Spiritual Pioneering: Wisdom Comes from Above

By Adelbert Hubert

The testimonies and pearls of wisdom are to help people find their way to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Jesus has given us the gift of eternal life if we accept him as our Lord and Saviour. I conclude this book and challenge everyone who reads it to say a prayer asking Jesus to come into your life. If you are sincere, I guarantee that your life will change.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son Jesus Christ. That whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3: 1617). God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.

The choice is yours. Let us remember that every choice has a consequence and that you are the product of choices made in the past. Invite Jesus into your life and learn to walk with him. We are all spiritual beings living in a physical body. All that will remain is the spirit that gave life to the body. That life-giving spirit will return to the Creator and be judged by God, the giver of life. The physical body will decay.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jul 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514497692

Adelbert Hubert

Hubert Adelbert is a multifaceted man who does not know the word “impossible.” In 1961, Hubert lived for two years among aboriginal tribes in Northwest Australia. Here he learned to be self-sufficient, and after returning from the Kimberly region, he married and had four children. Hubert felt the call of God on his life in 1975, when he was trying to find out the reality of God. Does God exist? was his question, and after visiting a church, he had a profound experience in God. This changed his life, and after attending Bible college, he left for China in 1983. Here he saw God move by healing people as he shared God’s Word. For many years, he dedicated his life to the work in China, when he felt called to go to Myanmar. Here again he saw many people touched by God and, through this, changed their lives to follow the teachings of Jesus, his Saviour. When the Berlin wall came down, he joined a team going to Russia bringing relief aid and told the people the teachings of Jesus. He visited several prisons and discovered many were political prisoners. From Russia Hubert received a call for help in Malawi, Africa. Here he helped build a clinic, doctors’ quarters, and established a work in a very poor area. From Africa he was asked again to help in Pakistan, where he helped set up a communication network to reach many people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. May all who read his adventures be blessed and inspired to do likewise.

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PART 1

HOW DID WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE?

1:1 MY OBSERVATION OF HISTORY

Over the years I have taken notes of what I believe were important events that changed my life. These events remain the motivating force behind my work as I endeavour to change the world in the things that surround us. I believe that no one has the right to leave this world without having understood the purpose for his existence, and through this, changed his environment to make it a better place. The events that have led us to where we are today include choices made by us in the past. Every person chooses the direction his life will take. Often the results of choices we make are not beneficial to our future because our choices were made irrationally and on the spur of the moment. We are also influenced by our natural inherited characteristics. We are born of parents, who had parents, who also had parents. However, the lifestyle we have chosen does not necessarily reflect the lifestyle of any of our parents, as we have adopted certain behaviours that have influenced us since the time of our arrival on this earth. Often because of the environment in which we live, it did not suit us to be like our parents, and we chose for ourselves a life that we felt we could handle. Sometimes the choices we have made, in the past, can lead us into grave crises. The cumulative effects of constantly making choices that seem to load us down, can bring great mental and physical stress and strain. Eventually we might feel that there is no one to champion our struggle to a better life.

For every choice there is a consequence and for every action there is a reaction. Our responses to situations are crucial for our future. If we look at the changes that have taken place in publicly expressed behaviours, the last few decades, we are challenged by the attitudes and changing world. It is no wonder that there is so much confusion. Have we learned nothing from history? Where does life without discipline take us? Do we have direction and purpose for existence? The world pressures us to conform to the instant mentality by constantly recommending instant love, sex, growth, learning, coffee and instant everything. Through this we are robbed of our own creative and individual abilities. The instant society challenges the established solid experiences of past generations and the result is that everything is being challenged, good and bad. It is not the norm anymore to believe your parents, because of their so called, old fashioned ideas. Where does this spirit come from?

It is as old as time itself. The sinner is blind and his conscience is deceitful, and he does not understand the purpose of his existence. Sin is disobedience, transgression, and lawlessness. It is being contradictory to the established principles of God for the earth. Every time we transgress the plan of God through the instant mentality we feed the spirit of this world and conform to its laws and the result is lawlessness. Rebellion is when forbidden fruits taste sweet, but the end of it is death, the hidden purpose of the instant society.

The only way we will ever understand our destiny is through revelation of God through Jesus Christ. I challenge every young person to have that pioneering spirit of discovering for themselves the good things of God. Because you are special and unique, seek out your special gift and what you are meant to give to this world.

