Asking For The Vehicle

Not having grown up in Christianity I never experienced the idea firsthand of thinking that Church leadership wanted something from me.

Now I see the damage that has been done in people's lives by leaders who have demanded the wrong things.

"Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children." - 1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 ESV

"Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep." - Ezekiel 34:2b-3 ESV

"Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once.' This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 'Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'' The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them." - Matthew 21:1-7 ESV

There is a thing that falls into the category of, 'The Lord Has Need of This' but it isn't food... it is a vehicle. Is was a humble vehicle at that.

Men can use the office to feed their ego. They can use it to feed their belly and bank account also. They sense that there is a legitimate category of demand that an apostle (or sent one which is what that word means) can make but pride or carnality asks for the wrong things.

The Apostles knew they could ask for things within certain boundaries but they refrained. They knew it was more important that these people needed to know that God wanted to give something to them and that receiving from God was of paramount importance.

Later once a team is formed the leader can say please contribute to this humble vehicle that brings Christ into the city and it is an appropriate request. A leader should ask for those things or places might never be reached.

Christ was hailed as The King on that little colt that had never held a rider (see Mark 11:2)

"And some of those standing there said to them, 'What are you doing, untying the colt?' And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it." - Mark 11:5-7 ESV

There are places where we can go and say,'We would like to put on a concert in this park.' or 'Let's go feed the homeless on Saturdays.' or even, 'We want to start meeting here on Sundays to sings songs and teach the Bible.' and the people there who may not know God will just let us when our answer is that we are doing it in the Lord's name.

It seems to work best if the vehicle has never been ridden before. People are less likely to want to participate if they have run into the 'belly feeders' first. {{ Sigh }}

I wonder what that owner of the colt thought when He realized the prophesied Messiah was riding in on his animal? That man became a part of eternal history because he was willing to part with his donkey.

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