Thriving Talk - Social Media

Another episode of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this week is Social Media. 

Details about Thriving Talk Podcast - 

On Gospel-Link.com website - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/

Links to different podcast platforms - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html

YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/_dy1gmWW55U

Under which Cloud?

I want to share the sermon I preached last Sunday at my church. I spoke in Malayalam with translation to English. 

Main Points from the messages.

• Message Portion:-Number 9:15-23
• Main Verse:- Number 9:22-23

രണ്ടു ദിവസമോ ഒരു മാസമോ ഒരു സംവത്സരമോ മേഘം തിരുനിവാസത്തിന്മേൽ ആവസിച്ചിരുന്നാൽ യിസ്രായേൽമക്കൾ പുറപ്പെടാതെ പാളയമടിച്ചു താമസിക്കും; അതു പൊങ്ങുമ്പോഴോ അവർ പുറപ്പെടും. 23 യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനപോലെ അവർ പാളയമിറങ്ങുകയും യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനപോലെ യാത്ര പുറപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്യും; മോശെമുഖാന്തരം യഹോവ കല്പിച്ചതുപോലെ അവർ യഹോവയുടെ ആജ്ഞ പ്രമാണിച്ചു.
Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.

• We have different ideas about God, but they must be biblical.

○ 5 things to remember - 

• God visits 
• God speaks
• God leads
• God fulfills the purpose
• God has a plan for the future beyond this world.
• OT - God used different ways to speak and lead his people
• Pillar of Cloud during day and pillar of fire at night
• NT - God made a better provision

• John 14:16- 17 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[e] who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

• When you are under the Cloud of the Holy Spirit, what happens?

1. You will have Kingdom First view - plans, thought, energy, time, and effort will be first directed towards being a witness.  Receive the power to be a witness.
2. You will be willing to sacrifice. This includes your ego, attitude, etc.  
3. There will be ongoing transformation, and you will move from talking to actions and commitments.
4. You will not simply follow your emotions or what others say. You will not be manipulated by people or devil.
5. All leading should sync with the word of God and with good counsel. You will do exploits for the Lord in your generation. 

Conclusion

• George Mueller cared for 2000 orphans at a time and about 10K during his life. 
• Mueller had over fifty thousand specific recorded answers to prayers in his journals, thirty thousand of which he said were answered the same day or the same hour that he prayed them. Think of it: that’s five hundred definite answers to prayer each year—more than one per day—every single day for sixty years! God funneled over half a billion dollars (in today’s dollars) through his hands in answer to prayer.
• George Müller died a poor man in 1898. Bristol came to a halt when his funeral happened. Factories and businesses closed, and thousands of people came out to mourn and pay respect as the funeral procession went by. Below is a quote from the Bristol Times newspaper on the day of his funeral “he was raised up for the purpose of showing that the age of miracles is not past”

YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/yBwTRJ2SCvQ

Hazeroth Moments - Unexpected Opposition

This post is for my colleagues in ministry, but it will benefit everyone. I recently read through the books of Exodus and Numbers from the Bible. Many things caught my attention, but what stood out was the Hazeroth moment in Moses’ life. Moses was a humble man who was given the enormous task of leading the people out of Egypt. This was not something he signed by himself. He was explicitly asked by God to do it. He tried to get out of this assignment but was not given an option to opt-out.

During the journey in the wilderness, Moses faced many challenges and opposition from people. He had a Kibroth-hattaavah experience in which people complained about not having meat, and the anger of the Lord blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. I feel sad about it, but I felt like his brother Aaron and sister Miriam were with him most of the time.

Something which happened is recorded in Numbers 12.

Numbers 12:1-3 (NLT)

While at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. 3 (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)

I have read this passage many times, but it just hurt me this time. Own brother and sister turned against Moses. Whatever the reason with his wife, the point they raised is something different. The issue was with their sister-in-law, but they questioned the integrity and sincerity of Moses’ ministry. God has spoken through them also and not just Moses.

When we read about everything which happened before that, we know what a foolish statement they were making. What Moses did and what they did cannot be compared at any level. Here they were opposing Moses for no real reason. This is a pattern we see even today. Let me share a few points which may highlight the issues.

1. People deviate from real reason and accuse leaders of something else.
2. Most of the time, the finger is pointed at leaders for anything or everything.
3. People say, “God has stopped speaking to you.”
4. Do you pray as you did in the past? Your messages were inspired in the past, but now it is not inspired. (I have heard that).
5. God speaks to us also and leads us also. We do not have to follow or listen to your words.
6. People try to prove that they are better spiritually than you.
7. People will make false statements to show that you are no more good or fit to do the ministry.
8. People will try to make groups to gather support. I may be wrong, but I felt like Miriam brainwashed Aaron to join this revolt.
9. People will spread rumors without a basis to accuse and prove their point.
10. Threaten that everything will collapse since God’s favor is gone from you.

I can go on with more statements, but I hope the point is clear. I will call these Hazeroth Moments times of unexpected opposition coming from nowhere. You trusted people and never imagined they would turn against you, but it happens. The people whom you thought would stand and support you till the end behave as if you are their enemy. Once this happens, everything you do becomes a problem, and all your actions become problematic. You cannot say and do anything since you will be misunderstood irrespective of what you do. It is a reality, and it can happen.

I have seen in my life that God uses these moments to mold and build us before giving us the next assignment. It is not to destroy you but to build you. Let us see what happens in this scenario.

