It’s the end of March! How has the first quarter of the year been for you?
The last time I wrote in January, I was just getting back to preaching and teaching after a short break. In February and March, my ministry schedule kicked into full swing! I am just thankful to have a little breather to write this newsletter 🙂
But don’t worry. I will not be listing all the meetings I spoke at and all the birthday celebrations of our larger-than-normal family. (You can find these on my Facebook and Instagram feeds.) Instead, I’d like to share a little reflection that helped point me back on track. I hope this will encourage you – especially if you are actively serving in the work of the ministry.
A little background first …
By the grace of God, the message of Archippus Awakening has been gaining traction. The books, Say To Archippus and Alignment Check, continue to be well received. The assembly of like-minded saints (Archippuses, we call these) is also growing. All this means that there is more work to be done where awakening, aligning and assigning is concerned. Naturally, this leads to more visibility for Archippus Awakening (and me).
Sounds good? Definitely. To the glory of God! However, this increase also comes with new challenges … and yours truly found himself over-thinking and over-planning (yes, again).
It was time for an alignment check and the Lord gladly obliged.
I had been working my way through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Earlier this week, the following words from Phil 2:5-11 impacted me:
- Jesus “made Himself of no reputation” (2:7).
- Jesus “humbled Himself” (2:8).
- Jesus “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (2:8).
It donned on me that as I seek to give my best in all that has been assigned to me, the issues of reputation, humility and obedience must be constantly grappled with. As the ministry grows, do I find myself protecting my own reputation, name and credibility; and that of Archippus Awakening? If I am not careful, pride will be the next monster to deal with, leading to a compromise of assignment, resulting in disobedience.
That morning, the Lord gently and graciously ministered to me, lifting off a burden I had unconsciously placed upon myself.
Yes, there is still lots of work to be done but there is no pressure to perform at all. I have nothing to prove. It is not my reputation that I should be concerned with because my identity is found, not in what I do, but in Christ. His name is the only name that matters – not mine, not Archippus Awakening. In times of growth, I must remember that everything is entirely by His grace. Stay humble. After all, it is “God who gives the increase” (1 Cor 3:7). When it is no longer about me or my abilities, the focus is then rightly directed to the purposes of the kingdom – obedience to kingdom assignments, no matter what it takes.
Dear friends, thank you for walking alongside with me, allowing me to share my journey with you. I hope this little reflection encourages you too as you seek to serve the Lord and to give Him your very best. May we always be reminded that it is not about us, but about Jesus and His kingdom! It is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). #nopressure
On this note, allow me to leave you with Philippians 2:5-11 so that you can reflect on the example and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him the highest praise and deepest worship:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV
In His love and for His glory!
Henson, with Serene and the entire Lim Tribe
One Day At A Time 