The Church in Action Part 4

We have been reading Proverbs 31, one verse at a time, to see what God is revealing about His perfected Bride. We continue here:

9. Verse 18 – “She perceiveth that her merchandise is good.” She is Convinced. Are you?

Are you convinced that all this is worth it? You see – if I said, “Everyone who’s really convinced, stand to your feet” – you would stand because no one wants to admit we’re not. But are we convinced? Are we really? The Lord knows whether we are or not.

I told my secretary, Shirlee, – “I think I’ll buy a building..." (as if I was capable financially of doing that! :-)) "...and I’d name it: 'The Church of Unused Speakers.'" :-) I could have a different speaker every service from now till Jesus comes. :-) And the people would love it because of no commitment to anyone. That’s a sobering thought!

Can’t you just see it, though? It’d be like a conference – only it’d just be on-going; every week a different speaker. But you’d never know who was going to speak. All these people that want to – feel called to – but presently aren’t placed somewhere. I bet (oh, I don’t bet :-)) – I believe I know enough capable, equipped, unplaced speakers to keep such a thing going a good 5 years! That’s not a joke. I really am serious about that.

So, why is that true? Did He or did He not call them – call you? And if He called and we said, “Yes,” is He or is He not capable of placing us in the right spot? Well, you’ve offered a quick “Amen, ” but I see some of those right here in this meeting that are saying: “I’m called, anointed, prepared, degreed…” – many of them and properly so – but they don’t have a placement. They don’t have a place of ministry. And they’re a threat to any church leadership where they might attend, because as much as they muzzle their mouths – the anointing is there.

What’s the answer to this dilemma? I haven’t a clue. I have not one clue because each situation is so personal. Honestly, it’s too personal for me to give you a pat answer. Do you understand that? God is working something out in every life! Especially when it seems to feel like you’re just sitting on the shelf – prepared for and experienced in way more than you’re involved in right now! I promise you He is at work in you – and in your circumstances – because His promises never fail: “Thy promises are thoroughly tested and Thy servant loveth them” (Ps.119:140 NIV).

How wonderful to be able to just trust Him! And trusting Him now, right where you are, is your present call. “I know the plans I have for you… they are for good, for your peace, and not for evil…” (Jer.29:11).

“Well, but what’s He going to do with me?” I don’t know. And you must stop going from prophet to prophet looking for direction or something to hang on to. Hang onto God, Himself! The prophets don’t know anymore than you do! :-) All those prophetic words you’ve received, if you pull them out and read them again – you will notice they all say the same thing! :-) Tell the truth! “The Lord is going to use you. Yea, He hath called thee…” – that’s from the ones that speak like that – sort of in King James vernacular – it makes it sound so authoritative!. :-) “Greater will be the end of thy ministry than the beginnings.” “Thou hast been led through the valley…”

That is the promise of God! And what He’s saying is this: “Don’t bother about it!’” Oh, you don’t think so? Then think about this: Jesus spent 30 years getting ready for a 3-year ministry! [Pause here long enough to think about that one!] What was He doing? Oh, just making tables and stuff – same thing His father did. Selah. Just do what the Father is doing (cf.Jn.5:19).

A major diversion in your life, leaders, can be a consuming desire to minister (like “a fire in your bones”? – cf. Jer.20:9). And then you spend your time looking for that right place in the horizontal – instead of looking for that right place in your vertical relationship with God! You need to be looking for the right place in Him. Don’t be diverted or distracted from first things first – because if you’re looking up, you can’t be depressed and discouraged and distraught about your ministry. It isn’t “yours” anyway and He’s ripping the “yours” out of your hand.

When He gives the place, it’ll be His placement and you also will be His because you will be in the Bride of Christ. If you can hear that fully, you’ll be happy that you did! The Bride of Christ is convinced that she is on the right path, doing the right thing, producing the right stuff – and confident that she is His!

10. Verse 19 – Composed. “She layeth her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.” This wife is making something – she’s pulling together all the loose threads of where she has influence. Did you get that?

I mentioned before about Pastors praying: “Oh, if God would only send us musicians. If He would only send us this and that…” Look at the threads you do have. Get yourself over to the spindle and start pulling the threads together.

