NEVER TOO YOUNG, NEVER LACKING, WELL EQUIPPED

Growing up, I am too sure each one of us was denied something because we were too young. We could not talk when the elders were talking, we could not be outside past a certain time, we could not watch certain programs, we could not even eat certain foods because well, we were too young. However much these rules were mainly for our safety and development of character, with a lack of proper understanding, we may find ourselves interpreting young as a ticket to nowhere. A ticket, if presented at the table where people old in an experience are seated, it would be termed as disrespect. Hence, the cycle of being too young never ends. We tend to never grow up at anything because life has a way of throwing new things and experiences at us…all the time!

Isn’t this how we look at ourselves sometimes? As though we have nothing to offer at a new profession, at a new venture, at a new office, somewhere where we feel new and our counsel will not be taken seriously or taken at all? And for sure the ridicule exists…
“They think they know, huh? Give them time; they will realize it is not as easy.” “Wait for it; they will give up once they see how hard this gets.” “The adults are talking, talk a seat, listen and learn. We were here before you, what are you telling us?” “Eish, tell us what we do not know now that you know. You must be the one sent to show and tell us what we couldn’t see and didn’t know. Mr. Revolution, please stop talking and listen.”
Yet so much more that will give you feeble knees when you think to offer help or advice or do the work that GOD has sent you out to do.
And it only gets louder and more sarcastic.

When I dedicated my life to Ministry, I had doubts, so many. Like who knows me? Who will listen? Who will care about what I have to say? Who will pay attention? Who will play my Music? I mean, there are so many men and women of GOD out here who came before me, with a deeper understanding of the Word of GOD, and some, some have been in the fishing-of-men Ministry longer than I have been alive! I was thinking how everyone had already subscribed to each one of their Ministries and my Ministry had no place or space in the World. I mean everyone that would have listened to me was taken by another Ministry. Oh was I wrong…

I figured this was fear creeping in. This was my own sabotage against the very work that GOD had sent me to do. I remember asking GOD questions like why HE would send me here and not elsewhere; why HE chose me. I got the urge, “Why not you?”
Aaaaahhhhh bliss! My chance to give all the reasons.
“LORD, I have not been spending enough time in communion with YOU and YOUR Word. I even do not have resources to start off.
And what time will I be doing this with my work schedule? And moreover, everyone I knew, that would speak a word to someone to tell someone else about this Ministry has abandoned me…”
I had a feast at the reasons. But GOD has a polite way of revealing to us our foolishness.

I was foolish to limit HIM to experience, resources and people. As though silver and gold are not HIS. As though HE does not know how to command attention from any audience on my behalf. As though HE was wrong putting the treasure in me, a treasure that would bring healing to many a generations. I realized that our “unreadiness” does not move HIM, but our willingness gets HIS attention. Instead of looking at what wasn’t, I started using what was and started doing what was required for me to be a worthy vessel for HIS Work. I went with the courage that when GOD sends you, HE will command an audience of whatever number on your behalf.

I can only imagine what big feet Timothy felt he had to fit in. Paul was a great Apostle of CHRIST and living to the legacy of such a man… *sigh.*
But Paul told Timothy not to let anyone look down on him. HE must have known how people were when it came to listening to the word of GOD from a man younger than they were. Or even just listening to anything a man younger than they were had to say. I can only imagine his peers looking at him wondering what was super special in him, that he could do what they knew society forbid them to.
I love Verse 14 where he tells him to not abandon his gift that was given to him through Prophecy. For whatever reason, don’t give it up! In fact, fan into flame the gift that GOD has given you.

I don’t know at what point in life you are in and what GOD has ordained you to do. I don’t know how many times you wanted to go on with it, but you stopped yourself because you felt inadequate. Perhaps you had started off and you saw how badly some people took what you offered, perhaps you were ridiculed and people looked at you as though you are feeling proud and entitled to something that was not your field to touch on.
I am not sure how many times you have been dismissed because of your age or lack of experience.
Listen, when GOD sent you out and asked you to start off, HE was fully aware how old you were, what you can and cannot do, what you had and did not have and how you would be received. HE already had a plan about how your Ministry, in whatever field, would work out and HE had already equipped you. Do not abandon the gift that was given to you because it wasn’t accepted, by you or by people. JESUS’ Ministry was not accepted by all, but those that acknowledged that it was from GOD and accepted it were saved, healed and their lives were changed for the best. Moreover, HIS Ministry led HIM to the Cross. A Cross where HE died for the very same ones that ridiculed HIM and who did not acknowledge HIM, HIS Ministry or even acknowledge WHO had sent HIM; and who later persecuted HIM. Child of GOD, you are in good company.

