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Sharing God's Word:
The answer to the question that determines success or failure is oftentimes simply... WHEN?
I know that many folks struggle with "God's Will" for their lives. The reality is that, in truth, God is not keeping His Will a secret. Those who are frantically attempting to determine what they believe to be that elusive message from God, deep down already know what it is and the problem is not what but WHEN. When are you going to do what you know God is calling you to do?
Remember the phrase "Let me first?" With God, the "first" has to do with nothing other than His Kingdom and His Righteousness! Remember this conversation? "Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:57-62).
The question today is - What is God calling you to do and WHEN are you going to put your hand to the plow and get started?
Now if you really don't know what God has in mind for you, let me give you some things that might get
the car out of the ditch and moving
down the road. By doing the following you can "prime the pump" and put yourself in the position of hearing.
1. Remember the art of listening.
Our world is noisy and Satan has a BIG mouth. You need to establish a time and place each day to have a quiet time with God. Bring your Bible, pen and paper, and find a comfortable spot for study!
2. Read your BIBLE !
There are some great Commentaries, tapes and helps out there, but do not substitute them for time in the Word of God! Those books and tapes need to complement your Bible reading, not take the place of it. If new - where should you start? If it has been a while just pick one of the Gospel and jump in - the Gospels (good news) never fails!
3. Start a conversation with God.
Talk to Him as you would a friend and remember, a conversation needs to be two-sided; in other words, make sure you take the time to listen and buy the truth.
"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding" ( Pro 23:23).
4. Take the time to worship the Lord
This can be done in a variety of ways- but make sure you take the time to acknowledge the Greatness of God! Make sure to fear Him and remember this has more to do with awe and respect than about being afraid!
5. Finally, you might want to consider a fast.
Sometimes when our spiritual life has slowed down and not going well, its time to draw closer to our God. Fasting can remove the sludge and clear the passage for His Holy Spirit to work in us.
Let me ask you a question. Why did God create you? Did He create you to do or to be? Does God need you to do something for Him or did He create you to have a relationship with Him?
Hope you know that your relationship with Him comes first! Sometimes it is hard for our minds to comprehend it, but God created each one of us to have a friendship, a relationship, with the Creator of the Universe.
Let us not address our Creator by saying "...Let me first.. ." but let us follow His command and: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matt 6:33-34).
When should we start? See the opening quotes and call to mind what the writer to the Hebrews in chapter 3 had to say: " Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation" Heb 3:12-15).
TODAY IS THE DAY!
Check yourself brethren, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation"
(Heb 3:12-15).
Church of God, in Truth
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