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Resilience
by
Commissioner Brian
Morgan
(These are original notes delivered to Officers)
Dictionaries tell me that resilience refers to
the quality of “elasticity” in a person or in the ability to
recover quickly from shock!
I am sure that you have discovered over the years of your
Officership that often you have been stretched to the limit
discovering potential of which you were unaware in responding
to the opportunities, demands and challenges that have been
yours.
We should thank God for such experiences – even if we did not
initially welcome them – for they help us to appreciate the
truth found in 2nd.Corinthians 9 : 8 “And God is able to make
all grace abound to you , so that in all things at all times ,
having all that you need , you will abound in every good
work”.
And what of the “organisational shocks” that have come your
way – the unexpected appointment change – the requirement to
minister well outside your “comfort zone” – leadership with
whom you have found it difficult to align – opposition from
those for whom you are responsible and the pressures that
availability to God and The Salvation Army brings to you and
those closest to you.
To recover quickly and move on is only possible as we “ – fix
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith –“.
(Hebrews 12: 2) Our Lord has trod the way of misunderstanding
, opposition and suffering well ahead of us and so stands with
us in this resilient life of dedication to the will and
purposes of God expressed in our ongoing obedience , faith and
service .
From the experience of the years allow me to share with you
today factors that can impact negatively on our ability to
remain resilient in our following of the Lord in Salvation
Army Officership.
Then we shall look at those things that stimulate a resilient
response in ministry.
1. A lessening of personal spiritual desire because of the
pressures of ministry and life in general.
• Neglect of personal devotional life.
• Settling for the mediocre in personal application to life
experience and ongoing development.
• Becoming familiar with the sacred. The Word of God. Platform
privilege. Priestly function amongst God’s people.
2. Letting the sense of personal call to be buried by –
• The drudgery of everyday duties.
• The demands of people.
• The care of family.
• Organisational disillusionment.
3. Frustration or disappointment with Salvation Army
Leadership.
• Not given enough scope to be yourself in ministry.
• Appointments not respecting your passions, gifting or
preferences.
• Lack of sensitive pastoral care.
• Unwillingness or inability to listen.
• Removed from ‘where the rubber hits the road’
• Decisions made ‘at a distance’ impacting the broader body.
4. The sense that The Salvation Army is not succeeding in it’s
God ordained mission.
• Why are we not impacting community as once we did?
• Where is the growth factor in Kingdom business?
• What about the sense of passion and spontaneity that were
hallmarks of our movement?
• Have we forsaken some of the essentials for the peripheral?
The last, the least, the lost. Salvation for the whosoever.
Holiness of heart and life. Care of God’s people. Satisfied
with the status quo.
You could probably add to that list and I do not share the
same with you out of any sense of negative despair but rather
with an openness to reality that can hit us personally and
cause an air of despondency rather than holy optimism.
What then stimulates a resilient approach to our lives and
service as Salvation Army Officers?
1. A keen sense of dependence upon God and confidence in His
ability to achieve His purposes through His people called
Salvationists.
Our God is still sovereign!
He will achieve His purposes through God reliant servants!
Look again at the scripture recorded in 2nd.Kings 6: 8 –23.
Here is the prophet Elisha reporting to the king of Israel
every plan the king of Aram is making in his effort to defeat
Israel. (2nd.Kings 6: 8 – 10)
The king of Aram was not impressed and questions his staff.
(2nd.Kings 6: 11)
The truth comes out! (2nd.Kings 6: 12)
The King of Aram decides to take action against Elisha.
(2nd.Kings 6: 13 –14)
Elisha’s servant was dismayed at seeming defeat. (2nd.Kings 6:
15)
The response of Elisha reflects the farsighted truth of the
eternal pregnant with hope. (2nd.Kings 6: 16)
Then that great prayer. (2nd.Kings 6: 17)
God answered with vision that brought hope, encouragement and
strength and so the account proceeds.
Is this a prayer we need to pray personally and as a Salvation
Army?
True – the harsh realities of spiritual warfare abound. The
insidious effects of apathy toward spiritual issues are clear
to see. The “comfort zones” of God’s people can restrict the
advance of the Kingdom.
Does this suggest that we surrender?
That a sense of hopelessness engulfs us?
Or do we lay claim to the truth “Those that are with us are
more than those who are with them” (2nd.Kings 6: 16)
The challenges remain. The answers do not always come easily.
Our hope is in our eternal God Who will achieve His purposes
through His people. “Lord, open our eyes”.
2. A conviction that the gospel entrusted to us is an urgent
gospel.
The words of Jesus recorded in St. John 4: 35 have impacted my
life significantly over recent days with impetus and
challenge. “Do not say four months more and then the harvest?
I tell you open your eyes and look at the fields! They are
ripe for harvest.”
