30 August 2007
The Road Less Traveled
The only thing to fear is fear itself.
Yeah, but fear is pretty terrifying!
Occasionally ministry reaches a place of intense spiritual battle. At such times we need to move in closer and pray harder. If you’ve been there, then you know that at such times, these two things are no longer clichés, but rather, lifelines!
At times like these sleep is a gift and a calm spirit a rarity.
At times like these you may hear from God at the least opportune moments…
like the middle of the night.
Whenever I can’t sleep, I figure God is trying to tell me something…
tonight is such a time.
So I’m up now and searching His Word for the message.
Sometimes the search goes on for hours. Mercifully, this time the message is clear, and the fear? Well, you can almost taste it.
For me it’s a moment of truth. God asks me, “Will you follow me even if it costs you deeply?”
I mumble a quick, ‘yes,’ without much thought.
“Not good enough.” God presses.
“I mean it Lord, You know I love You.” I respond, almost a little offended.
Again He says, “Will you follow Me even if it costs you deeply?”
Again I respond, “You know I will, Lord.”
I’m wide awake now—a vague sense of déjà vu is creeping up my spine. “Wait Lord, I’ve heard this before. Why are you asking me this?”
Why did He ask Peter the same thing?
Huh?
I’m talking about this, John 21:12–19
12
“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter,
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[e]” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.16 Jesus repeated the question:
“Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.17 A third time he asked him,
“Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said,
“Then feed my sheep. 18
“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others[f] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him,“Follow me.”
Then it hit me—what the Lord is trying to say to me and the fear that goes right along with it. And, as I type these words I can hear Him saying it again, “Will you follow me even if it costs you deeply?”
“I’m scared.” I admit ashamedly.
“That’s ok, I can work with that…give me that fear, let me shoulder the burden. You just decide.”
“Will you follow me even if it costs you deeply?” He repeats now.
“Please Lord, how deeply? “ I’m pleading now, completely embarrassed but knowing He is aware of my thoughts anyway.
“Your reputation.”
“Some sheep from the flock.”
“slanderous accusations?”
“mean emails?”
“nasty phone calls?”
“”Stop! Why now, Lord? Things are going so well. Lives are being transformed by the hundreds. People are boldly professing You before others in baptism in equal amounts. Your Spirit is moving among Your people at Southbrook like never before. I talk faster now, sure I’m building an airtight case for why persecution should not hit our family at this time…our family is already hurting this summer, People have stopped playing at religion and started pursuing a relationship with You they never even dreamed possible—”
A still, small voice…“That’s why.”
“What’s why?” I’m asking now, genuinely confused. “Which part of all that?”
“All of it,” God answers gently and lovingly, “all of it.”
And this is where I am right now. I’m reading His Word almost frantically. I will stay up tonight. All night until I get an answer. And when I do, I will add it to this post and give the thing a title.
You’ll be the first to know…
…I think I know now. And, I’ve been here before. One of the scriptures I dread the most won’t let me go.
Is this what I’m facing?
Luke 22:31–32,
31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you[a] as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
I’ve always prided myself (and that should have been a red flag right there) on being a pretty good peace maker. I’m also fairly tenacious about the vision God has given for Southbrook Church. And I’m downright mean when it comes to anyone messing with the flock known as Southbrook.
“I’m ready to fight, Lord!”
“Did You hear me? I mean it. If it’s courage You’re after, I will fight—”
“don’t”
“Come again?”
“don’t. I want you to take a different path. I want you to be silent.”
“Lord, no can do. I can defend against lies and gossip. I would have been a lawyer if I wasn’t a pastor! What about the truth will set you free and all of that?!”
“I will set you free.”
“You will set me free?”
“I will set you free. I will be your defense. And you will take the narrow road on this one.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then You’ll be on your own.”
“Oh..”
“Any other way?”
“Nope.”
“Who cares if Satan desires to sift me?! You could squash him like a bug! I know that’s in the plan for later. Please do it now.”
