These days, in ministry, I talk a lot about agreeing with God. Somehow, someway, it seems I always come back around to this theme. Seems like a Captain Obvious moment! Duh! Of course, we’re supposed to agree with God. Yet if I, and everyone else, were to take a notepad and write down all the moments and ways that we agree with God, there is an inherent dynamic or even danger of needing to write down the moments that we fail in agreeing with God. Inadvertently, accidentally and without realizing the thoughts and deeds that we fall short of His will and ways. God’s word tells us that all have fallen and come short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23
Recently, I officiated a wedding and was so struck by how it is no small thing that two stood in agreement with God in Holy Matrimony becoming one. Everyone in the crowd may not have realized it, but they were all agreeing with God bearing witness to the holy occasion. Mark 10:6-9
The life of our savior Jesus Christ is the example of agreeing with God. In the book of John we see that He never did or said anything unless God told Him to do it or say it. John 5:19
In the wilderness, apparently, God told Him to reject the enemy and remind him of His word. Get behind me Satan for it is written. Matt 4:1-11
Apparently, God told Him, his only begotten son, to tarry for four days. Jesus did not argue when He was told to pick up some clay, spit in it and apply to the blind man’s eyes. He was able to be angry but sinned not. That is because when we get angry, we are operating out of our flesh. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. But Jesus was not operating out of His flesh. He was simply agreeing with what His father told Him to do. He saved all of mankind when He agreed with God in the garden of Gethsemane to endure the cross. Matt 26:36-46
I wanted to touch on this theme of agreeing with God first in order to get to the purpose of this article. Do we really believe that we are made in His image? Fearfully and wonderfully made? I’m sure that the unanimous answer is yes. His word says so. He says we are salt and light. He tells us to reckon ourselves dead to sin. He says that we are more than conquerors. That in our weakness, He is strong. He says that if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is a son of God and they died for our sins we shall be saved. Rom 10:9
He says we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ and that by the spirit of adoption we cry out Abba Father.
By grace through faith. Eph 2:8-9
Oh, and by the way, He assures us it’s all so.
in the beginning was the word, John 1:1, and faith comes by hearing the word. Rom 10:17
Am I preaching to the choir? I am sure of it. Except, wisdom and understanding is something we should seek as if we are digging for buried treasure. Prov 2:4
There are some things that I’ve known about for a long time, but now that I look back, I can, way more, clearly see that there is a lot that I apparently did not understand. Chief among them is the role of a husband and father. As I worked my head off on many days to provide and protect, I failed to agree with God about some things. The word of God tells us about God’s desire to turn the hearts of the father back to their children. Mam 4:6
Back from what? The cares of this life , the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things that can choke out the word and the word becomes unfruitful in our lives. Mark 4:19
The word of God tells husbands to give himself to his wife (loving and cherishing) just as Christ gave Himself to the church. Eph 5:29
But too many times, according to author John Bevere in His book The Bait of Satan, being offended can distract us from this very thing. According to His grace and work in my life, Phil 2:13
I now understand that, had I been better at striving to agree with God, I would have understood that He created us in His image. Among many other things, He is the creator. We are created to be creators. Not just in sermons, music, and art, but in moments and circumstances.
My family and I don’t own the corner market on trouble, but we have seen our share. We have had a season or two of some real struggles. I confess to you now, that on too many days, my response was not one that anyone could say agreed with God. I was wound up, upset, angry, and offended. What if I had better understood that it was, very specifically, my role to agree with God.
It was, and still is, my job to be the creator. Ambassador to Christ. Ambassador to reconciliation. My responsibility to show my wife and children what agreeing with God looks like and how good it is when we do.
Don’t get me wrong, I have pictures and videos of my family and I working, laughing and singing together. (Man, am I glad there are no pictures or videos of the days when I so drastically failed.)
These days I am aware, and thank you Lord, I’m winning at trying to create some solutions and better moments. That can only be done by agreeing with God.
His word says the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:20
And, take note, that outburst of wrath is mentioned in the same verses (in the book of Galatians, chapter 5) as murder and adultery and all the other works of the flesh.
In music ministry, we create a lot. We write songs and sermons. We create marketing strategies and images. But along the way we are also creating moments and hopefully moments that inspire people to turn to God. My hope in this article is to encourage and remind us all that people are watching. There are still many who don’t really know the love of God, the peace of God, the grace of God.
Jesus said they will know you are my disciples….John 13:35
Too many are still walking around who are starving to death to see the difference that the word of God makes in our lives. The only way we can show them is to be more on purpose about agreeing with God.
If the enemy can keep us offended he can keep us from being affective. God has created us and set us aside for a time such as this to affect those around us. To create solutions and better moments than what our flesh would naturally want us to do. In ministry, we get to showcase, if we will, a response that agrees with God. How we respond to people, to unexpected changes, to trouble and so much more.
I know how, all too well, to respond with my flesh. Anger, frustration, lack of patience, indignation, worry, etc. I’m seeing incredible things happen all because of God, in His mercy, has been at work in me and in all of us as well, purging the habits and hang ups of the flesh. And one of the ways He’s doing that is by giving us this glorious goal to shoot for. The same thing that Jesus succeeded at, agreeing with God. And He assures that the work that He has begun, He will finish and, Thank God, His grace is indeed sufficient.