Can you think of a time when God asked you to do something that was utterly beyond your experience or skill? What did He prove to you as a result?

Our Christian culture is obsessed with training. We don’t even feel able to – or may not be ‘allowed’ to – pray for people after a service, unless we have been through a 10 week ministry and deliverance course. Obviously these sessions have value and can make people feel safe etc. I’ve done a few.. I’ve think I’ve even written a few! But I think sometimes we are so ‘training-led’ that we don’t step out of our immediate comfort zone and trust that God will supply all our needs according to HIS riches, and not ours.

Jesus is surprising in the way He trains His followers. He does not take them to one side for a number of years and teach them the canon of Scripture, nor does He ‘reveal all’ about His deity. He does not enrol them on an Alpha, Y, Just looking, Discovering Christianity, (delete as applicable) or similar course before allowing them to minister. He does not insist that they go to a large conference or celebration to ‘get blessed’. Quite the reverse.

Jesus sends out His followers to teach and preach before they really know very much at all. Can you imagine the Papers getting hold of that headline?? But in this way perhaps Jesus is teaching them more about relying on Him and less about relying on formulas or some clever bloke in America who speaks in bumper sticker theology. No offence Bill or Todd, or whoever.

Father does not want a purpose-driven church. FAR from it. What He longs for is a ‘Presence led’ church. Seeking His face, rather than His hand, seeking His heart rather than His healing. Seeking His manifest presence rather than His manifold purpose. We should not be those that seek His signs and wonders before we have found Him and His very presence and essence to BE wonderful!

I am in love with Father but not because of what He does in me. I am in love with Him because He IS love. God is love. In order to love like Father wants me to and to live like He wants me to, I think He actually wants me to be person of ignorance! I know that sounds a bit off-centre. But listen. Don’t you think He would prefer a people whose knowledge does not get in the way of what He is trying to do with us and for us? A people who are ignorant of formulaic human principles so that we trust more simply and more deeply in Him?

My mother used a fabulous phrase the other day when she was laughing at the latest thing Father has asked me to do. (Not laughing in a derogatory way… but in a ‘isn’t God amazing’ way.) She said that sometimes God chooses to ‘dwell in our sanctified ignorance’…

It got me thinking. I really hope that when it comes to formula and Churchianity that I am as thick as a whale omlette. I hope I am quick to learn and quick to follow.

God, bless my ignorance today and help me never be too ‘clever’ to rely fully on You.
Amen.