THE UNCONVENTIONAL WAY

1 KINGS 18:3

A. CONVENTIONALITY DEFINED
  1. That which grows out of custom or usage is conventional: See Webster's Dictionary.
    1. Customs do not necessarily represent the highest ideals - Jer. 10:3
    2. Customs change with the times, and are usually controlled by traditions which brought them into being to begin with.
  2. The Jews were experts in cleaving to the traditions of their fathers:
    1. The Lord testified to that - Mark 7:1-13; Isa. 29:13
    2. Painful observance of certain customs do not produce holiness - 1 Sam. 4:1-11
  3. Conventionalism is impossible in an imperfect world:
    1. In many instances, strict adherence to certain rules have been detrimental to the cause of soul winning.
    2. At times it leads to despotism among God's people.
    3. There is no divine guarantee that God will tie Himself to any man-conceived method of doing God's work.
B. UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS HAVE BEEN USED BY GOD
  1. In the case of Elijah versus the priest of Baal:
    1. No one has ever used water to start a fire, but he did - 1 Ki. 18:21-39
    2. It worked very effectively as far as the cause of truth was concerned - verse 39.
  2. Elisha made the iron swim by touching it with a stick: 2 Ki. 6:6, 7
  3. Think of the method used by God's people in the days of Queen Esther:
    1. In a national crisis. It worked. Esther 4:11-16
  4. What some of our able generals have thought of Joshua's command for Israel to walk around the walls of Jericho to subdue it?
    1. But that was God's plan.
    2. It worked very effectively - Josh. 6:1-21 What God blesses works.
C. BIBLE HEROES, AS WELL AS OTHER WITNESSES FOR GOD, USED UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS WITH GREAT SUCCESS
  1. In the days of ancient Israel:
    1. Gideon and his army used broken pitchers to win the battle against a superior enemy - Judg. 7:16- 25
    2. David used a sling and a stone to kill Goliath the challenger - 1 Sam. 17:45-50
    3. Abimelech and his group of soldiers used bows from trees to destroy the enemy - Judg. 9:47-49
  2. Our blessed Lord used unconventional means and methods to bring life and health to the people:
    1. He applied clay mixed with spittle to open the eyes of a blind man - John 9:7, 8
    2. He sent Peter to catch a fish and to open the mouth of the fish to find the money to pay His and Peter's tax - Matt. 17:27
  3. John Wesley, one of the great soul winners of all times, was marked as "a Methodist" because much of his work was done the unconventional way, according to the concept of the church:
  4. Some have told me, on different occasions, that my method was too unethical, governed by too much emotionalism: Said they,
    1. "Shedding of tears during a sermon is very unethical and borders on nervous exhaustion."
    2. "It is highly improper to weep in the pulpit and make the people nervous."
  5. God's answer to these charges:
    1. "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy! He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - Ps. 126:5, 6
    2. "Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh" - Luke 6:21
    3. "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the Elders, gather the children..let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar" - Joel 2:16, 17
    4. When the Son of God stood at the tomb of Lazarus He wept - John 11:35


Design © John Bryant 2011