Who Takes the Initiative ? (Part 4)

This is the last in this series on who takes the initiative in seeking to either do God’s will or to attempt a God inspired event or act, God or Us. All too often we fail to take the initiative and often believe that if God wants us to do something he would tell us. If you haven’t read the first three articles, please do so before reading this last one.

As stated previously, God created man to partner with him in the management of his creation. God wants partners, not just slaves: poor robots who have to be told when and where to do anything, otherwise they don’t act. God’s great intention in man’s creation was to create a family where we all take responsibility according to our gifts, and also take pleasure in what we accomplish. When God created the heaven and the earth he took delight in his creation, and so man was created to be just like God, finding value and pleasure in being creative and doing good.

In the previous article we saw how many times Christians feel no obligation in pursuing God with suggestions about how we can be used to make a real difference in this life. Jesus came to not only redeem man from his fallen position because of sin and rebellion, but to show us what a son or daughter of God should and could become with the Father’s help.

So let’s look at a few events where people took the initiative in pursuing Jesus to accomplish what they could not do on their own.

The first is a woman who had been sick for at least twelve years. She tried everything in her power to overcome her sickness. Scripture states she spent all her money trying to get healed and nothing good happened. Then one day she hears about Jesus and wonders, “What if” Jesus would do for her what others had experienced. The interesting thing is, Jesus didn’t come looking for her. He didn’t come to her and ask if she would like to be healed, and in fact it appears he didn’t even know she existed, nor that she had such a great need.

Matthew 9:20-22  A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Jesus turned around and said to her, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

This woman came to the conclusion, we don’t know how, that Jesus liked people taking the initiative in coming to him for help and answers; that he welcomed solicitation, rather than just expecting and waiting for him to make offers of help or healing. This woman’s conclusion was simple: “If I touch his clothing I will get healed.” Where did she get this idea that touching his clothes would or could heal what the doctors could not? It had to be partly the testimony of others, and her own desperation, that compelled her to hope and act. Is it possible that God sometimes let’s us struggle until we are so desperate we cry out with such expectations? I think so.

Next is the story of a Roman soldier–not just any solider, but a commander of one hundred men. This man, like the woman, had to heard testimonies of a touch or healing from God through Jesus. These testimonies must have convinced this commander that Jesus could be approached for help. He did not have to wait for Jesus to take the lead of approving him. Jesus evidentially didn’t know this solider when he first approached. In both of these cases Jesus didn’t make the initial contact to reveal the will and plan of God, but these people saw that Jesus liked people to take the initiative to have God intervene in their lives.

Matthew 8:5-10 When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and racked with pain.”

Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

Then the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed! I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this or that,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!

Powerful! When you can amaze Jesus you have done an amazing thing. Jesus was impressed with this man because he understood the power of authority. Second, he understood who had authority and who didn’t. Third, this man, although a gentile understood God’s character and willingness to help when we have a need. He had to have read the Old Testament account of Moses encountering God when receiving the law where God explained a “Fundamental” truth about his character.

Exodus 34:6-7 He passed in front of Moses and said, “I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. 

Here is the most important thing we can understand: When we understand God’s heart to help all who ask him, and build our expectations on his character, God moves in wonderful ways. He loves for us to trust him and approach him as a father who delights in helping his children. Consider the passage were Jesus says with just a little faith (trust) in him he will release power to transform.

Matthew 17:20 “You didn’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Take advantage of knowing and believing in the character of God: that he is a “GOOD” God who delights in hearing the requests of his children. Be ready to surrender your fears and doubts, and expect God to speak and tell you what’s on his heart as well. Join the countless number of people around the world who delight in approaching their Heavenly Father.

Question:

1) Have you believed whatever happens in life is God’s will and suffered without his help? Ask and you will receive, pressed down shaken together.

2) Have you built your prayers on a poor understanding of the character of God? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you in the word the Father’s great love for you and his willingness to hear what’s on your mind.

May God lead us in discovering our Heavenly Father’s heart & desire to move on our behalf.

Pastor Dale