You will be familiar with the context of this scripture as
Jesus shared with the Samaritan woman at the well. The
disciples were out shopping, concerned for their physical
well-being, and could not understand the satisfaction
experienced by Jesus in their absence.
“I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (St. John 4:
32).
“My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and
to finish His work”
(St. John 4: 34).
The sense of the urgency of God’s work caused an ongoing
resilient response from our Lord. To “do the will of the
Father” (v34) was food and drink to our Lord.
To “finish His work” (v34) was our Lord’s passion. The urgency
of the gospel, of mission, was a constant impetus in the life
of Jesus. “As long as it is day we must do the work of Him Who
sent Me. Night is coming when no one can work” (St. John 9 :
4).
To “finish the work” involves taking a hard, realistic look at
the task in hand.
To say “four months more and then the harvest” (St. John 4:
35) is to play into the devils hand for he is a master in
spiritual procrastination!
The urgency of the gospel when accepted and acted upon
stimulates resilience in ministry and mission.
3. A sense of Kingdom vision keeps resilience alive.
On occasions the Church has debated whether vision precedes
mission or mission stimulates vision. The example of Jesus was
to have eyes wide open to opportunity and to act upon it. The
Church, The Salvation Army, needs visionaries for –
• They look beyond the immediate.
• They refuse to be “bogged down” with the mundane.
• They paint the big picture.
• They bring hope and optimism.
However, in my experience, visionaries need others about them
to give hands, feet and structure to bring the vision into
action.
• To fill in the detail planning.
• To own the vision and move it forward.
• To affirm the vision by prayer, action and Holy Spirit
impetus.
• To appreciate the gifting of God’s people. (1st.Corinthians
12 : 4 – 31)
Let’s applaud the visionaries amongst us and get on board with
them.
Let’s beware of attitudes, preconceptions, scepticism that
impairs vision within God’s Salvation Army.
The influences of Australian society at large.
• Free and easy approach.
• Apathy on many fronts.
• The blindfold of materialism.
• Selfishness – me and mine.
• Many religious / spiritual options.
A failure to seek God’s heart.
• Passive response rather than urgent action.
• Comfortable involvement rather passionate engagement.
• Selective mission rather then whosoever imperative.
• A reluctance to engage in sacrificial discipleship.
• Compromise verses commitment.
Valuing the “trappings of Salvationism” at the cost of
mission.
• Traditions that impede rather than prosper .
• Maintenance before mission .
• Heritage at the cost of present opportunity .
A fear of aggressive warfare that will confront , challenge
and engage the forces of evil .
• Reputation personal and corporate .
• Confronting spiritual , social and community injustice .
• How will we keep up the pace ?
Not “four months more and then the harvest”. The harvest is
now.
4. A “holistic” emphasis in God’s Salvation Army that keeps us
enthusiastic and focussed in mission. That gives us
“elasticity” in approach and energy.
• A balance in faith and works that makes our Christian
witness relevant and productive.
• Increasing integration of all aspects of program that seek
to build the Kingdom.
• An appreciation of all who make up “the body of Christ” and
a valuing of the contribution that each member makes to the
strength of the whole. (Romans 12 : 3 – 5)
5. In the final analysis resilience is kept alive by the
recognition of God’s purposes being fulfilled as part of His
eternal plan.
Amongst the many terrific truths and promises given by Jesus
in His final discourse with His disciples we find Him stating
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have
peace. in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world” (St. John 16: 33).
• Resilience doesn’t take this word to mean that we sit back
and wait in our comfortable Christianity for God’s ultimate
day of triumph. NO! It motivates us to action for God “wants
all men (persons) to be saved and to come to a knowledge of
the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God
and men , the man Christ Jesus , who gave Himself as a ransom
for all men – and for this purpose I (we) was (have been)
appointed a herald and apostle –“ (1st.Timothy 2 : 4 – 7)
• Resilience puts it’s hope in the eternal purposes of God
being fulfilled and recognises that we have a part to play in
this. (Romans 10:8-15a , Isaiah 55:11)
• Resilience takes seriously the great commission and the
promise of divine presence and empowerment. (St. Matthew
28:19-20. Acts 1:8)
CONCLUSION
The battle in which you and I are engaged is a spiritual
battle. It requires the personal power and presence of the
Holy Spirit; a putting on of the full armour of God and we
neglect this at our peril. (Ephesians 6: 10 – 18)
It asks of us a daily dedication of all that we are and hope
for in pursuing the will of God for our lives and ministry.
• Always remember the source of your spiritual life and power.
Depend on your sovereign God.
• Keep alive the urgency of the gospel.
• Be people of Kingdom vision.
• Appreciate the holistic mission that is ours.
• Take heart in the final triumph of God’s purposes and your
part in the same.
Resilience – “I am ready for anything through the strength of
the One Who lives within me” (Philippians 4: 13, J.B.Phillips)
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