GOD has given us everything we need for a Godly Life through our knowledge of HIM. You can say it again…
That GOD has given us everything we need for a Godly Life through our knowledge of HIM. We know HIM. HE has made HIMSELF known to us and because of that, we have all we need. With GOD, when you know The Source, you have the resource!! Hear now!! A Godly Life includes us making Disciples for HIM. A Godly Life involves telling people about HIM and reading Scripture publicly as Paul asked Timothy to. It means to be unashamed of the Gospel of GOD. You never know what healing you will be bringing your way and people’s way by proclaiming this Gospel. You have no idea how much you will be making the gift of Salvation known to people that are thirsty for it. Don’t sit back to count what you do not have. Imagine how hungry and thirsty people are and you have what they need, but you won’t feed or quench them. Don’t sit back to count and complain about what you do not have. Be grateful for what GOD has given you.First of all Wisdom to see what you need, and to also recognize that HE has already dispatched resources for what HE has sent you out to do. You will come to realize how your being grateful will greatly impact, not only you, but also the people that GOD has sent you to. Leave the excuses behind and feed HIS people!! You have what they need. Use the Wisdom that GOD has given you to innovate ways to distribute it! I speak to me too.

I never saw or heard The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD anoint according to age, status or wealth. HE distributes HIS gifts as HE chooses. 1st Corinthians 12:11. GOD can use the youngest, the most unexpected, strangest people or things among us to deliver whatever HE needs to. We know the story of the Donkey… Makes me laugh every time. A donkey saw the Angel before Balaam did. And then the LORD made the same donkey speak… So that Balaam could pay attention to a message from The LORD. Wasn’t it a donkey that JESUS rode on to Jerusalem? Oh how GOD chooses the foolish things of the World to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong… 1st Corinthians 1:27-31… I love Verse 28…

“GOD chose the lowly things of this World and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are…”

Have you been despised? Have people seen you backward and not classy enough to work for GOD and for your name to be known, for your name to be constantly on the lips of men? Have people put you off because you looked weak and unworthy? You are in good company, in the company of GOD, because HE will use you. Or are those people you? Or are you the one looking down on and despising yourself? Stop!! GOD is looking for your willingness, not so much your readiness. When you say yes, HE will equip you with all you need…Wisdom, Knowledge, Resources, Favor, Confidence. HE will clothe you for the part, HE will get you ready!
May HE use the parts of you that you think are foolish, weak and lowly to prove that HE is GOD through you. May your eyes be opened to what HE can use in you when you allow HIM to. May HIS Glory be revealed by what HE will do with and through you.

Not forgetting Verse 29 of the same portion of Scripture…

“…so that no one may boast before HIM.”

When HE has picked, molded, prepared you and perhaps rewarded you with the good things, do not boast before HIM. You belong to HIM. You are HIS handiwork. A vessel never boasts and shows pride about how good it looks to its Manufacturer. It does not speak of or see itself more highly than the Manufacturer or the other vessels he created. Instead, the vessel allows the Manufacturer to be its vindicator. It goes out to do what its Master has made it for, in obedience, in humility, in service. It acknowledges that the Manufacturer created every vessel with a uniquely special purpose and each is as important in existence and service as the other. Don’t go out making anyone feel less of a child of GOD, but make all seek GOD and develop a hunger and thirst for HIS Righteousness; letting them know that GOD loves us all without bias. That is the main agenda. Not to show off, not to find reasons to show why you are the better child of GOD because of the wisdom and material wealth endowed on you, but to make sure that a soul and many turn to CHRIST; through your thoughts, actions and words. Everything else is a by the way. If it will not be a ticket to Heaven in an Eternal Life with CHRIST, then it is all vanity.

