Christian Living

The Middleman

by paul hoffmaster
05/02/21
Free to Share

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Have you ever thought about the role that God wants you to play in the lives of others?  Some Believers believe that being the “catcher’s mitt” of blessings is what the spiritual walk is all about.    At the beginning of the rebirth experience, the blessings of the Word build up and solidify one’s Faith.  Once the foundation is secured, the maturing Saint focuses on sharing his Faith and being available to carry out God’s plan for his life.  

The Holy Spirit prepares people for the Gospel message.  It is the Believers who do the planting and watering of the seed, and God who does the harvesting. (I Corinthians 3:6)  Countless times the Scriptures illustrate the importance of the “middleman” when it comes to reaching the unsaved.  When Saul/Paul was on the way to Damascus to arrest those who confessed Jesus, he experienced a life-changing moment.   As he neared the city, a blinding light caused him to fall to the ground.  He then heard a voice calling his name and asking him why he was persecuting Him.   Saul cried out enquiring as to who He was.  Jesus identified Himself and then told him to continue on to Damascus where he would be told what to do.  Blind, as a result of the light, Saul was led to the home of a man named Judas.  Jesus then spoke to a man in Damascus by the name of Ananias and told him to bring instructions to Saul.  Arriving at the house on the street called Straight, he instructed Saul as to what God was purposing for his life.  Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit and he became the spear point for the Gospel to the Gentiles.  In this story we see how the Holy Spirit prepared Saul for his encounter with Jesus, while Judas and Ananias seeded and watered and God harvested.  (Acts 9: 22)  (In Acts 26, Paul does not mention Ananias but highlights his calling.)  I wonder how many times we have missed our Ananias experience by not realizing the importance of being part of God’s outreach plan!

A Roman centurion by the name of Cornelius loved God, evidenced by not only his monetary giving but by his prayer life.  He wanted more of God and did not know how to pursue that desire. One day in a vision an angel appeared to him and told him to send for a man named Peter who was staying in Joppa at the home of one named Simon.  The angel told him that Peter would tell him what he needed to do.  The next day Peter was waiting for lunch and he fell into a trance and saw a giant sheet come down from Heaven filled with all types of four-footed beasts.  He was told to “kill and eat.”  Peter refused on religious grounds.  Three times this happened and finally, he was told, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”  Peter was then told three men were waiting to escort him to Caesarea.  He was not to doubt but to go with them.  When he arrived a few days later, Cornelius explained why he sent for him.  He simply told Peter that they were there to hear “all things that are commanded thee of God.”  Peter then preached under the anointing and before he could finish, the Holy Spirit fell on the meeting and many were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 10)  The Holy Spirit prepared the “soil,” Peter watered, and God harvested.  I wonder how many have missed the Peter experience by not realizing God’s outreach plan!

 When is the last time you were the “middleman?”  God works through people and the sooner we realize that the more the Kingdom will grow.