I recollect the moment when I made a decision to find my way in life. At the age of twenty-one it was time for me to leave home. It was a great step as I ventured out. I spoke to my parents about my desires to see the world, look at places and try to find reasons for existence. After reading an article in a newspaper advertising for young men and women to be a part of a team going to the Kimberley’s in Western Australia to build up a station that had been devastated by a cyclone, my adventurous spirit rose in me. I had gone to my parents once before and shared that I wanted to go and fight in the Vietnam war, which I felt at the time was a worthwhile course. My Father became angry with me since he had come out of the second world war and had seen what man does to man. That time, I reconsidered, and waited.

To this second challenge of re-building a mission station my parents had no objection. I have learned to appreciate the wisdom of older people. There is so much we can draw from people older than us. They have walked the walk and done the talk. Let’s not discard them as has-beens, but seek out the wisdom and experience in their lives.

To have a pioneering spirit is good, as long as we listen to good and sound advice.

Champions of Change

We need to believe in ourselves. A champion of change is a person who faces the difficulties and heads them in the direction that will advance his progress towards achieving. He or she is a person that looks at It takes courage to change things, boldness to go forth and determination to come through no matter in what circumstances we find ourselves. We are no different from the great men and difficulties as a challenge to advance in pursuit of reaching the goal. The first stage of development I call dependence where a child reaches out for help. As its hands extend to its mother, the child learns how to grasp things with its little fingers. As the child grows it learns to listen to words that are spoken and eventually copies them.

The next stage is independence, during the teenage years. As the teenager tries different things he or she learns to make choices that suit a chosen life style. The teenager has now learned to make choices that will set him on a path which will take him through life. As we become older we find that there is a need for interaction between adults and this stage I call interdependence. These three stages will test your life style, the way you do things and the way you react to different situations that will confront you during life.

To develop a pioneering spirit, we need to be guided through all stages, learning from one another and developing skills that will set us on a path that is gratifying not only in itself, but will also help many others to reach their full potential. The foundations that we lay early in life are crucial to future development. For example, if we lay a foundation of argumentativeness the fruit of this will be a spirit that will argue.

By laying the right foundation we can guide the pioneering spirit to become a world changer.

You can always tell which people are pioneers, through their speech, through their actions and above all through interaction with others.

The pioneer that we need to develop is the one that goes before and prepares the way, the one that goes into the unknown in preparation for others to follow. Our mission therefore is not at this time the creation of Christian nations but to take out of the nations a people for His name by evangelizing the races.

1:2 PIONEERING SPIRIT

History gives glimpses of the pioneers that have gone before us. I would like to pick some and discover what made them champions of change. No one becomes great before he has learned and served the human race, in some form of achievement, personally or collectively.

You cannot become great by watching others become great. We need to be participants in some form of activity that will change the course of history. If you can think like that you are well on the way to greatness.

A leader is not a leader when he does not have any followers. This same principle applies to the course of changing history. Jesus was a good example, He changed the minds and hearts of the apostles. They then took up the challenge to go and change the mind of people in nations.

The first step is to be inspired and convinced of your destiny, and purpose. For this you need to have a vision then set your goals to achieve it in a time frame. You have only one life time. This time frame cannot be set in a concrete form because as the vision unfolds adjustments need to be made.

I’m not talking about building some form of house which can be set in a time frame for completion. I’m challenging your spirit to become a world changer. Knowing how you are going to change people in nations is the beginning of the change. Paul was the first pioneer (after Jesus) of the gospel to reach nations. A herald to the gentiles.

Avvakum (1620-1682)

Avvakum was a Russian arch priest in conflict with the established head, Nikon of the Russian Orthodox church. Nikon tried to introduce contemporary Greek forms. Avvakum belonged to another group of reformers, restoring prayer life, fasting, morality, preaching and confession. Nikons reforms were to them apostasy. Conflict broke out between the two and Nikon as head of the Russian church excommunicated Avvakum. Consequently, Avvakum was imprisoned for fifteen years then burned at the stake.

Here were people in conflict who could not work out their differences both having a pioneering spirit to change. Avvakum, however, based his change more closely on the word of God. As a pioneer are you willing to die for what you believe? Jesus did.

