Ogilvie: We Must Let God Flow Through Us

ROSEMONT, IL (February 8, 2004) - Former U.S. Senate Chaplain Lloyd Ogilvie challenged participants at the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) Midwinter Conference to re-ignite their burning embers of ministry passion when he addressed a breakfast Friday morning at the O'Hare Hyatt Regency Hotel.

"I believe every congregation this morning has a right to be led by a man or woman who is on fire for Christ," Ogilvie declared. "Anything less will not do." His sermon came from Paul's words to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:7) where he says, "I remind you to stir up the gift of God . . . for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and power and a sound mind." He says the words mean a lot for him in ministry, observing that "Nothing can happen THROUGH us until it happens TO us."

Ogilvie focused on "those feeling like the red ember on the white ash" after starting a ministry where the passion for Jesus Christ is akin to a fireplace that is blazing and full. In some respects, Ogilvie may have been experiencing some of the same feelings because his wife, Mary Jane, had recently passed away after an extended illness. His word for those in attendance was that perhaps it is "time for God to take the poker and stir up the fire and to blow on the ashes and bring back the radiance and the fire." He said he hopes that pastors and leaders will be encouraged to strive for excellence by the God whose power enables us to do great things for His people.

"Our God knows what we are about," said Ogilvie, who served 25 years at First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California, and has authored 50 books. "It is a basic law of the spiritual life that God will never let allow us to live on a plateau. There was never a resting time for me (in ministry) . . . and again and again I would have to go and ask him for the gifts of His spirit and his indwelling power.

"God is constantly sending us out on new challenges," Ogilvie continued. "If the Peter Principle is that 'we always rise to the level of our incompetence,' then the God Principle is 'he always pushes us out into new challenges where only he can sustain us.'"

Referring again to 2 Timothy 1, Ogilvie traced the mentoring relationship of Paul and young Timothy, who had been converted in Lystra. He noted the zeal with which Timothy had served with Paul, Silas and Luke in various journeys - and then told about Timothy's struggles while leading the church of Ephesus. It was here that Paul noted Timothy's caution in ministry, denoted in the Greek term 'deilia.' "Deilia is (defined as) a terrible type of pulling back and Timothy had it in spades," said Ogilvie. "He needed to know that if he had that, it wasn't coming from God."

Ogilvie shared his own uncertainties during his Senate chaplaincy. "As I think of my own experience, I realize that among leaders - underneath the highly polished veneer - there's a lurking insecurity." Ogilvie's insecurity popped up early in his chaplaincy. He told of leading his initial Bible study and challenging senators to become bold for Christ in their lofty positions. The response? "I had never heard such silence," he said. "I thought it was the end of the shortest chaplaincy in history. And then Connie Mack (Florida senator) shot up his hand and said, 'I'm ready.'

As he discussed 2 Timothy 1:7, Ogilvie noted that the Greek word for sound mind (sophronismos) denotes "the perspective of our lives or the projection of our inner being." He declared that a healing of our being is essential for leaders and suggested that attendees focus on three areas as they seek sound minds:

• Erase from memory anything keeping us from God's "marvel of forgiveness"
• Allow our imaginations to soar by "turpentining" away the veneer that keeps one from dreaming big for God's glory
• Receive God's love so that we can truly love others

Ogilvie recited two mottos that provided inspiration for the Senate Bible studies during his chaplaincy. The first motto: "Without God we can't; without us He won't." He said that reminds him of the interdependent relationship we have with God. The second motto: "We are not the river; we are the riverbed." He said this helps him gain perspective of who ultimately is in charge. "The exciting adventure is in becoming the riverbed and letting Him flow through us," he concluded.

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