1Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
In verse 7, we read that God will work through people who have the Spirit of God on the inside:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Because we know the Lord, we have access to His power. And, we can be confident that He will live through us and speak through us according to His will. He will direct us by His Spirit, even to the extent of giving us creative ideas through which He can make His Word and presence known. It's important that we adopt an attitude of willingness to be yielded vessels through which He operates, so that He might be glorified through our obedience.
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In Exodus 40, we read about the presence of the Spirit of God resting upon the Tent of Meeting, or the Tabernacle, a structure fashioned by human hands for supernatural purposes:
In verse 7, we read that God will work through people who have the Spirit of God on the inside:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Because we know the Lord, we have access to His power. And, we can be confident that He will live through us and speak through us according to His will. He will direct us by His Spirit, even to the extent of giving us creative ideas through which He can make His Word and presence known. It's important that we adopt an attitude of willingness to be yielded vessels through which He operates, so that He might be glorified through our obedience.
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34Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.35And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.36Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.37But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.38For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
The men of Centennial Baptist in Rutledge, Georgia used to gather at one of their members' farms for a deer supper. As the church grew and crowds swelled, the church began to rent tents to host the hundreds who attended. According to a report on the Baptist Press website from Georgia's publication, The Christian Index, this year, they partnered with the Georgia Baptist Convention, which had begun to purchase tents in the 1990's. The convention has three now: seating 500, 750, and 1250 people, and which are available for Georgia Baptist church-ministry initiatives including Vacation Bible School, revivals, block parties, harvest festivals, and wild game dinners.
The men of Centennial Baptist in Rutledge, Georgia used to gather at one of their members' farms for a deer supper. As the church grew and crowds swelled, the church began to rent tents to host the hundreds who attended. According to a report on the Baptist Press website from Georgia's publication, The Christian Index, this year, they partnered with the Georgia Baptist Convention, which had begun to purchase tents in the 1990's. The convention has three now: seating 500, 750, and 1250 people, and which are available for Georgia Baptist church-ministry initiatives including Vacation Bible School, revivals, block parties, harvest festivals, and wild game dinners.
Centennial's annual 2014 Sportsman's Dinner drew 610 to hear Southwestern Seminary President Paige Patterson tell about his African safaris as he presented an evangelistic invitation. Thirty-five attendees made professions of faith.
Phil Burgess, who volunteers as the tent ministry coordinator, says, "A tent signals something special is happening...They are a tremendous evangelistic tool." Burgess related about the north Georgia church that pitched a tent outside their sanctuary for a revival. A man walking by wandered into the tent. Something had turned this man off to church when he was young, and he had vowed never to attend again. Burgess said, "If the revival had been in the church, he wouldn't have stepped foot inside...But because it was in a tent, he found Jesus."
Phil Burgess, who volunteers as the tent ministry coordinator, says, "A tent signals something special is happening...They are a tremendous evangelistic tool." Burgess related about the north Georgia church that pitched a tent outside their sanctuary for a revival. A man walking by wandered into the tent. Something had turned this man off to church when he was young, and he had vowed never to attend again. Burgess said, "If the revival had been in the church, he wouldn't have stepped foot inside...But because it was in a tent, he found Jesus."
And, the article does point out that the children of Israel used a tent, a tabernacle, in the wilderness, where the Spirit of God resided. Burgess and other volunteers across the state who are part of the tent ministry regularly see God at work, particularly in the host church. The GBC contract requires the host church to provide volunteers who will set up or break down. He says there's a twofold benefit: The church saves money to do other mission work and, "When you get a group of guys together, the fellowship is unreal."
Last year, only about one-half of churches that utilized this GBC resource filed reports with the state convention. Of those reporting, about 21,000 attended events that resulted in 667 professions of faith, 93 rededications, and 31 baptisms.
There's nothing magical about a canvas structure, but when that structure is used to proclaim God's Word, it becomes infused with the Spirit of God, who will do His work because it is dedicated to Him. Think about the tools that God will use for His glory:
First of all, He uses people. While there may be sovereign instances where God will proclaim His message in a unique way without a human presence. But, more often than not, ordinary people who are dedicated to being used in an extraordinary fashion are key in the proclamation of His truth.
And, then, people, utilizing God's creativity, can be vessels through which the Spirit of God will operate.
Last week, I talked about the simple ministry that is challenging college students to share their faith.
Today on The Meeting House, you'll find out about a nationwide ministry with an Alabama outreach called SOS Events that is using a creative tool consisting of a provocative question to enable volunteers to minister to the hearts of people with whom they come in contact at public events.
Already, the River Region Judgment House, in just over half of its scheduled nights, has seen almost 1450 people, with just over 275 recorded commitments, including 165 people accepting Christ as their Savior.
And, churches are using the outreach of Fall Festivals, alternatives to the secular celebration of Halloween, to provide opportunities for the gospel to be shared.
So, I think about those tents being used over in Georgia for the purpose of pointing to our Savior. They are tools through which God will draw people to Himself and work in their lives. Remember, we can depend on the Lord to use what is committed to Him.
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