Day 2: Set Apart or “1:1″

Posted by on Mar 23, 2010 in Blog | 2 comments

Romans 1:1

1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

So this morning I woke up only slightly later than i should, gathered myself, got to the gym, and spent two miles thinking about our troubles and how good God has been. When you’ve slid out of shape it is hard to worship as you run up a 5% incline, but I tried. So many things popped through my mind. Meetings, Connecting with Pastors, Raising Funds, Bills, Training our Team Members, moving to Thailand, family, and 2 Timothy 2:20-25. I was flooded with thoughts for a while, then I was flooded with painful sweat. I’ve learned to push through pain sometimes you’ve just got to growl and little. Sounds funny, but as a man, a good YAH! can determine if you make that next step.

The verse in 2 Timothy connects me to yesterday’s verse in Romans 1:1. Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Gospel. Wow. What a description of one’s self. I bet you I read Romans 1:1 twenty times yesterday, trying to get to verse two to no avail. The words seem to hit something deep in me. I know that feeling by down. Deep calling to Deep. It’s God saying ‘STOP, don’t finish your bible reading plan, meditate on this. I have something to say to you special.’

Paul, simple enough. That was his name. But wait; wasn’t he Saul before? He straight up called himself Paul here, the NEW NAME that he adopted after becoming an apostle. Two things. First, perhaps he changed his name to reflect the NEW HIM. the old Saul was dead, Paul was here now, a new person with a new heart. I think what the Lord is telling me here is that I can not look at who I used to be, even after being a Christian. Trust me, I bet you I blew it more than you did. I’ve got to focus on the now and tomorrow. He has changed me into a new person despite of my stubbornness. The old me is dead. Leave him in the grave Dustan. Second, some people believe he changed his name from Saul to Paul the moment he was called to go to the gentiles. The reason? Saul was a JEWISH name and at that time the Jews were very much disliked in the non-Jewish world. He would not have been accepted with such a name. So what does that mean for Dustan, because what this is about is not teaching others but being set apart to God myself. It means that since I am called to the unreached and suffering I can no longer identify myself with the much hated church culture. I can’t let MYSELF, and this for me, get so caught up in the things of this world that I abandon my post for a comfortable easy position I am used to. The old Dusty is dead, now Dustan, a new man with a new heart and a new mission is at the controls.

Paul… a slave of Jesus Christ. Slave? Isn’t that abolished. Actually no. In the world slavery is still active and is still evil, but in these verses there is something special. Ever noticed that in the New Testament you see this a lot? James, a bond-servant of Christ. Jude, a salve of Christ and brother of James. Paul, a slave of Christ. When’s the last time you heard a good ole suit preacher ask you to come commit to slavery? What is interesting here is that Paul spends a lot of time talking about how we are sons and daughters of God through adoption. So which is it?

Both.

First did you know that James and Jude were Jesus’ brothers? Why didn’t they say, “James, brother of Christ” The answer, although we ARE children of God and one spirit with Jesus we must lower ourselves to our knees before King Jesus’ feet. We MAKE OURSELVES slaves out of thankfulness. You saved my life, now I owe it to you and your cause. God doesnt demand slaves he wants children, but in order to serve him and his cause best we have to lower ourselves. For me, that means this. I do, live, and say what he wants. I am his slave.

…called to be an apostle.

This one strike home to me. First, an apostle is one sent out to establish the Kingdom in unreached areas. Jesus was THE APOSTLE. The foundation was laid by his disciples. But in these days there is till apostles given to the body of Christ to expand the Kingdom of God. It took me YEARS to recognize what I was supposed to me. I was a pastor for a while, I done tons of evangelistic stuff, taught the word, moved in the prophetic, but none of those set. I dodged the word Apostle because there was a holiness attached to such a loft title. But this isn’t about titles, it’s about a job to do. I don’t think I’v some reincarnated or more holy than everyone guy. I’m Dustan with a job.

It wasn’t until I was preaching in the villages of India in the front yard of Hindu temples (not a wise choice, but we were unable to change the local contacts meeting place. This was the only open place for meetings int he city.) that I realized my calling. I am called to be one SENT OUT to lay the foundation for the KINGDOM of God in the unreached world. It’s simple, but religion and the devil has worked overtime to make missionaries feel like beggars rather than the apostles many of them truly are.

For me, God told me here that my Job and Paul’s we’re exactly the same. Darlene and I are meant to travel the world and expand the Kingdom of God in new areas. Our upcoming move to Thailand is a result of this call. What a privilege to share in the same calling as Paul! Wow. The next things is that I noticed that Paul said he was called. In other words it was from God, and was something that he was striving to fulfill rather than a claim to fame.

I’m not an apostle yet. I’m called to be one, and think I perfer rather to always be one called to be one rather than a person who has attained it. Keeps ya humble and honest.

Last, is the verse that carried me to 2 Timothy. …set apart for the Gospel.

This hit me hard. I realized in order to be all these things I’ve blabbered on about above, then I can not allow myself to be just another ‘preacher’. This is a high calling. We are to reach into the hurting world and set people on THE ROCK. Therefore, I must be SET APART for the Gospel. I can not just be, but I must pull away, and let God make me different from all those around me. I have been called and chosen, not it’s time to prepare myself in the Lord so that I am not a worker ashamed or worse, I don’t make our Lord ashamed he called me.

So now, as I head to talk with the Lord, I realize that there is a new SETTING APART required. If I don’t I’ll die without fulfilling the job he has given me to finish. I’ll stand in front of Him ashamed at my selfish fleshly life. I could wind up in the very religious circles that make me want to vomit.

“So how do I get Set Apart?” I asked the Lord. “Now I know how far I am from what I need to be; now what?”

“TIMOTHY,” says the Still Small Voice.

The seeking continues. This is taking some pushing.I expect some pain will come soon as I am forced to push through being honest with myself. It’s so easy to lie to me. Lord help me.

“Push Dustan, you slave of Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God! Push through the pain!”

Expect some growls and grunts soon. Thanks for sharing this journey with me. I hope on the other side of this pass, we’ll both be better.

2 Timothy 2:20-25 (New International Version)

20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,