Horizontal Versus Vertical by Os Hillman
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By Os Hillman
Glancing
this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the
sand. Exodus 2:12
Moses saw the pain of his people.
He saw the bondage and the injustice. His heart was enraged, and he decided he
would do something. He would take matters into his own hands. The result was
murder. The motive was right, but the action was wrong. He went horizontal
instead of vertical with God. Moses fled to the desert, where God prepared the
man who would ultimately be the deliverer of a nation. But it took 40 years of
preparation before God determined Moses was ready. He was a professional
businessman - a sheepherder. It was during the mundane activity of work that
God called on him to be a deliverer.
Moses was like a lot of
enthusiastic Christian workplace believers who seek to solve a spiritual
problem with a fleshly answer. The greatest danger to the Christian workplace
believer is his greatest strength - his business acumen and expertise to get
things done. This self-reliance can become our greatest weakness when it comes
to moving in the spiritual realm. We're taught to be problem solvers. But, like
Moses, if our enthusiasm and passion are not harnessed by the power of the Holy
Spirit, we will fail miserably. Peter had to learn this lesson too. His
enthusiasm got him into a lot of trouble. But God was patient, just as He is
patient with each of us. Sometimes He must put us in the desert for a time in
order to season us so that Christ is allowed to reign supreme in the process.
Before you act, pray and seek the
mind of Christ until you know it is God behind the action. Check it out with
others. You may save yourself a trip to the desert.
Os Hillman
The Leadership Gap
Book
by Curtis Wallace
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"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'"(Josh 3:7-8). Joshua had been a faithful number two man under Moses for 40 years. Can you imagine serving one man for 40 years? Now that is faithfulness! Even so, when the time came to pass the mantel to Joshua, God knew he needed to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order for Joshua to accomplish his purpose. That is the purpose for elevation - so that you and I can fulfill our purpose and our mission.
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"Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband." Ruth 1:3-5 Naomi's life was going well. A great husband. Two fine sons who had two wonderful wives. Then the unthinkable happened. Her husband died. A little time later both her sons die. Her and her daughter-in-laws find themselves in the midst of shattered dreams. This isn't how life was supposed to be.
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"While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.'" Acts 10:19-20 Peter had never preached to the Gentiles. In fact, he believed it was against Jewish law to associate with the Gentiles. God needed to change Peter's attitude about this, so God gave Peter a vision that showed him it was permissible to preach to the Gentiles. The Spirit came to Peter and informed him that some men were about to come visit him, and he was to go with them. He went with them, and the Lord did great miracles in the lives of Gentiles through Peter.