I don't know about you, but I sometimes wonder if I am hearing correctly from the Holy Spirit. The very last thing I would want is to be in error. If I seem to be out of step with others in the Body, I begin to grow concerned about this. I try to research and back up with supporting scripture whatever I may be hearing or thinking about in the Spirit. I certainly don't want to take scripture out of context, or misapply it. I don't want to deceive myself, or others. So when I have felt out of step in this manner, I have said to God, "I feel like I am out in left field." Today I heard Him say, "Well, we need players in left field also!"
I know very little about baseball. What is unusual about left field? As you can see from the diagram above, the left-fielder (blue circle labeled "LF") is positioned all the way at the top of the diagram. He and the other out-fielders are a good distance away from the bases, and other players. When looking up the position, I found a set of pointers for being a good left-fielder.
First of all, a left-fielder is a defensive position. Being successful requires practice and hard work. You need to be able to throw a ball for a long distance. I remember when I was young, I would throw one of those pink rubber balls extremely long distances. My friend, Sharon, and I would play catch in the elementary school playground, throwing the ball from one end of the long playground to the other. When I would get home from school, my friend, Robert, and I would play a similarly challenging game of catch. He would stand in the backyard of my tall 3-story house, and I would stand in the front yard. We would throw to each other over the top of the house. As the scriptures say, we need to develop strength and endurance in order to send that word or prayer wherever, and to whomever, it needs to go. We need to exercise and build up those throwing muscles to be up to the task at hand. When we are needed to keep the ball in play, we can't say, "I'm too tired", or "It's too far," or "Let someone else catch it."
Not only are you throwing a long distance as a left-fielder, but you will probably have to catch balls coming towards you from a height and a far distance. This requires a good out-fielding glove with long fingers, and a deep pocket. In other words, a left-fielder needs to be properly equipped. Applied spiritually, we have to have a strong foundation in the word, a hearing ear stretched out to hear, and heart reaching out to receive. We need to have an appreciation for the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers that our Father has given to properly equip us in all spiritual truths (Eph. 4:11). They provide us with the long-fingered spiritual "gloves" we need to catch the ball, or truth, from the distance and height, and with the deepness of our spiritual glove pocket, we can hold onto the word that has been delivered to us without fear of dropping it. A spiritual left-fielder might sometimes feel out-of-step, or alone in what he is hearing from the Lord. These revelations are coming from long distances, and great heights. (WARNING- Do not even think about trying to catch these long, high balls bare-handed (in the flesh). For a left-fielder, it is disaster.)
Someone who is not an outfielder on a spiritual team might not be equipped to catch or receive these revelations of the highest and farthest kind. These types of revelations are especially associated with Apostolic and Prophetic ministries. Mysteries are revealed, and first-hand, direct revelations from Jesus are received through these ministries. There are many examples of left-fielders in scripture (I Cor. 11:23, 1 Cor. 15:51, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 4:1, Acts 10:11-16, Isa. 6:1-3). An outfielder receiving these types of spiritual things, might have to adapt the speed and height of the ball as he throws it in to a differently equipped teammate. We don't change the truth, but we make accommodations as to how the truth is delivered, otherwise our fellow player receiving our throw might be more likely to drop the ball, than to successfully catch it. I wouldn't throw to the shortstop in the same manner as I would while trying to throw a ball over my three-story house.
Another requirement that makes for a good left-fielder, is the ability to keep your focus and attention on the whole game, the big picture, not just your position. You always need to know where you have to throw a ball, if it comes to you. You have to know where the runners are, and where your nearest fellow defensive player is located. This is usually, but not always the short stop. You have to get the ball to him quickly, and hopefully, without making an error. It is comforting to have read that, generally speaking, errors by the left-fielder are rare. Spiritually, we have to be ready to give an account for our faith at any time, and we might be called upon at any time to deliver the truth accurately, without error. We have to understand that while our part is important, there is a larger, over-all plan of God. (Heb. 10:13, Rev. 11:15, Mt. 6:10, Rom. 11:25-26, 2 Cor. 5:17, Rev. 21:5). Spiritually, we have to understand that we are not alone, that the "team" or Body has many participating parts with whom we interact to get the good outcome (1 Cor. 12:12-14, Eph. 4:16). We must understand where a challenge (runner) is coming from, be ready for it, and see the best way to counter it, or defend against it.
However, because you are playing out in left field, you are also expected to contribute to the team's effort by having a dependable bat. You need to be able to hit that ball when called upon. Other players may be faster, and involved in play more often, so the left-fielder must show his value with hits. We are not allowed to sit back, spiritually, and spend our time waiting to catch a ball. We must give to the team actively also. The team is depending, not just on our gloves, but on our ability to help score offensively. So a spiritual left-fielder, especially, has to be diversified in his contribution to the team.
A left-fielder must also "back up" the third baseman. If the ball is overthrown, or misses the mark, we must be prepared to back him up, support him, catch the ball that he misses, or cannot catch. In the Spirit, we are the back-ups for the team member who drops the ball, or misthrows. When a brother drops the spiritual ball, we are there to pick it up without missing a beat. A brother or sister likes to know we "have their back" when we are needed (Gal. 6:2, 1 Thess. 5:14).
A left-fielder should avoid showy feats like diving to catch the ball. You are positioned too far out for that move. Those risky moves can cause errors that can allow the opposing runner to get to the next base. It is better to allow a ball to land in front of you, and field it from the ground, rather than to try diving for it. Those balls, or spiritual truths, are precious, and our first and most important responsibility is to get hold of that ball securely, and pass it on to where it needs to go. The left-fielder is not what is most important in the game, but it is the ball, the life-giving truth, that is most important, and must be kept in play (Ps. 138:2, Mt. 24:35, Col. 1:17).
In the same way, trying to throw that ball to home plate from your left-field position, is also risky. It is better to throw the ball to another position, like the short-stop, or third baseman. You may not get the accolades, but you will have contributed more to a victory. Sometimes we want to make that great play, but better results come from throwing the ball to the correct receiver. If the ball falls to the ground between third base, and home plate because we insisted on throwing it to the wrong teammate, the ball falls out of play, and the opposing runner may cross home plate and score (Mt. 6:10, Mt. 26:42).
Lastly, the list of hints to left-fielders says the most important thing a left-fielder can do is exercise, and practice. Practice catching and throwing from long distances and great heights. Exercise to increase strength in the throwing arm. Do drills that increase speed and reaction times. Study to know the best way to interact with teammates in order to be most effective. What does this mean spiritually? We study the Word, to show ourselves approved. We exercise spiritual truths in everyday life to increase our endurance and strength. Our spiritual understanding should not just be theoretical, but for greatest effectiveness, it has to be experiential. Watching a baseball game from your living room is not the same as actually playing the game. It is only by repeatedly practicing and experiencing, that our spiritual muscles learn and memorize what needs to be done in any given situation. Our teammates depend on our being able to perform effectively as left-fielders (2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Phil. 3:14, James 1:22).
Do you feel that you are out in left field sometimes also? Being a left-fielder isn't bad. God has equipped us well, and has entrusted us with those long, high balls from His heavenly throne. We just have to understand the purpose and value of our position, and our part in the "Big Picture".
See you out in left field!
"Play ball!"
Our Father can use some players in left field.
"Press Toward the Mark"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjmhQWcwQ7Q
"I Will Run the Race Set Before Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUcrJqGdPSg
"Who's On First?" (Abbott and Costello)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg
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