Progressive Commitment | Clip 2

The journey of faith, often characterized by progressive commitment, requires believers to continually yield control to God and respond correctly to the mistakes they inevitably make. Drawing parallels from the life of Abraham and the story of Queen Esther, this teaching emphasizes that true spiritual progress involves letting God take the initiative and demonstrating integrity when confronting personal error.

1. Letting God Take the Initiative (The Esther vs. Vashti Principle)

In the relationship between Jesus Christ (the Bridegroom) and the Church (His bride), Christ desires to take the initiative; the Church’s role is to respond. Many churches today struggle with the concept of allowing the Lord to initiate action.

This dynamic is illustrated by the contrast between Queen Vashti and Queen Esther:

• Vashti’s Failure: King Ahasuerus commanded his queen, Vashti, to appear at his banquet, but she refused, claiming, “I’ve got my own party going i’m not prepared to come”. As a result, Vashti lost her crown and was demoted. The sources suggest that the “Vashti” church, which prioritizes its own agenda over the Lord’s call, may lose its crown.
• Esther’s Submission: King Ahasuerus sought a wife who would “leave the initiative to him”. However, the balance of Scripture shows that Esther did take the initiative at a critical moment when her people were about to be destroyed, risking death by entering the king’s presence without being summoned. Crucially, she approached the king with a “different attitude” than Vashti. When the king saw her, he stretched out the golden scepter, granting her request.

The ideal church—the “Esther church”—understands this delicate balance, ultimately submitting to the King’s initiative while occasionally acting boldly in faith.

2. Handling Mistakes: The Agony of Letting Go (The Ishmael Principle)

A crucial lesson for every believer is how to handle mistakes. Abraham’s response to his mistake—having a son, Ishmael, by Hagar at Sarah’s suggestion, instead of waiting for God’s promised heir—provides a vital blueprint for addressing wrong decisions.

The Need for a Clean Break

When Isaac, the promised son, was weaned, Sarah demanded of Abraham: “Cast out this bond woman and her son for the son of this bond woman shall not be heir with my son even with Isaac”. This demand was “very grievous” to Abraham because of his son.

However, God intervened and instructed Abraham, “Let it not be grievous in thy sight… in all that Sarah hath said unto thee hearken unto her voice for in Isaac shall thy seed be called”. God reassured Abraham that Ishmael would also be made a nation because he was Abraham’s seed.

Abraham responded by rising “up early in the morning” and sending Hagar and Ishmael away with only bread and water.

This story illustrates the painful necessity of confronting mistakes and making a decisive break:

• Immediate Action: Abraham’s immediate response (rising up early) shows that often, if a difficult decision is delayed and over-thought, it may never be executed.
• Cost of Holding On: Holding onto a mistake—whether a material purchase (like a “lemon” car) or a spiritual entanglement—will lead to more wasted resources and frustration.
• Spiritual Entanglements: If a man of God becomes emotionally involved with a woman who is not his wife, this can corrupt his attitude toward his spouse, even without physical immorality. The sources warn against justifying such relationships with “dangerous words,” claiming a “special affinity” or superior understanding exists with the other person. The necessary action is to “make a clean total break,” rather than allowing the relationship to “taper off”.

The Humility to Apologize

Especially for leaders, admitting error is critical for ongoing ministry effectiveness. The sources highlight the difference between two biblical kings:

• David’s Recovery: When Nathan confronted David with his sin, David responded, “I have sinned,” which allowed him to remain the man of God he was.
• Saul’s Justification: King Saul’s errors, though perhaps less gross than David’s, led to his downfall because he “never fully admitted them,” instead attempting to justify or excuse himself.

The sources suggest that humility is the pathway back to God’s fullness. If a man has mistreated his wife, it may be necessary to make him apologize specifically, as this humbling act makes him “very unlikely to do the same thing twice”.

Preachers are also prone to the error of avoiding public admission of being wrong. One minister shared that in 1963 he preached a long sermon “proving conclusively there could never be any more apostles in the church,” only later admitting, “I was wrong”. Failing to admit error impairs ministry and cuts men off from the “ongoing flow of the life and purpose of God”.

3. The Ultimate Test: Progressive Commitment

Spiritual life is marked by progressive commitment, where God asks Abraham to renounce five things in a sequence that escalates in difficulty:

1. His home city.
2. His father.
3. His nephew (Lot).
4. His concubine (Hagar) and her son (Ishmael)—the son he should never have had.
5. The final commitment: His promised son, Isaac.