Call Up
As we get older sometimes, we forget or discount some of the experiences that we have gained in our spiritual journey with God. The Holy Spirit has impressed on me recently that He revisits ideas and practices that we may have stopped or at least slowed down in as we get older. As we begin to revisit these ideas and practices, God brings new insight onto concepts that we knew and know from way back. With the new insight comes new energy and maybe even new application.
God reminded me of the 1990’s where I was involved in a lot of fierce spiritual warfare straight out of Lifeway Bible College. There were new spiritual happenings all around us, it was indeed an exciting time in the Kingdom of God. The other big one for me was being in the first 1994 Promise Keepers NZ meeting which added another new dimension to my faith. I distinctly remember when Coach Bill McCartney called us to go to war with our spiritual enemy in that early period of Promise Keepers history.
The Holy Spirit gave me a nudge that pointed out when I left full time ministry and retired, I also stepped back from a lot of front-line prayer. Which got me thinking that I am not sure that God is into retirement in a spiritual sense. I don’t think God gave us all that knowledge and experience over the years to pull the plug on it when we turn 65. There is so much we can do in both a practical and spiritual sense for the wider body of Christ but also the community in general. My current sentiment is that if you are still above ground, you are still on mission.
According to Google the “western church” is aging. That may be because the birth rate in the west is declining and there are fewer young people. It may also be that young people don’t see the Church as appealing. The fact remains that truth is Truth and that is always appealing, the gospel is the gospel! Some of the Promise Keepers population may be aging but we are not done yet. In fact, our experience and time means we are a force to be reckoned with. We are still called to pray for our church, our pastors, our wives, our children, our grandchildren, our community and The Church worldwide… THE LOST!
I believe this is a subtle move of “the enemy” to convince us that we can retire spiritually from our call. That is not the truth! Potentially our best years spiritually are ahead of us. God is calling us back into spiritual warfare to fight for HIS Church. Men, it’s time to re-engage, God is calling us up again for another tour of duty.
Let’s go!
Paul Monahan
Paul Monahan is a former National Director of Promise Keepers New Zealand, life coach, leadership mentor, former school principal, avid motorsport spectator and participator. Paul Monahan understands the challenges facing men and has a vision to inspire and encourage men to step into all that they can be.