Dependant on Our Abilities or Desperate for His Spirit's Help?

³ They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) ⁴ Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous .......(Genesis 11:3-4b)

In the book Radical by David Platt, he's given a chapter (through God's Spirit) called The Importance of Relying on God's Power because as a culture, especially Western, we have come to attempt to rely on our abilities.  Don't get me wrong great planning is Biblical, but the one thing we cannot attempt to do is (as seen in the scriptural example above) SHOW GOD what we can do?   That's like your 2 year old attempting to show you they don't need you. David says " We have convinced ourselves that if we can position our resources & organize our strategies, then in church as in every other sphere of life, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. "  The people of Babylon was known for being highly intelligent and one of the most technologically advanced societies so they too believed they could show GOD........but the truth is, the creation will never be greater than the CREATOR, nor should we attempt to climb or create that ladder.

This is week nine for me as the Pastor of Calvary Church Connections Campus, and while there are a wonderful staff of personnel that is hard at work (while I am still working at SSM Homecare) to plan through each of our services at all of our campuses there have been a hiccup here and there, that have forced me to remember a few scriptures:

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.  Matt. 16:18  First, while I may be the Pastor, GOD is in charge, and He's ultimately the one who is building His church, I am privileged to be on His plan.   My responsibilities while they may appear to be many, are really simple.   Walk humbly with Him (Loving Him) , prepare through prayer/studying, show up and feed His sheep (Love People).

and

Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  Zech. 4:6  No matter all the planning in the world, we will never be able to account for what His Spirit's power will do in morning worship, but it is wise I leave enough wiggle room for the Spirit of God to move His people.

As the weeks continue, and situations arise from counseling to programming hiccups.....I have FAITH (Forsaking All I Trust Him) that GOD will continue to do what He's been doing before me, since me, and will long after me.......BUILD HIS CHURCH.   As one of those "precious stones" I am (We all are) responsible for LOVING GOD, and LOVING PEOPLE and it's not possible without His Spirit!