1. Moses did not respond or go to fight with Aaron or Miriam. He did not argue about his accomplishments.
2. God called them and asked them to come to the tabernacle.
3. God gave a defense about Moses. They were asked why they were not afraid to criticize Moses.
4. Lord was very angry. 
5. Miriam was struck with leprosy.
6. Moses had to cry to the Lord for them to be forgiven and restored.
7. Miriam had to stay outside the tent for seven days.

In conclusion, the lesson we learn is that Hazeroth moments with unexpected opposition may come in your life. You do not have to react or fight it out. If you are humble and faithful, the Lord himself will take care of it. These moments are excruciating, but they will prepare you for something new in your life.  

Do not waste your Hazeroth Moments. In prayer, anticipate the next level of your ministry with confirmation from the Lord.

Thriving Talk - Volunteering at Local Church vs. Parachurch

Episode 5 of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this time is "Volunteering at Local Church vs. Parachurch." This is another Dad-Son edition in which Tim, my son, sits with me and asks questions about life, purpose, spirituality, faith, etc. 

I recently wrote a blog, and some questions are from it. You can read that blog pose here - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/local-church-vs-parachurch-ministry.html.

Details about Thriving Talk Podcast - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html

YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/ZbAvrNG9EEs

Sin of Omission

Sharing the sermon, I preached this Sunday at my church. It is in English.  

Summary of the message

• Main Verse:- James 4:17
• So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it. (CSB)
• Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (NLT)
• SC&SO
• Sin of Commission - Sins that a person actively commits. 
• Sin of Omission - A sin of omission is a sin that is the result of not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do. James 4:17
• I had personally confessed and thought of sin of commission 95% time. Did not think about omissions that much.
• Paul's struggle with this issue - Rom. 7:14-20 - Struggle with Sin
• Good Samaritan story - Luke 10:25-37
• Bible teachings - 1 John 3:17-18, Mathew 25:44-45
• Consequences of Omission
1. Intentional Omission is disobedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice. ( 1Sam. 15:22)
2.  Omission leads to neglect which hinders the fulfillment of God's purpose and calling. 
3. Omission leads to missed divine appointments.
4. Omission has eternal consequences.
5. We end up not helping people in need. A lot of words and no deeds.

• What to look for when we read the Bible?
1. Look for what God is asking us not to do and asking us to do.
2. Write them down if you feel like you are not doing it.
3. Take action items to start doing it. 

• “Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny.” ― Abraham Verghese, Cutting for Stone.

YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/-6l_0iVrHUw

Careless with Ministry Tasks

Most people will agree that God has a purpose for their life. Many have a genuine desire to do something for the Lord. How will we do anything for the Lord? Should we pursue it, or will something come to us?

There are many ways in which people get engaged with the work of the Lord.

1.     Their desire and commitment push them to volunteer and do things.

2.     They are pushed into something by others because there is a need, and they have the talent to do it.

3.     They are asked or forced to take up some responsibility because others think they will grow by doing things even though they may have no experience.

4.     They get opportunities because there is pressure within their church or organization to provide them to people. People may end up with things they do not want to do.

5.     They want fame and fight to get positions, so elections take place with a lot of competition.

6.     They get a direct vision or call from the Lord and pursue that in obedience.

There may be other ways, but my focus today is what happens after taking up the role. The Bible is clear that we should not be careless or lax when it comes to assignments related to the work of the Lord, and God expects faithfulness from us when it comes to the task given to us.

Jer.48:10- "A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord's work!.."

Luke 16:10- "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Few things to consider-

1.     Do not take up roles that you cannot do or know that you are not going to do anything.

2.     Do not hold positions for the sake of name or fame, and many hold on to posts due to the organization's brand name.

3.     If you are inactive and not doing much, give up and let someone else do it. Trust God that He can use others if you are too busy.

4.     Understand that holding a position and not doing anything hinders the Lord's work. Your inactivity is killing the organization slowly.

5.     Do not take up positions under pressure. Pray and take it if you realize that God is calling you to do it. It does not mean that you shy away from everything.

6.     If you take any position or role, allocate X hours per week or every month for that role. Add it to your calendar or list of things to do. Make sure you are thinking about it and making sure that you are playing your part in the progress and overall growth. Never sleep over the work you are assigned.

7.     Be intentional with completing the work. Do not delay what can be done today. Do not go into hibernation mode for no reason.

8.     Be focused and diligent with your assignments. Lack of focus is killing many mission initiatives these days.

9.     Do not fall into the trap of having divided loyalty and ignoring one over the other. I have different roles, and I have to balance them. I cannot be focused on things that drag me and ignore others. The best way to handle it is to evaluate your commitments. If you feel you will neglect something or do not have the time, relieve yourself from that role.

10.  Do everything wholeheartedly, knowing that you are doing Lord's work and not for anyone else. Your reward will be from the Lord.

In conclusion, let me encourage you to evaluate your commitments and ensure you contribute diligently to everything you have taken up. Do not let missions suffer because of your busyness, lack of focus, and intentionality. If we do that, we will have to answer to God one day.

God bless you! 

Thriving Talk - Purpose of Life

Episode 4 of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this time is Purpose of Life. This is the first Dad-Son edition. Tim, my son, sits with me and asks questions about life, purpose, spirituality, faith, etc. 

Details about Thriving Talk Podcast - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html

YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/cnbNrRsrBmU