Count Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

Count Zinzendorf, a great man of God, helped the persecuted followers of John Huss. The Count was a man who made his estate available as a refuge. He was a man that went to prayer because as he watched people become dissatisfied on his estate he found it difficult to understand. During his times in prayer he would allow no one to disturb him. On the 13th of August 1727, during communion time, the Spirit of God fell on the congregation causing weeping and repentance. A revival started where people prayed 24 hours a day. This continued unabated for one hundred years, and became known as the Moravian Revival. Count Zinzendorf travelled between the years 1737 and 1747 to Holland, England and North America. He inspired John Wesley who was converted through the Moravian Revival. John Wesley in turn inspired William Carey to become an evangelist to India, Henry Martin an evangelist to Persia, Adoniram Judson an evangelist to Myanmar, and Hudson Tailor an evangelist to China.

This kind of pioneering spirit comes when we understand the call of God on our lives and learn to go through the process of preparation. There is no doubt in my mind that you too are destined for great things if you allow yourself to be directed by God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit in you can lead you into great adventures in the process of establishing His Kingdom.

Convoy to Russia (1991)

In 1991 I joined a Dutch organization to help drive a convoy of cars and trucks loaded with humanitarian aid destined for Russia. The team was made up of representatives of 11 different countries. No team member knew what to expect during this long journey. The team came together at Frankfort airport and many had not met each other before.

This could have created some problems as each one came from a different back-ground and country.

It seems God had already looked at the heart of each individual and had prepared all for this great adventure. Day and night we drove across Germany, then Poland. We noticed clearly the struggle of the East German and Polish people who looked at us Westerners as if we were all millionaires.

The team had breakfast in a small Polish town, already there were drunks clambering around us for money. The meal cost us 2 million in Polish currency. I felt sorry for the people, as there seemed no answer for them, at that time.

We travelled on to the Russian border to be met by customs who held us up for many hours. It was discovered that one of our brothers was carrying some Russian currency. He was Jewish and became very afraid. He knew of the persecution of the Russian Jews. He put the money in the bag of another team member and the customs discovered the money. They wanted to know how this money had left Russia since it was illegal to take any money out of the country.

The person to whom the bag belonged said this was not his money and said, I don’t know how it got there. Eventually it came out that the Jewish brother was afraid and had done this.

In the mean-time several hours had passed and we were to meet church leaders in a Baptist church in Russia. We finally arrived at 2AM and the people were still waiting for us. The choir sang beautiful songs in Russian which was very touching.

What I want to share here is that fear can be a very destructive force and will keep you in bondage if you let it. The Jewish brother learned a dear lesson as to what fear can do. Fear makes you panic and gets others in trouble with you.

You must know the work God is calling you to do and do it fearlessly, knowing that God is looking after you. Fear is the opposite of faith, it robs you of your confidence in God.

China incident

I travelled to the North of China only knowing that God was directing me go. I travelled with a Chinese brother who wanted me to meet Christians living in this remote area of China. I did not know that there were still many areas of China closed to Westerners. The authorities trusted no one.

I was captured by Chinese undercover agents and taken to a Chinese compound and held there for 5 days. In the natural it was a fearful situation. Many things went through my mind. This might have been the end of my life and there was no way I could let the outside world know where I was. Many times I asked them to let me make a phone call but it was denied. Another brother was captured with me and he was very afraid. On the third night he left a note on my bed saying that was going to escape and get help for me. Fear makes you do strange things. He tried to jump over the compound wall from a two story building and did not make it. Instead he hit his head on the wall and fell unconscious inside of the compound. The guards found him the next morning and brought him back upstairs. When he was close to my door he screamed out for me. I rushed to the door to see what was going on. I saw some of the guards holding him down. They injected him with something and he became unconscious. They dragged him to another room. I did not hear from him for a long time but eventually received word he was released. The brother operated in fear which is the opposite to faith. Fear is not from God. It takes away clear thinking and makes you do things that out of your control. Pioneers know the dangers they face and are prepared to face them full on.

1:3 EFFECTIVE PIONEERING

In the Webster Dictionary we find the meaning of pioneering:

1 A member of a military unit that precedes the main body and builds bridges, roads, trenches, etc. a military engineer.

2 One who goes before into that which is unknown or untried, to prepare the way for others, as an early settler or a scientist doing original work.

