Planning, faith and miracles

THROUGHOUT the ages, humanity has been developing and progressing.  

We’re becoming more structured and organised.  

Mordenity and civilisation brought in strategic life plans that can cause friction with spirituality as we shall see. 

Christianity is a faith that should be expressive in society and in our communities.  

We’re natural members in a spiritual entity.  

Salvation brought us to spiritual birth and we’re born from above.  

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That’s our source. 

The church has to remain alive to the fact that it’s spiritual, supernatural and miraculous.  

Church buildings, assets and organisational structures should not be hindrance to a spiritual God to touch the lives of congregants and members. 

At church level sometimes budgets and head count exclude God as the Provider.  

There are many ways the church is seen in the Bible.  

It’s the body of Christ.  

We read 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Jesus Himself takes care of it.  

The church is the flock of the Shepherd.  

Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”  

He feeds, protects and leads us.  

Furthermore we’re children of a caring Father.  

We don’t fend for ourselves and we’re not orphans, beggars nor scavengers.  

There are believers who have become so regimented in their salaries and income and can’t figure out how they can excel in life beyond their income bracket.  

They say in Shona, tanha yaunosvikira, loosely translated, live within your means.  

Dear believer reader, never limit God the Father to your job, salary or business profits.  

We should go to work yes but the job is not our source and provider.  

God is. Don’t abandon your business and trade, just know that they provide less than God.  

In Zimbabwe and according to information on record, the majority get salaries that can’t meet household expenses.  

However, children are still going to school and university.  

It’s the hand of God.  

A believer should lead a life where the grace of God is allowed to express itself.  

Jesus asks rhetorically in Matthew 6:30, “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” 

The church may be blamed for driving the miraculous out of the faith.  

Conferences and crusades in some settings are planned by looking at income from tithes and numbers who give financially and materially.  

I’m not against churches with rich members. 

Let’s look at Jesus’ church.  

He pursued purpose and mission and trusted God for provision.  

You say where there’s a vision, there will be provision. 

Many of us can’t survive in Jesus’ church.  

Let’s read the feeding of more than 5 000 people in Mark 6:32-36, “[32] And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. [33] And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. [34] And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. [35] And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: [36] Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.” 

Please read the rest of the story. 

Will you stick with a pastor who holds conferences or crusades in the desert and worse still without proper planning with the leadership?  

There are many lessons to be learnt here in context with our inquiry. 

Jesus didn’t scan attendees purses for contributions and pledges.  

He used what was there, five loaves and two fishes to feed the multitudes.  

Prayer was the key. Doing the will of God was the driving force.  

He said in John 6:38, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”  

Whose will are we pursuing in our ministries?  

Jesus continued to work as God would want Him to as in John 5:17, “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”  

Have you stopped going out for evangelism because of money? 

Have you blocked the supernatural and miraculous because you plan, budget and don’t live a disorganised life?  

You bishops, archbishops, apostles and prophets, aren’t you running the church as a business entity because the economists, accountants and the professionals in the church plan professionally using best practices? 

The Christian faith is followed by miracles, signs and wonders.  

Are members contributing and getting poor and poorer?  

Leave the church in the hands of Christ.  

You members, don’t let your salary and job run your life, God is your Source and Provider. 

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.