Chapter One: What’s in it for God?
Pg 4
When we pursue the glory of God, we must remember we are pursuing whatever glorifies, honours, and pleases Him. This means we must personally bow out entirely and respect what He is pleased to do. Whenever He is pleased to do it. Wherever He is pleased to do it. With whomever He is pleased to use. We need to be willing to affirm His right to pass us by and bless those He chooses to bless – even when that blessing does not include what he hoped for.
Chapter Two: Knowing that God knows.
Pg 16
If you are like me, one of the most common faults we make
is to run ahead of the Lord. Joseph and Mary did this. They went a whole day’s
journey, “thinking he was in their company” (Luke 2:44), but He wasn’t. It is
so easy to assume the Lord approves our plans merely because we truly want to
please Him, because we have spent time with Him, and have even sensed His
approval in so much of what we do. And yet, it is still very possible to go
ahead of Him, thinking that He is behind our plans. When we move ahead like
this, we are on our own. It is a precarious place to be!
Chapter Four: The Greatest Goal on Earth
Pg 55
People sometimes ask me, “How could the Jews be so blind
that they missed the very Messiah promised to them?” Good question. But Jesus’
question to the Jews answers that and tells you exactly why they missed Him: the
fear of man. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem because of it, knowing
that the Jews were forfeiting what would have brought them peace: they did not
“recognize the time of God’s coming” to them.
But this verse is equally relevant to you and me today. There is a grave principle that lies behind John 5:44; it not only shows how Israel missed their Messiah but all shows how you and I can miss what God is in today.
… If we are addicted to the approval of people, we quench
the Holy Spirit; it is perhaps the quickest way to put out Spirit’s fire (1
Thess. 5:19)
Pg. 57
Referring to parable in Luke 17:7-10
7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
This parable leaves no room for us to think God is going
to give us a pat on the back each time we do something that He has commanded us
to do. This parable removes all ground of entitlement. This tells me therefore
that we are commanded to seek the glory that comes from the only God – on and
on and on –without knowing in the meantime to what extent He is happy with us.
I choose to believe that He is pleased – I am sure that He is. But the honour,
praise, and glory that is implied in John 5:44 is only guaranteed at the
judgement seat of Christ, and not before.
Chapter Five: Integrity
Pg. 76
Jackie Pullinger, who has become a legend in her own time
because of her ministry in Hong Kong, said … “We are going to feel stupid for
eternity if we waste this life.” I know what she means by that. Oh yes, God
will wipe away all tears (Rev. 21:4), no doubt about that. But at the same time,
at least when we stand before the judgement seat of Christ to give account of
the things done in the body, whether good or bad, we will have cause to regret
with incalculable sorrow if we have not found our nice to live for God’s glory
on this earth.
Pg. 89
There are passages in the Bible, Old Testament and New
Testament, that doesn’t make sense to us. It will be to our folly if we dismiss
these merely because they don’t make sense to us – as if our opinion is valid
and lets us off the hook because we deem ourselves capable of judging God’s
Word. He knows what He has written. He has not forgotten what He has written.
His word is a test whether we will believe His Word or dismiss it
because it does not make sense to us.
Chapter Seven: Character and Gifting.
In this chapter, R. T. Kendall debated the importance of
Gifting and Character.
He pointed on the example of King Saul, who “flourished
despite his personal character”, and suggested that “the gifts and calling of
God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29, “without repentance”, KJV). This means that
a gift, once bestowed, is yours to keep, regardless of your integrity or
character. – Pg 116
As a contrast, R.T. Kendall used John the Baptist as
example.*
Pg. 119
He performed no miracles. Indeed, “many people came to him”.
…. John the Baptist had an anointing that attracted people to come twenty miles
from Jerusalem to hear him. It was the fear of God that emanated from John’s
preaching.
But cannot a person who pleases the Lord by his or her holy life have both? Cannot a man of God also have such an irrevocable gift? Absolutely, if God grants it. We should pray for this (1 Cor. 12:31). But in my opinion, we should never settle for a gift that is not matched by sexual purity, detachment from the love of money, and true humility.
I would urge the reader of this book to covet the kind of anointing that comes from the desire to perform before an audience of One.
Chapter Eight: The Faith Hall of Fame.
Pg 134
From all the figures mentioned in this chapter, Joshua
stood out to me.*
Likewise Joshua, Moses’ successor, showed the same reverence to God’s ways. When he saw an awesome figure – a man with a drawn sword in his hand – Joshua asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The surprising answer: “Neither… but as commander of the army of the Lord.” Instead of objecting or complaining, Joshua fell on his face. He took off his shoes for he was on holy ground (Joshua 5:13-15). This scenario is a perfect demonstration of what I referred to earlier: the only evidence that I have seen the Divine Glory is my willingness to forsake any claim upon God. Joshua saw the Lord’s glory. He knew he had no claim upon God. God owed him singularly nothing. Joshua accepted this and worshipped.
Pg 148
Caution: never – ever – presume that your faithfulness to
God by being devoted to an audience of One is a guarantee of blessing,
prosperity, health, happiness and safety. …
Sometimes it would seem Satan has a temporary victory. In
any case, you and I must not live before an audience of One because it will
guarantee a blessing. But I can, however, tell you what it will guarantee: a
reward at the judgement seat of Christ.
Chapter Nine: A Spark
Pg. 169
I have wondered what kind of vulnerability it might take
that you and I would be a spark today. Are we so orderly ad sophisticated that
our usual way of doing things will out the Spirit’s fire?
Would you be vulnerable? Would I?
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