I have done that. I think most of my life, if not all, that’s what I have done in the church. You, leaders, need to look around. Discover what (or who) God has brought your way – or where His potential lies – or in whom. Here’s a fact of history: about 50 or so years ago as a young minister, I sat under the oversight of a particular pastor. Someone came to me and said, “I will donate an organ to that church if you have someone who can play it.” I said, “Oh, good. We do!” And then I went to the pastor’s wife and said, “You’re the organist.” :-) Her reply was forthright: “I’ve never played an organ in my life!” But I declared: “Well, you’re going to now.” :-) And I really meant it. I honestly believed that with all my heart. She was the only thread I had! I was playing saxophone (if you can imagine :-)) and doing other things.

The man was true to his word and soon delivered the organ. He brought it in – set it up – and she came over and sat down. Then I showed her what little bit I knew on the piano and she sat there and practiced and practiced – and became the church organist! We could have missed a beautiful organ by saying, “We don’t have an organist.” Are you there? You need to look at your people and say, “What do we have? Are there any warm bodies here, submitted to the Father?”

11. Verse 20 – She’s Compassionate. “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor.” Oh, how we need compassion. That’s so needed these days – inside the Church and out.

13. Verse 22 – Covered. “She maketh herself coverings of tapestry and her clothing purple.” Oh, I’d love to spend a lot of time on this one, but I’m very conscious of the time getting away from us.

Our Bride looks good. I think it’s time for the Church to look good. Not being legalistic or ostentatious about our freedom and all of that, but we need to look good. We need to look healthy and joyful. We need to look like someone else would be proud to be around us.

I know we’ve loosened up – a lot! There was a day when, if I wore pants in the pulpit, I would have been tarred and feathered. :-) Unfortunately, that is the absolute truth! Things have changed – thank God. We’re not so stiff or stuffy – but don’t we still look nice? I don’t think we should become lax by our acceptance of others or so influenced by the world’s standards or its clothing fads that we look like them. But we need to still look good.

14. This woman is Connected. Verse 23. “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.”

Let me explain that a little. Right now, the Church has very little say in our society. We brag if we get an audience with a Senator or the Governor. “Well, yes, I was invited to come in and Janet and I had a little talk.” :-) Not! That’s not true – at least not for me personally. But if it was, I might be prone to brag about it, just a little. “Oh, just think! I got to see the Governor!” But the truth is, we have little influence in our political world these days.

After the sessions today and our closing prayer, and we walk out – what happens next? Probably business as usual. Come on! – be real. But there is coming to our society, a fresh understanding that when they’ve come to the end of themselves, and used up all their worldly wisdom and the whole thing is falling apart – there will be a foundation – of truth! There will be a firm pillar – of the Truth! And it isn’t you as an individual or me as a individual or anyone else by name – it’s all of us together. It’s His Bride! Pillars in the house of God!

Well, for the sake of time, I will give you the rest of the “c” words. :-)

15. This Bride is a Contributor. Verse 24. “She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” She is contributing to the well-being of her family and adding something positive to her world.

16. She’s Credible. Verse 25. “Strength and honor are her clothing…” She’s real. She’s strong. But it’s in her Maker that she finds that strength.

17. She’s Cheerful. This is from the rest of verse 25: “and she shall rejoice in time to come.” She is not depressed by the negatives all around her. She rejoices because of who she is and Whom she serves and in Whom is her existence. She delights in His presence.

18. She’s a Counselor. From the first part of verse 26. “She openeth her mouth, with wisdom…”

Or check this verse out: Proverbs 4:7: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding.”

Or, Proverbs 16:16 – “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold.”

Oh, how much Solomon understood the value of wisdom! And then he advised: “And cease from thine own wisdom” (Pr.23:4).

19. She’s a Communicator. From the rest of verse 26: “and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” She is careful how she speaks and what she says. She knows the power of the tongue. She knows that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Pr.25:11). She is aware that the tongue can be “an unruly member” when it is not guarded and bridled (Jas.3:1-13). She is a careful communicator.

20. She’s Concerned – about someone besides herself. Verse 27. “She looketh will to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”

I’m telling you, the day of kids hating the Church is going to end, as we get rid of some of our rigidities and our hypocrisy. We can no longer be “witches” at home and “queens” in the church.

22. She’s a Champion. Verse 29. “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”

Way back to the beginning of time, He says, “many of them have done well.” (cf. Heb.11). How would you like to have kept the Law – like they had to in the Old Testament – with no real understanding of why they did what they did? Do you think that isn’t recognized? By the husband? By God the Father – Who married that – that wom—

23. Verse 31 – And finally, she is Completed. “Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

God is givng us a description of His Church - His Bride. It takes us all working together to be all of this, and to be it well - in excellence. When we come to the understanding of His plan to use the Church to establish His Kingdom - then we will be fulfilling His destiny - and ours!