3 A digger; a miner

4 Being in advance of others.

The Bible clearly calls us to be military minded. Taking collective action to achieve the purpose for which we are called. How-ever the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Our military strategies are Spirit motivated and our war is a Spiritual one. As a Spiritual unit we are called to go forth into the unknown, building bridges of trust, hope, encouragement and faith so that others may follow with teaching. It is our responsibility to carve inroads into the hearts and minds of people who have no direction in life. I believe it’s our responsibility to teach principles that are directive, clearly teaching that by following these principles their lives will change for the better. A pioneer is not one who follows but goes before, breaking new ground in untried and unknown areas of life. There is much that God wants to reveal to us, but how can He, if we are tuned to non-spiritual things? A pioneer is also a digger or miner, he digs deep for revelation, then brings out the results of his labour. He is one who challenges the comfort zones created by our mind sets, changing these to new insights, then takes us into greater heights of commitment. He is the person who goes out in advance of others.

I received a card for my birthday. On the card it said do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Gladys Aylward (1902-1970)

A young lady born in London became a servant girl with a determination to go to China. Not accepted by a mission organization, she saved and ventured on her own to China across Siberia by train. She and her companion Jeannie Lawson opened an inn in Yangcheng and told Bible stories to Chinese travellers. She led a hundred children on a hazardous journey (during the Japanese invasion) to safety, inspiring the film The Inn of the sixth Happiness

1:4 THE PRICE

The cost, in the case of going before to prepare the way, is in life, labour and sacrifice no matter what the monetary price. A pioneering leader has a great desire to achieve. For this he does not put a price value on the task. A great price is paid when one endeavours to be first.

Self-sacrifice comes through having eyes fixed upon the end of the journey. It is priceless to you. The expense and outlay have little bearing on the task at hand.

As Saul neared Damascus on his journey, a light from heaven flashed around him and he was blinded. A voice said, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Saul said, who are you Lord?

After three days Ananias went to Saul as he had been directed by God to place his hands on Saul who received back his sight and was filled with the Holy Spirit. From this moment on there was no price too great for Saul.

The experience changed not only his direction, but his whole life. We need this kind of experience in God. It will change us so that we might see with the eyes of God, the task that stands before us. God will reveal Himself if we let Him.

We limit ourselves by the extent of our knowledge. You can do something only to the extent of your knowledge. To increase knowledge, we need to study the pioneers who have gone before us. Saul baffled the Jews with his knowledge which was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

1:5 RESULT ORIENTATED

When I talk about result orientation I mean that we need to have the resilience to rebound and leap back then come to a resolution that will allow us to get back on track. Once again you need to familiarize with, and adapt to the situation, then turn towards that certain goal. Life brings its challenges and there is a tendency to get off track. We may need to become aware of the situations that have crept up on us unawares.

Focus with purpose. Know what you have to do. Then go and do it. It needs positive action to get the result. Purpose is an interesting word, meaning that you have the end in view. You need to know the purpose of your existence and live a life focused on the end result.

1:1 History is something we can learn from and His Story needs to be told.

1:2 Pioneers are men and women motivated to explore and discover what lays beyond the known.

1:3 Be prepared for unknown surprises that may come your way.

1:4 The end of one journey is the beginning of the new the New journey.

1:5 Set your face towards the goal, keep the end in sight

PART 2

HOW TO TURN DEFEAT INTO VICTORY

2:1 DETERMINATION

To put an end to the direction in which we are going in society, we must replace it with new ideas. Changing how we think, and settling upon some line of action with a fixed purpose. Our direction needs to be certain and we need to know that it will bring us to the right end.

This brings forth a pioneering spirit of expectation for achievement and the determination to get to where we are going. Sometime the results of pioneering new thoughts or ideas don’t always work out the way we want, and the outcome is quite different. At this stage we must decide to go on with the project we have undertaken. There is no pioneer that has achieved great things, and succeeded the first time he or she tried. Every failure needs to be a lesson, a greater impetus to succeed. Failure is the road to success. If the task seems too big, cut it down to a workable size. We can handle projects a little at a time. The key is not to lose sight of the ultimate goal.

If we are to reach this world and change it, the task can only be done a little at a time. Some people find it difficult to have a determined spirit. Allowing this kind of attitude in your life is not going to advance your cause. Pray for God to help you deal with this. We need to realize that once we have given our lives to Jesus and made him Lord over our lives, from that moment on we are looked after by God as his child. This does not mean He takes away our choices; but we can now have positive direction by being guided through His Holy Spirit.

This is where pioneering becomes exciting, because now you are not on your own. The potential stored in you can be realized by allowing God to have full reign in your life. This removes fear, which would rob you of your faith. Set your face as a flint towards the goal of your pioneering spirit and call. Fear of the unknown holds people in indecision. Fear is there to destroy your pioneering spirit. When you know God is on your side you