“Nope.”
“Why, Lord?! Why in the world not? It’s a better plan…a better road!”
“No, it’s a common road and not the road for you right now. You will take the road less traveled.”
He’s silent now. And I’m very, very tired all of the sudden.
“Are you still listening, God?”
“I hear you, Lord. And I remember Who I said I was running this race for in the first place. There’s only one member of the audience that counts and that’s You. So, it’s the narrow road?
“The narrow road.”
“I’m glad You were still listening 
Sometimes I forget You never stop listening…
The narrow road it is.”
8 Comments currently posted.
Rob says:
Rob says:
Author : Tom Bennett (IP: 69.68.23.105 , fl-69-68-23-105.dyn.embarqhsd.net)
E-mail : TBennett@embarqmail.com
URL :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=69.68.23.105
Comment:
The Lord has blessed you with a wonderful gift. The gift of Southbrook. He has directed every step of your path to where you are today, and will continue to bless the road less traveled. Will you continue to follow if it cost you deeply? It seems that Southbrook is your Isaac, and you are its Abraham. A gift that was given by God - blessed for ages to come. But are you willing to place something so dear to yourself upon the altar? As a person who came to know the Lord at Southbrook - and know you - I feel peace. Southbrook is a special place carrying the blessing of the Lord. And with that - nothing - no amount of slander or ill will - can defeat you.
God Bless You and my Southbrook Family,
Tom Bennett
Rob says:
Author : Lynn Tolbert (IP: 71.75.133.34 , cpe-071-075-133-034.carolina.res.rr.com)
E-mail : lynntolbert32@hotmail.com
URL :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=71.75.133.34
Comment:
Rob, thank you for your honesty. A word from “Streams in the Desert”: Have you every asked the Lord to make you like Him? (I know you have) Have you ever desired the fruit of the Spirit and prayed for sweetness, gentleness, and love? If so, then never fear the fierce storms that even now may be blowing through your life. Storms bring blessings, and rich fruit WILL be harvested later.
The Harvest is coming!!!! Just look at the lives that have been transformed in the last few weeks. I consider it a blessing and a privilege that the Lord has called me to Southbrook to be a part of the most amazing family.
Keep up the good fight Rob of trusting and surrendering to the Lord!! We all take comfort knowing that the Lord is doing the battling for you. The enemy loves to distract us with the trials of life to keep us away from the job at hand as servants of the Most High King. Your job of shepherding the flock at Southbrook is huge. We should not surprised that the enemy is breathing down your neck? We all should be taking a knee every day on your behalf and the entire staff of Southbrook.
Thank you, Rob!
Rob says:
Author : Steve and Janie (IP: 69.132.230.29 , cpe-069-132-230-029.carolina.res.rr.com)
E-mail : Coach74@Carolina.rr.com
URL :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=69.132.230.29
Comment:
After reading this, it gave me such a sense of peace. I can truly relate to this. Our flesh wants to negotiate with God sometimes. Or we have a sense of confidence because we have gone down a certain road before. God will always stretch us by taking us on a journey that may sometimes scare us. I’m on that road right now. I’m on “God’s” journey. Not mine.
“It’s never about me. Never has been…..never will be……”
Janie
Rob says:
Author : mike mccoy (IP: 69.132.226.106 , cpe-069-132-226-106.carolina.res.rr.com)
E-mail : mwmccoy45@yahoo.com
URL :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=69.132.226.106
Comment:
this is killing me… what was it? what do you need to do? i feel like hitting the fast forward button on this post….. : )
Rob says:
Author : Sara P (IP: 66.177.86.128 , c-66-177-86-128.hsd1.fl.comcast.net)
E-mail : spatramurphy@comcast.net
URL :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=66.177.86.128
Comment:
For a month or more I have been praying for you and your family, specifically about the devil’s attack plan, asking God to protect the four of you. I believe God has put this on my heart and mind to pray this way. As God leads I will pray.
