Circumstances Beyond Our Control

It's amazing what you can learn in circumstances that are less than ideal. Perhaps one of the greatest lessons is that circumstances are no hindrance at all when God is control.

Our team left a beautiful campus and came to a church building under construction. The work that was scheduled to be finished two months ago is still underway. Abundant space and a wide selection of rooms have been exchanged for cramped quarters and multi-purpose rooms. But while circumstances are less than ideal, God is still in control, and this is shaping up to be an incredible summit.

Through the course of the week, we have touched on many important areas of the Christian life, such as brokenness, surrender, and grace. The congregation has participated with sincerity, genuinely engaged in the summit, but they were particularly moved by Thursday night's message on the reality of sin.

The focus of this message is that sin is a fatal parasite that must be dealt with. Even for those of us who have been redeemed by Christ, we so often let our guard down and let sin leech onto our lives and rob us of the intimacy we could be having with Christ.

Typically, this service is dismissed by having everyone leave in silence, not allowing conversation and fellowship to distract people from what God may be saying to them about their sin. This time things were different. Though the people were dismissed in silence, quiet weeping filled the room. Soon, that soft expression of convicted hearts was broken by the voice of the pastor at the microphone.

Just as God was working in the hearts of many in the congregation, He was also working in the heart of the pastor. Months ago, the pastor had begun praying that God would pour out personal revival on him, that He would "plow up the fallow ground" in his heart. As the pastor stood at the microphone in brokenness, it was obvious that God had answered that prayer.

He confessed a wicked heart full of pride and arrogance. "I have been a horrible pastor to our staff." He had deeply wounded the staff, losing all credibility with them. Although he had a great relationship with the congregation, his dealings with his co-laborers were loveless and task-driven.

The hypocrisy was deepened by the fact that he mentors many church planters. He meets with thirty church planters a month and talks with each of them about how to be an effective church leader. The parasitical sin of pride had seeded itself in his life and left him blind to the harm it was causing him, his ministry, and everyone around him.

"Pride and arrogance are always going to be a battle, but I want God to change me. I don't want to be a pastor who is loved by the congregation but loathed by the staff." His brokenness and transparency were significant as he asked the congregation to forgive him.

With one voice and without hesitation, they shared with him those powerful words, "You're forgiven." Many men went up to pray with him, and a line of people waiting to hug and encourage him formed in the sanctuary. The sin of pride in his life took a mighty blow as he humbled himself before God and man.

This is certainly shaping up to be an incredible summit, and it is particularly encouraging to see the pastor leading the way in brokenness and repentance. One church member expressed that he believes Satan was delivered a harsh blow Thursday night.

Our team waits in eager expectation to see what God will do in this church. Physically, things are less than ideal. Spiritually, it's a different story altogether. The harvest is ready. May the reaping begin.

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