You are chosen by GOD…You are GOD’s special possession…
Declare the Praises of HE who called you out of darkness as you serve HIM.
The darkness of sin, of unbelief, of doubt, disobedience and so much more.Calling you into HIS Wonderfully Marvelous Light.
You are now the people of GOD.If you are out here wondering how to get into the calling of GOD yet you are deep in sin, or you have just accepted CHRIST, know that you are already chosen.
Maybe you don’t realize it, maybe you have rejected it or are still enjoying the lies the World is telling you.
However, the minute you accept the call, you are qualified to do the work of GOD.
Paul was a Christian Martyr, but we now know him as one of the greatest Apostles of CHRIST.
He so much persecuted the children of GOD, but his epistles are perhaps the most quoted in the New Testament.
To the common man, he was “Saul, the irredeemable human being, who would not see Eternity.
Who would spend his miserable life being haunted by the souls of the innocent lives he had taken.”

But GOD… My heart always does cartwheels of Joy whenever I see those two words together!
It only took Paul one encounter to have his life turned around for the Great Commission.
And look at what HE was able to do for the Church of CHRIST in the time he was alive…
You too need just one encounter.
The one encounter to meet with JESUS and allow HIM to take over your life and purpose; to allow HIM to prepare you for HIS work HIMSELF.
You are never too late to check into Ministry, neither are you too deep in sin to profess CHRIST.GOD will use anyone and anything, even rocks and animals seen as the lowest of all.
How much will HE use you if you allow HIM?
You will never lack in experience if The HOLY SPIRIT is your Teacher and Mentor.

JESUS told the parable of the laborers who were all paid the same amount regardless of the time they checked in to work.
A few of them were disgruntled as they had come in for work earlier. I mean, “pay me more than the one who has worked for less hours.”
The landowner asked them, “…Didn’t you agree to work for a silver coin?…Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money.” Read Matthew 20:1-16.
With JESUS, it will not matter what time you came to HIS work. It will matter that you came.
I am not saying that now you take all the time to accept Salvation if you haven’t yet.
I am saying it is never too late to accept Salvation and start off with GOD’s work, before The SON of GOD comes back to take the Righteous Home.
But see, no one knows the day nor the hour; not even the Angels nor The SON but only The FATHER.
Right now is a good time for Salvation.

I digress, but for good reason…

We are all laborers in a vineyard, doing The LORD’s Work.
We are not in charge of the vineyard. CHRIST is.
We have a responsibility to work in and tend to it, but it does not belong to us.
None of us can claim sole ownership.
We do not determine the rewards and how much they will be. HE does.
HE will personally come to you and apportion to you your work and reward you as HE deems best. Not according to who recommended you or according to how much everyone else is getting rewarded.
Please heed to HIS call when HE comes knocking.

I don’t know what you have heard about the vineyard and the laborers in there. That shouldn’t matter.
GOD called us from everywhere with imperfections.
What you need to do is to pay attention to your MASTER, The ONE WHO called us all out of darkness into HIS Marvelous Light.
Then when you join us, none of us will be superior to you, because we serve the same MASTER.
The best we will do is to show you a few things in form of advice and maybe help you with resources and the Wisdom to make them yourself and what to do to remain in the vineyard, because you will realize that there will be no other place you will rather be, but serving GOD.
Instructions and how to materialize them will come from GOD.
Your knowledge of and relationship with GOD is what will take you through; not the laborers’ and their actions, but GOD.

Child of GOD, you are never too young, you are never lacking, but you are well equipped.
Wonder no more about the experience, resources and avenues you feel you lack.
Ministry starts from where you are, at your place of work, at your place of residence, at your place of commuting; wherever you are when the HOLY SPIRIT convicts you and with what you have.
Our vineyards are set in various places.
For some of us our vineyard is set in the Arts and Music, Preaching and Blogging.
For some it is in the office and the colleagues they work with.
For some it is in beauty and others in driving, others accounts and finance, others in casual laboring, others in cooking and in so many more vineyards.
Ask GOD for your vineyard setting.
Ask HIM to give you the confidence and love to start the labor in your vineyard, for the harvest is ready and the time for CHRIST to come back for us is drawing nigh.
How many will you have turned to HIM?
What will you have to show for what HE gave you for HIS work?
What effort will you have put to see a soul see an Eternity in CHRIST?
Labor as hard as you can with GODS’s help, I can guarantee you it is not in vain. 1st Corinthians 15:58.

Do not fear, you have all you need.

“..fan into flame the gift of GOD… For The Spirit GOD gave us does not make us timid, but gives us Power, Love and a Sound Mind.“
2nd Timothy 1:6-7.

More of GOD’s Grace, Love and Light in CHRIST,
Lydia Ndwiga.