Rob says:
Author : Matt (IP: 166.165.223.75 , 166.165.223.75)
E-mail : mattlangley@windstream.net
URL :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=166.165.223.75
Comment:
Wow, that was an incredible post, I am moved to tears. Not tears of sorrow, tears of joy. The enemy has thrown everything and the kitchen sink at our family in the past month but you know what, we still have peace. We know that we are not defined by what we do or who we are, but rather Whose we are. We are favored children of the most high God. In the middle of His will, in the palm of His hand, I cannot imagine a better place to be. Again, great post Rob, keep em coming.
Michael says:
I have two things to add.
1) We have NOT, and I mean NOT, seen the worst Satan wants to throw our way. We could not handle it on our own. What God is doing is developing our dependency on Him so we can handle what is coming our way. When I say “our way”, I am referring to many levels. Most personally, each Christ-follower who has said “Yes God!” and backed it up with our actions will see serious spiritual action in our own PERSONAL lives. Then at the church level, we will see and experience it. Then at a national level, we will see and experience it. Lastly, as a Church, we will see and experience it. God makes promises and he keeps His promises. Jesus said, “You will be persecuted for my sake.” Will is a definite!!!
2) We have NOT, and I mean NOT, seen the obvious hand of God open up the storehouses of heaven yet. God promised persecution would come upon His people and he continued on to promise that He would be with us through it all. People, to God be the glory. God wants our praises, but we are not bringing the praises to His house. We are hoarding them for ourselves, me included.
It is time to stop praising Rob for being a good servant. Sorry, Rob!!! I love you, man, but Satan is digging in deep there. I am not saying that you are becoming prideful because I cannot speak for your heart attitude, but I can speak the fact, yes FACT, that people are exalting you and not God. God is jealous, and He will act. He will get our attention either by exposing us or by exposing Rob. (Again, Rob, I love you and am not saying that you are living in sin.) Jim Bakker, Ted Haggard, and the rest were exposed in to some degree because God’s people started idolizing them. Rob cannot afford for us to idolize him. We cannot afford to idolize him. The people we are bringing to church to hear the gospel cannot afford for us to idolize him. (Then again, with Rob in total agreement, God does not need Rob. Yes, God has anointed Rob, but He is doing the work - not Rob.)
To God be the glory! To God be the glory! To God be the glory!
That needs to be our battle cry and our heart attitude. It needs to be it when we are on the mountain tops. It needs to be it when we are in the trenches. It needs to be it when we are in the wildernesses. It needs to be it when we are in the deserts.
To God be the glory! To God be the glory! To God be the glory!
I cannot say it enough. In large part because I need to train myself. Great things are happening at Southbrook, but God wants to open up the storehouses of blessings. But the key is trials and persecution.
Are you REALLY open to that? Are you REALLY willing to pay the price? Are you REALLY going to call that incredible? People, that is what God is speaking to Rob and to others who have their ears turned toward heaven. This is not going to be a time of warm and fuzzy. This is not going to be a time of “Check us out! See what God is doing in our church!” This will not be a walk in the park. Whatever phrase works for you, fill it in. The road less traveled is ugly, looks dangerous because it is full of spiritual warfare, and will not have rest stops, comfy couches, or a place to sit and shoot the breeze. Are you REALLY open to making travel plans knowing that you know nothing about what is going to come your way from the enemy? Yes, to God be the glory because we will be refined in the fire, but are you REALLY willing is still the question. God will follow through. That is not the question. The question is will YOU!
Author : Jim (IP: 209.60.43.74 , mail.house.com)
E-mail : jzamer@gmail.com
URL :
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=209.60.43.74
Comment:
I can totally relate to the sleepless nights, however after reading this, I will look to have a time of communion with God instead of watching the minutes tick by, wondering why sleep evades me yet again! He is trying to talk to ME…He is actually seeking ME out! Wow! How incredibly awesome that is! Thanks for your faithfulness.