9-2-2017 5 Things to get the Spiritual ball
rolling
I look back upon my life and my relationship with Father
though Jesus Christ and He points me forward to where the He is taking me. The Holy Spirit helps me to realize one
reality – though I have grown much since my salvation, I still have a long way
to go in my relationship with the Creator of all things.
I don’t remember where “5
Things to get the Spiritual Ball Rolling” came from. Normally, if I see something on the web, I
copy the URL from which I obtain information. Father may show me things, in the bible, birds
in the front yard, a road sign, I may hear things, whatever. I do know this concept may not be
‘original’. I have no recollection of
what inspired this topic. Father gives
me the topic then builds on that to show me what He wants me to learn. If “5 Things” was on the web (I don’t
remember), my apologies to however it originated, but thank You (Lord) for the
spark it presented.
I do remember that for the month of Sept. 2017, our Sunday
AM bible study theme was to be “Promises of God”. I originally put the “5 Things” blog on
9/2/2017 post. So the Holy Spirit may
have used preparing for Sept. theme or something else in late August to stir
this up. Yet nearly three years later
Father has said let’s revisit this issue.
When Father showed me this subject, I chuckled to myself because He’s showing me how so many things in this life dovetail together. ‘Promises of God’, ‘Get the Spiritual Ball Rolling’ and how they interface and intertwine with each other. We can’t get the spiritual ball rolling unless we are standing on the promises of God.
To get our Spiritual ball rolling, we have to rely on, or
should I say ‘learn’ to live in God’s promises.
These five areas of this discussion are not titled, but refer to as 1)
our need and our acceptance of salvation, 2) setting fear of the unknown behind
us, 3) learning how to hear and listen to God, 4) learning not to limit
God and 5) coming to know and understand our benefits in our relationship with
our Lord and Savior.
1.
Focus on
the positive
When I gave my life to the Lord, I
had to trust Him. I had to trust Him
that His promise of salvation was indeed true and free and for me. Here, God’s
first promise to us is that He loves us unconditionally (John 3:16-17, Rom. 5:8-9). Aside
from accepting Jesus there is nothing we can do to gain or earn eternal life (Eph. 2:8-9).
Jesus went to the cross for us so
we might have eternal life, even before we acknowledged Him, while we were yet
sinners (Romans 5:8)! So we have confidence knowing that when we
vocalize (speak out) our belief in Jesus and believe in our heart that God
indeed raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved (Romans 10:9). We take
further comfort knowing that he is preparing a place for us and He will come back
for us so we can be with Him throughout all eternity (John 14:1-4). These promises
are not just for our salvation, but give us hope and to confirm our eternity.
God does not desire evil for us,
so His thoughts for us are geared for our peace so He can work His work in us (Jeremiah 29:11) and our growth (Deut. 6:24-25).
He explains that to no matter what
happens to us, He has called us according to His purpose (to abide in Him) so all
things work together for our good (Romans
8:28). As we seek Jesus Christ,
nothing is by chance but by heavenly design.
Father guides our steps (Prov.
16:9).
God has known us from before birth
and has a plan designed for each one of us (Jeremiah 1:5). All we have
to do is ask, seek and knock. God will
answer us (Rev. 3:20-21). He will reveal Himself (and His will) to us,
and He will surely open the door for us so as to continue our growth in Him (Matt. 7:7-8).
Our walk with Him is not always
pleasant, though. Just as we chastise
(reprimand) our children, God reprimands us to keep us on track or get us back
on track (Heb. 12:11). So we see again, all things work to our good. Wide is the path to destruction but straight
and narrow is the path to life (Matt.
7:13-14).
So God approaches us from a
positive standpoint. Salvation is for
our own good for when He first calls us, we surely aren’t deserving. Then He guides us in His ways so we can be
assured fellowship with Him throughout eternity. All so that we can be with Him, when that
time comes (natural death or rapture).
Read (especially) John’s gospel and his letters. What’s love got to do with it? Yet the whole bible shares God’s love for us
so we can know that we can be with Him (1
John 5:13-15).
2.
Overcome
fear
Fear is our greatest enemy and God
promises us that His love conquers all fear.
If we fear things, we do not trust God completely. We are not yet totally yielded to Christ
because perfect love casts out fear, so those who are afraid are not yet in
God’s perfect love (1 John 4:18-19).
