Inborn Qualities and Choices
There are some people who crash their academic careers by choosing the wrong series for the sake of fame. They are not born mathematicians but they choose that series because they want to prove tough. With much struggle and hard work they may make it. But there is the born mathematician.
Some people are born singers. Others are not. They may with a lot of consecration struggle through. They should, however, sit down and let those who have the talent for singing sing. Let them do what they have a talent for.
Degree of the Talent
Three people may have the same talent, but at varying degrees. If there is need for that talent, the person with the lesser degree should sit down and let the abler per- son intervene. It is simply been normal.
Personally, if they call for pastors, I dare not jump ahead. I will soon want the people go straight to their problem. The pastor will be himself even when the person being counselled keeps going round and round.
Something in the pastor keeps him at home even with that round of talk.
Talk about strategies, yes, you got it. I will give you a seat. In strategies one goes straight to the issues that matter.
Know Yourself
One of the important things in life is to ensure that one knows himself. If you do not know yourself pray, “Lord show me who I am.” When the Lord shows you, accept and love what you are. Then get to function in that capacity.
Yesterday as we drove to an Evangelistic Campaign ground in Bertoua, a motorcycle knocked down a woman. We went down from our car. When I asked and was told that she was alive, I went off to go and preach the gospel. Some brethren remained there to take care of her. I had gone to Bertoua to preach the gospel and I left her there, to go and be at my purpose. That is me.
If it were my wife, she would have stayed there to see what else should be done for the woman. One day my wife and daughter Ruth fed about thirty people who were not expected. As for me, when I greet the people, I am soon gone away.
Ruth later on housed eleven people in a British two room house. I will not know how to do such things. If my wife has to cook a first, second or third time, it does not trouble her. For her, people are there to be cared for and fed. I ask one question – what will happen to the vision?
May God help you to know who you are and where you fit in the body. Function there and succeed. Do not be trying to be someone else. It is very difficult.
You are the best person on earth for that which God created you. You have the talents that it takes to accomplish what God called you for in the body.
The Anointing
Never say because I am an exhorter… I must exhort. When there is anointing, ex- hort. If not, stay seated. If you minister, it will be very empty. And you may know this emptiness for a long time.
Exhortation must come out of burden. If not the exhorter becomes a clown. Nothing could be as bad. God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth. If you have no burden. and no anointing, refuse to sing though you are an exhorter. You cannot make it yourself. Be true to what the Holy Spirit is doing in your heart. Let it be the overflow of life.
Many brethren do not know that there are times when the presence of man is most undesirable. There is a time when the spirit is draw. God-wards and there is nothing to give to man at all. The heart is hungering for Someone else. Hungering for the Heavenly One. As you grow you will know this.
Be ready to say, “The Lord has not laid a new song on my heart.” There may be an old song, but the Lord might not have given it. An old song must be given by God anew. If not it will be serving old stuff. It must flow from the spirit, being touched by the Spirit. May we be spiritual!
There is the anointing. It is this resting of the Holy Spirit, anew on a person. When you are preaching under the anointing and it ceases, you should stop preaching. If you are praying for the sick under the anointing and it ceases, stop.
Ministry is not only the overflow of the Holy Spirit, but also of the anointing. Learn to walk under the anointing.
Sometimes there is quiet, and some people think they must go and sing or say something. There is a time when a song is not for harmony. There is a time when all that is needed is only quiet. Even prayer at that moment is disastrous. There is the prayer of silence. At that moment words offend.
Maybe you should cry out to God to become a spiritual man. If it happens, the greatest thing has happened to you. The spiritual man is the man where response is by the Holy Spirit, not by his own spirit, worse by his mind.
There is that which comes from the body, that which from the human soul, that which comes from the human spirit and that which comes from the Holy Spirit. The carnal man discerns that which comes from his soul and his spirit but the spiritual man transcends these.
A man may be moved by his soul or by the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the spiritual man is governed by the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the carnal man is moved by his soul.
There is the man of the soul and there is the man of the Spirit. Blessed are you if you are a man of the Spirit.
Adam and Eve did not ask where the fruit came from. They knew the source. They knew it did not come from God. Adam knew that his wife came from God, but not the fruit. To make progress, obey what comes from the Holy Spirit at all cost, and the authority of the Holy Spirit will be established. The choice is yours. You know what is from God and what is of the flesh. A confused man has disobeyed somewhere. Decide that you will obey the Holy Spirit in everything. Twelve hours of radical obedience to the Holy Spirit is already a good beginning. Start.
Excerpt from: In the Crucible For Service – Z.T. Fomum
