I do not think any of us realize how influential we are, whether it is positive or negative. Even up to the point of Moses’ death I am not sure he ever realized his influence. There was never any evidence that Moses ever thought he had anything to offer God.
Moses got all of his instructions from God; however he never offered any suggestions to God with the exception of his request that God not kill the disobedient Israelites. Without the hand of God, Moses was nothing more than an eighty year old un-respected “shepherd boy.”
Because of his confidence in God, Moses had the courage to make this request of his in-laws, “come thou with us, and we will do thee good.”
This statement reminds me of an opportunity I had to mentor a young Methodist preacher concerning how to hear the Lord.
This young preacher had heard how God would often send me out with a prophetic word for individuals and even sometimes to visit churches where I had never been before. The young man wanted to learn how to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, so he asked if I could help him. I agreed to let him go with me under the following conditions…
Number one, he had to be ready in a minutes notice because when the Lord said go, I could not wait.
Number two, he had to be silent while I was trying to follow God’s directions to my destination.
Number three, he had to practice hearing from God in this unusual way in his church and in his community.
I never knew when the Spirit of the Lord was going to come upon me until it happened. When I felt the moving of the Holy Spirit in that special way, I would get in my car and follow His directions one step at a time until I got to my destination. Following the Lord for me was like following “heat.” If I made the wrong turn I could immediately feel it. So I would turn around, get back into and follow the “heat” of His presence. The Lord would guide me in this unusual way until I got to His destination. Many times it was at that point that the Lord would give me the “word” that I was to share.
When the destination was a church, I would go in and sit down like any other visitor. I would never disturb the service or do anything that would attract any attention.
I could always tell when the Holy Spirit began moving on the pastor of the church. He would begin getting uncomfortable and start looking past the crowd at me. After a time of wrestling with the Lord he would then come back to me and say something like, “This is very uncomfortable for me…but did God send you here with a word for us?’ I would say, “Yes,” and then the pastor would make a place for me to give the “word.”
Over the years the Lord sent me to many churches; large churches, small churches, denominational churches and independent churches. The obvious question is “Would I have given the ‘word’ had I not been invited by the pastor? No!” That would have caused confusion and disorder and that is not of God.
This method of discipleship went on for a long time. The Lord blessed this young Methodist preacher with a spiritual sensitivity that helped him to become very successful in his calling.
Each time over the years that I have read the text, “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good,” I think of my young Methodist disciple.
It has been many years since I discipled that young man. He was a good student and I am quite sure that over the years he has had an influence on many other young men and women. Thank God there are always those who want to learn to hear from God and follow His directions.
Father,
Help those of us who are older to pass what we have learned to the next generation. Lord, I am quite sure that the upcoming generation will be more powerful and sensitive than my generation. Father, as wonderful as preaching is, there are not many things that are more soul-satisfying than doing personal discipleship.
Amen
And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good… (Numbers 10:29 KJV)
Apostle John Dean Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
Alliance International Ministries