I’ve operated in fear, in some
form or fashion, for much too long. I
know that Father is the same yesterday, today and forever, but translating that
into reality into my own life has always been difficult. Too often I’ve not done good things, fearing
the outcome may not be what I expect.
I’ve held my peace because I thought what I had to say would probably
not be received or perhaps not even worth sharing (am I overstepping my bounds). That’s me and that’s being afraid of how
people may react to what I do or say.
And even though today, I say I don’t care what people think of me, I do
care that they receive the good things I say.
I’ve also looked at things from an ‘authority level. Other people have more education, better
position in life and/or more substantial credentials than I. So I yield to the ‘higher’ authorities
letting them take precedence. Now this
may sound good on the surface, honoring authority and position, but God has
shown me (more than once) that when He has shared something with me that He
wants shared with a group, I should speak it out, no matter who is
present. Even if I am the bottom of the barrel.
At times I haven’t. Though He may
not have told anybody else, whom I consider to be in higher honor or authority
than myself and more worthy to receive His Word, He chose me.
I have taken the yoke of Jesus
upon myself (Mat. 11:29-30) and am
still learning how to truly yield my life over to Him. And that’s what ‘taking His yoke means –
yielding to Him – all of me.
I have been slowly coming into the
reality of boldly speaking in the Lord for He is my helper and when He is with
me, why should I be afraid of what man can do to me (or think of me)? (Heb. 13:6). After all, God gives me what to say (John 12:11-12).
When I was young, I looked at the
‘outlaw’ bikers and all the ‘tough’ guys and was concerned that they might kick
my butt (I wasn’t a fighter back then, but neither was I a ‘lover’ [lol]), I
was afraid of what they might do to me. Father
has helped me realize that they people are people, just like me, no matter what
the exterior image is. We all have
confidence and fears. We have a
God-given talent to do some things well and minimal or none in others things. And the same goes for famous people. We’re all still just people! Father has been bringing me to a true realization that even when I
consider someone better than me, my soul still belongs to Jesus and when this
life ends, that’s where I’ll be, with Jesus (Matt.10:28). And it is He to
whom I am responsible. So what is my
problem? Truly yielding my spirit over
to the Lord, for I am persuaded that no matter what befalls me, unless I tempt
the Lord, He has allowed things into my life.
It was for my own good, or learning.
That’s why Paul said to ‘Praise God in
all things’ (Psalm 34:1, 1 Thess. 5:18).
Another truth I know in concept but
have trouble truly realizing is if God is for me, who can stand against
me? Who can stand against the Creator of
all things? (Rom. 8:31, Acts 5:34-39)). So when God carries my burden and picks up
for me why do I fear what man can do to me?
Trusting God is yielding to God
(all of me, again) and yielding to God is learning to live in His love (John 15:7-11) and living in His love is
casting out all fear thus enabling me to do all things through Christ who
strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
Overcoming our fears is putting
into action that which is contrary to our fears. Should we be afraid to speak to people, be
bold and take a chance and start the
conversation. People may listen. Should the boss give us a new responsibility
saying “I think you can do it”, especially if you’re feeling inadequate, be
bold and set to the task – you will most likely be pleasantly surprised and
find yourself more than capable.
The only way to defeat our fears
is to take them head on and don’t back down, but for heaven’s sake, be
sensible. Don’t try to fly without an airplane,
a parachute, a glider or wings (angel’s preferably). Know our limitations! We ought not to tempt God (Matt. 4:7), but trust Him in all
situations (Prov. 3:5). We speak with God’s authority and we serve
with His strength, all for the glory of Jesus.
We shouldn’t think it strange when things come upon us, rather we should
rejoice and consider it an honor to ‘suffer’ with Christ (1 Peter 4”11-13). So I have
to ask myself ‘why am I afraid?’ Poor
self-image is not an excuse (though I’ve used it). Truly trusting in the Lord overcomes
self-image (or anything else) for when we truly trust Father, the Holy Ghost in
us overcomes those things we fear.
3.
Learn to
discern God’s voice
When we love God, we have to learn
how to hear God’s voice and we usually hear God’s voice through the Holy Ghost
who dwells within us (1 Corinth. 3:16). God’s voice is that inner voice that guides
us. Yet it is NOT our voice. Have you ever said “I don’t know where ‘it’
came from but …”? The Holy Ghost IS
where ‘it’ came from!
Samuel had to go to Eli, when he
thought his teacher had called him by name.
