The Process of Becoming Extra
In a recent article “Being Extra,” I posed this question.
“Shouldn’t it be that every Christian would want to be extraordinarily used by God?”
Since clicking “Send” and submitting that article, I have found myself given to answering a variation of that question in my own life. How can I be used more? Since becoming a Christian, I have always had a desire in my heart to be more than a “pew sitter.” After years of mere church attendance, which satisfied a legalistic view of Hebrews 10:25, my spirit was crying for extra. In preparing to retire from my secular work, I am preparing to refire in serving others. I have been praying for some weeks about the Who, What, Where, When. So far, I have only heard two things from the Lord.
“Just be available and if I need you, I will let you know.”
“You are in a process.”
I will be honest, the first felt like a dismissal, like being told to go sit in the corner and play with a stick. In talking this out with a confidant of mine he encouraged me by reminding me that my availability decides my usability. It was a brief time later during a time of worship, that the Holy Spirit remined me of those that wanted to be with Jesus. (Luke 9:57-62) Following the Lord requires INSTANT action. There is always a COST, and we should be READY to serve even when it requires sacrifice.
The second caused me to reflect on the places and positions God had called me to and acknowledge that I had already been through several processes. In prayer one morning I asked the Lord, “How many times do I have to prove myself?” Yes, it was blunt, but not irreverent. I have never been one that considers my time with the Lord as superficial. I believe that an authentic relationship with Him is heart to heart and should be sincere. I never question Him, but not afraid to ask questions?
Later that day, the Holy Spirit began ministering to me about being proved in a process. He asked me a question concerning my secular trade.
“How many times have you been required to take a weld test?”
Thinking about it I couldn’t recall exactly the number of times, but it had to be close to a hundred. They were always when I started… revelation filled my spirit! Throughout my career I had had to take a weld test before being hired or starting a special project. Then the Holy Spirit gave me this statement.
“Many will say they want to be used by God, but few want to go through the process.”
God’s process of developing you for the extraordinary has His love for you and for others as His motivation. By going through the process, He can better use you for His purpose. It is in the process that He will prove you and me by removing things in our lives that we love more, place trust in, and believe as truth. Many times, it is these things that we cherish that hold us back from fully committing and following Him. Often when He removes us from these, He puts us in a position where we no longer want the option of turning back.
Let’s look at some examples in the Word that show us those that went through a process of proving before their dreams and calling were realized. Israel is an example of God proving His children, and Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church tells us that the lessons they learned are examples of warning for the Body of Christ today. In this article I want to focus on individuals, and you may like me, see yourself in their situations.
Abraham
Abram was sought out by God for an eternal purpose. Abram’s response to God’s process of proving, was an instant and committed life of faith and obedience. Mistakes, yes, just like you and me he made them, but never out of rebellion or hardness of heart. In the same way He shaped Abram into Abraham, He is more interested in our growing faith than the results of our lack of faith.
Joseph
I am going to be honest, the first time I heard of Joseph as a young teenager, I thought what a spoiled brat and snitch he was. Despite his shortcomings that were as many as the colors of his coat, God called him at an early age for a purpose that would be beyond his abilities. Given a dream at seventeen, it would take thirteen years for God to prove Joseph though many hardships till he was the man that could carry out the plan of God for his life.
David
God called David a man after His own heart. In looking at his life, he did have that, but he also had some not, so God focused moments. Between being anointed king, and moving from the sheep to the palace, God proved David’s dependence on Him before Goliath and his honor in front of Saul and the men that followed him.
Elisha
One day a wealthy farmer tending to his own business, then the Prophet tapped him as his replacement. Unlike many so-called prophets of today that tap themselves, Elisha followed Elijah into the process of proving. Proximity matters when we are serving and learning from another.
Paul
The only one that seemed to be allowed an “Open book test” as when the Lord called him, He showed him all that he would suffer. The Lord’s process for Saul made him Paul. Redeemed from religious pedigree to passionate relationship and from zeal for the law to a loving commitment to Christ Jesus his Lord.
Then our Lord Jesus himself was proved. From the temptation in the wilderness to crucifying himself in the garden, His earthly life proved His obedience to His Father. (Hebrews 5:8) The Lord has a purpose for everyone’s life. It starts with a process of proving. Allowing God to lead you through the process, will bring you to the end of yourself, and to the place where no one will be able to deny that God has anointed you, is leading you, and will sustain you. When He is finished you will step out into your calling with the love and power of God. You will go from ordinary to extraordinary.