(Isaiah 63:5)
We all have the capacity to do a lot of things: drive, cook, wash, read, write, etc. Sometimes, we shirk these responsibilities and outsource them to third parties for several reasons. We can outsource our cooking and cleaning responsibilities to a housemaid, outsource our school runs to a driver, outsource our laundry responsibilities to a laundryman to free us time for more important things. Or because we are just LAZY.
Sometimes we outsource to those we feel are more competent and have responsibility over our affairs in life.
Some months ago, I went to the Park with my kids. My son wanted a cable ride and joined a queue of kids. Whenever a kid was done with his ride, he’d come join the queue to go on the ride again.
Now, when my son joined the queue, he was the last on it. But when other kids come to join the queue after going on the ride, they would push him back and stand in his front, not behind him!
My son was 8 years old, these other kids were his agemates, yet they bullied him. He looked at me and said, “Dad, see what they’re doing!” I ignored him and the bullying continued. He expected me to fight for him. But when he realized Daddy was NOT going to help out, he decided to help himself: he refused to allow anyone get in front of him on the queue again!
We all do that at some point. We expect The Master to come help us when we actually have the CAPACITY to help ourselves.
When the wine finished at the wedding in Cana, they came to Jesus: “Bros, the wine is finished!” –John 2:1-3
When the axe head fell into the river, the Sons of the Prophets went to Prophet Elisha: “Bros, the axe head fell into the river!” –2nd Kings 6: 1-5
When the Disciples ran into a storm on the sea and the boat was sinking, they woke Jesus: “Bros…” –Mark 4: 36-38
In all these scenarios, the Master was there, so they reached out to him for help. But imagine the Master was ABSENT?
Imagine Jesus was not at the wedding?
Imagine Jesus was not in the boat?
Imagine Elisha was not with the Sons of Prophets?
What would they have done? I can guarantee you they would have found a solution to their problems!
I read a story in one of Kenneth E Hagin’s books a long time ago. He saw a vision of Jesus. In the vision, Jesus was talking to him, giving him instructions and he was listening attentively. Suddenly, a demon came between them, making a lot of noise, jumping around and causing a lot of distractions! But Jesus continued talking, ignoring the demon. He called out to Jesus: “Bros…” Jesus continued talking! But he couldn’t hear Him anymore because of the din the demon was making- and Jesus seemed unperturbed. At some point, something welled up inside him and he shouted, “you filthy demon: GET OUT OF HERE IN JESUS’ NAME!”
Poof!
The demon disappeared!
He had the capacity to command the demon, but because the Master was around, he expected Him to do it- he outsourced it to Him. Just as my son outsourced his defense to me in the park.
Jesus once held a crusade and thousands of people came. At some point, the Disciples came to Him and asked Him to disperse the crowd to go eat. Jesus replied, “YOU give them something to eat!” –Mark 6:35-37.
They had the CAPACITY, they were just unaware.
Ironically, earlier in that same Chapter, same Disciples were sent out 2 by 2 WITHOUT The Master- and they performed wonders and miracles! –Mark 6:7-13.
But when The Master was around, they outsourced responsibilities to Him.
In the Book of Acts, Peter AND John healed a cripple by the Gate called Beautiful at the Temple –Acts 3:1-8
The Master was Absent. If He was there, they probably would have turned to Him and said, “Bros…”
Elijah and Elisha crossed over River Jordan. In this scenario, Elijah was The Master. Elijah parted the River and they walked over on land. On getting to the other side, Elijah was taken away! Elisha was now alone- and he needed to cross the River to return to base. The Master was PRESENT when going, the Master was ABSENT on the return journey. Elisha did what he saw Elijah do- and the River parted again –2nd Kings 2: 8-14. If Elijah had been with him on the return trip, he would have expected him to part the River again. He would have turned to him and said, “Bros…”
That “Bros…” Mentality is the bane of the Church today. The average Believer sees his Pastor as The Master, so whenever anything comes up, he runs to the Pastor: “Bros…”
And Pastors are NOT helping matters: they enjoy the adulation and hype. They have become co-Advocate with Jesus, their flocks have become God’s grandchildren.
In the Scripture quoted above, someone was in a desperate situation and he needed help. He looked around: “Bros…”
Nobody was there!
He expected help from external sources, none came: The Master was ABSENT!
He looked INWARDS and solved his problem. Just as my son did…
“I looked, but there was no one to help; I wondered that there was no one to uphold; therefore my own arm brought salvation for me…” – Isaiah 63:5
In the absence of The Master, what can you do? Drop the “Bros…” Mentality and GROW UP! You have the CAPACITY: make use of it- stop outsourcing (spiritual) things you can handle yourself!
Reduce your dependence on The Master (especially your Pastor): He is NOT closer to God than you- you’re both SONS of God with the same access and privileges.
GOD HAS NO GRANDSONS…
Shalom,
Haruna Daniels