As Christians, many of us have been taught to be people of our word - men and women of integrity. In fact, one of the phrases we were taught growing up was that we were to swear to our own hurt and change not. (Psalm 15:4). Brother Kenneth Hagin even taught us that this was the sign of a spiritually mature person.
However, like many things that deal in black and white absolutes rather than the nuance afforded to it by reality, this leaves little flexibility, and I'm not talking about flexibility for the purpose of wiggling out of commitments. I'm referring to the flexibility that is necessary when we live a life led by the Spirit.
What on earth do I mean by that? Well, in this ministry and in our family, we CONSTANTLY talk about being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, listening to the inward witness, and more. Remember, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the comforter sent to us to give us peace, guidance, to remind us of the things that Jesus has told us, and more, and that the Holy Spirit speaks to us in the still, small, voice.
In endeavoring to be sensitive to the Spirit and follow after God, it's wise for us to allow for change, space to correct, and allow for the times when we miss it. While we never endeavor to miss it, we even see in the scripture that the writer of the book of Hebrews says they will go as far as they can in teaching and instruction, but only if God permits.
But, whether it's due to embarrassment, fear over what people might think if we change our minds, or something else, Christians are often the last people to admit they were wrong or that they missed it somewhere. They often just plod along, endeavoring to make what they said work, regardless of if God's hand was actually on it.
I remember hearing Pastor Creflo Dollar share a story about how he was committed to go to a certain country overseas and he was the keynote speaker at a conference, but about a week or so before the conference, he had a check in his spirit. The Lord told him to stay home.
Now, as a minister, you have a choice here. You can commit to being a person of your word or you can flow with the Spirit. Contrary to what people may tell you, there are benefits to each. If you stick to your word, you don't have to concern yourself with what people might think or say about you, but you also are missing out on what God has planned. If you follow the Spirit, you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are following exactly what God has told you to do, but you run the risk of being perceived as flaky or uncommitted.
Pastor Dollar decided to call the ministers, apologize, and stay home - and it wound up being a good thing that he did. There was a civil war that broke out while he was supposed to be in the country, and both he and his team would have been in danger.
In his book, "100 Lessons From My Spiritual Father, Volume 1" Pastor Michael T. Smith says this about his spiritual father, "His reputation for integrity notwithstanding, one of the most vital lessons he ever taught me was the importance of NOT keeping every promise.
Some men pride themselves on the fact that their word is their bond. 'When I say I'm going to do something, you can take it to the bank, because I'm going to do it.' On the surface this sounds admirable, but it's actually one of the highest expressions of carnality."
In our own lives, we had this happen the other day with Church. Shellby was coming with the kids to open the service and I was there early rehearsing because I was playing guitar that week.
Shellby texted me and said that she wasn't sure why she felt a particular way, but she had a check in her spirit and thought she needed to stay home.
She asked me if I thought it would be ok and I told her I would talk to the leadership and let them know, but I also said that we could not preach on the importance of following the voice of the Lord and not live it out in our own lives.
I don't know the reasons that the Lord instructed us this way, but I do know that it pays to follow His leading!
We see an example of staying true to your word to the detriment of all parties involved played out in the story of King Herod. John the Baptist had been arrested, and Herod had been so pleased by the dancing of Herodoias' daughter that he promised her whatever she wanted. At the urging of her mother, she requested John the Baptist's head on platter.While this would have been a great time to go back on your promise, Herod, a man of his word, delivered what was promised, thus ending John's life. (Matthew 14).
We then see an example of sensitivity to the Spirit resulting in a change of direction in Paul's ministry. In 1 Corinthians, he had committed to return again to the church and yet 2 Corinthians makes it clear that he had not made good on his promise. He had originally planned to stop by on his way to Macedonia and again on his way back to Judea, but things did not work out as planned and the Corinthian church was hurt. Paul assured them that he was not being indifferent or uncaring, he endeavors to be as true to his word as God is to His.
However, look at what he says in verse 23 or chapter 2. "Now are you ready for the real reason I didn't visit you in Corinth? As God is my witness, the only reason I didn't come was to spare you pain. I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative." 2 Corinthians 2:23 MSG.
In doing so, Paul also provides us with the perfect example of how we should react and respond. He didn't dance around the issue. He didn't try to sugar coat things and was not evasive. Even though he had to backtrack on his word, he endeavored to maintain his integrity throughout the whole process, letting them know exactly why he did not return when he promised he would.
We should endeavor to live our lives the same way.
So yes, let your yes be yes and your no be no - at least, as much as it depends on you. Leave space to follow the leading of the Spirit. Let Him change your plan and your direction if He desires. I promise you, regardless of what you had originally planned, you will see His favor manifested to you when you endeavor to be sensitive to His leading.
By Grace,
Dave