Don't Slow It Down
Nov 2024
We can’t speed up our growth in the Lord, but can we slow it down?
Recently I was visiting with a dear brother, Paulo, on my back porch. He and I were having a great time in fellowship discussing kingdom principles. We were affirming each other in the importance of the Word of God (the Rhema word) in our lives and how it is our foundation of faith and obedience. I reflected on this scripture in Deuteronomy 8, “man shall not live by bread alone but every word from the mouth of the Lord.”
Paulo was saying how he wished he had been more diligent in the last 25 years to listen to God and seek God in life’s decisions. He acknowledged he had made mistakes and felt like he was catching up in his life. I could tell he was disappointed. I assured him of God’s love and understanding.
Tragically he had lost two wives in three years. His first wife died from Covid. More recently, his new wife of 7 months was killed in a tragic accident on the mission field. My heart was sad for his losses but I assured him that God was evidently not done with him since he was one of the only survivors of the accident. I also encouraged him that God is good even when we don’t understand.
Paulo’s declaration was, “I want to know God’s will for this new season in my life.”
Our fellowship continued and I shared a story with him. A word was given to me when I was in a decision-making season years ago. I was seeking God for what was next in my family’s life. I was really wanting to grow and to not miss God’s best for me.
The friend who encouraged me said, “Brother, I don’t know if you can speed up your growth in the Lord, but I know you can slow it down by disobedience and spiritual insensitivity”.
It dawned on me that what the Lord was saying to me was a renewed word. In essence, it was, “you can hasten the coming of the Lord by obeying His word and commands.” II Peter 3:12. (see attachment). In Matthew 24:14, the closing of the age will be accomplished when the gospel is preached to all tribes and tongues (Oral Mother Tongue). We can slow the coming of the Lord by not being diligent to seek Him and go do the work of the ministry diligently. (Colossians 3:23) We can speed it up in this case by giving 100% to the great commission. It’s time to be watchful and “doing”. The days are dark, and evil is expanding. Many are falling away. Let us be like the maidens who had oil in their lamps and were ready for the Jesus-coming.
Don’t forget this is the time of year that donors give extra to kingdom causes. Be sure to have your newsletters out there online, in the inboxes, posted on social media….communicate, communicate, communicate. Make those calls and share your vision, updates, and needs. Don’t be afraid to share all the great and small things God is accomplishing through you. And don’t be hesitant to share your needs. Keep up the good work!
If you have not set up your MEI direct giving link, please do. It makes it quicker and easier for a donor to give. You can add that MEI giving link to all your communication to remind your supporters to give. Don’t think this is an intrusion into someone’s pocketbook…it’s not. I believe most Christian wants to help spread the good news. This makes it easy and quick and gives you and your donors a quick reference to their giving. We’ve set this up at MEI to remove the little obstacles that slow the giving down. Let’s make it happen!
May God’s grace and Holy Spirit lead you-
Andy Huddleston