“Yes Rabi?” And yet, it took Eli
three times to realize that God was
calling his charge. Samuel responded to
God on the 4th call “Speak, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:8-10). Samuel had learned not just to hear but
recognize God’s voice.
While we are still on milk
(spiritually young) it’s difficult to recognize God’s voice out of the many we
may hear. As we mature and the ‘meat of
the word’ fills our heart, we learn to know God’s voice. As sheep, we come to know our Master’s voice
(John 10:14, 27-28)). We know what is good, we know what is
evil. We have learned to discern what is
the devil and what is God (Heb. 5:14). We even come to realize that God has been
talking to us all along – we just haven’t been listening.
The only way we really get to know
God’s voice is to know the truths of the bible so we can learn God’s nature
(God is love). Jesus recognized a half
truth, when He heard it. When Jesus was
being tempted by the devil, in the wilderness, He replied with the full truth (Matt. 4:1-10). God’s voice will always be in full agreement
with His word.
Of course, we have to have
personal prayer time with the Lord. One
on one, Mano e mano (or may I say ‘womano e mano – lol). We have to commune with God (Eph. 6:18 & Jude 20). I speak, then I zip my lip and listen. The Holy Ghost dwells within our hearts and
that’s from where the Lord usually will speak to us. The Word of God is our gauge as to ‘am I
hearing God, or me, or something else’? Our
prayer life helps to confirm His voice – the more we hear, the more we know. Peter
rebuked Jesus by saying that he would fight for Him and Jesus fired right back,
not rebuking Peter but Satan (Matt.
16:22-23) who had motivated Peter’s words.
So, who gets the glory in what you
hear. I didn’t say who might
benefit. I said who gets the glory. If God does not get the glory, you are
listening to someone else – yourself or a devil. Peter may have thought he was doing the right
thing, but Jesus knew with whom He was dealing.
He plowed right through Peter going straight to the source of the words
spoken. God does not glorify us, though
we may benefit and receive favor from what He does. That doesn’t mean He won’t edify us. ‘Good job’, or ‘way to go’, encourage and
build us up, reward us (blessings), but God reserves the ultimate glory for
Himself.
Know people who carry the
conversation and you just can’t get a word in edgewise? How do we feel? We need to learn to recognize God’s voice,
then listen to it. Knowing God’s Word
(the bible) is the first step in knowing God’s voice. Communication is a two-way street. We need to quit just talking ‘to’ God
or ‘at’ God but start listening to God as we commune with Him. We come to truly know His voice. Talking, then listening, that’s
communication!
4.
Don’t
limit God
I believe God can and will do all
things. I believe He IS the same
yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8),
BUT I still have problems accepting that He will do it for me. The worthiness of my own self-image. I’m better than I used to be, but here is
where I still have a ways to go. I know
God’s calling upon my life and I know He will accomplish it, but if I trusted
the Holy Ghost emphatically, I would do as He bids, first time, every time,
no fear, no doubt, no hesitation and not wonder about how I’m going to get
there.
Father has shown me my ‘comfort
zone’, that area in which I am more than willing to accept and work, but He has
also put a prayer into my daily life “increase me and grow me that my comfort
zone will know no fear, no doubt, no hesitations in serving You.” I am yet a work in progress.
Through my doubt (of myself) I
quench the Holy Ghost so He can’t operate in me as He is intended. He is grieved because He can’t do those things
in my life He wants to do. I don’t let Him - yet. I remember, Jesus could only heal a few sick folk
when He returned to His home, Nazareth, because of the people’s unbelief (Matt. 13:53-58). God will not force Himself upon us. It’s our choice (Josh. 24:15). Jesus is in me
through the Holy Ghost. Ergo, in quenching the Holy Ghost, I limit how Jesus
operates in my life.
Understanding who God is and what
He can do is one thing. Believing it at
the personal level is where He wants all His children to be so we can do all
that the early apostles and disciples did and follow the great commission which
is to go and teach all nations everything. Everything,
that He taught His disciples and passed down to us (Matt. 28:19-20). The
commission also includes us being able to heal the sick, diseases and to cast
out devils in His name (Jesus) (Matt.
10:1, Luke 10:1-17), speak with new tongues (our heavenly language) handle
deadly serpents or drink deadly things with no harm and to lay hands on the
sick and heal them (Mark 16:17-18).
