a beginner. We all have to start somewhere. No better place than among friends and family. And, even if you feel like you don’t know what you are doing, remember that God always does. He’s been around for quite a while, and helped people in all walks of life…I’m sure He can help you too.
Till next time,
Jason
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