Being a Man of Success or Significance?
Success vs. Significance
Recently, I took a 10 day personal retreat at my favorite place of rest: Singing Waters, Canada. This has been my third time here and each time God has met me profoundly in a personal way. The first time I came, He saved my life by transforming my heart and showing me who I really am. The second time I came, He saved my ministry by giving me permission to understand I didn’t have to do it all. This time, God brought me here to save my purpose.
For many people, the meaning of life is a big question mark. Most people want to be successful in life. That is, to be important, valued, honored, respected, for what they do. The world tells us we are successful when we achieve great things, produce great results, and perform well according to the standards of society. Our significance comes from what we do, not who we are, let alone the relationships we have. We are told all our lives that we are “nothing” unless we do “something.” Sadly, for most of my life I came to believe this lie that “I am what I do.”
Finding My Way Back – Returning to My First Love
The experiences and lessons learned above will help give a back drop to the experiences and lessons I have learned the past 10 days here at Singing Waters in Canada…
All the trials and testing were given by God to prepare me for a new purpose. This purpose, this new meaning of what it means to be a person of significance has been burning in my heart like fire. I’m beginning to understand why I am here on this earth.
The first night I was here, I received a prophetic dream. Often times, God speaks to me through not only His written Word and prayer, but through dreams and visions. In this particular dream I was with an old friend named Alex Lee. I grew up with Alex at the first church I grew up in San Jose. Alex told me that he and Joanne (another girl I grew up with in the church there) had just gotten married and were having a wedding reception. He told me, “Jaeson I know you are really busy, so I have a number of different dates that you can attend the wedding reception, your choice!” In my heart, when I heard that, I knew that if I chose a later date, I would maybe never end up making it. So I told Alex, “No bro, I want to go right now. Where is it and how do I get there?” He told, “It’s my old home in San Jose, I’ll give you directions.” I knew how to get there, though the directions were faint in my memory, but I was confident I could find my way back.”
Learning to Rest in God
Before I left Singing Waters, Canada my spiritual mentor’s wife gave me a powerful quote from Beth Moore.
“Remember this important fact about God. He never asks anything of us to make Himself look better. The demands He makes on our lives are NEVER for his personal gain. We cannot make Him anymore God than He already is. He would be no less Lord of Lords if no one believed. Every urging and exhortation of God to us is for one major reason. He desires that we have the pleasure of knowing, serving, and sharing Him.“
How true this quote is. God is no less God if we disobey or obey Him. He doesn’t need our works. He doesn’t need us to do anything for Him. He is the great I AM, period. For so long, I thought I had to win the world for Jesus, that it was my responsibility and task to finish the Great Commission, that without me doing God a favor, God would not get anything done on this earth. How proud and foolish I was to think this. God will accomplish what He has set out to do, with or without me. My response to His Great Commission is simply a privilege to know, serve and share with Him in His glory and in “His” mission.
If you are in Asia, please get the word out about this strategic gathering in Taipei Taiwan. We are contending for the power of God to break out and a great harvest of souls to be swept into the kingdom in Taiwan this year. This conference will be with Cindy Jacobs, Philip Mantofa and myself. Cindy has not been back to TW in over 10 years, but after sharing with her what God is doing in East Asia at this moment we all knew that it was time for one of God’s generals to prophesy Asia’s destiny into being in this critical hour for Taiwan’s 2008 elections and the Beijing Olympics this year. It’s time for Asia’s destiny to unfold, it’s time for heaven on earth to invade Asia in the fullness of time!
goto: www.asiaforjesus.net
to find out more and click below to share youtube video
I know, I know I’m not supposed to be on email. Well, give me a hand I’m rarely checking my “blackberry” but I wanted to share with you all something that inspired me as I’m here in Canada for my personal retreat. Very simply, Holy Spirit spoke to me to study the life of “Watchman Nee” while here. Watchman Nee is one of the greatest preachers of the Bible and prolific teachers in the 20th century. His writings have influenced and equipped leaders for many generations. While studying his life, one thing that has impressed upon me is his life of spiritual discipline. It reminded me much of my early days also as a new believer.
 |