How
does God guide and direct us? In Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told that we should
trust him with all our heart, not our understanding and we should acknowledge him,
or give him thanks, in all things or at all times, and he will direct our
paths. We must hear from God.
He
primarily talks to us by the Holy Spirit (John 14 16-18). As we read the Bible
the Holy Spirit can open our spiritual eyes to see and understand God’s word (John
14:26; John 16:13-15). In our times of reading and mediating the word God can
bring direction to our lives.
The
Holy Spirit can also communicate directly to our spirit with a scripture verse,
thought, words, conviction or an idea. Elijah fled from the evil Queen Jezebel,
who threatened to kill him. God found Elijah hiding in a cave and had him stand
on the mountain. God passed by and there was a there was wind, earthquake and fire
but God did not speak in any of these but in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12).
It is through this inner witness or still small voice of the Holy Spirit that
God will primarily speak to us. We will know it is God as God’s wisdom comes
with a real sense of peace and assurance (James 3:17).
We
could say well I know that. However, when we come to God, do we come with open
hearts or for him to simply agree with our agenda? Perhaps we need to come with
an open mind and no preconceived agendas, so God can truly guide and direct us
in his ways and according to his plans; me thinks the that would be good.
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In Matthew
18:19 the Apostle tells us that if just two of us can agree on a prayer request
God will do it. “For where two or three or three are gathered in my name, there
I am in the midst of them” (Matt 18:20). Wow, where just two or three come together
in unity to call out to God he is there in their very presence! With God one
can put a thousand to flight but two can put ten thousand to flight (Deut
32:30).
Unity
and the prayer of agreement are so powerful. Praying in agreement is not just
everyone praying about the same thing but doing it in perfect accord, perfect
harmony and in unity.
God
loves unity in his people, it allows him to work, to bless: “Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! For there the Lord
commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Ps 133:1, 3). The disciples
prayed in one accord in Acts 4:24-37 and just look at the results, the house was
shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they preached with boldness, thousand
were added to the church and they had all things in common.
Is
God telling us something here?
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“For
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt 12:34). We know
that what comes out of our mouths is what we believe and that our faith is strengthened
by hearing the word: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God” (Rom 10:17).
So,
let’s build up our faith by hearing some words that God says about us. We are
sons and daughters of God, children of God and joint heirs with Jesus (Rom 8:14;
16-17). We are his (God’s) work of art (Eph 2:10). We are new creations (born again)
in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). Jesus was triumphant over all the powers of
darkness (Col 2: 15). In Christ we have the victory over those powers of darkness
(1 Cor 15:57). We have been conveyed from the kingdom of darkness into God’s
kingdom of light (Col 1:13) We sit in heavenly places with Jesus (Eph 2:6)
Greater is he (the Holy Spirit) that is in us than he (satan) that is in the
world (1 John 4:4).
These
words were written to us, about us; my, how God loves us. Meditate on these words
and speak them out, let them build up your faith.
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“And
ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Ex. 19:6; KJV).
These are the words that God spoke to Moses. One of the responsibilities of the
priests was to minister to the Lord in praise and worship.
As
you know things in the Old Testament are a type and shadow of things in the New
Testament. In 1 Peter 2:5 we read: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”. Spiritual sacrifices refer to worship and
praise. In v.9 of the same chapter it tells us that we are a: "royal
priesthood" and that we are to proclaim the praises of God.
The
priests in the Old Testament led the praise and worship as I said but now, WE
are the: “royal priesthood”, so we can do this for ourselves, we can: “sing
unto the Lord a new song” (Ps 96:1), we can be a people: “singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19). It’s up to us though, we have to
make a decision to do it; our flesh doesn't always feel like it. However, it
says in Hebrews 13:15 that we need to make the: "sacrifice of
praise". I think that means we are supposed to do it whether we feel like
it or not.
In
Psalms 22:3 King David wrote that God: “inhabitest the praises of Israel”. This
has the sense that God comes down, settles down and invades our very presence when
we praise him! I don’t know about you but I surely desire that intimacy with
our heavenly Father.
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Check
out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way:
Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more
encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.
“Ye
are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith
shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and
to be trodden under foot by men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is
set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candle stick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:13-16; KJV).
As Christians,
we are to be salt, we are to shine as lights in the world we live in. Those who
watch us should see a difference, should be led to say, what is it about you, I
need what you have?
We
should not hide our lamp under a basket; in other words, we should not be
intimidated but be bold and shine. We should ask ourselves have we lost our
saltiness, are we shining brightly for the Lord?
His
love, his life-giving power and presence in us should shine out (Phil 2:13 and
15). Look at how God’s presence shone through Moses after he had met with God
(Ex 34:29). God wants to show his plan and purpose through us, his church, even
to all the evil principalities in the heavenly places. (Eph 3:10).
Let’s
allow Gods presence, his word and power to change us today and shine through
us.
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