Pastor’s Blog Post 5.31.18
My latest book #FOLLOW is here! I will be doing a book signing this Sunday after church in Parkersburg. For those of you outside the Mid Ohio Valley, the book is also available on Amazon.com (*see link and info at end)
I wrote this book because of a dream I had. In this dream, I walked into a room and saw two young men laying on the floor staring at the blank pages of a book, along with two angels standing there. I asked what they were doing and one of the angels answered “They are waiting for the book you are to write.” After the dream I received further instruction on the topic for #FOLLOW.
See, I have now lived as a Spirit-filled believer for nearly 36 years. Of those 36 years, I have served as a Senior Pastor, and planted Churches for the last 32 years. I have learned that there are principles in the Word of God that are proven and cannot be violated without consequence. I have watched thousands of people come and go in the Church, and today, I can truly bear witness to the fact: “There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death.” (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25) Every year that I live, I stand amazed at the faithfulness of God and the unfaithfulness of man. I learned a long time ago, that while we hope for the best in men, we are to put our faith in God alone.
This short book reveals the reality, through the scriptures, of how easily we can be deceived by the enemy- and even be self-deceived by our own desires. It is not about starting the race, but finishing the race. I live in the blessing as well as the curses of the decisions I have made in my life. My intent is to save everyone I can from making wrong decisions and having to live with the consequences of those decisions. I hate re-inventing wheels and I want to learn everything I can from everyone I can, to avoid pitfalls in my life.
Life is too short to have to learn everything the hard way, because the hard way will usually be the long way. I have echoed a statement of truth daily that I heard many years ago. “Wisdom is the anticipation of consequences”.
Here is an excerpt:
Following the leader is a principle we should have learned playing as children. There is a reason someone is appointed leader. It is because they have either been granted authority by another, or their experience, wisdom, or strength has given them an authority to lead. Moses represents one who was granted authority by God to lead. He was chosen.
I learned long ago to stay in my measure of delegated or assumed authority. We truly will end up in the place of a fool if we cannot discern our measure of rule. Many cannot wait for their time of appointment from another so they go about trying to appoint themselves. The Bible stipulates such behavior as rebellion. Some think so highly of themselves they cannot submit under the authority of a leader.
Let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s declaration about staying in his own limit of authority:(read 2 Cor. 10:12-18)
So we should understand that we will learn and grow through leaders, and if we could have gotten further in our life without a leader, we would have already done it. There is an old saying around the camp of attorneys, “A man who represents himself has a fool for a client.” I follow Jesus first, but I have found He chooses to lead me through others a lot of the time. However, rebellion in the church says, “Jesus is my leader. I don’t need a man.”
Who led Israel out of Egypt? God or man? Who was Israel really following? God chose to bring Israel out of Egypt, but He called a man named Moses and told him to go lead his people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
I have many files in my desk, but the file I use the most frequent is a file called, “We won’t do that again!” Insight can give us foresight and deliver us from the mistakes we sometimes only see in hindsight. Cause and effect are revealed in the purest form by God’s word. If I cannot realize cause and effect, then I will not be able to control impulsivity or govern myself toward the reward of the blessing of God.
I would rather read a book on “what I should do” than write a book on “what I should have done” wouldn’t you?
See ya Sunday!
Pastor Dave
*For those of you who will purchase at church on Sunday, we are offering “Flying High” – Unlocking the Power of Effective Leadership for ONLY $5 when you purchase #Follow for $10. 2 for $15 – GREAT investment!
- Date - May 31, 2018
- Author - David Chisholm