God is the same yesterday, today
and forever (Heb. 13:8). Forever means that there is no end to who He
is and no change in how He operates,
even today. We get confused because
Father is so long suffering. He endures
our stupidity for a season for He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and yet, understanding
that, He won’t wrestle with us forever (Gen.
6:3). He does ‘bear’ with us until
we are ready to move to the next level.
After all, God created the heavens
and the earth (Gen. 1:1) so all
things are subject to Him (Eph. 1:20-23). As all things are subject to Jesus (Phil. 2:10) I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
and because with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26) why should I limit Him? I can only limit Him through my unbelief, my doubt. Forgive me Father, for limiting your work in
my life.
5.
Plan of
action
So my plan of action is to
continue growing, learning what Father wants me to know and applying it into my
life for I know that He is with me – all the way. Father has already implemented a plan – in
part. Perhaps I should say He has started
a plan for I am indeed still a work in progress. But guess what! I will be a work in progress until the day He
calls me home, no matter what level of life I may reach at any given time.
I grab hold of God’s vision for my
life and make it my own for man will perish where there is no vision (Prov. 29:18).
I count the cost for my vision to
come to pass (Luke 14:28), for I
need to have a plan to reach my goal and I need the Holy Spirit to reveal that
plan for He will lead me into all truth (John
16:13) giving me the understanding that I need (2 Tim. 2:7)
I need to ask God to show me, then,
as I press forward, He will open the doors (Matt. 7:7). But I have to
implement what He has shown me.
So, write the plan down, in a
logical progression of achievement. Here
‘as the Lord shows us’ for He may show us the goal of the plan, but then He may
reveal to us each level as we are ready.
God is not slack in dealing with us (2 Peter 3:9) but does not put more on us than we are able to bear (1 Corinth. 10:13). Everything is done in His timing (Isaiah 60:22). He knows our hearts (Jer. 17:10), what our very thoughts are
and all that we do (Psalms 139:1-24).
We need to write down what we need
to do in order to accomplish each task He sets before so we can see our growth. Our tasks could include education or
practical experience, then we need to put into practice what we have learned. Personally, He has given me books I needed to
read – as He puts those truths into my heart.
They contain information He has said is necessary for me to know. I’ve watched movies He has told me to watch and
observe attitudes. And He has exposed me to different people and things for the
same reason. And He continues to do so.
Father has shown me through the
years, the emotions we experience are not uncommon to man reminding me that
Father, too has emotions. We desire
friends and companionship. Father
desires our companionship and Jesus calls us ‘friend’ (John 15:13-16). We desire
love and Father tells us to give to receive.
Father not only gives love but He desires us to give love back. We do this by abiding in His will via His
Word. I also show love for God by loving
those around me (Matt. 25:34-40) by
helping them by helping them as I can. Helping
them to become better people, having their best interests at heart.
I cannot physically embrace Father,
giving Him a hug, but I can allow the Holy Spirit freedom in my heart. He gives me a ‘spiritual’ hug which is ten
times greater than a ‘natural’ hug. A
‘spiritual hug’? By letting Him fill me
with HIs love. A place, where even for a
moment, I have yielded completely over to Him.
We need to keep exercising what we
learn as we go. After all Rome wasn’t
built in a day and even then not until after the first brick was laid and even
then one brick at a time until the building is built. Jesus didn’t turn His disciples out on their
own the day He first called them. But
for three and a half years, He made sure they understood what they needed to
know. And even then, before He ‘cut them
loose’ He gave them a trial run (Matt.
10:1, Luke 10:1-20).
We have to have a plan of
approach. Father may show us the end
goal, but then reveal each step to get there as we become ready. We need to write it down (so we don’t
forget). We need to look at our ‘battle
strategy’ to stay focused on where we are going and to see what Father has
already accomplished (in our lives).
Practical experience breeds
confidence. We do it (God is with us),
we see that we can do it and that encourages us on. Putting it into practice is activating (doing)
what Father has given us.
As Confucius says a journey starts
with the first step. So taking our first
step is giving our life to Jesus. Father
will then show us what He wants us to do and to know and how He expects us to
go about doing it (1 Sam. 15:22-23). What are we sitting around for?
Get the ball rolling!
I know this seems a bit long, but Father said I needed to
revisit this and share it again. I’ve
just given you what He has given me. I know
that I needed this again. I suspect that someone else out there needs this, as
well.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment